A man in Sandusky, Ohio, grew so angry at the price of some crab cakes that he punched the store manager “five or six times,” head butted him, and spit in his face. According to the Associated Press article, there was a pricing error in the customer’s favor, and the manager had offered to give the customer the first crab cake at the incorrect price but wanted to charge full price for the rest. [More]
crime
Short Interview With A Possible 419 Scammer?
By 1.28.10
The UK website Scam Detectives has published a two-part interview with a self-described former Nigerian 419 scammer. Take all of this a healthy dose of skepticism–the author admits he has no way of verifying if anything the guy says is true. Oh, and the reason I call it a short interview is because halfway through the second call, the author tells the scammer he doesn’t like him and wants to hang up. Before that happens, though, you get to read about foot soldiers, something called a wash wash, and the response rate on scam email blasts. [More]
Walmart Customer Arrested For Urinating On Steaks
By 1.23.10
Either this man was not in his right mind, or this was the stupidest animal-rights protest ever. The police in Canton, Ohio report that a man was arrested and jailed for urinating on a Walmart meat counter, ruining $600 worth of steak. [More]
Would This ATM Skimmer Have Fooled You?
By 1.21.10
Would you have noticed this ATM skimmer, spotted on a Citibank ATM in California? The actual card slot is on the left. The skimmer is on the right. The contraption is seemingly custom-designed for this model ATM, and includes a pinhole camera for capturing victims’ PINs. Fancy. [More]
Manager Charged With Arson After Rival Bowling Alley Is Burned
By 1.21.10
According to police, a manager of a rival bowling alley has been charged with arson in the destruction of Loyle Lanes, a bowling alley in southern New Jersey. [More]
Kmart Worker Killed By Shoplifters
By 1.20.10
A Detroit Kmart loss prevention officer was killed by a pair of shoplifters. He tried to stop them but they ran over him with their SUV. He became tangled in the truck somehow and was dragged at least 100 feet before he was dislodged when the truck deliberately hit a pole. They were both charged with unarmed robbery and homicide. The plunder the five finger discount duo killed to keep? $400 in CDs. [More]
Walmart Manager Takes Customer's DVD Away Because He Won't Show Receipt
By 1.19.10
Yep, it’s another Walmart receipt checker story! At the end of it, the OP asks, “What should I do?” And I sigh. I really don’t know. Don’t shop at Walmart anymore? Try to encourage your friends to not give their business to any company that acts in such a hostile way to honest, albeit uncooperative, customers? Spend a ton of money on a lawsuit that Walmart will use its very deep pockets to fight? [More]
This Man Is Terrible At Smashing Up A Burger King
By 1.12.10
We suppose January is Fast Food Violence month on the Internet. Here we have what appears to be an international submission — a YouTube video of a man who throws a drink against the wall — then attempts to use a chair to smash up the glass door of a Burger King. [More]
More Footage Of The McDonald's Water Thrower
By 1.11.10
Last week I posted a clip of an angry McDonald’s customer throwing water at the cashiers. Here’s a new clip of her tirade–sort of a greatest hits compilation. It turns out it wasn’t mop water, so that’s a plus, but she did manage to push all three registers off the counter.
“Caught on Tape: Women Goes Apeshit at McDonald’s Over Bad Hamburger” [True Crime Report]
DNA And Fingerprints Collected From 1982 Tylenol Poisoning Suspect
By 1.9.10
The 1982 Tylenol poisoning murders, the chief reason why the tamper-proof packages of modern over-the-counter medications must be broken into with, at minimum, a chainsaw, are being investigated again in light of new tips and new forensic techniques. Well, that only took 28 years. [More]
T-Mobile Changes Mind, Lets Family Off The Hook For Stolen Phone Charges
By 1.8.10
Yesterday I posted about Zeb, a special needs guy whose phone was stolen shortly before Christmas. Between then and when his family found out about the theft and reported it to T-Mobile, the thief had made $6,000 in international calls and texts–and T-Mobile wanted Zeb’s family to pay $1,500 of that.
Today I received word from Zeb’s dad that T-Mobile has changed its mind and won’t hold Zeb or his family responsible for the bogus charges. His email is below.
Check Fraudster Strikes On Craigslist
By 1.8.10
Hopefully most of you know better than to ever accept a check from a stranger, but I think it’s always good to share horror stories like this one to remind people of why it’s a bad idea. The problem is, if you deposit a check that turns out to be fake, you’re the one who will be held responsible for it. Unlike credit card theft, there’s no law or rule in place to protect you from check fraud or advance fee fraud–and your bank doesn’t want to be left holding the bag any more than you do. [More]
T-Mobile Wants Family To Pay $1500 In Bogus Charges On Phone Stolen From Special Needs Customer
By 1.7.10
Jennifer wrote to us about the trouble a family in South Carolina is having over a huge T-Mobile bill: “Zeb, a special needs adult living with his parents, had his cell phone stolen just prior to Christmas. By the time the theft was discovered, $6000 in calls and text messages had been made to Honduras.” The good news is that T-Mobile hasn’t asked the family to pay the full $6,000. The bad news is that they do want them to pay a fourth of that. Update: T-Mobile has let the family off the hook. [More]
Apple Says They're Investigating Stolen iPhone Claim
By 1.6.10
Alisa, who told us last week that Apple wouldn’t help her get back her stolen iPhone, has written to us today with an update.
This whole situation has turned out to be a happy story, e-mailing Steve Jobs actually turned out pretty well. I e-mailed him the same day I emailed you, which was the 30th of December, on the 2nd of January I got a phone call from the executive office of Apple.
Hungry McDonald's Customer Throws Mop Water At Cashiers
By 1.6.10
A bucket of dirty mop water is nobody’s friend, which is exactly why you shouldn’t leave it out where customers can reach it. Because eventually someone will get angry over an order and feel a need to throw something, and oh look, mop water. [More]
Do Not Punch Out A Drive Thru Window Because There Are No McNuggets
By 1.4.10
Here is a suggestion from the experts here at Consumerist. Do not punch out the drive thru window of your local McDonald’s because they are unable to provide you with McNuggets. [More]
Customer Catches Cashier Stealing From Company, Wonders What To Do
By 12.31.09
In a timely coincidence to the New York Times’ story on employee theft, the following story arrived in our tipline about a day ago. The tipster wants to know who he should report this to: the store or the police? [More]
Tackling, Stabbing, & Fake Heart Attacks: A Walmart Shoplifting Gone Awry
By 12.31.09
A Tennessee couple tried to bum-rush the exit of a Walmart with a cart packed with $2000 worth TVs and a computer. When an off-duty police officer showed his badge after the man tried to muscle past the greeter, the would-be five-finger discounter said it was fake and tried to push through. The cop tackled the man and cuffed him. Then it got even better: [More]
