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.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

janegraddell
2008-09-26 10:17 pm UTC (link)

I'll be darned.

From Kays:

I received this email from the advertising company this morning:

Hi Barb,

I just sent Lees her payment receipt. She is paid in full. The ads are posting on Monday on schedule. Thanks a million for all of your help on this. I couldn’t have done it without you!

Still buried… I have my movie campaign going up on Monday and I’m not out of the woods yet. Back to work!

Kim

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	faultypremise 2008-09-26 10:42 pm UTC (link)
	Oh man, after reading that I can't help but think: Revenge is best served cold. Bravo, Kays. Bravo. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	dhaunea 2008-09-26 10:51 pm UTC (link)
	Hooray! (Reply to this)(Parent)

	killer_gopher 2008-09-27 01:44 am UTC (link)
	Praise be, on a plate of cheese and quackers! *still thinks she used credit card/begged/borrowed/stole from Swingtown supporters/worked on the street selling flowers for a gil a piece to Cloud. Oops, sorry wrong fandom. ;) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	faultypremise 2008-09-27 01:51 am UTC (link)
	Totally. Which is why she stalled for so long, even Kays knew she didn't have that money. I'm totally laughing my ass off that she pressed for the bus ads to go up because she knew it'd put Leeser into debt. lol (Reply to this)(Parent)

pfeffermuse
2008-09-27 07:48 pm UTC (link)

Guess I'm the only one who thinks the denouement is still a letdown.

1) The ads are running a month-and-a-half late; so, likely the ad copy will also be out-of-date.

2) At this stage of the game, it still makes the Moonlight fandom (and ultimately all fandom) look rather moronic for attempting to resurrect a dead series that is already compost.

3) Is the $11,000 cost the real, total cost of designing, printing and running of the ads? Did Kays ever really learn the true costs, as opposed to what Leeser told her it would cost? At least from reading the posts, I came away with the feeling that in seeing how quickly Kays could write a valid cheque for $8,000 (and I think that was the reason why Leeser met with Kays at the bank in the first place: to size Kays up, verify the cheque was actually valid, and see how much more she could get), the additional $3,000 was just icing on the cake.

So, assuming the $8K price was already inflated, then the $11K price was grossly inflated. While Leeser may have had to beg and borrow to pay the bill, the total cost may still be below what Kays paid out.

4) While I appreciate Kays emotional attachment to Moonlight, and why she would be willing to donate for the cause, at this stage of the game, the ads seem like the excess of a fan with more money than sense. Kays herself stated that looking back, she might have instead donated the money to the victims of Hurricane Ike had that happened first.

Handled correctly, demanding the money back for a worthwhile cause in honour of Moonlight and in memory of her family members, might have bought her far more publicity among fandom for Leeser's betrayal of trust, along with far more positive publicity among the general public for Moonlight and fandom. The bus ads won't even make a blip; a large donation given for an unusual reason could make the rounds as news filler.

~ ~ ~ ~

Overall, the wank's given me hours of fun reading, and I'm glad Kays got whatever satisfaction she hoped for. Now, if only someone could silence themis, I'd be happy.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	danceswithelvis 2008-09-27 08:39 pm UTC (link)
	I think the world would be happy if they silenced Themis. That kind of stupid gives me a headache. (Reply to this)(Parent)

killer_gopher
2008-09-27 10:11 pm UTC (link)

Somewhere last night, I had a thought about themis... She said she knew the entire story from Leeser; she already stated once that she lost a huge amount ($30,000) on an investment...I am wondering if Leeser called on her faithful, and apparently independently wealthy, sheep to come up with the money. This would also explain why only her believers have spoken to her, she needs their damn money!

Elizabuff already also mentioned she donated $2100 for round trip tickets for the con. I am betting that Leeser PM'd/called her deaf sheep with some dramatic tale of woe that she did not want repeated, but enough for them to come up with a portion of the money. This is why they are saying the 'know' the real story and were positive the ads will show up. Right now, the sheep are basking in the self-worth that they donated once again to a great cause only they truly know of, plus have the added benefit of rubbing the 'questioners' nose in the fact the ads will run.

I bet $10 (nothing more, apparently I do not have the funds like the Moonlight fandom) that those who are supporting her were conned into giving more money. This is why they can't be wrong, that would admit that they were stupid...again.

It would not surprise me in three months or so - one of the sheep post the truth when they are not paid back. The rest of the group that gave, will just say it was a donation and still live in denial.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

pfeffermuse
2008-09-27 11:39 pm UTC (link)

I've always wondered why some fans will continue going to the wall for someone who obviously doesn't have their best interests at heart. And the only reason I've ever come up with isn't that they don't feel/understand/empathise with the betrayal, or aren't afraid that they won't get the shaft eventually, but rather that if they don't rally in support, they'll lose some sort of insider status.

For many, Leeser is the closest they'll ever come to their objects of devotion. It's better for her to be dangling her ~~supposed~~ connections before them, just in case she might offer them the chance of getting up-close-and-personal to TPTB, then risk losing nothing.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

	faultypremise 2008-09-28 02:14 am UTC (link)
	Wow, I hadn't even thought of that one. But it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. Which is why Leeser isn't saying anything and why the people who're supporting her so staunchly aren't willing to impart their knowledge either. I wonder what sort of sob story she managed to cook up. Besides the stolen $3,000. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	ari_o 2008-09-28 05:38 am UTC (link)
	elizabuff pains me more than themis. OMG! Leeser's faithful all seem to have had the same lobotomy. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	janegraddell 2008-09-28 07:37 am UTC (link)
	It was a three-way tie for me between lstevens, Themis and Elizabuff, until Elizabuff started this thread. Passive-aggressive much? Then again, Themis has switched to what she apparently thinks is a devastating Biblical defense, so she might manage to edge back to the top spot if she keeps it up. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cleolinda 2008-09-28 03:52 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah, but Themis gets immediately pwned by the next comment. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	janegraddell 2008-09-28 06:38 pm UTC (link)
	This is true. I &hearts Dark One. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	annabelle_lee 2008-09-29 06:57 am UTC (link)
	Agreed. Hydriotaphia gets ♥s later on in the thread as well. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	ari_o 2008-09-28 06:41 pm UTC (link)
	How awesome would it be if they are all socks?! (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	janegraddell 2008-09-28 06:55 pm UTC (link)
	I would dearly love to see an IP check on those three and Leeser. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	annepackrat 2008-09-29 05:52 am UTC (link)
	That would definitely make my day! Apparently at least one is a longstanding board member though, and while it's not out of the realm of possibility if they are Leesor's socks, she's kept up the charade for a long time. (Reply to this)(Parent)

dhaunea
2008-09-28 05:34 am UTC (link)

3. Kay spoke to the printer and ad agency personally. That was the complete and total cost and she got copies of the bills to verify it. There's still 25 dollars missing, I think, and she's declared that Leeser may keep it.

4. As Kay herself said, she forced this through in the end knowing that Leeser had spent her (Kay's) money on other things, in order to force Leeser to come up with the full sum publicly. And, she admits up front, to put Leeser into debt to cover her thieving ass. The point was made that if she'd tried to get the money back, there was far less chance of that actually happening than if she made it a public circus of sorts complete with verifiable contacts and charges.

*shrugs* YMMV, but that's what was said on the Moonlight Boards.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

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