OT: Need filter for dialysis (was Re: Help Request)

[Steve]

It should also be noted that requesting people ring numbers is also 
commonly used by phishers looking to sucker people into parting with their 
cash.

It is a common thing for people to setup phone numbers in o/seas 
countries as "pay per minite" numbers (0900, 1-900 etc) and then attach a 
cost of say, $10,000/min to the number, when some poor sucker rings it 
trying to help (donate to fund a filter for a dialisis machine) the telco 
passes the cost back to the persons local telco via interconnect charges, 
hands the phisher $10k and the persons local telco adds it to the bill. 
This is almost impossible to get reversed as well and the person trying to 
"help" ends up being scammed.

This is extremely common.

NEVER EVER respond to these types of messages, there is NO REASON for 
someone to request stuff like this and the chances are quite high (without 
looking into it in depth) that a filter for a dialisis machine is NOT 
expensive (they would have to be replaced reguarly and be considered a 
consumable and priced accordingly) and if private health is too expensive 
then they should investigate other options.

While it sounds harsh - please keep this trash off the mailing list, it 
has no place here (directed to the original poster, not you Rodolfo :-) )

-- 
Steve.

On Thu, 6 May 2004, Rodolfo J. Paiz wrote:

> At 16:19 5/6/2004, you wrote:
> >Then we need URGENTLY the filter, wich is the most expensive element
> >of the dialisis process, in order to pay for the process in a private health
> >center. If somebody want to help us, please contact us to the following
> >numbers here in Paraguay:
> >
> >(595 21) 991 700863 with Miriam, or (595 21) 991 700859 with Miguel
> 
> I am not able to help you, but I suggest that you provide some idea of 
> whether you are looking to raise $100 which you cannot afford, or $10,000 
> which you cannot afford. It is difficult for people to come to grips with a 
> problem without any details. Also, some idea of which type of filter you 
> need... perhaps someone can help you get the filter more easily or at lower 
> cost even if they can't donate cash.
> 
> Finally, by definition every subscriber to this list has email, knows how 
> to use it, and checks it frequently. Saying "call me if you want to help" 
> is very counterproductive for you. Answering an email is easy, calling 
> Paraguay costs money. By asking for phone calls you make it *harder* for 
> people to help you. Provide as much information as you can (as *much* as 
> you can) online, on a web page, and then link to that page. You can even 
> put "Urgent Donations Needed" and the link in your signature on one line 
> and have it distributed with every message you send to anyone.
> 
> Good luck!
> 
> 
>