I suspect its a new way to try to drum up business.

This was a scam. Someone hacked into the provider's email and sent out that request. She is contacting VIP's through private mail about the scam.

But, it was a phone call.  Was a call from a provider that I had spoken with while she was in town.  Location never worked out, so nothing never happened. Time passed (months, maybe a year)and I got a phone call out of the blue from her.  She claimed she lost everything at the airport in Phoenix and couldn't get back to L.A. (her base).  She wanted me to wire her $$$ or purchase a tix.

I couldn't remember who she was so I goggled her and realized that she was a hottie. So, I asked her why she was calling me 'cause there HAS to be a client that she HAS seen that would of helped her out for an exchange or something.  Why you calling me?  Someone you've never met. She went into this whole story...

Bottom line, I told her that it wasn't going to happen and it was inappropriate. Interesting.

Without calling one out due to the fact that mine or your could have been legit. All i will say is that her first name started with a "C" and ended with a "A".

Things that make you go hummmmm

Recently a brother of mine had his yahoo account hijacked. Someone in England sent out a distress message to all in his address book asking for financial assistance. Of course it was a scam. Maybe???

...and not a TER PM, then there isn't much you can really do, besides tell people privately. Since you don't currently have VIP, that isn't an option. If it was done via TER PM, then you would also have the option of notifying Admin about the problem.

I see nothing wrong wsith someone asking others for help. True, there are many phony scams, but there are also real emergencies and desparate situations people face. Now 62, a homeowner (and landlord) with a profession, I recall some days in my early twenties when I literally didn't have a place to stay or food to eat. I will never forget how that feels.

In my personal opinion, a plea to another person for help, from a person who really needs it, is never inappropriate. Sometimes, you choose not to give it, or simply can't.

But I've sometimes, when able to, taken such pleas for help at face value. A couple of years ago, for instance, chatting on line with a Chicago student who claimed to not have anything to eat for the weekend and no money to buy food, I called up and ordered Chinese food delivered to her place, even though I had never met her (and never did, although I've chatted and talked to her since via phone and email, and the request was never repeated).

Maybe I was scammed, although the lack of repeated requests makes me doubt it, but maybe I just helped a person not go hungry. Given that I culd afford it, and it was not a big deal, I'm ok with having, if anything, erred kin the direction of generosity. Life is too short and harsh to always be suspicious of others.

If you think I'm just too naive, that's your opinion. I have my own