I've Been Frauded - My Bank Blows Donkey Balls!

So I just got off the phone with my Bank (Understand how much I love Banks).

I was informed that my Debit Card was comprised and disabled to protect me. This wasn't a shock to me as I've had my debit and credit card accounts compromised 6 times in the past 5 years. Gary informed me that my card was used at a location with an employee suspected of defrauding cards, who could have had access to my number or who had tried frauding my card number directly.

My issue isn't with the method of protection, or the fact that it took them 2 days to call me after disabling my account. My issue deals with the banks protection of the fraud artists. I asked Gary if he could let me know what store was the store in question of defrauding my account. His response was "It's not the store that tried to fraud your card, it's the employee". Why oh why does the store get off so easily?? Shouldn't the responsibility lie with the store to find honest employees? Obviously, I'm not at fault, nor is the bank. The store should take some responsibility in hiring honest, law abiding employees before allowing them access to personal financial information.

The past 4 times my account was compromised, it was done at Gas Stations. I will take a wild guess and point the blame at some jerk-ass gas station employee. I guess the only way around this would be to only use cash at Gas Stations.

Sweet Deals ond Shit-ass Electronics!

Yes folks! You heard it here first!

I'm willing to sell you Shit ass electronics if you're willing to part with $160.

The other day a friend of mine and I were approached in a parking lot by a dude in a van looking to offload some ultra-premium HiFi systems. Now, You're probably asking yourself "Who uses the term HiFi Systems". Well, the answer is me!

This Dude pulls up in a 1985 Dodge Caravan and explains that he's a delivery guy who is looking to offload some extra stereo equipment. Now I'm not really in the market for a stereo system, but My DVD player (PS2) recently broke, and by broke I mean I tried hot wiring it so it could play import video games and pirate movies. So, this champ slides open his caravan door to show me some still-boxed Genesis Media Labs stereo systems. HE explains that they're top of the line and worth thousands. Since I've never heard of Genesis Media Labs, I would assume they're on par with Wal-Mart's Colby brand or Radio Shack's Realistik brand. The "Delivery boy" then proceeds to pull out an ultra high gloss "Hi Def Authority" magazine. He immediately opens the page to a photo if the Genesis Media Labs Ultra-Gizmo 6000 with a MSRP sticker of $5,999.99. HE says he'd be willing to part with his Gizmo-doodad for the ultra low cost of $400. Sounds like a whopper of a deal to me. Unfortunately, my bullshit detector kicks in. I quickly question myself:
#1 - What's a delivery boy doing with a Stereo magazine?
#2 - What the hell brand is Genesis Media Labs?
#3 - How low can I go?

So, I tell the guy that although I appreciate his offer, I'm not interested in paying that much for a no-name stereo system. That was the wrong move. He proceeded to tell me how good the system was and pointed out a write-up in "Hi Def Authority" magazine that listed this system's superior audio quality. Since I was obviously not interested in anything he was selling, he decided to show me a slightly cheaper system. Again, he slapped open this mysterious Genesis love magazine and showed me that this lesser system was still worth $4G. He said he'd do me a favour and sell it to me for $300. Again, I told him I wasn't interested, as I wasn't in the stereo market. I'm just trying to get out of this conversation while he's taking it as me bing a shrewd negotiator. I felt like the father from "A Christmas Story" trying to haggle over the price of a beat-up Christmas tree. He then asks me how much I was willing to spend. I take a moment to pause and think about my stereo needs at home:
#1 - My DVD player is toast
#2 - My stereo system remote doesn't work
#3 - If nothing else I could sell either my stuff or this crap on ebay for $100 easily.
I tell him that I don't have any money and any offer I propose to him would be a slap in the face. He wants to know what number I'm thinking of. So I tell him that I'm willing to part with $100 for this $4G system. He ponders, and counter offers with $200. For me, $200 is steep for the Genesis System of unknown. I Thanked him for his time and let him know I wasn't interested. In a last ditch effort to pawn off his wares, he offers to take $160. I decline and he moves on to the next customer. For me, I'd rather kick myself at passing up a good deal than kicking myself for buying utter crap.

Luckily I did a bit of research on this Genesis Media Labs. As it turns out, my suspicions were correct. The brand is crappier than baby's diaper.

Countless people have been duped into buying this stereo system that seems to be put together with used umbilical cords and tin cans.

I searched online and found a lot of unhappy customers. I'd like to take a moment to thank my parents. My Dad always says "If it's too good to be true, it probably is"

So, To celebrate my dad's birthday I'd like to thank him.

Here's a ling with some dude who got duped. He spent $450 for the system I could have gotten for $160. Now aside from the fact that the guy who got duped was a real estate agent and should be a better negotiator than me, this just proves that anyone can be taken in.

I'll pass this information on to my friends. Guys - Beware the Genesis Media Labs scam.

PS> people are selling this jazz on eBay and allover the net. Beware