Isabelle's first post Friday on the subject
Isabelles most recent post on the subject:
Indy Isabelle
Sensualista
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Coal Harbour
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I want to make myself clear in case some miss my posts. I was giving Nadia until today to provide the evidence she has promised. She hasn't and I am now on the side of believe this was a scam. To what extent... no idea. I don't know if the entire story was a fraud or whether it was merely embellished and exaggerated (perhaps 1 person not 3, etc).
Re the phone. As I said the bills paid so far did consume most if not all of the cash and I do know she was in an apparent panic about her phone being cut off as she didn't have the money for the bill.
This was not necessary to mention, but when I last saw her we had a "discussion" about her lack of evidence and reluctance to go forward and start dealing with official avenues of assistance (shelters, victims' services and even counseling) all the while directing her energy towards getting a PO BOX for money orders. I thought this was highly suspect and called her on this. Her explanation was rather weak "I need time..... I've be been to traditional counselors before and they made it worse not better..... But my phone was cut off so I the police can call me to book an appointment to come see them to get the report....etc." I told her that if by the end of the week that she did not produce the report that I would no longer in good conscience be able to back her up and that I wouldn't participate in fraud or a scam. It ended in silence and with me walking out the door. I am not surprised that she hasn't contact me because of what happened as I'm sure she no longer views me as a friend or ally.
I am mostly bothered by the use of my "friendship" and "reputation" in this possible scam. But what's done is done and Nadia will have to live with her new reputation and without support from myself or other allies in the SP community. It seems such a small gain compared to such a large loss.
Live & Learn. God knows I have.
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And Isabelle's post made one hour earlier. (The above quoted post was in response to another member on the other board).
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02-08-2008, 03:29 PM #251
Indy Isabelle
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Coal Harbour
Posts: 676
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Exasperated!
Oh god do I wish some of you would just STOP already. Stop contributing to the threads unless you have something worthwhile saying. Reiterating time and time again that she should be lynched etc etc it just a waste of space and energy both for those typing it and those who have to read it to sort through the BS and rantings.
This is an actual UPDATE with real information not speculation.
I have spoken with an officer in Vice. Note the word Vice. Nadia has consistently told me that her dealings are primarily with Vice. I went through the official switch board twice to get to said officer.
I don't feel comfortable giving the officer's name as I doubt she wants to be deluged with calls. If someone else (with a solid rep TTT etc) would like to confirm, I can PM the name & number.
I spoke with the vice officer, explained the situation, explained my place and that I was a friend and provided Nadia's real info to verify that I wasn't just some crack pot claiming to have been scammed for $1000, etc.
I was told that the official police policy is to neither deny or confirm that there is any case active (as in NO info given including "No we don't have a case matching that description". However! Police officers are antonymous individuals and ultimately may say something along the lines of "there is no case matching that description in our department." I was strongly cautioned that there may very well be an active case in another department and that one shouldn't take "No we don't have a case matching that description" as absolute proof that none exists.
The above reaction is the exact same thing I've heard from every person questioned at the VPD by myself (Vice, Sexual Assault Squad, Victim's Services) over the past week. If someone has heard something else.... well I can't comment on what someone else said or heard.
I was very concerned that Nadia has been out of touch for so long so I made a request that an officer (I guess from the general patrol dept) stop by for a "check status" and that I be called back. I was called back and informed that Nadia was fine and well and that the officer was surprised that I'd even phoned in the request as she seemed quite fine but that her phone was disconnected (I FORGOT to inquire as to whether or not her internet was still working.)
So that's what I know. Nadia is alive and well, clearly not terribly distressed at the moment and hasn't been in touch via phone for obvious reasons and might not have internet access at the moment.
I was holding out until today for Nadia to provide confirming information. While there is the slim chance that there is corroborating evidence (police report), there is also the chance that she doesn't have internet service. However, I would suspect that if she did have it and did not have internet access that a pay phone call to me or popping into an internet cafe would be the first thing that would spring to mind as a course of action.
I have already been in touch with those who gave funds to me to give to Nadia (which I have, as well as $400 of my own) to update and discuss the situation. I have received no funds myself. I have seen her pay her car payment at the bank. I have seen a receipt for rent payed. I took her shopping for ~$250 worth of groceries. These 3 things are where the majority of the money received has gone...thus far, to my knowledge. What has been emailed transfered to her or sent though money orders.... that I do not know.
For those who question my involvement should this be an elaborate scam (and not merely an embellishment of a true story) I have already spoken with the police, given my full name and offered my co-operation. However, this is for naught as vice/sexual offenses squad/victims' services do not investigate fraud/scams. If there is an investigation I will happily co-operate.
While I appreciate much of the "poor izzy" sentiment, it's really unnecessary. I went into this fully aware that it may or may not have been a scam and I take full responsibility if I was duped. I have provided no information that I did not witness myself and have always been very clear about that. And to be honest, despite how this appears to have turned out, I can't say that given the same information, that I would not help. I would never be such a vocal advocate without more evidence, but I would still rather help and possibly be scammed that to become jaded. My apologies to those I may have been harsh with or singled out. I hope you can understand that I was upset, given that I was looking at a woman who clearly had been the victim of a vicious and violent attack.
I am NOT commenting any further or participating in these threads unless I have specific information to put forth as I neither intend to fuel the drama nor do I wish to deny or withhold any significant information that I have.
Peace.
(end of quote)
