Letter to the editor

On men and money

Mitch Albom wrote a best seller some years ago titled, “The Five People You Meet in Heaven”. My take on this was a seminar for three former female UW-River Falls student friends of mine: about the five men that women meet from hell.

They are the drunk, the druggie, the gambler, the abuser, and the con man. I told my lady friends what to watch for and also what to do in each situation. Following is what to do when you meet the con man.

Whether you realize it or not, you are a target for men who are mostly interested in taking your money. Under the guise of love, friendship or whatever, they need your money for rent, car payments, to be bailed out of jail (this is a warning within a warning) or any other flimsy excuse they can come up with. They have no intention of ever paying you back.

I even saw one case on Judge Judy when the con men got his girlfriend to pay his child support payments. By the way, I urge you ladies to watch Judge Judy. Channel nine has her on six days per week with up to 25 different cases per week. On an average week at least six to 10 of these cases involve a con man and the women he flim-flammed.

I realize many college students have short resources. Five, 10 or 20 dollars is no real indication you are being conned. It’s when the hundreds and even thousands of dollars are asked for that should make you worry. I told my three friends to set up a top limit of $500. Once it is repaid: good. If more than $500 is requested just say no. That’s my limit. If the $500 is not repaid and another problem arises and another sum of money is needed you have most likely met man from hell number five, and would be throwing good money after bad. It’s time to say goodbye. One last thing: when it comes to money, use your head instead of your heart.

Marvin L. Nelson
River Falls