TheTrenchcoat Chronicles

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  • NJ real estate scam submitted by reader

    I received the following e-mail from Amber in New Jersey about a scam that someone tried to pull on her while looking for an apartment on craigslist…

    The guy from the UK used this email: “Alan Erickson” alan.ercks@gmail.com. Now when suspicions arose because I’d asked him to call me a number of times or to send his number for me to call and he never answered certain questions, kept pushing the money wires and some bullshit third party parcel service that’s blacklisted from the Better Business Bureau (www.tnt.com) I googled his name and found a broker in New Jersey who dealt in apartments in and around Montclair where our supposed apt was. I thought….hmm, I’ll call him, sort of beat him to the punch and so I left a message. The REAL Alan Erickson called me back and explained that this guy had done this to many people, and he’s tried to track the guy down and get him for identity theft/fraud. The ad has been removed because we reported for abuse by myself and the real Alan…so I wish I’d have saved it. Basically, if it is too good to be true…on Craig’s List, it probably is.

    (more…)

  • Cadaver dogs, phone calls, Caylee sightings, and hearsay – The latest

    Leaked Phone Records Reveal Details About Casey Anthony Calls:

    Did you notice I didn’t post anything about Casey Anthony yesterday? It was kind of nice. Now, back to the grind.

    Phone records show that Casey Anthony made a flurry of phone calls to her parents on June 16th. She also called her ex-fiancée Jesse Grund.

    June 17th was the day that neighbors say she borrowed a shovel. Then there was another flurry of calls to her parents on the 18th.

    George Anthony is starting to delve into the Cindy Anthony School of Denial. He’s now claiming that he believes the ‘kidnappers’ are under surveillance even though the police disagree.

    Grandmother Of Missing 3-Year-Old Girl Conducting Own Investigation:

    Speaking of denial Cindy Anthony is touting that she’s conducting her own investigation and there’s something she just can’t let go…

    “We get tips every day on Zenaida Gonzalez. They have over a thousand Zenaida Gonzalezes that are linked to the places that Casey told them to look, so it does take time to search through. Private individuals (are) doing it, authorities are doing it, private investigators are doing it, family members are doing it,” Cindy Anthony said. “One of those tips is going to say, ‘Hey, I know exactly where (Caylee) is at,’ and it’s probably going to be a very covert operation.”

    If it turns out that Casey was the only one responsible for Caylee’s disappearance Cindy is probably going to be sued by every Zenaida Gonzalezes in Florida or at least have a restraining order slapped on her.

    The FBI is still looking into threats made against the Anthony family since this whole deal started. Don’t be an assbag people. Leave the crazy family alone.

    Local Couple Claims To Have Photos Of Caylee:

    A couple from Orlando claimed that they had a picture of Caylee except the little girl in the picture had her face obstructed by a hat. Police are saying it’s a false sighting, but that didn’t stop Cindy Anthony from going to see the photos.

    Again, I hate to make light of what I think is going to be a tragic situation but the sightings of Caylee have almost become like Bigfoot and Elvis sightings.

    Authorities explain why they’re so quiet: ‘Caylee is our goal’:

    Cindy Anthony should take the hint on this one. If Cindy wasn’t so outrageous at times the media attention would probably disappear including yours truly.

    Caylee Marie Anthony’s grandfather loses temper before jail visit to daughter:

    Speaking of the media George Anthony gave them the verbal Smackdown again.

    “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” George Anthony bellowed outside the Orange County Jail after a reporter asked if Caylee died in an accident. He then screamed, “Move out of my way, unless you want to get knocked over.”

    I wonder if George is starting to crack under the pressure.

    Speaking of cracked let’s see what Cindy Anthony has to say today.

    Before stepping into the visitation center, Cindy Anthony told reporters she had received another tip about Caylee. She said a woman called her at 11 p.m. and told her she had seen the missing girl.

    And she said that she’s as informative and trustworthy as the police…

    Asked about Thursday’s statement, Caylee’s grandmother, Cindy Anthony, said that her family is as trustworthy a source of information as the Sheriff’s Office.

    “Unless you hear it from us or the police, it’s not true,” Cindy Anthony said. “We are only going to state the facts. Anything else is speculation.”

    That last paragraph almost made my head explode.

    Casey’s attorney interested in cadaver dogs:

    Casey Anthony’s lawyer Jose Baez, aka The Strawgrasper, has requested just about every record possible that’s concerned with the cadaver dogs used by police.

    Baez filed the paperwork with the Orange County Court this week. He is looking for information on any of the searches or examinations performed by the canines during the search for Caylee.

    Baez says he is asking for any videotape or audio from searches done at the grandparent’s house, lakes, ponds or any bodies of water. He is also looking for the canines training records and certificates along with information on the deputies who handle the dogs.

    Does he also want to know whose legs they’ve humped and whose crotches they’ve sniffed? Two dogs from two different counties hit in the same spot. I don’t see the problem.

    Ok, now here’s why I don’t watch Nancy Grace, Greta Van Sustern, or any of those types of shows…

    On Wednesday night, FOX News Greta Van Susteren tracked down the former roomate of Tony Lazzaro, a person Casey dated before she was arrested. Clint House spoke with Greta about what he remembers took place between the end of May and early July.

    Oooooh. Third-hand information. I believe in a court of law they call that hearsay.

    Fraud charges may also be filed against Casey Anthony because family members, I guess ones that aren’t Cindy, are accusing Casey of running up $700 on her parents’ credit card. Somehow I don’t see George and Cindy pressing charges.

  • Nanny Scam

    SSF: SCAMMERS TARGETING NANNIES ADVERTISING ON CRAIGSLIST:

    Scammers are now trying a new angle on the old fake check scam. This time they’re targeting people who are looking for work as nannies. The scammers send the nannies the fake checks saying they’re paying them in advance. Of course, the checks are over the amount requested asking the nannies to wire the difference back.

    As we should all know by now that’s one of the oldest scams on the internet. Luckily none of the nannies that the article talked to fell for the scam.

  • You’ve been scammed

    House-for-rent scams turning up online:

    This is just your typical article about the housing scams on craigslist and how one family almost fell for it in Beaverton, Oregon.

    However the seller of the house did a pretty ingenious thing to prevent people from being scammed.

    After taking a second look at the house in person, Sami noticed the house’s real owner had posted a sign out front reading, “private property: if you have seen this home on craigslist you are being scammed.”

    Good thinking on the owner’s part. People don’t get scammed and he doesn’t have to break it to people that they have been scammed.

  • Hainstock wants a new trial

    Student wants new trial in Wis. principal’s death:

    Not only does Eric Hainstock want us to feel sorry for him now he also wants a new trial.

    As you’ll recall Hainstock shot and killed Principal John Klang of Weston Schools in Wisconsin.

    His latest attorney has filed a motion stating his counsel during the trial was ineffective. Paul G. Bonneson says that Hainstock wasn’t competent enough to waive his rights before he was questioned.

    That’s strange because he was competent enough to steal, load, and fire a gun killing a father, husband, and principal.

  • More on Michael Jacques new legal team

    Death Penalty Experts Join Jacques’ Defense Team:

    The fancy pants lawyers that will be advising Michael Jacques are David Ruhnke and Jean DeSales Barrett of the New Jersey law firm of Ruhnke & Barrett.

    After slogging through the spam that most lawyer pages are I did find out that they are specialists in federal death penalty cases. Jacques is facing federal charges of kidnapping on the death of his niece Brooke Bennett. Jacques is also a convicted sex offender.

    Allegedly Ruhnke & Barrett have never had a client executed. If Jacques is guilty of Brooke’s death here’s hoping their streak comes to an end.

  • Psychic nonsense and other news about Caylee Marie Anthony

    Casey Anthony’s brother cancels today’s jailhouse visit:

    I guess turnabout is fair play since Casey Anthony’s brother Lee canceled a scheduled visit to see his sister today. Casey had canceled a visit from her brother last week.

    Psychic Team Joins Search For Caylee Anthony:

    Let’s hear more from con artist…I mean ‘psychic’ Gale St. John.

    Gale St. John said she had a vision of a place in Orlando near a lake, surrounded by trees and wildflowers. That is where she believes Caylee Anthony can be found, but not alive.

    Thanks a lot, Captain Vague. That sure as hell narrows it down to about most of Florida. She’s asking for donations too. Go figure.

    Police received a tip from someone who they had smelled decomposition in some woods but the tip turned out to be fruitless.

    And once again I stand before you with mouth agape with something that Cindy Anthony has said.

    Cindy Anthony was confronted by a reporter about the mystery phone call where Casey claimed she heard Caylee in the background but investigators say that call never took place.

    Cindy said she shared new information with investigators Monday about Casey’s phone records that she says shows Casey really did get a call from Caylee on July 15 from a “private number.” She’s even claiming that Caylee’s great-grandmother heard from Caylee during the time she’s been missing.

    “How did the person who had Caylee get your mother’s phone number?” WFTV reporter Kathi Belich asked.

    “She was programmed into my daughter’s phone,” Cindy said.

    So does that mean that the mystery baby sitter stole Casey’s phone too and called Casey’s grandmother from Casey’s phone?

    As I said on twitter last night I think Cindy has finally gone off the deep end and it will only be a matter of time before she strokes the hair of a doll and claims that it’s Caylee.

  • No accountability in Accountability Act

    HelenLovejoy

    Pocatello Attorney Talks About Juveniles Serving Life Sentences:

    Some waste of a suit in Washington, I mean a congressman from Virginia, is trying to get a law passed that would stop juveniles from being sentenced to life without parole.

    Congressman Robert Scott has introduced the Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007, otherwise known as H.R. 4300.

    Congressman Robert Scott: “Giving someone life without parole means they can’t even be considered for parole.”

    Thanks for that update, Obvious Man.

    The article then brings up Torey Adamcik and Brian Draper, two teens sentenced to life without parole for the brutal videotaped murder of Cassie Jo Stoddart.

    Adamcik’s attorney thinks this is the greatest thing since ambulances were invented…

    Aaron Thompson: “Cooperation and volunteering for all the programs that are available in prison where you can rehabilitate and work towards something where life means something on a day-to-day basis, knowing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

    Do you mean like the light at the end of the tunnel that Cassie Jo has to look forward too? Oh no, wait, there is no light for her because your client killed her.

    Some people say that life without parole for Adamcik is vengeance and not justice. So what? It’s not real vengeance since Adamcik is still allowed to draw breath.

    The article states that there are 2500 juveniles serving life without parole in the U.S. I wish that number was bigger. Not to mention how many of those 2500 are gang members and how many are kids like Adamcik. I bet the number of gang members is extremely disproportional to the other teen murderers.

    And speaking of gangs I guess Congressman Scott is doomed to repeat history. The reason the life without parole for juveniles came about, in my opinion, because of the gang killings of the late ’80s and early ’90s. If HR 4300 were to pass it would just be letting these dangerous felons back out on the streets but I guess he’s ok with that.

    It should be justice for the victims not rainbows and sunshine for the killers.

  • The Caylee Anthony billboard

    Billboard for Caylee Anthony:

    I am literally shaking my head at this one. You can’t see it but I am.

    George and Cindy Anthony, mostly Cindy I would bet, are planning on towing a huge billboard behind their truck that asks for help in finding Caylee Marie Anthony.

    It may just be the biggest monument to denial in Central Florida.

  • To catch a Shadow

    Police: Predator targeted teen websites:

    29-year-old Warren Nanney of Boise, Idaho was arrested this past Friday in child porn charges.

    Nanney was said to have been in possession of images of 14 and 15-year-old girls. Using the handles of “Shadow” and “Jadedwasted” Nanney cruised the usual places looking for young girls. Investigators say that he used Myspace, Facebook, and Myyearbook to find his victims. It’s alleged that he had sex with two girls who were under the age of 16 by posing as a 16-year-old.

    “He had over 500 contacts, 500 people listed as friends and 90 percent of them were under the age of 18, females who were in the Treasure Valley,” said Bill Crawford, a detective with the Caldwell Police Department.

    Hopefully, this serial scumbag will be put away for a long time.