Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Not Feeling the Love?

Ah, Valentine’s Day. Hearts, flowers, candy…happy couples strolling hand in hand under a moonlit sky (or on a beach, at a ski lodge etc.) stopping to exchange loving gazes. Bliss. Well, not always. Personally, I think there is something rather suspect about a day devoted to love that features a diapered mascot flying through the air shooting arrows at unsuspecting people. As it turns out, from scams to murders, there is a dark side to this lighthearted day.

Everyone wants love, especially on Valentine’s Day. For criminals it’s an opportunity to take advantage of vulnerable people. Romance crimes using online dating sites are big business, cheating people out of $15 billion per year. (That’s a whole lot of love.) Here’s how it happens. A con artist sends an attractive photo--usually stolen from a modeling site--to the victim, pledges undying love and even sends gifts. The scammer then suffers bad luck, needs money and the unwitting victim obliges.

Flower scams are in the air everywhere you go. Take care when using the internet or calling 800 numbers to order flowers. Your order may be filtered through several florists; each one taking a cut. This leaves little money for the actual flower arrangement. Another scam is rather ingenious. A courier unexpectedly delivers a floral and wine basket on Valentine’s Day to the surprise and delight of the recipient. He then charges a few dollars as proof that alcohol was delivered to an adult. Of course, he will only accept a credit card...stealing your credit card information and with it, your joy.

One noteworthy thief, dubbed “the bouquet bandit,” robbed New York banks using a colorful bouquet to hide his threatening stick-up note.

Death by chocolate has a long and sordid history. Due to its strong flavor, chocolate is a good vehicle for delivering poison. (I thought this was fascinating although rather disturbing since I just ordered my husband a box of his favorite chocolates.) Among the many deaths attributed to this method, was Pope Clement XIV. More recently, a woman killed her husband after he prevented her leaving and taking his chocolate cake. I guess some people love chocolate more than their spouses.

Of course, there is the infamous 1929 St. Valentine’s Day massacre thought to be perpetrated by Al Capone (even though he had an alibi). It was one of the first major crimes where the science of ballistics was used. Ultimately, nobody was charged and the case officially remains unsolved.

So, anyone who has ever had, or is having, a bad Valentine’s Day, take heart! You are not alone and your experience might have been worse. However, for the mystery writer, this day can offer a variety of unique ideas. As Forrest Gump famously said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

8 comments:

  1. Well, *gulp* happy Valentine's Day, Kara! Great post!

    Love has always been a field of opportunity for scammers and crooks because the basis of a good con is getting the mark to ignore his own common sense and believe only what he wants to believe. And isn't that a textbook definition of someone falling in love?

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  2. Great point, Linda! We begin to ignore our own common sense while falling in love so it's the perfect time for criminals to take advantage of the situation.

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  3. Happy Valentine's Day, Kara.

    So often one reads about people - usually women - being scammed by someone through dating sites, etc. as they look for love. Often these scammers are in prison. My advice to these lonely women or men is -Get a dog. They're safer, cheaper and their love is real.

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  4. Seriously, what is so great about men anyway? No mothers in any species except humans abandon their young to pursue another male. Just try to get between a Mama grizzly and her cubs.

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  5. Happy Valentine's Day to you, Gloria! Dogs are pretty perfect--there's nothing quite like that type of love and companionship.

    We can certainly learn some lessons from the animal kingdom, Warren. Although I've seen some fairly formidable human mothers protect their kiddies :)

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  6. In the Sunday magazine section of the Washington Post, there is a regular column where a couple rates each other after their first date. This column always makes me cringe because if one rates the other lower, the other is publically dissed.


    Arranged dating seems futile. What can look good on paper doesn't have anything to do with attraction or emotion.

    I oftened wondered what happens after the article is published. It could be a source for revenge. At least on the "Dating Game" more than one potential suitor is rejected so it isn't quite as personal.

    Despite all that--Happy Valentine's Day!

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  7. Love it, Gloria! Get a dog. Truer love you can't find.

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  8. I read the Date Lab section in the Washington Post magazine, too, E.B. I wonder if they run a background check on the applicants...

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