BEWARE OF SCOPIST FROM HELL

[Karol Hill]

Hey, everyone, just wanted to tell reporters beware of scopists out there scamming reporters. I couldn't believe. I was in desperate need of a scopist. Had several people respond. I picked out a couple with the "10 years experience in criminal court" and a "CRR. " Every day I sent her a day's worth of trial, everyday she kept on me to send her more, send her more, I'm done, need more. I sent her my work, kept reminding her I could send her extra wav file from my Mira if needed. No, everything is fine. I'm done, just proofing. I receive an invoice for three days of trial but no transcript. I didn't pay it, thank goodness. I E-mailed her and said I really needed my work back so I could proof it and print it out, etc. She then informed me she would not have it ready till the next week, it was a mess and I was the worst reporter on the planet. I also received an E-mail from another experienced scopist, sounded good. I never got a chance to contact him. within a few days I received an E-mail from him saying he was in some hotel somewhere, lost his wallet, credit cards and would I send him some money. I've never met this person. Just wondering if anyone has gotten scammed. I hope not. Just wanted to warn everyone. I'm half sick right now and working to get this job out. I could have been working on it all last week. I'm furious.

[Karol Hill]

Hey, everyone. I sure want to thank everyone for your words of encouragement. It was such a shock to me because I have used scopists off and on the last 12 years or so, but in the last year or two had an illness so didn't work that much. I just got a job with a very busy court and had decided I was going to find one or two to work with on a very regular basis from now on. Yes, I was naive too because I believed her when she said she had 10 years experience in criminal court. She E-mailed me when I put an ad on this site looking for a couple of scopists for regular use. I believe she even said she was a CRR. I can't help but think it was just a scam because why would she lie over and over again and lead me on to believe she was working hard and specifically she had finished the first day, the second day, the third day, then told me to send her the next trial so she could immediately start on it as soon as she finished proofing all three days, which I did. Then she timed it perfectly when she sent the invoices through PayPal. I was convinced she was on top of it, no problem. But when I didn't pay that PayPal and waited another couple days and finally could not wait any longer because I knew I needed to do my proofing and printing to get it in on time, she acts like there's just a couple of problems with the format and I told her not to worry about that, I could fix it very quickly, all of a sudden she tells me it's a mess and won't be done till the next week and then said it was my fault because I was a terrible court reporter, I KNEW she was a fake. If I had paid those invoices, I'd had never seen that money or the transcripts again. I'm sure of it. I've had to go back and look at some of the E-mails she sent me to make sure I didn't just imagine things. She was very convincing. But yes, I still need one or two experienced scopists to work with me. I'm now behind, have a 600-pg trial to get out by this weekend - criminal. I would never warn everyone like this over a transcript that just wasn't up to par, etc., but because this was just blatant lies and deceipt - a scam, I felt I needed to do something. We work way too hard for our money to have someone like this just come in and do something like this. Who would have thought!! I'm still livid. Just spread the word.

[Quyen]

Very good suggestions/advice, Monti! :)

I personally like and highly recommend the [e-mail].

Just kidding!

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Hello Karen,
Where did you find these gems? if through CSRnation can you give me their names please.

Thats why (on CSRnation) only do business with scopists thats have:-
1- Professional profiles.
2- use their full names.
3- have their resume in the about me section.
4- Have at least 3 reporters as friends----> then go and ask these reporters what they think of them.

these are some points that could weed out at least scammers.

monti

[Leslie Medina]

Uh-oh. I've been advertising here and on the CRForum. I really do have more than 20 years' experience and am only too happy to provide references. I've gotten up to 89 hits on each of two ads but no replies, and I'm wondering whether the scammers are ruining the scoping business for the rest of us. I like the fact that this site has a "recommended" list, although reporters I've worked with won't put their names on there for fear of getting spammed. Just can't win!

[Lori L. Monroe]

Make that "I guess I am naive." Hate it when I read/type too fast....

[Lori L. Monroe]

Those types of scopists give us hard working honest ones a bad rep!!! I can't believe someone would go through all that trouble to deceive. I guess I naive.... Don't be afraid to try another one, though. It's hard to still have faith in people but we have to keeping hoping....:)

[Deborah Morin]

Wow, caveat emptor! I should consider myself lucky that I have found a fabulous scopist on this site. Why should we be barred from posting names of people to beware of? That's so sad.

[Jennie Ann]

Oh, man, Karol, that just stinks. I am so sorry for you. I know exactly what you feel like.

I have tried to work with people who state they are EXPERIENCED and RELIABLE, and when I receive the transcript back, they just don't know how to punctuate and spell. I never believe the ads anymore.

I hate to say it, but even some of the Classified ads on this forum, I have read posts written by so-called "EXPERIENCED" people whose ads have words spelled wrong, missing punctuation, and other booboos.

I wonder in this day and age of texting if that has an effect on writing. People are abbreviating all the time. I know I do it, i.e., OMG, LOL, IMHO, LMFAO, et cetera.

I wish you the best and hope you get through these difficult times. Soon the job will be done, and you'll be back to normal again. :-)