General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow close were y'all with "Corey Baker"?
Does anyone on here actually KNOW this guy?
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)Something really sketchy is going on here...
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,669 posts)bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)Maru Kitteh
(28,339 posts)Whoever was posting as Corey_Baker08 has self-deleted their posts on DU/GD upon a member finding that Corey Baker was posting casually on Facebook with no mention of any accident or emergency while he was supposedly near death in the ICU.
After reading this post, please see JenniferJunipers post here as as starting point, and other posts/info on the thread. http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=8688991
Here is the link to report this gofundme https://www.gofundme.com/contact?t=donation_page_report&url=27-year-old-injured-in-car-accident I hope you will take a moment to file a report with them, as many kind DU'ers, some on fixed incomes who could not afford to give, did so because we are a warm community with tender hearts for those in need. You do not need to make a contribution to file a concern. If you inform gofundme in your report that you were intentionally misled by the person soliciting funds for this gofundme account, it may help facilitate the return of funds to the kind people who gave, as that is a specific part of the "giving guarantee" language.
Posts on the Corey Baker Facebook page were suddenly made private after JJ's inquiry as to why it had been posted in very recently while the poster was supposedly in intensive care, near death. The posts were of a casual nature, ordinary chat/posting to friends with no mention of an accident, hospitalization, helicopter airlift, family emergency, etc. The OP has acknowledged that the FB page and the gofundme recipient are one and the same but denied the facebook posts, after making them private.
Despite claiming to be the brother of the poster and unfamiliar with DU formats, rules and with how to post on DU; this OP has posted this identical thread in many locations on DU including Editorials & Articles, The Lounge, a locked thread on LBN where they formatted it to look like it was in compliance with LBN rules, with a "SOURCE: DAYTON DAILY NEWS" title, General Discussion, and Community Help? Even I didn't realize that forum existed.
The poster has been asked about the Facebook posts, how "Corey" was casually posting on his FB while near death but will not answer.
The poster has been asked for a link to their own Facebook but will not answer.
The poster has been asked what day, time and location this accident supposedly happened but will not answer.
The poster has been asked what hospital the gofundme recipient is in, but will not answer.
The poster has been asked; why did, coincidentally, the posts to the Facebook suddenly become private upon being discovered by a member here? There has been no answer.
The poster has been asked why are there no media accounts of his accident, but will not answer.
The poster has been asked how they knew to blanket the whole DU community with this post, and how they knew where and how to find the right areas to post it if they were unfamiliar to DU, but will not answer.
The poster has been asked why they have provided no accountability of any kind, but will not answer.
Sorry for the thread-butt BRM!
FarPoint
(12,335 posts)Unable to clarify issue/ incident.
JI7
(89,246 posts)Never met him personally but know him from his posts over the years.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)So it's not possible that this accident is a scam?
JI7
(89,246 posts)bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)Hekate
(90,641 posts)If you are concerned enough, it is possible to do some internet searches to see if you can find anything out. Also, you can ask the poster for a link to any newspaper article about the car accident. Neither of those things would be a hostile response, afaik.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)Read through this thread and the GoFundMe thread-- DU user JenniferJuniper discovered an active FB account earlier from this Corey person-- after she posted it in the GoFundMe thread the FB profile went private/disappeared.
Hekate
(90,641 posts)Whoever our original Corey was on DU, either he changed drastically or his accounts have been hijacked.
Either way, people with good hearts are being scammed here and elsewhere, and I wonder if there isn't a way to shut it down.
Thanks for being on it.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)Like I said I don't want anyone on this site to get scammed by some Freeper or DU hacker.
Thanks.
LisaL
(44,973 posts)bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,669 posts)bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)There are signs this is a scam... It could also be connected to the hack DU experienced last year.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,669 posts)donating to a fund for a stranger. I have not been following this especially closely, but someone on the other thread posted that they couldn't find any news reports about an accident involving someone by that name. So I guess the lesson is, trust but verify.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)Maru Kitteh
(28,339 posts)so, ya know?
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)From JenniferJuniper:
"The facebook page of the individual supposedly on death's door was open until about 20 minutes ago and he posted last night. Not an automatic post; it was in response to a friend's comment and he sounded just fine.
The poster has had a couple of different gofundme links and has started a number of threads in different places. Zero evidence supporting his sob story has been provided."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028687672
demmiblue
(36,838 posts)Sure, there may be some warning signs, but there are equal warning signs pointing to a couple of others in terms of maleficence. :ahem:
Wanting personal phone numbers for family members?
Making claims about Facebook entries that no one can verify (I guess if one was so worried, they would have taken a screenshot)? No links to the other GoFundMe accounts?
Hmmm.
I guess it is up to the individual to decide.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)and Corey Baker's name to see if anything comes up.
I've been scammed before online by people--
What's wrong with asking for verification from family members via phone before I donate? Wouldn't you like to know where your money is going before you give it to a stranger. You must have enough money toss around to every GoFundMe page...
Ask Jennifer why she didn't take a screenshot... I clicked on it, too. And she is right.
demmiblue
(36,838 posts)Give or don't give.... that is your choice.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)to carry on this scam.
There's a private messaging system on here that works, right?
demmiblue
(36,838 posts)And what does DU's pm system have to do with anything?
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)Any news stories come up yet? How about doing a Google search of the helicopter from the hospital and see if there was an accident in the area?
The point of the DU pm system is "Corey Baker" could send me verification that way instead of posting their numbers in the threads... I'm sure a family asking for money would love to explain their situation to the people who donate to their page.
demmiblue
(36,838 posts)regnaD kciN
(26,044 posts)bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)demmiblue
(36,838 posts)bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,669 posts)I did try various versions of a google search and couldn't turn anything up. FWIW.
NoGoodNamesLeft
(2,056 posts)Not all accidents around cities get in the news, you know. And someone DID find an old account from 2006. If the story is true and you are discouraging people from helping...well...I could say what that would make you...but I'm going to let you figure it out so I don't get into trouble.
On edit: On the go fund me page the brother's location is Indiana. Dayton isn't too far from the border and in Corey's old post that was linked he talked about having restaurant jobs in both Ohio AND Indiana. He may live in Indiana and that may be where the accident happened but Dayton would be the nearest city with a trauma center.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)Read JenniferJuniper's comments, too. She's understands what's going on... lol
NoGoodNamesLeft
(2,056 posts)And looked at the location of the person who posted the GoFundMe page you would see Indiana being mentioned by Corey where he had two jobs...one in Ohio and one in Indiana. Obviously he lives near the border...either in Ohio or Indiana. Dayton isn't far from Indiana and his accident could have been in either state...and not likely right in Dayton. And again...not all accidents make the paper and usually they don't actually put the names of those in the accident in the newspaper. Patient privacy and all...
I'd rather err on the side of human decency, personally.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)He lives in Ohio, right.
And has an Illinois FB?
If this turns out to be real, I WILL apologize to him.
Everything I've seen so far points towards a scam...
Maru Kitteh
(28,339 posts)Whoever was posting as Corey_Baker08 has self-deleted their posts on DU/GD upon a member finding that Corey Baker was posting casually on Facebook with no mention of any accident or emergency while he was supposedly near death in the ICU.
After reading this post, please see JenniferJunipers post here as as starting point, and other posts/info on the thread. http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=8688991
Here is the link to report this gofundme https://www.gofundme.com/contact?t=donation_page_report&url=27-year-old-injured-in-car-accident I hope you will take a moment to file a report with them, as many kind DU'ers, some on fixed incomes who could not afford to give, did so because we are a warm community with tender hearts for those in need. You do not need to make a contribution to file a concern. If you inform gofundme in your report that you were intentionally misled by the person soliciting funds for this gofundme account, it may help facilitate the return of funds to the kind people who gave, as that is a specific part of the "giving guarantee" language.
Posts on the Corey Baker Facebook page were suddenly made private after JJ's inquiry as to why it had been posted in very recently while the poster was supposedly in intensive care, near death. The posts were of a casual nature, ordinary chat/posting to friends with no mention of an accident, hospitalization, helicopter airlift, family emergency, etc. The OP has acknowledged that the FB page and the gofundme recipient are one and the same but denied the facebook posts, after making them private.
Despite claiming to be the brother of the poster and unfamiliar with DU formats, rules and with how to post on DU; this OP has posted this identical thread in many locations on DU including Editorials & Articles, The Lounge, a locked thread on LBN where they formatted it to look like it was in compliance with LBN rules, with a "SOURCE: DAYTON DAILY NEWS" title, General Discussion, and Community Help? Even I didn't realize that forum existed.
The poster has been asked about the Facebook posts, how "Corey" was casually posting on his FB while near death but will not answer.
The poster has been asked for a link to their own Facebook but will not answer.
The poster has been asked what day, time and location this accident supposedly happened but will not answer.
The poster has been asked what hospital the gofundme recipient is in, but will not answer.
The poster has been asked; why did, coincidentally, the posts to the Facebook suddenly become private upon being discovered by a member here? There has been no answer.
The poster has been asked why are there no media accounts of his accident, but will not answer.
The poster has been asked how they knew to blanket the whole DU community with this post, and how they knew where and how to find the right areas to post it if they were unfamiliar to DU, but will not answer.
The poster has been asked why they have provided no accountability of any kind, but will not answer.
Chemisse
(30,807 posts)A family member should expect to provide some information to confirm his story.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)lol
Those on fixed incomes don't need their money anyways... smh
demtenjeep
(31,997 posts)the obsession is a bit off
Trumpdumper
(171 posts)bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)Corey Baker's part of the cast. lol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_(TV_series)
rzemanfl
(29,556 posts)Trumpdumper
(171 posts)Im actually an old-timer but lost my login info.
rzemanfl
(29,556 posts)Trumpdumper
(171 posts)That was one of the true highlights of the show.
rzemanfl
(29,556 posts)GP6971
(31,134 posts)What was your previous Username?
Trumpdumper
(171 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Trumpdumper
(171 posts)likesmountains 52
(4,098 posts)on the Gofundme link is unlike any other I've seen..no personal condolences from friends , neighbors or relatives. All Gofundme pages i have been involved with have comments from people who are obviously hurting along with the family..something like "oh, Bob and Fran, so sorry to hear about your nephew." Just an observation.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)It has been deleted...
The comment said something to the effect:
"Don't expect your friends from DU to donate to you b/c they are on gov't assistance."
I didn't say anything during that time b/c I wasn't home...
demtenjeep
(31,997 posts)they thrive on our misfortune.
when I asked for funds to help my students make blankets, they commented about how I was scamming money for vacation. When the blankets were made and the photos were posted they shut up
Orrex
(63,199 posts)If financial assistance is being requested, then this seems like a reasonable expectation IMO.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)His FB profile was also used today-- Another DU member posted the link in the "Corey Baker" accident thread.
Orrex
(63,199 posts)I was in an accident today. Send me money!
Brother Buzz
(36,415 posts)I think I am due beer, travel money, and many experiences...
Crunchy Frog
(26,579 posts)demtenjeep
(31,997 posts)Corey lived in Ohio
probably not even the same person
so many if ands or buts
that is why I give with my heart and don't worry about the reason
if I can't afford to give, I pray instead.
Not my place to question...if I want to give, I will
Crunchy Frog
(26,579 posts)I actually thought there were rules here about getting permission from the admins before posting requests for money. Maybe I'm remembering wrong.
uppityperson
(115,677 posts)demtenjeep
(31,997 posts)This place is an awesome community.
When I was teaching and needed funds to get blankets for my kids DU stepped up
When one of my students killed himself and the family couldn't even raise money to bury him DU stepped up
This last year when I almost lost everything due to illness...DU stepped up
it is not for us to nancy drew it out . If someone is hurting, we give-that is why we are a great community.
Funny how someone with less than 1000 posts is trying to make a scam from someone who has been here 10+ years
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)He's in ICU, right? After "Corey" was called out by another member of DU his posts on FB page suddenly disappeared! Hmmmm....
Use my account as bait then... Deflect from the BS scam that's happening to you member's right now on DU.
Eff it!
I'm done with this...
demtenjeep
(31,997 posts)do your own research-come to your own conclusion but wouldn't you feel horrible if you found out you kept someone from seeing their child before death because of a "feeling" you couldn't explain?
Do you remember Andy Stephenson?
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)demtenjeep
(31,997 posts)but don't spend all night trying to convince others.
Look,
When I give, it is because my heart tells me to. If the person suckers me, well it is my bad but I did what my heart felt to do.
I don't give a homeless person for food and then follow them to make sure they don't buy booze. It isn't my place. If a scammer gets 20 bucks from me because I felt led to give for a purpose and they use it for different uses-its on them and their conscious. Mine is clear.
Do me a favor and read the story about Andy Stephenson right here on DU
ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)Him what to do? Some of us appreciate the effort. It's NOT andy Stephenson. There have been too many scams lately. I don't like getting ripped off!
AJT
(5,240 posts)I can only hope things are on the up abd up. I tend to be naive about this kind of thing.
Glimmer of Hope
(5,823 posts)bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)You are welcome to give him a ring to verify.
From the GFM thread:
where Corey is supposed to be a patient is:
Patient Information:
University Hospital, Dodd Hall - 614-293-8300
https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/patient-and-visitor-guide/telephone-guide
BlueStateLib
(937 posts)Maru Kitteh
(28,339 posts)Whoever was posting as Corey_Baker08 has self-deleted their posts on DU/GD upon a member finding that Corey Baker was posting casually on Facebook with no mention of any accident or emergency while he was supposedly near death in the ICU.
After reading this post, please see JenniferJunipers post here as as starting point, and other posts/info on the thread. http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=8688991
Here is the link to report this gofundme https://www.gofundme.com/contact?t=donation_page_report&url=27-year-old-injured-in-car-accident I hope you will take a moment to file a report with them, as many kind DU'ers, some on fixed incomes who could not afford to give, did so because we are a warm community with tender hearts for those in need. You do not need to make a contribution to file a concern. If you inform gofundme in your report that you were intentionally misled by the person soliciting funds for this gofundme account, it may help facilitate the return of funds to the kind people who gave, as that is a specific part of the "giving guarantee" language.
Posts on the Corey Baker Facebook page were suddenly made private after JJ's inquiry as to why it had been posted in very recently while the poster was supposedly in intensive care, near death. The posts were of a casual nature, ordinary chat/posting to friends with no mention of an accident, hospitalization, helicopter airlift, family emergency, etc. The OP has acknowledged that the FB page and the gofundme recipient are one and the same but denied the facebook posts, after making them private.
Despite claiming to be the brother of the poster and unfamiliar with DU formats, rules and with how to post on DU; this OP has posted this identical thread in many locations on DU including Editorials & Articles, The Lounge, a locked thread on LBN where they formatted it to look like it was in compliance with LBN rules, with a "SOURCE: DAYTON DAILY NEWS" title, General Discussion, and Community Help? Even I didn't realize that forum existed.
The poster has been asked about the Facebook posts, how "Corey" was casually posting on his FB while near death but will not answer.
The poster has been asked for a link to their own Facebook but will not answer.
The poster has been asked what day, time and location this accident supposedly happened but will not answer.
The poster has been asked what hospital the gofundme recipient is in, but will not answer.
The poster has been asked; why did, coincidentally, the posts to the Facebook suddenly become private upon being discovered by a member here? There has been no answer.
The poster has been asked why are there no media accounts of his accident, but will not answer.
The poster has been asked how they knew to blanket the whole DU community with this post, and how they knew where and how to find the right areas to post it if they were unfamiliar to DU, but will not answer.
The poster has been asked why they have provided no accountability of any kind, but will not answer.
Locut0s
(6,154 posts)People are at their most vulnerable BOTH when hurt as is supposedly the case with Corey, but also when feeling sympathy. No one is suggesting not to feel sympathy, or not to donate to such causes. I think everyone would agree that is of paramount importance. That being said DU specifically has been a target long before the election hack. Members on here have been targeted many times before. When you add the election day hack on top of the fact that identity theft scams like this aren't that rare anyway on the internet. Then a certain amount of caution should rightly be exercised.
True Dough
(17,301 posts)OP might be coming across as a little aggressive in asserting his skepticism but he is looking out for DU member's best interests. I think he has raised some potentially legitimate red flags. The person who was supposedly advocating on Corey's behalf has gone silent.
Maybe there will be an explanation that clears things up, but I would be hesitant to donate much money, if any at all, until some answers/clarifications are forthcoming.
demtenjeep
(31,997 posts)maybe that person is working
there are a lot of possibilities
it is not up to me to judge
My heart is clear
True Dough
(17,301 posts)Hope everything is on the up and up and my condolences to the Baker family if this is all legit. If not...
EDIT: But someone found the time to respond on his Facebook account and then make it private after being questioned about how the response didn't indicate any sort of crisis. Hmm.
Locut0s
(6,154 posts)If you choose to donate do so with a credit card not linked to your name or address in any way and if possible under a pseudonym account. I'm not suggesting there are not very legitimately good reasons why this could very easily be real. I'm not saying it definitely IS a scam at all. Just that people should always be careful.
Dr Hobbitstein
(6,568 posts)No news reports, the facebook page suddenly going private... I'm usually quite giving, but this raises my skepticism.
WillowTree
(5,325 posts)According to that OP, "Corey grew up fast on 9/11 as a 7th grade student." He would have had to since just a couple of sentences earlier we learned that just 10 months earlier he was ".......10 years old when he witnessed the theft of the 2000 Election." '
It's just the kind of careless inconsistency that makes me question the whole thing.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)This has scam written all over it.
The FB page suddenly going private was a giveaway.
BainsBane
(53,029 posts)Doesn't seem like a native English speaker to me, which doesn't track with his claims. Then the FB going private right after someone asked if Corey had posted is a major red flag. I smell a scam.
Last time I smelled a scam, someone wound up pocketing $4 million. Just saying. In that case, it was the ask that was greatly inflated, which I commented on at the time.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)The tone reminds of the Nigerian scams when they get your attention and then they raise the bar by claiming more problems, urgent you help now, etc.
Plus that timeline..
I have good radar, it is pretty darn accurate, and I am sorry to say this does not meet the smell test.
BainsBane
(53,029 posts)and no one by the name of Corey Baker is staying there.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)The operator said there wasn't a patient named Corey Baker there.
The number is posted in the GFM thread-- It only takes a couple of minutes. Give them a ring.
BainsBane
(53,029 posts)It tracks with my own impressions.
dalton99a
(81,443 posts)Quixote1818
(28,928 posts)I haven't seen a lot of go fund me pages but the ones I have seen always had very close friends leaving notes of support.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)This is posted on the page:
Created February 19, 2017
COREY BAKER
Emergencies
RICHMOND, IN
https://www.gofundme.com/27-year-old-injured-in-car-accident
Indiana? But I thought Corey had an accident in Ohio? It's a fuckin scam. And every person on this site needs to be notified-- ESPECIALLY IF THEY DONATED MONEY ON GOFUNDME!
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)That's on the Ohio border. If the story is true, the accident happened in Ohio as he was driving home from working in Dayton.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)from the GFM thread.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=8688991
She's been on this for a while now.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)Corey's FB profile said that he lived in Illinois.
So Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio-- This person probably lives in Nigeria and works with a network of scammers. They're looking forward to splitting the 1700 they've raised so far.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)From Union City, Indiana
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)"Aaron" gave this number to the people on DU to verify that he was a patient there.
I called a couple of hours ago and the operator said that there wasn't a Corey Baker in the system.
You're welcome to call-- It'll only take a couple of minutes.
where Corey is supposed to be a patient is:
Patient Information:
University Hospital, Dodd Hall - 614-293-8300
Warpy
(111,241 posts)so I suspect he posted in the Lounge or Gungeon or other places I don't go if I can avoid them.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,841 posts)And even though I'm relatively new as PoindexterOglethorpe, I've been reading this site for many years. And the name Corey Baker didn't mean anything to me.
For someone who's been around since 2004, he has remarkably few posts. Under 200 per year. Not sure what to make of that, but he is not someone who was very present here.
And I am personally very unlikely to donate to someone I don't actually know.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)I've become a cynical fuck.
But unless there's some sort of well-corroborated piece of data verifying the parameters of whatever the situation is; like, a news story in a respected journalism outlet.. I just assume fake until proven otherwise.
ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)To expose a scammer. I personally appreciate your efforts.
RandiFan1290
(6,229 posts)Not one of them mention a family member in ICU and none of them are named Aaron.
dalton99a
(81,443 posts)TheBlackAdder
(28,183 posts)woodsprite
(11,911 posts)He also had several friends named "Aaron", but I didn't see any of those having posts that said a 'brother by another father' was in an accident or in the hospital (not the same last name). I didn't post anything about it because of the hullaballoo surrounding similar warnings.
TheOther95Percent
(1,035 posts)I couldn't find any press/broadcast accounts of this life-threatening accident, which is strange because most towns/cities have a local media outlet that jumps on this type of story. I found a Corey Baker in NH who was killed in a motor vehicle accident in 2016.
RandiFan1290
(6,229 posts)Just like Aaron!
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,669 posts)after several people had started wondering whether this was legit. I read the various posts and did a little sleuthing on my own, more out of curiosity than anything else. Like others, I found no news reports of any accident involving a "Corey Baker," although one as serious as was described would certainly have appeared in local media.
His Facebook page, now evidently removed, indicated that he lives in Richmond, IN, which is just across the Ohio border and not far from Dayton, so the part of the story describing general location of the alleged accident is plausible - but it doesn't seems to have happened, at least as far as news reports go. But on Spokeo I did find a listing for a Corey A. Baker, age 27, in Richmond, IN, who is related to an Aaron Baker. I found Aaron Baker, age 28, related to Corey Baker, in Greenville, OH, formerly from Richmond, IN. So it appears that there is a real Corey and a real brother named Aaron, but whether either of these people were responsible for the fund solicitations on DU and Gofundme, or whether those requests were by imposters, seems undetermined.
In any event, I'd say that whenever these requests appear, you don't have to assume automatically that they are scams, but always at least consider the possibility that they could be. It is not unkind to request more information - it can be done without making accusations. If the reason for the request is that someone has been injured in an accident, as in this case, look for a link to a news report. Look for information about where it occurred (so local police can be contacted if necessary). Look for other social media information. If you are the person making a request for yourself or someone else, include enough independently-verifiable information that potential donors can confirm the basis for the request and don't feel nervous about donating.
When I reread the original DU posts as well as the Gofundme request, I was struck by how the poster never offered to verify any of the information, but instead ratcheted up the alleged desperation and the amount of money needed, and accused doubters of being unkind and insensitive. It just wasn't passing the smell test.
And don't let the requester or other DUers shame you for being skeptical or cautious. Everybody wants to be helpful, but there are, unfortunately, people who prey on the kind impulses of others. Be careful and don't allow yourself to be guilted into contributing to one of these requests unless you're sure it's real. You are entitled to know that you aren't giving your money to a crook.