Saved Drowning Boy, Killed my Phone

load97 · Jun 8, 2010

SeattleYanksFan said:
Speak for yourself. No one else seems to be questioning him and/or asking for him to make private information public. Besides, this would accomplish nothing as far as proving the validity of his story.

That said, the curious person I am, I googled his email address and searched for it on Facebook, and he checks out.

I am speaking for myself. Others are questioning it as well, so don't lie. For you to understand, many scammers have paypal, email addresses, even home addresses that don't jive. So, if his IP address matches up(could be spoofed or proxy/highly unlikely) with close proximity of home or work address etc that would help tremendously.

Since your so easy to please send me some money to my paypal account. I provided proof even that I saved 2 people.(circumstances allowed hard proof in my case). Otherwise back off.

Kelmar · Jun 8, 2010

Last reminder to stop the "attacks" guys.... No reason to take any of this quite so personal.

Nearly everything that can be said about this thread has already been said and really has no reason to be discussed further. Just agree that this is a sensitive topic and move on.

load97 · Jun 8, 2010

TheBeardedMann said:
He never asked for money.

True, but someone that's suave would only need to initiate the empathy for others to act upon.

Either way, if its true I hope he gets a new or used phone and can move on.

load97 · Jun 8, 2010

Kelmar said:
Last reminder to stop the "attacks" guys.... No reason to take any of this quite so personal.

Nearly everything that can be said about this thread has already been said and really has no reason to be discussed further. Just agree that this is a sensitive topic and move on.

True, I agree.

SeattleYanksFan · Jun 8, 2010

load97 said:
I am speaking for myself. Others are questioning it as well, so don't lie. For you to understand, many scammers have paypal, email addresses, even home addresses that don't jive. So, if his IP address matches up(could be spoofed or proxy/highly unlikely) with close proximity of home or work address etc that would help tremendously.

Since your so easy to please send me some money to my paypal account. I provided proof even that I saved 2 people.(circumstances allowed hard proof in my case). Otherwise back off.

Sent. Buy yourself a beer, or 3.

DawnGP143 · Jun 9, 2010

Darin said:
Will Verizon even allow me to do this? What's to stop someone from adding 10 extra lines, ordering 10 Incredibles, disabling the data plans, and then reselling the phones on eBay and pocketing $1000+ overall?

This doesn't sound like a legit means to get a new phone.

- Darin

Yes, they will let you do it. I got a new line when the Incredible came out. A couple months ago, my husband upgraded his dumbphone to another dumbphone. After seeing MY Incredible, he decided he wanted one, so we added a line, and then swapped out the ESNs. Now his dumbphone is on the new line, and the Incredible is on his line. Not an issue for VZW at all.

FWIW, I think what you did was awesome. I've got a friend who's a cop in Gilbert....and we've been thinking of relocating out that way in the future. Maybe one day we'll be neighbors

tsrdrum · Jun 9, 2010

There are faster and easier ways to make $53 (at last count) than by constructing an elaborate story/scam and waiting until people offer to donate.

At this point, Darin has probably made less than minimum wage ($8/hour here in CA) for the hours he spent reading and writing on this thread.

As for Darin, if you're trying to make some money off your old Incredible, you might consider selling it for parts. Or, considering everything but the screen apparently works, depending on your handyman ability, you might be able to try swapping out the screen.

like this

Darin · Jun 9, 2010

tommy_ed said:
yep, no problem (i actually work at big red) i can do it for you if you want. Just PM me once you get the new one, and I'll ESN change it (or you can do it online at verizon.com) you'll have to put the old phone (NOT broken incredible, has to be a phone that doesnt require data) on the new number first, then change from your broken incredible to the new one on your current number. If you do that backwards it will tell you the ESN number is already in use, since it would still be on the new line. When you change to the dumbphone it will automatically drop the data plan! if you have any questions, like I said feel free to PM me and I'll help you out, I feel for your situation man. And btw, this is perfectly okay with verizon, as they get a two year contract out of the deal!

Well Tommy, I do very much appreciate the advice, but I think I'm just going to stick with the order my wife already put in through Verizon.

I don't show that Amazon is offering the phone at $150.00 anymore, so after taxes the phone will still come to around $218 + $240 (24 months for the add. line) + $54 (24 months for the taxes/fees), + the shipping of the phone... I probably wouldn't come out ahead by much. Not to mention if something gets screwed up along the way, it's just going to be confusing and a pain to get it all straightened-out.

Thanks again for the advice though, I will keep it in mind.

- Darin

Eloquence · Jun 9, 2010

Hey Darin!

I just contributed $5 to your new phone, man! I haven't read all the posts yet, but I decided that you are not a fraud and am trying to help out. We need more good-natured people like you in the world. Selflessness is cool, despite what the haters say.

Hope you get that shiny new Incredible soon, my friend!

Cheers,
-Elo

bluenova · Jun 9, 2010

I didn't read the whole thread so someone else may have already mentioned it but can't you claim on your home content insurance?

Darin · Jun 9, 2010

bluenova said:
I didn't read the whole thread so someone else may have already mentioned it but can't you claim on your home content insurance?

Yeah... we tried that avenue with the homeowners, and they said their deductible is $500 and that they didn't want to go that route because it might raise their premiums.

- Darin

Roze · Jun 9, 2010

Darin said:
Yeah... we tried that avenue with the homeowners, and they said their deductible is $500 and that they didn't want to go that route because it might raise their premiums.

- Darin

The homeowners can still chip in, as a measure of gratitude without using the insurance. I'm thinking if you own a pool...you have the money (pool is like $10k+ to put in and $1k+ to maintain annually)...you can also tell them 'just imagine what their premiums would be had the kid drowned in their pool'...

Darin · Jun 9, 2010

Roze said:
The homeowners can still chip in, as a measure of gratitude...just imagine what their premiums would be had the kid drowned in their pool...

That was my thinking too... what would have happened to their premiums if the kid drowned. They seemed irritated that I even mentioned going through their home owner's insurance as an avenue.

- Darin

ownagemaximus · Jun 9, 2010

Wow, that's INCREDIBLE lol. But really $540.00 is small compared to what a life would cost. That was a great thing you did.

avacomputers · Jun 9, 2010

danielevans83 said:
ckochinsky125 said:

Why don't you people go watch the news and donate to clean up the BP oil spill instead of some kid's phone?

Click to expand...

Maybe because the spill is bp's and they have billions.

moosanator · Jun 9, 2010

Good job man. I didn't read through the whole post but verizon insurance doesn't cover submersion in water. So you really saved money by not having insurance.

ckochinsky125 · Jun 9, 2010

moosanator said:
Good job man. I didn't read through the whole post but verizon insurance doesn't cover submersion in water. So you really saved money by not having insurance.

What insurance do you have? The verizon insurance i have covers water damage.

dmodert66 · Jun 10, 2010

Kelmar said:
Mods are allowed to thank posts and are allowed to have their own thoughts and opinions on matters as are all the users of the forums....

Mods (and Phone Guides, since you aren't really a mod), should be held to a higher standard. IMO you should have let the thread play out without calling the OP out...On boards where I mod for, I bite my tongue and let things play out. If something deserves a punishment or ban, it is handled accordingly, but I never engage in commenting one way or another in the actual thread...

As to the OP...I don't have much money either ATM. I am out of a job. People are not always able to afford a $600 phone, when they struggle to provide for their own families. That said, if it where my child, I would have told you the following...

"Look...There is nothing I can ever do to repay you, but I will provide you a new phone. Unfortunately, I can not cover that amount. I am hoping this solution works for you, but would you mind if I gave you $100 a month until your phone is paid for? I know it won't buy you a new phone right away, but it's the best I can do for now..."

The people who ripped the OP should be ashamed. I have seen tons of scams on the net and in forums. We have to pick and choose what to believe. I honestly believe the OP in this particular instance, but if I did not, I would not come in and berate the OP. I would just move along to another thread...

Lukehluke · Jun 10, 2010

Its a good thing that you did.

Well done

Kelmar · Jun 10, 2010

dmodert66 said:
Mods (and Phone Guides, since you aren't really a mod), should be held to a higher standard. IMO you should have let the thread play out without calling the OP out...On boards where I mod for, I bite my tongue and let things play out. If something deserves a punishment or ban, it is handled accordingly, but I never engage in commenting one way or another in the actual thread...

We are expected to act at a higher standard, though I fail to see the relevance here.

The reason things were said were to help prevent a potential scam! I'm sorry you don't see it this way. If you feel my actions were incorrect feel free to PM phases or shivers316 (the admins) or any of the mods.

If you want to continue this conversation with me, feel free to PM me so we don't clutter this thread.

Trident · Jun 10, 2010

Kelmar said:
We are expected to act at a higher standard, though I fail to see the relevance here.

The reason things were said were to help prevent a potential scam! I'm sorry you don't see it this way. If you feel my actions were incorrect feel free to PM phases or shivers316 (the admins) or any of the mods.

If you want to continue this conversation with me, feel free to PM me so we don't clutter this thread.

We are backing up Kelmar's actions 100%!

The truth of it is, we were attempting to prevent from a potential scam like Kelmar said. I, personally, felt that there was no need to delete the posts which questioned or called out the OP. Our members have a right to question the legitimacy of a sketchy situation like this one.

If you have any problems with Kelmar or any of our other staff members in the future, I highly encourage you to PM either him or one of the higher level staff members for an explanation. It was highly unnecessary and rude for you to publicly call him out on an open forum.

jasoraso · Jun 10, 2010

Kelmar said:
Well, I can tell you that ALL of those things are currently being discussed by the mods and admins. As for now however, they have decided that this thread is ok to stay (obviously that can be changed at any moment).

As stated above, donate if you feel comfortable doing so and believe the OP. If you don't feel comfortable donating or can't donate or don't believe the OP, then don't donate. It really is that simple.

I appreciate that the mods don't feel that they also need to act as our financial advisors or parents, or our big brother

the mods walk a fine line, between moderating the forum, looking out for forum rule violations AND being FREE to voice their own opinions, too!

Thanks for all you do !!!

gotweed · Jun 10, 2010

Can your phone save a drowning 5 year old out of a pool
......droid can

Sent from my Eris using Tapatalk

Darin · Jun 11, 2010

gotweed said:
Can your phone save a drowning 5 year old out of a pool
......droid can

Sent from my Eris using Tapatalk

Wow... I like that, Verizon should use that line in a commercial, and then say something like, "Read the full story at http://androidforums.com".

Nice!

- Darin

P.S. Just in case anyone is wondering, it's up to $68, that will definitely alleviate a nice chunk of the $225. Thanks again.

kibble · Jun 11, 2010

gotweed said:
Does your phone have a selfless owner who is willing to save a drowning 5 year old out of a pool
......droid Does

Sent from my Eris using Tapatalk

There, fixed it for you!

While I wasn't present to testify for Darin and say that he did or did not in fact do the actions he stated, it does kind of upset me that some people are flaming him and didn't bother to read the complete thread from the beginning to see that he NEVER asked for donations to begin with. His original thread was to ask for technical help, which is what these forums are about for the most part.

Had he not mentioned anything about having jumped into the pool after a kid and just said that he got his phone wet some other way, most people would have just said: "sucks for you, try the rice method" or some other method of drying the phone.

Once again, while I wasn't a witness that he did or did not in fact do as he states. We all know that if any one of us were in this situation, they would have liked to have told the story of HOW THEIR phone got damaged, whether it be because you dropped your phone in the toilet while you were stupid drunk and were making phone calls when you shouldn't (while half your face was in the toilet), or because you were on a pier trying to take some pics of the bikini clad chicks on the sand and accidentally lost your one-handed grip of your phone.

We all like to tell stories, this one just seems incredible and way out of the norm, which will cause people to doubt its authenticity, but once again, he didn't begin this thread asking for any sort of donation, only knowledge. Others suggested he set up some sort of account to accept donations because they believed the good in people would come out and would be willing to help him out for his selfless actions.

It would take someone with a good understanding of the human psyche to manipulate a whole forum of people to go from simple tech help to reeling in mad cash for a false cause all the while dragging out "facts" to make it seem legit. Most scammers are in it for a quick buck. I have been on forums where scammers make some quick cash and then vanish just as quick as they came once their methods are questioned. Darin has stuck around even with all the negative pressure against him, which either means he's being honest, or he's a damn good scammer!

You don't have to agree with me, but this is just how I see it.

With all that said, assuming it's all true, it was a very selfless act and shows that there's still good people out there that will forget all about material possesions in favor of saving a life!

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