MOBILE, ALABAMA: The day started off like any other for local machinist Danny Smiggens. Quick breakfast then he headed into work at 7AM and spent his morning reviewing drawings, instructions, and blueprints to ensure accurate production. But come lunch time he was unprepared for the Facebook notifications he was about to check.
The day before he had accepted a friend request from one Mike Cook: A man who recently moved to the area to care for his elderly mother and live rent free while being out of work. The two had been involved in a couple of conversations on a local fishing group’s wall. Feeling like they had a similar outlook on certain subjects like fishing regulations and how to prepare red fish, Danny didn’t hesitate to accept the request.
Little did he know Mike had been snooping his Facebook profile and spotted the 23′ Pathfinder in Danny’s cover photo.
When Danny opened his phone to find he had 4 unread Facebook notifications, he eagerly clicked through to check them. The first was a new post on his personal wall from his new friend Mike. “Hey Danny, thanks for accepting my friend request. Saw you got a sweet fishing machine! I’d be more than happy to pay for gas if you wanna get out soon. I’m think maybe Sat or Sun morning, lemme know! Seeya, buddy.”
Danny nearly fainted from the shocking revelation his new friend Mike was a grifter. He’d been decieved by casual conversation in a social networking group of similar interests. A con man had trapped him.
With beads of sweat dancing on his brow he clicked through Mike’s profile. As he dug deeper and deeper it only got worse. Mike was a Grade-A loser. Obviously in his late 40s, unemployed, living with his mother and didn’t even seem to own his own car. What had he done?! And he didn’t just send a message, he left it on his profile wall for all to see and watch for Danny’s reaction.
As his pulse continued to accelerate and he grew dizzy, Mike decided there was only one option for the immediate future. He deleted his Facebook app without reacting to the post on his wall. He’d reassess getting back on the platform at a future date.
