Love Letter From A Woman Reporting Fraud
I'm on hold and the hold music is good!
Hello, angels. I’m sitting on the phone waiting to report a fraudulent charge, and figured I’d wish my lovely subscribers a very Happy New Year!
I don’t usually do True Crime Content (TM), but much of this issue of SARATONIN is inspired by scammers and the scammy scams they scammeth. Non-scam things also included!
I really enjoy the podcast SCAM GODDESS by my pal Laci Mosley. Now brought to you by esteemed podfather Conan O’Brien, this hilarious podcast also engages in a ton of advocacy. It’s a fabulous bait and switch in a sense - come for the scams, stay for the insight into human behavior, structural racism, economics, psychology, and much more. Laci’s meta-scam to make you a smarter, better person continues to delight!
In non-scam news, Laci’s podcast cover photo is one of my all-time favorite portraits of an artiste. It was taken by the divine Robyn Von Swank, an amazing and really funny photographer friend of mine. Von Swank took my photo at the top of this very newsletter. I really love Robyn’s Instagram of bizarre mythological and spiritual iconography, Von Swank Curiosities.
I realized today that I’d been falsely charged by a gift company from which I purchased something in December. Ooh, holiday fraud! I bet some scammers correctly assume that with all the hustle and bustle of the season, we won’t notice shit like this right away. Go ahead and check on your accounts just in case you have an issue like this.
THEN I realized today that I’ve been getting auto-charged by a company that promised to delete my account in November of 2022! Wow! Once again, go ahead and check on your stuff.
I’m really enjoying
because they really know how to analyze legal scammy scams in Hollywood. They also often provide workable solutions.In more non-scam news, the editing and reporting legend
of The Ankler has a wonderful newsletter called where she talks about intellectual property available for adaptation. As an author who has benefited greatly from past options of my books, I am knocked out that somebody would do this work and advocacy for writers. It’s so cool, because some of the things Janice finds have truly gotten very little exposure and deserve more love.Want to make a one-time contribution instead of committing to a subscription? Here’s my Venmo for tips.
Kitty cats: the ultimate scammers
Random Pile o’ Links for Good Stuff to Read
HUD Finds Discrimination in Chicago’s Public Housing Development - Dwell
This Housing Center Provides Sanctuary for Starting Over - Dwell
- I can’t stop recommending! - Huzzah!“BIFF: Quick Responses to High Conflict People” by Bill Eddy - Really helpful toolkit for communications, even with folks who are not messy and dramatic.
Bookshop.org - A place to purchase books and support your local indies.
My Instagram - Obviously an incredible important online platform for cat photos.
FYI, SARATONIN subscribers get four issues per month (like this one.) These will typically drop on Wednesday or Thursday. Paid subscribers get two extra issues per month. These will typically drop whenever I feel like it. Thanks for being here!
Love,
Sara