Some idiot named "John" ordered flower arrangements that he sent to two women on the same day, at the same time, from the same vendor with my credit card, while my wife and I were in the air flying home from Las Vegas to Texas. Here's what the moron wrote to the woman named, "Marie B*******":
I am sending this to show you how much you mean to me. I really cant [sic] wait to meet you in person. John.
Here's what the moron wrote to the woman named, "Laurie W********":
I am sending this to show you how much you mean to me. I really cant [sic] wait to meet you in person. John.
We requested the bill from Amex, which included not only the above sentiments, but the addresses and names to which and to whom these floral arrangements were supposed to be delivered. (They happen to both be in Arizona).
Because Amex has refused to remove the nearly $200 worth of charges after "their investigation," it's time for Frank Beckwith, internet sleuth, to kick into high gear.
I will not only remedy this financial wrong, I may save two damsels from a first class jerk. Wish me luck!
Update: It only took me about 61 minutes--with the help of google, online county property and business records (in Maricopa and Yavapai) as well as the Mac white pages widget--to find Marie's real address and phone number as well as Laurie's email address, real address, and place of employment. Neither one apparently lives alone. It looks like Marie lives with her husband and Laurie with a man that does not share her last name. Why couldn't the Amex "investigators" do this? I already emailed Laurie. I plan on calling Marie tomorrow.
Comments (8)
This could be fun. I wanna help.
Posted by Michael Bauman | July 27, 2008 1:07 AM
Seems like everyone wants to be you these days.
Posted by Todd | July 27, 2008 1:48 AM
Best of luck, Frank.
Posted by Michael S. | July 27, 2008 4:55 AM
Is AmEx really that unreasonable?
Posted by T. Chan | July 27, 2008 5:54 AM
How did he get the credit card number? Maybe I should be more hesitant to order stuff on-line! They always say, "Sign in with our secure server." Hmmm.
Posted by Lydia | July 27, 2008 9:23 AM
"Let me be Frank with you, Marie..."
Posted by Zippy | July 27, 2008 10:57 AM
Coincidentally, my credit card number was stolen just a few weeks ago. The charge was billed to a (bogus-looking) website in Israel that apparently triggered an automatic flag, which resulted in the company actually contacting me within 1 day to determine whether the charge was mine (obviously not).
I'm somewhat surprised that AmEx is being so difficult though perhaps they're taking a hard line because of the rise in payment delinquencies. Good luck.
Maybe I should be more hesitant to order stuff on-line! They always say, "Sign in with our secure server." Hmmm.
There are so many ways to get hold of a credit card number that I don't know if ordering on-line increases your risk that much (assuming you follow ordinary precautions). It seems to me that it's the number of different businesses that gain access to your number when you make charges (and your number is recorded on their computers regardless of how you give it to them) that really increases your risk. Some credit cards have the option of creating virtual numbers, but I've read that they are easily overcome by manually submitting the claim.
Posted by Perseus | July 28, 2008 3:04 AM
I love this, your great. Not only are you doing something to rectify your situation but your also trying to help someone else. Your the man Frank.
Posted by Leandria | February 4, 2009 11:54 PM