Hello again everyone,

I am truly on the fence about a potential client and whether he is serious or just a really experienced timewaster.

He contacted me through my website.  It wasn't the best intro but it also wasn't the worst.

He wanted me to travel a fair distance from my home and wanted to know whether I would travel by cab or car because he lived on a small street and needed me to be discreet. 

I replied that I needed more info than a cell number and a hotmail address.  If he wanted me to travel to his city he would have to provide his name and address and a landline so I could verify that he would actually be there.  He provided a name, address but the phone number was unlisted so I couldn't verify that it was actually attched to that address.   

 I had also given him the option of making a deposit through email money transfer and sent him some information about it.

He didn't make a deposit and his phone numbers, address and email address don't tell me anything about this guy.

At this point I was going to leave it but I gave him the benefit of the doubt and explained why I needed to verify his info.  He replied with his name, his position and a work phone number.  The work number comes up as a landline in a nearby town.  When I called the number I got the voicemail of a man supposedly with the same name.  My bother is that it's still telling me nothing because I can't verify that this phone number is actually connected to the company he says he works at.  I've researched the company and found that it exists but it has no website .

As I write it I'm thinking I'm the thick one, he's got to be a time waster.  If he is I've never had one hang on so long.  They usually go away once I ask for a deposit. 

Ok, tell me what an idiot I am.  Or am I?

I have to concur with Annabelle totally on this one. For you to post your gut instinct must be telling you this guy is a waster and from my experience I'd say you're right. Don't worry though there'll be another on along in a bit 

Time wasters are a bit like con men, they get you to invest in the scam to the point you don't want to be wrong and will do anything to be right, even to the point of going against your own judgement.

It's true! Sounds very serious but it's really not uncommon - my worst timewasters have been few and far between but have wasted a LOT of my time and even put me right off working for a bit.

Also, some people are shockingly thick. So you might be experiencing a delightful mixture of both with this guy. Yay.

Yes, of course  you're right!  I did know it in my gut.

Thanks for the confirmation,
L.

Well, well, well, didn't he suprise us all.

He came back with an email address with his proper name ( rather than hotmail )AND a deposit.

Wonders never cease.

 

Let us know how it goes!

I was thinking of the Warrington Man from Warnings & Wasters section.

Yes I was thinking about him too.