The Lone Ranger

Submitted by RaoulTGIF on Fri, 06/20/2014 - 06:18

ROYAL BAHAMA CRUISE SCAM

Learn from my mistake. A few days ago I got a call from a Survey Company. They said they were going to ask me a few questions and they would reward me with a 3 day cruise to Royal Bahama Cruise Lines. Of course I was sceptical but since they weren't asking me personal questions, I played along and answered about 10 questions. Sure enough a few minutes later Dylan Andre, a live person from the Bahama CL, called and congratulated me for all my splendid answers and said I was so fortunate because I got one of the last cabins available. Whoop di doo! I decided to play tough and answered with terse YESes and NOs in my deep unfriendly baritone. I envisioned the nervous guy sweating buckets and fidgetting through his Response Cheat Sheet. As he fumbled trying to strike up a conversation I was online busily Googling "Bahama scam" and discovered quite a few very angry victims. I kept on asking "what's the catch?" And he kept on defending that this was absolutely, positively, "I swear by my mother's grave" FREE! But! (here it comes!) the only charge was a standard government Port Tax that cost $118. "So when I pay this tax, will the US governmnet be the recepient of this non-refundable amount?" I asked. He had me wait a few minutes for the response. He probably went for a bathroom run, poor guy. Surprisingly, the next voice was his boss, Taylor Gibson, who apologized for her underling's lack of higher learning. It took a while but she finally admitted that her company and not the US government would appear in my bank statement. But she did sound convincing and I thought for $118, this would be a fine gift to one of my kids. I started giving my Credit Card number. Yup! I really did. I must have been hypnotized over the phone. But blame it on a poor phone connection I fumbled and we kept on repeating inaudible numbers until I finally said "forget it! Scam or not, I changed my mind!" Click! And that was the last I heard from Royal Bahama. They never called back. They were probably glad to get rid of me and I think this was a blessing in disguise. What do you think? Was it a scam?

Wisdom from Joji of Antipolo, Philippines
Words of Wisdom

Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.
--- Albert Einstein

Thanks to this week's winners:
Joji of Antipolo; Tom, Dr. Al and Art of Pasadena; Charlie of New York; Naomi of N Hollywood

You can view this email
and send me
feedback online at TRAVELINGBOY.com/tgifjoke

"My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent ... they make haste to shed blood. Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird ... So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners."

--- Proverbs 1: 10-19

Summertime with The Lone Ranger and Tonto
Contributed by Dr. Al of Pasadena, CA

The Lone Ranger and Tonto walked into a bar one day and sat down to drink a beer. After a few minutes, a big tall cowboy walked in and said, "Who owns the big white horse outside?"

The Lone Ranger stood up, hitched his gunbelt and said "I do. Why?"
 

The cowboy looked at the Lone Ranger and said, "I just thought you would like to know that your horse is just about dead outside."

The Lone Ranger and Tonto rushed outside and sure enough, Silver was about dead from heat exhaustion. The Lone Ranger got him some water and made him drink it. Soon Silver was starting to feel better.

The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and said, "Tonto, I want you to run around Silver and see if you can create enough of a breeze to make him start to feel better."

Tonto said, "Sure, Kemosabe," and took off running circles around Silver.

 
Not able to do anything but wait, the Lone Ranger returned to the bar to finish his drink. A few minutes later, another cowboy struts into the bar and announces, "Who owns that big white horse outside?"
 

The Lone Ranger stands again and claims, "I do. What is wrong with him this time?"

The cowboy says to him,
"Nothin' much, I just wanted you to know....you left your Injun running!"

Senior Trying to Set a Password
Contributed by Naomi of North Hollywood, CA

COMPUTER: Please enter your new password.

SENIOR: cabbage

COMPUTER: Sorry, the password must be more than 8 characters.
 

SENIOR: boiled cabbage

COMPUTER: Sorry, the password must contain 1 numerical character.

SENIOR: 1 boiled cabbage

COMPUTER: Sorry, the password cannot have blank spaces.
 
SENIOR: 50bloodyboiledcabbages

COMPUTER: Sorry, the password must contain at least one upper case character.

SENIOR: 50BLOODYboiledcabbages
COMPUTER: Sorry, the password cannot use more than one upper case character consecutively.

SENIOR:
50BloodyBoiledCabbagesShovedUpYour XxxIfYouDon'tGiveMeAccessNow!

COMPUTER: Sorry, the password cannot contain punctuation.

SENIOR:
ReallyPissedOff50BloodyBoiledCabbagesShovedUpYourXxxIfYouDontGiveMeAccessNow

COMPUTER: Sorry, that password is already in use.

Camping Tip
(Not a Joke)
Practical application contributed by Naomi of North Hollywood, CA


Videos of the week: (click on the picture)

Why Women Have Handbags
Contributed by Don of Kelowna, BC
WARNING: Contains graphic image. Not fit for sensitive eyes.

Why WOmen Have Handbags

Being a guy, I've often wondered why women always seem to carry something --- be it a handbag or a palm sized purse. I mean really, is makeup that important?
After watching this video I get it.

Karen Carpenter Sound Alike
Contributed by Tom of Pasadena, CA

Karen Carpenter sound alike

My wife and I have often commented on how strong America's culture has impacted the rest of the world. Who would have thought that the late Karen Carpenter still has fans in non-English speaking countries like Japan? Keiko Toge doesn't have the accent but she does have the same voice timber. Eerie.

World Cup Fever
Contributed by Charlie of New York

World Cup Commercial

Did you catch the world cup fever? I confess I'm not much into it but I do enjoy watching the fans root for their favorites. This video helps people like me get into the mood.

Nike Joins the Frenzy
Contributed by Charlie of New York

Nike Commercial

Nike capitalizes on the soccer season and puts you in the "shoes" of a professional soccer player. It's as if you are in this guy's body. Pretty cool.

Dance Floor Surprise
Contributed by Charlie of New York amd Art of Pasadena, CA

Big Disco Dancer

This Saturday my wife are going to a college reunion in LA's Chinatown where Disco Dancing is in the agenda. I wish I could dance like this guy. I didn't know you could have such grace and flexibility with that body.

TGIF guys! See you at the dance floor!

Tags:

Comments

Anonymous

Fri, 06/20/2014 - 23:07

Hi! Hope all is we'll. FYI, the Mountain Dew thing is a hoax. Checked it out a few months ago cuz I wanted to try it with the kids. Snopes.com has it.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/food/mountaindew.asp

-- Sarah of Glendale, CA

Anonymous

Fri, 06/20/2014 - 23:08

Thank heavens you were not scammed. Like they say, if it's too good to be true, chances are it's not true, ha,ha....Thanks too for passing it on, and with a sense of humor to boot! You are a dear.

--- Dette of Mindanao, Philippines

Anonymous

Fri, 06/20/2014 - 23:09

Very well done.

--- Dr. Al of Pasadena, CA

Anonymous

Fri, 06/20/2014 - 23:11

Hi, Raoul:

Yep, sounds like a scam to me! I've had a few similar experiences to the Royal Bahama Cruise Scam. Here are a couple:

A number of years ago, a vacuum cleaner salesman (I should have been suspicious right there!) came to our house, and if we were willing to sit through their demonstration of their vacuum cleaner, and we would win a free trip to Hawaii! Well, we sat through their demonstration -- and actually bought their vacuum cleaner (my hubby put it through the "acid test" by seeing if it would grind up leftover foam -- which it did). And we did actually win the trip to Hawaii -- for one (we had to pay the other ticket and traveling expenses out-of-pocket!).

Also, shortly after we bought our recent RV, we were given a free year-long membership to the Colorado River Association, and we would be given a "free" gift and allowed a 4-night free stay at their "resort" closest to where we live -- provided that we sit through one of their "orientations." The "resort" turned out to be a cramped campsite up against the 10 Freeway (and their water pump went out while we were there)! Their "orientation" turned out to be a sales pitch to buy into a lifetime membership with the CRA. My husband calculated all the costs in his head while pretending to act interested. When it was about time for the orientation to be over, he let them have it with both barrels! They asked us to kindly leave and pick up our "prize" on the way out. The "prize" turned out to be 100 free gallons of gasoline -- provided we spent no more than $25 at a time and used one of "their" gas stations! And we later found out the "free" membership was only good for 4 days at a time -- excluding weekends and holidays! AND -- the resort was closed December-March AND we had to wait a minimum of 60 days between visits! Humph! Some deal! As a result, we let our "free" membership lapse....

Then, we were given a call from someone (allegedly) with the IRA saying that they would give us a "rebate" if we "verified" our bank account number with them! We were just about ready to give them the number -- until something inside me screamed "SCAM"! We finally told the "agent" to let the IRS keep their money; we weren't interested. Googled it afterwards, and it was indeed a scam. Dodged a bullet there!

There are a lot of scams out there that prey on unsuspecting people. Reminds me of the old adage: "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on ME!"

TGIF!

-- Cheryl of Arcadia

Anonymous

Fri, 06/20/2014 - 23:12

Definitely a scam and good you disconnected! There are so many out there and many gullible people are falling for the scams. I have found that if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

My Son is traveling in Italy and dealing with Gypsies and loving the experience! I warned him to carry. Money belt and his protect his possessions.

Thanks.

--- Tom of Pasadena!

Anonymous

Fri, 06/20/2014 - 23:14

They called you + they ask for your credit card # = a scam.

It is FREE + you have to pay something = a scam

--- Tom L of Pasadena, CA

p.s.
Now if you really want to thank me, what is that credit card number?

Anonymous

Fri, 06/20/2014 - 23:15

Have fun with the disco dancing. I googled the Mountain Dew thing figuring there would be something with more precise measurements and found http://www.snopes.com/photos/food/mountaindew.asp Those Snopes folks must be awful busy all the time!

Have a great weekend.

--- Jody of Silver Spring, CA

Anonymous

Fri, 06/27/2014 - 20:15

Hey R...

In answer to your qstn, YES that IS one of the oldest (!!!) scams going, and it suckers in hundreds and hundreds all the time.

So glad YOU were not bamboozled by them.

john, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Anonymous

Fri, 06/27/2014 - 20:17

I smell a scam! You are fortunate you got out without a second to spare.

Thanks for the TGIF!

Enjoy your weekend,

Rick of Chino Hills, CA

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