Friday, March 27, 2009

Scam

How could anyone still have the guts to scam people who are already in the middle of a crisis, I wonder.

You all know that my family's going through a tough time right now because I wrote about it on all of my blogs with the hopes of getting information/leads to organizations/foundations that could help us avail treatments for my niece who is afflicted with leukemia.

Two days ago, I received a comment from an update post on After His Own Heart, Warren woke me up excitedly to let me know that someone from China offered to help, it all sounded so appealing because the claim was that 9 of their patients since December are now completely, 100%, cancer-free and have returned to their normal lives (school/work/family).

I contacted this person, let her know that we cannot afford anymore expensive treatments especially such as the one they are offering but asked anyway how we can avail of the medicines, what company manufactured it and I asked for references that I can use to check the validity on the internet. She replied and this is what she had to say: (I am assuming it's a "she")

Dear Mrs. Hazel Chua

Thanks for you reply.

It is very sad to know that you are short in budget. But we cannot provide your niece with free treatment. We spent 14 years on developing medicine and still have a loan of 1 million US dollars behind us. We charged $40,000 for each patient in China with the promise of completely cure (live as normal people, no chemotherapy, marriage and have children). Without any profit, the cost is still around $20,000. I know this must sound cruel for you and your family, but in order to pay back the loan we cannot compromise any more. Hope you can understand our difficulty.

You cannot find the medicine in market. It is a secret prescription and only made by us. (emphasis added)

On the other hand, I will still help you to spread the news of your niece. I sincerely hope you can raise enough money as quickly as possible for your niece. Hope you will still turn to us at that time. But I will always respect your choice.

May our faith save your niece.

Best regards,

Ming
Well, that was all it took for me to realize that it was all a scam. This person, whoever it is, takes advantage of people like us and that is just so, so sad. I wasn't supposed to write about it anymore thinking that people like this Ming person are not worth investing time and energy on but I realized that I am not the only blogger who has a cancer-stricken family member who blogs about it, so yeah, this is more for the benefit of those who are going through dark periods like us and may have or could received/receive an email/comment on their blog from a scammer like Ming, please beware.

And lastly, not someone who would just brush this email off and throw it on the recycle bin for the www to gobble up in oblivion forever, I responded and this is what I have got to say:

Hi Ming,

Why would you keep it a secret if it is as effective as you say it is? Would you not make more money if you advertise it and put it out on the market? There are millions of people affected by cancer all over the world and you could certainly make so much more, pay back your loan and get rich by getting this medicine on every pharmaceutical company worldwide.

Why do I suddenly feel that your email and your drug claim is just a scam? I am not bitter that I cannot afford your medicine, but I am not stupid not to smell the stench that you lace your correspondence with. I hope that what me and my family and my niece are going through right now won't happen to you or your family or someone you love. Taking advantage of people who are already in crisis is not humane, so I wonder, from what zoo do you belong?

Hazel
I just thought I should have the last word. :)