Entry tags:

charity, dan fogelberg's llamas, fan rage, high school girls, illegality, let's all get along, lip gloss, lurk moar, lying liar that lies, plucky girl detective, raised by hyenas, tv

A different flavor of vampire wank
What follows is an account written by swsa, a friend without a JF account, and it is such a classic take-the-money-and-run story that I present it to you unaltered (well, okay, I threw in some links).

In Moonlight fandom, their high priestess of campaigning is named Leeser. Leeser's status in the fandom grew and grew as she organized fan cons, did the leg work for their Variety ad, etc. She is absolutely beloved and a hero of their cause. Which is why another fan apparently felt secure enough to give her $11000 in order to pay for bus ads to run in L.A. This was all back in July. Since then, it's been one delay after another, and the fans were getting pretty pissy about not being given answers as to why ads that should've gone up in August, still weren't up in September.

So, finally the anonymous donor speaks up, with a tale of lost money, printers who were never contacted, and who then finally WERE paid, but only a fraction of what Leeser had told the donor it would cost, while thus far, the actual ad people haven't been paid at all...so basically, it all adds up to Leeser walking off with $10,075.

Now in comparison to scamming for lip gloss or ipods, it's pretty impressive. But what really makes this wank special is that Moonlight fandom is seriously like the most naive and trusting fandom EVER. Before Leeser has said even a word to explain herself, there are posters AGHAST that some are judging her!

QUOTE: I'm sure Lees will step forward and post something as soon as she's able, but that's not going to happen any sooner if the mood of the forums becomes increasingly hostile against her.

QUOTE: Simple way you should know she's not BSing... She uses her -REAL- name guys. And heck, it's not even a real large amount. $10,000... What is that? 5~ months rent in California?

Eventually, Leeser steps forward, and to the surprise of...not a single one of us who's ever been in fandom...THE MONEY WAS STOLEN. When a few people have the nerve to find this a bit doubtful, they're put on blast.

QUOTE: Wow...what a vicious pack this group has become...

What? You want a copy of the police report? How about having Leeser scan and post her new drivers license so you can confirm the date? Maybe she should provide three notarized statements to prove the theft?

Geez, get a grip.

QUOTE: do you know notice how it's always the same vicious pack of nay-sayers that like to cause the all of the dissention and doubt it seems to me they seem to get their jollies by trying to cause trouble & destroy our community because it's apparent to me they obviously have nothing better to do with their time.

There is even more in that thread about Leeser's daughter feeling suicidal because of her mother's fandom involvement, and a whole lot of "I can't believe you're making a fuss over this when people have lost everything in Hurricane Ike!" posts, and even a number of posts from sane people who realize they've all been conned. But overall, it's the most amazingly naive wank I've ever seen. It's kind of like getting in a time machine and going back to 1991 when people could still be shocked by online people lying.

QUOTE: One question. WHEN the bus ads appear am I going to see well needed apologies to Lees?

*head desk*



ETA: Bonus crazy: "I've been thinking about getting my teeth ground down and elongated." And that's from the star of the show.

ETA 2: Leeser returns!

ETA 3: More wank.

ETA 4: Now the thread's locked; wank has moved to the main Bus Ads thread.

(Sorry to fall behind, my power's been going on and off. Please send lipgloss, vanilla glitter is my favorite.)

ETA 5: Update! "Although Leeser did send the forms today, the funds cannot be verified until Monday. The donor also posted some messages back and forth where she's trying to get a direct explanation and getting only the run-around. Finally, she lays a mega smack-down on Leeser."

ETA 6: A new Leeser-bashing thread at the Blue Whale Pub; mod resignations.

(Why do I always end up posting wanks with multiple updates?)

ETA ∞: I was waiting to update until the supposed Leeser-vindicating deadline this afternoon, but it looks like... I don't even know what. So:

The donor updates:

The ad agency has stated they cannot confirm whether the funds are available or not. The New York office is placing at least a 3-5 day hold on Lesser's account in order to verify funding with the bank, however it may be longer. They are now hoping to be able to post this account on Friday. The ads have arrived and are waiting in the warehouse. Lesser is aware of this. I am so angry at this moment I dare not say too much more. One thing I must say though is to Lesser: Shame on you! To put me through this is one of the most unconscionable deeds I have experienced in my life.

Also: Homophobia on Leeser's board? Convention money shenanigans? Sockpuppetry? (Note: the Blue Whale Pub board seems to be down at the moment.)

ETA ∞ +1: And now about $8K in convention funds cannot be accounted for. (More.) Yes, we are pretty sure this is not VB on the rampage again.

ETA ∞ +2: I think dhaunea called this one...

ETA ∞ +3:: The ads are going up on Monday?

ETA 9/29/08: Y'all, please somebody take this over and do a new entry or something. I can't keep up with all the board shenanigans now.