Bob,
Most con artists/scammers depend on the fact that a significant percentage of people either want something for nothing or have some degree of larceny in their own hearts - those are the human characteristics they exploit in order to work the con. That having been said, I don't see that you, in this instance, exposed either of those things to exploit: you were doing what you do professionally, pursuing an offer that gave you a legitimate advantage play. The fact that your vetting process/BS meter failed you in this case was unfortunate (and costly) but just proves that you're human, just like everyone else.
A third supposed exploitable weakness, stupidity, I believe is over-rated (and is also not applicable in this case). People are of varying degrees of intelligence, but even the most simplistic, or most sophisticated cons, I believe, correlate much better with the first two I mentioned. Take Bernie Madoff for instance. Probably the biggest con of all time, and the people he exploited were for the most part highly intelligent, experienced investors. But they believed that they could get something (high, steady returns) for nothing (no risk).
Just because you have the ability to expose this dirtbag publicly and you used it doesn't make you a bad or vindictive person. Personally, in your situation, I'd prefer to tie him to a long pole and slowly roast him over a medium-hot fire for two or three days. But that's just me. And I don't have a column that can, hopefully, cause him even more pain, for a longer period of time. But I would like to applaud you for having the humility to write those columns, showing that ANYONE can be scammed, and teaching a valuable life lesson to those willing to learn.
Guru
Certainly the game is rigged. Don't let that stop you; if you don't bet, you can't win. -Lazarus Long
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is. -Yogi Berra
There is no such thing as luck. There is only adequate or inadequate preparation to cope with a statistical universe. -Robert Heinlein
>________________________________
> From: Bob Dancer <bobdancervp@hotmail.com>
>To: "vpfree@yahoogroups.com" <vpfree@yahoogroups.com>
>Sent: Wednesday, August 7, 2013 9:47 AM
>Subject: RE: [vpFREE] Re: Bob Dancer classes and Part 2
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>Braziliandom wrote: Mr. Dancer didn't do his due diligence and is suffering the consequences of
>his own slooppiness. Entrusting $2.2k (or, potentially, $10k) to a stranger
>and convict felon?!
>
>Fair point (I don't actually know if Toll's a convicted felon --- or even convicted of a misdemeanor. I've learned he's been arrested at least twice --- and I learned this afterwards.)
>
>Toll's email address is "Jeff Warren", not "Jeff Warren Toll." I actually didn't even have his full name until I got there. Now of course that seems that that should have been a huge red flag. Harder to see the color as it was happening.
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>Each of us have to make judgement calls about trusting people in a variety of contexts. Usually I've had pretty good success at reading people well. This one didn't turn out so well for me. Things are almost always clearer afterwards than they were at the time you make your decisions.
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>Bob
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>To
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