CNN: The Seedy Side of Y2K

The seedy side of Y2K

May 18, 1999 Web posted at: 2:02 p.m. EDT (1802 GMT)

by Tom Spring

(IDG) -- The Y2K bug is starting to bite a little deeper and sting a little harder. Millennium bug scams are popping up around the globe, preying on the paranoid. The gimmicks range from bogus Y2K insurance, credit card and bank account fraud, and overpriced survival kits to computer-sellers tricking the naove into replacing their PCs by claiming that noncompliant systems might explode.

continues...follow the link

-- one o' those scary trolls (not@this.time), May 18, 1999

Answers

Gary North had this post this morning:

Take this scam test. Which is the most widespread scam?

1. A caller promises to send you a y2k-compliant sticker for your credit card if you will give the caller its number.

2. A caller promises you a y2k-compliant bank account for you to send your money to.

3. A banker promises to lend out your money and pay you interest on it, but you can still get it back at any time.

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I think that pretty much says it.

-- David Holladay (davidh@brailleplanet.org), May 18, 1999.

Well, gee, David, if you look at it that way then most of the world is a scam.

Yeah, that's the ticket, you're a scam. The whole world is a scam. It's all a figment of my imagination. Or maybe I'm just part of somebody else's imagination.

-- scary troll (scary@troll.central), May 18, 1999.

Wonder how it took ol Gary to think up that clever little saying? Since I had to punchout a teller this afternoon to take $50 out of my savings account. And don't get me started on avoiding the landmines that were set near the ATM. They were a breeze until you got to the atomic missles that could be set off by punching any of the numbers on the keypad.

-- Pat (BAMECW@aol.com), May 18, 1999.

David:

The truth really gets to some people, doesn't it? Makes 'em lose their composure.

So busy identifying with their world that they never bothered to become who they are. Show them some flaws in their adored System and they either turn on the abuse and/or sarcasm, or (if they have any honesty with themselves) they're down on the floor puking like Keanu Reeves after he took the red pill.

"Wha - what?! You mean THE GOVERNMENT is not my FRIEND? BUSINESSES (like banks) don't really care deeply about my interests, they just want to make MONEY?! You're INSANE!"

Oh well, "there, but for the grace of God..."

Dano

-- Dano (bookem@blacksand.srf), May 18, 1999.

Uh-huh, Dano. Got us all psycho-analyzed huh?

-- scary (no@way.jose), May 18, 1999.

Gary North is a Big Fat Idiot closed down today. Guess where all the Little Skinny Idiots Who Posted on BFI went?

-- troll (for@din.din), May 18, 1999.

Nope, Biffy is still there. Having trouble with your bookmarks?

-- BigBadTrolls (bfi@bfi.bfi), May 18, 1999.

No, Scary: remember that I'M the one who's a crazy doomer, hoarding beans and ammo, waiting for Y2k to trigger the second coming of christ or the asteroidal apocalypse (or whatever negative association the media cartel is smearing preparation with this week).

Dano

-- Dano (bookem@blacksand.srf), May 18, 1999.

OK Dave, share with us. When did your banker go outside the contractual bounds of the time alloted for withdrawels? Or can you put on someone whose banker has gone outside that time? Bank in the US and account not frozen by IRS or other legal action please, no straw men.

Awaiting your reply.

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), May 19, 1999.