Intresting day...I hate crimals...

[TAB]

So a little after lunch I got a call from a lady, looking for me.

"Is this..."

"yes, how did you get this number?"


"From the Contracting board web site, the phone number on you biz card was disconnected.( big red flag, I have never had biz cards, never need them) when are you going to paint my house, you took my deposit a month ago"

"excuse me?  I've been out of biz, since jan 1."

"that can't be, you took 2 grand from me a month ago as a deposit to paint my house"  ( big red flag  you can only take a grand max up front)

"what did the guy look like?"

Of corse the guy looked nothing like me.  She went into detail about the contract, that were illegal...

After talking too her for about 20 mins, I finally said, whats your address, I'll be right there.

So I took my Contracting card, a copys of all my info and went to see her.  So we gathered up all the info she had and went strait to the Contracting board, turns out there has been two other people come forward saying the same thing.  They are investaging.  I've been unoffically cleared, but still put a call into my lawyer, and put a notice in the paper for a week stating that some one  is going around pretending to be me.   

I feel bad for the lady and the others scamed by this guy.  I'm debating if I want to go paint that ladys house for free, the $400 bucks or so in paint is alot of money for me right now.

[Dakotaranger]

   Sorry Tab.  I can understand the compulsion to want to go paint this lady's house, but if you can't afford it...

[Rob10ring]

Tab, that's pretty generous to want to help the lady out, but she didn't really do her homework. Buyer beware. And if the impostor hits very many suckers, you're going to be a rally busy guy. Still good that you want to help.

[sledgemeister]

Thats pretty low.
Personally I wouldnt be volounteering to paint any ones house. 1 you cant as you said afford it, 2 it may open the door for others scammed to come knocking expecting the same.
Back off and let the local coppers/ fraud squad investigate.

[BAC]

TAB, she got scammed by this guy, but he is pretending to be you, so you're also a victim.  Wanting to paint her house is noble, but I agree with the others that it would be setting you up for the others to come to you to "make it right" for free.  Let the authorities do their thing.

[Sponsor]

[alfsauve]

Sorry, TAB, 

I understand the compulsion to right the wrong.  You're not at fault.   On the other hand something really good could come of it. 




Of course, then there's the old saying,  "No good deed goes unpunished" ;-)

[Pathfinder]

There's identity theft, adn then there's this. Geez, TAB, sorry to hear about this. When they catch the guy, you can always sue him, but no doubt there will be nothing to recover.

You owe the other victims nothing, and it would set a very bad precedent. You just need to suck it up and let the process run its course.

Consider posting signs where this guy hangs the phony cards, and let the owners of said establishments know of the ongoing fraud as well. They will police their own boards after that, else they are complicit.

[tombogan03884]

I'm with the others on this one, YOU are just as much a victim as the people who lost money, since he is not only stealing their money, he is also stealing and trashing your professional reputation.

[PegLeg45]

Crappy situation, TAB...people like that are the lowest form.....but, I have to agree with the others on how to handle it. I applaud your sentiment towards painting the house (that would be my first inclination too), but, no need to set yourself up for more grief.

[twyacht]

Identity Theft is a rampant affliction. I hope it works out, you have had enough on your plate without this BS...

Keep an eye on your credit report, and put all your accounts on alert for any other incursions.

All the best.