-
Law, Policy -- and IT?
Tracy Mitrano explores the intersection where higher education, the Internet and the world meet (and sometimes collide).
Title
Deception and Fraud on the Internet
The sounds of silence.
A few years ago, I wrote about fraud on Craigslist. What I could not accomplish in many attempts – to get Craigslist to take down a fraudulent advertising for a house I rent – a post about that problem almost instantly cleared the matter up. Sunlight in the form of the press is now required to address two new matters. The first concerns the sale of performance tickets by a vendor in the Northeast, Vivid Seats. The second is fake puppy sales sites.
Vivid Seats popped up as a vendor of tickets for two performances I sought: James Taylor and Sting. The latter I bought for Tanglewood, asked and received two tickets. I paid way, way too much using this vendor, but that’s on me; I should have done more research. The tickets I bought for James Taylor were also grossly overpriced, but there was one fundamental difference. Vivid Seats used a tricky functionality of the transaction site to sell an extra ticket.
Just as I did with Sting, I used their site to find the performance, in this case Fenway Park, and then entered the quantity I wanted, two tickets. When I hit the complete transaction button, suddenly a very surprising sum showed up – a total that reflected the purchase of three. I immediately went to their service and chat and round and round we went until staff, or a machine, who knows who or what is on the other side, announced that in the section I bought it was “policy” to sell a minimum of three seats. But where was my notice of that policy I asked? They changed the quantity from two to three without notice, and therefore without my consent. Person or machine was silent.
I created enough of a stir in their customer service chat that the next morning, at my invitation, a representative from Vivid Seats called me. Where was the notice? Had they ever heard of informed consent? Not only were those notions too academic, it went against their deceptive business practice. She expressed (fake) sympathy for the situation and offered to take $100 off my next purchase. The offer was tempting; I was also in the market for the Red Sox. But I stuck to my guns and recognized the ruse: she wanted to keep me buying tickets. I simply wanted to have Vivid Seats reverse the charges on that one ticket. No dice.
Next step, I brought a consumer fraud action through the State of Massachusetts against Vivid Seats. That was three months ago. Vivid Seats did not respond to it. The Bureau sent me information for filing in Small Claims Court. I’ll do it, but I thought I would throw in a dose of sunlight.
Now to fake puppy sale sites. Apart from hopeful parents of human adoptions, who is more of a potential sucker for fraud than someone looking for a puppy? For almost a year now, I have craved a dog. I never had one growing up, only turtles and fish. Now, two boys out of the house and our family cat having gone to her reward, I scan every dog that passes, ask my friends for suggestions, and learn about this breed and that. Last Friday, when my neighbor and I waved hello and she came by to chat, I immediately went to “what kind of dog is that?” [Fill in the blank]! That’s it, I thought, I’ll get that.
Once back in the house, I immediately turned to the internet. A site popped up and the cutest pictures you ever did see stole my heart. Go to contacts. Within five minutes, someone writes back. Oh yes, Charlies was 10 weeks, house trained, with all shots, available, in fact on sale, and could be sent from Texas to my house for half of what this breed usually costs.
Within minutes, I prepared to change my life! I would get the puppy and devote myself to his training! Maybe I could get a therapist to write me a “therapy dog” script and bring Charlie to work? Would I need a new car, something more dog friendly? Yes, I could do that too! I texted my son who is not emancipated yet (read: he would be in the house with the doggie), and who was on his way back to college. I sent him the pics. Not his choice for a dog – he wants a lab, he nonetheless thought Charlie would be a very good boy. Okay, back to the email thread with my response, YES, YES, YES, what do I do next?
A money order or telegram sent to your address? Wait a minute … Suddenly I began to look more closely. No proper contact information. No physical address. Photoshopped photographs. Was Charlie even still a puppy? Alive? Anywhere on this earth? I looked at Joey and Suzie and Ralph – all too cute with that photoshop look. And the whole thing about the shots and house broken and the discount. A deal too good to be true, and of course it was not. Just for the experience, I wrote back saying I had concerns. Was there someone with whom I could speak? Where were they exactly in Texas? Why don’t they use credit cards. Silence.
Distinctions can be made between these cases. With an extra seat on the field about which I will soon file a claim, we saw James Taylor – he, with Bonnie Raitt – were, as always, great. Money order or not, I would never see Charlie. But silence connects these two moments. That final second when after all the exciting connection of 10,000 wires and code and currents and all that human emotion – desire, anticipation, nostalgia, the urge to fill in the gap from one’s childhood past -- and then the internet goes quiet.
Read more by
Inside Higher Ed Careers
Browse Faculty Jobs
Browse Administrative Jobs
Browse Executive Administration Jobs
Topics
College Pages
Popular Right Now
Publishers express concern about unintended consequences of Plan S
Students multitask (on things unrelated to course work) more in online settings, study finds
Presidents skeptical that some colleges closing can help others survive
Central Florida President Quits, 7 Months Into Job
Advice for faculty members on how to teach students how to learn (opinion)
Georgia Perimeter improves graduation and transfer rates after merging with Georgia State
Author discusses new book on how to promote 'generous thinking' in higher education
Organizing Your Literature: Spreadsheet Style | GradHacker
What is Progressive Education? | Leadership in Higher Education
Opinions on Inside Higher Ed
Inside Higher Ed’s Blog U
Sign Up / Sign In
With your existing account from...
{* loginWidget *}With a traditional account...
{* #signInForm *} {* signInEmailAddress *} {* currentPassword *} {* /signInForm *}Newsletter enrollment
Existing account found
We have found an existing account for the email address.
Please sign in to update your newsletter preferences.
{* /signInForm *}Newsletter opt-out
Edit your newsletter preferences
Account Info
Sign In
Welcome back, {* welcomeName *}!
{* loginWidget *}Sign In
Welcome Back
Account Deactivated
Your account has been deactivated.
Account Reactivation Failed
Sorry, we could not verify that email address.
Email Verification Required
You must verify your email address before signing in. Check your email for your verification email, or enter your email address in the form below to resend the email.
{* #resendVerificationForm *} {* signInEmailAddress *}Almost Done
Please confirm the information below before signing in.
{* #socialRegistrationForm *} {* firstName *} {* lastName *} {* displayName *} {* emailAddress *} {* optInIHE *} {* optIn3rdParty *} {* agreeToTerms *}Almost Done
Please confirm the information below before signing in. Already have an account? Sign In.
{* #registrationForm *} {* firstName *} {* lastName *} {* displayName *} {* emailAddress *} {* newPassword *} {* newPasswordConfirm *} {* optInIHE *} {* optIn3rdParty *} {* agreeToTerms *}Thank You for Registering
We have sent a confirmation email to {* emailAddressData *}. Please check your email and click on the link to verify your email address.
Create New Password
We'll send you a link to create a new password.
{* #forgotPasswordForm *} {* signInEmailAddress *}Create New Password
We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Your existing password has not been changed.
Create New Password
This email address was registered with a social account. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password, which can be used in addition to your linked social providers.
{| current_emailAddress |}
{| foundExistingAccountText |} {| current_emailAddress |}.
{| existing_displayName |} - {| existing_provider |} : {| existing_siteName |} {| existing_createdDate |}
{| existing_provider_emailAddress |}
Sign In to Complete Account Merge
Resend Verification Email
Sorry, we could not verify that email address. Enter your email below, and we'll send you another email.
{* #resendVerificationForm *} {* signInEmailAddress *}Change Password
Create New Password
We didn't recognize that password reset code. Enter your email below, and we'll send you another email.
{* #resetPasswordForm *} {* signInEmailAddress *}Create New Password
We've sent you an email with instructions to create a new password. Your existing password has not been changed.
Edit Your Account
Profile Photo
Linked Accounts
Link Your Accounts
This allows you to sign in to your account using that provider in the future.
Password
Deactivate Account
Change Password
Deactivate Your Account
Are you sure you want to deactivate your account? You will no longer have access to your profile.
{* deactivateAccountForm *} {* /deactivateAccountForm *}
Expand commentsHide comments — Join the conversation!