Tuesday, November 30

The Christmas Shoes Scam

As a public service to my loyal readership, I offer you this warning, just in time for Christmas.  It concerns a confidence scam that surfaced last year, and by all accounts, will be even more popular this year.  It is being dubbed The Christmas Shoes Scam.
This is how it works:
The scam usually is pulled at a busy department store or mall, usually at times when there are large crowds mingling.  A young child (usually, could be a trust-inspiring early teenager too) will linger around the checkout, holding an item of clothing he makes obvious he wishes to purchase.  While the item is usually a pair of womens shoes (hence the scam's name), it can be anything really.  The main characteristic is that the item is NOT something the child would purchase for his own wardrobe.  While holding the item, the child will look sad.  This is done to lure in the victim.
It is an inactive scam, meaning that the child will wait until approached.  Once approached by a concerned (meaning: vulnerable and/or Christian) adult, the scam artist will begin with the waterworks, crying softly at first, moreso as the situation demands.  When asked what's wrong, the child will lay the base of the scam.  Usually the child will say something to the effect that a family member (usually a Mother) is very ill, and is in fact about to die. Perhaps even this very night.
If the victim bites, then the scam artist will continue on with a story that usually implies how he'd love the dying family member to wear the article of clothing that he is buying.  He may say that, when well, the dying family member expressed delight regarding that specific piece of clothing.  Unfortunately, the child doesn't have enough money.
If the victim has stayed this long, it is pretty much a certainty that the victim will offer to pay outright for the article of clothing.  Tearfully, the scam artist accepts the generosity and allows the transaction to occur.  With purchased item in hand, the scam artist thanks the victim, then runs off to, he says, his dying family memeber.
A day later, the child (or, if part of a Christmas Shoes gang, it's usually the 'guardian' who) returns to the store and receives a full cash refund for the item.
In a busy mall at the height of Christmas shopping a good Christmas Shoes scam artist can rake in a thousand dollars a day.
Read this testimonial for an actual account from a victim:

It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line, tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood.  Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously, pacing 'round like little boys do, and in his hands he held a pair of shoes.
His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe.
And when it came his time to pay, I couldn't believe what I heard him say.

“Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please.  It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size.  Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time.  You see she's been sick for quite a while, and I know these shoes would make her smile.  And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight.”
He counted pennies for what seemed like years, then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here". 
He searched his pockets frantically, then he turned and he looked at me.

He said “Mama made Christmas good at our house, though most years she just did without.  Tell me Sir, what am I going to do?  Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes.”

So I laid the money down. I just had to help him out.  I'll never forget the look on his face when he said “Mama's gonna look so great.” 

I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love, as he thanked me and ran out.  I knew that God had sent that little boy to remind me just what Christmas is all about.

This guy was sucked in big time.  Let it be an example to you.  So, as a warning, please be careful this Christmas when approached for money.  It could be a scam.




30 comments:

Nils said...

You are brilliant, my friend. Brilliant.

dave s said...

i once gave money to a trucker who said he didn't have enough cash to buy a gift for a sick little boy named teddy bear, but that was different. besides, everyone knows you go barefoot in heaven.

graham said...

That's horrible!! I don't know what kind of person wouls stoop that low... On a lighter note this Christmas, my Mom is coming home. She's not dying, but she does need to get her liver removed. I was going to give her mine, but the doctor said it would be useless. The only thing that could help her is Persian Liver. Persian Liver is a very rare and expensive liver. I wish I could afford it... Hey, maybe the community could come together and help. YOu can all stop by Timothy's in the day and give me some cash for - what was is again - oh, yeah persian liver. Thanks. And Jesus thanks you. And Satan will punish you if you don't help.
Merry Christmas
Love "Desperate in Charlottetown".

John said...

Now, now, fellas. Remember, love is a temple, love the higher law. And Christmas is all about love. So, if a poor little kid asks your help in buying shoes, you help buy the shoes. We must encourage the children in all their endeavours, not hold them back by trying to imprison them within rigid moral structures.

graham said...

So, John, are you coming down to Timothy's to give me money for my Mom's Persian Liver? Tell me you have the right morals. Me and my mom need your generosity. I hope you don't judge me because I'm not a kid any more.

Rob said...

Graham, I've got a Persian Liver your mother could have. Well, not have, but buy. See, I was born with two livers. A Canadian liver and a Persian liver. The doctor said I only needed one, and I chose (well, my parents chose) the Canadian liver, out of support for Expo '67 which was coming up in two years. So the doctor removed the Persian liver, gave it to my parents who kept and nurtured it in a jar, and when I turned 18, they gave it to me. I've been raising it ever since. It's wonderfully fresh and fully functional.
Because of all the time and effort and expense that I've put in to raising it, I cannot afford to just give it away.
I would be more than happy to sell it to you though, at a reasonable price.
Therefore, I fully endorse your Timothy's "Raise a Persian Liver" Christmas campaign.

Sidney said...

Rob, I believe if you have a little look for that Persian Liver Jar, you will discover that I, cleverly, stole it. I had heard through the grapevine about Graham's mother's worsening condition. Like the shoe scamming children, I saw an opportunity to make a little extra holiday cash. In the pitch of night, I flew home and stole the Persian Liver right out from under your sleeping noses and took it home to patiently wait for this very opportunity.
Please don't hate me. You see, I am very poor also. This University which teaches me nothing I couldn't learn on my own takes all of money and the big back city is no place for an underachieving gal like me. Bottom line: Graham, I ask you to understand why it is that I must sell you the Persian Liver for double "a reasonable price". Have a nice day, Happy Holidays, and so on.

Tim said...

Graham,
I understand and sympathize with your predicament. That's why I'm about to make your Christmas. Unfortunately I don't have a Persian Liver, but what I do have is a Peruvian liver which outclasses the Persian liver in every way, shape & form. You'll get double the mileage, triple the efficiency and this liver is fully backed by a 7 year, 100,000 mile guarantee. You have my personal word, that if you're not fully satisfied with this liver, I will personally buy it back no questions asked. As a bonus offer I'm prepared to offer, today only, a Mongolian Kidney. Yes, you heard correctly, a one-of-a-kind, genuine Mongolian Kidney. Act now, this offer is not available in stores. Operators are standing by. Cheques may not be honoured. May cause nausea, dizziness, drowning, anal leakage, abdominal distension, puffy nipples, weak bladder, dry skin, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Rob said...

Sidney, your attempt is not the first time someone tried to steal my Persian liver. That's why I, long ago, had some of the students at TUNS come up with an exact replica model of it. It is that non-functioning liver that you stole. The actual Persian liver is locked very nicely in the tank behind my toilet, thank you very much.
Tim, yeah, the Peruvian liver is quite nice, and everything you say about it may be true (that debate for another time). However, typical of a huckster salesman like yourself, you fail to tell your potential customer about the horrible flaw inherent in the Peruvian. That being: it doesn't work in women. And since the liver is for Graham's liverless mother, it would be rather useless.
No, Graham, the Persian liver you desire is still very much in my possession, and still at a reasonable price.

graham said...

WOW!! I'm almost crying..wait I am crying. I thought the world had turned into a cold, heartless pit of despair, but now, like the little matchstick girl, I see life can be beutiful. I will buy the genuine Persian liver that Rob still has, I will buy the fake one that Sydney has (it's the thought that counts in this giving season) at a discounted rate, I will even buy the Peruvian Liver from you,Tim... YOu never know, right. Ofcourse the only way that I can help you all is if you encourage people to come and give me charitable donations at Timothy's coffee shop. The more I make, the more everyone makes.
You are all so great!! Jesus double thanks you..

Annie said...

Um, Rob. Um,,,I don't know how to tell you this, Ahhh...remember that night we got really, really drunk and you confessed to me that you had that funny liver hidden behind your toilet?
And then...oh, it's just to horrible to contemplate. I can't believe you don't remember what we did with it. C'mon, remember? We were our behind the shed and you said we'd be arrested if anyone found out.
Sorry Graham and sorry to your mom. But that liver is, er, um, toast.

Annie said...

Oh and by the way fellas "I have a liver behind my toilet" is not a line that makes a girl all squishy.

Matt said...

Nice testimonial. It's a fricking song.

Lacey said...

Yeah, that really happened? Hmm... I heard that exact song as I was reading it. Kind of ironic, don't you think?

Rob said...

No, rain on your wedding day is ironic (I know, it's not). This is satironic, perhaps. Satirical irony if you must label.

Don said...

This was one of themost beautiful Christmas movies ever to play, based on a book by an author in Tennessee. you have to know this. To try to use this information and write a scam report just to make people think you have one up on anything is sick. I hope the world reads this and really prays hard for you. You need help....real bad!!

graham said...

Whaaaa??!?

Rob said...

You, Don, are right of course. I am shamed by your harsh but honest and necessary words. I, in fact, don't have one up on anything, and this was a pathetic attempt to gain favour with...I don't even know. I didn't even care, really. I was simply trying to make people think I have one up on anything. You're right, I am sick. I do need help...real bad, as you say, but I don't know where to turn. Don, may I accept you as my own personal god and saviour?
By the way, where did you get your email address? From your church?

Nils said...

Finally ... someone says to Rob what we've all been thinking. Right on, Don! You tell him, brother! I am personally going to pray for Rob. And when I saw that Christmas Shoes movies ... oh, I wept and wept and wept so hard I could barely make out what the commercials were all about.

Graham said...

At first I didn't understand Don's point. I didn't think it made sense, but then I studied it closer and realized that he's a blithering barking mad Idiot. And concluding that his comments are that of a blithering barking mad idiot, I determined his words to be normal or understandable.
He probably even knows what tale I lifted this analagy from.
Thanks, Don. Let's all give him a hand for his effort.

robert said...

You guys are thick in the head...did you know that that story is actually a christian song sung by bob carlisl it`s fiction it just happens to be a popular chrsitmas song ...just make a lookup on gool for chrstmas shoes song

Rob said...

I'm sorry, robert, but I tried to make a lookup on gool, but I couldn't find gool. I also don't know how to make a lookup, I think. Does it require butter? I guess I really am thick in the head.
Now, about your claim that this is also a christian song. You're saying that this bob carlisl has gone ahead and written a song about this scam? Good for him. Hopefully by hearing this song, others won't get ripped off the way the guy in the testamonial got ripped off.
Thanks for the info, robert.

dylan said...

Rob why are you the focal point for the Christian right weblog commentators?
And Bob: What shameless self promotion why not give credit to Newsong who originally performed this song.
Does it disturb anyone else that Rob Lowe stars in the Christmas Shoes Movie and in a movie he made featuring him having sex with underage girls. What did he get in exchange for buying the shoes?

Nils said...

I'm confused ... were the Christmas Shoes on West Wing? Did Rob Lowe sing about them to the President? Excuse me while I gool all this ...

LENCHO said...

I go googling on Christmas eve to see if that was Mr. Butterfly Kisses singing that cheesy song and stumble on to this healthy forum. All I can say is that I wish I had written the darn thing. Think how many organs of various nationalities you could buy with profits from that piece of fluff.

Angie said...

Too funny!! :)

Manoj said...

It happens many times where I am...
Even politicians do the same, but it is with costly items.
They make petitioners pay for air tickets, to 'fight for their cause' in the parliament (or the state house) They say the same to other people waiting and they encash the within a few days. Of course, they fly free of cost for these sessions, at the expense of the tax payers.

matt morgan said...

That story has lyrics from a country song in it, word for word, it's about a sick kid wanting to buy shoes for his mother it's probably not legitimate at all. Most likely it's an urban legend.
Tricking one person into doing this for you would take a minimum of 30 min and you'd have to go to a different store every time to do this. Being generous and saying that a person would be willing to give the kid 30 bucks to buy the article of clothing it would take about thirty times a day to get a thousand dollars, which simply isn't going to happen. Don't be stupid folks, use your common sense.

Rob said...

No, Matt, it's true. I swear. A friend of a friend of my cousin had it happen to her four times.
But I do agree that people should be using their common sense about what is real and what is not. Good advice, Matt.
Now, go find a mirror.

dylan said...

How do people keep finding this post? And how do they post replies without reading the previous ones. Is Matt Morgan a real person? How is he able to type coherent sentences? This seals it next year I'm taking my nephew and we're going to make a fortune running this "scam". Because if this thread has done nothing else it has assured me that people are not nearly as smart as I usually give credit for. But maybe I can change shoes for iPod in the scam. "Jesus said my Mom needs a new iPod photo to use in Heaven. Can you help buy me one?"