4 ms·

Nutjob attempts to extort $35 computer from non-profit foundation

66 points by ukdm 14y ago

alexdias 14y ago
"Nutjob" To me it just looks like a kid who is willing to randomly make up stuff to try and get a Raspberry Pi for free. As amusing/crazy as this was, I'm not really sure if it merited it's own blog post (or HN submission for that matter).
- joejacobs 14y ago
  think I'm going to agree...don't think this "journalist" deserves any publicity
- amanvir 14y ago
  Yup, there are forums full of people trying to get things for free using "social engineering". See: http://www.hackforums.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=70 http://www.hackforums.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=70 In chrome, if you want to see a thread without signing up, just type in cache: before the URL and it will show you the full content visible to googlebot
- peejaybee 14y ago
  I saw it as a preemption of a threatened attack on Upton's and the Foundation's reputation. Probably unnecessary, but then, not as much trouble as having someone spreading rumors that you are an anti-semite.
- ceejayoz 14y ago
  I think the nutjob part comes in where he threatens to smear the organization as anti-Semitic in retaliation.
motoford 14y ago
I kept waiting for the guy Steve to type "someone set us up the bomb"
- tlrobinson 14y ago
  I kept wondering what his native language must have been. And then I wondered if you could write a program that analyzes text written by someone who doesn't speak a language natively to figure out what their native language is.
  - noonespecial 14y ago
    I'd be more interested in a system that knows the grammar rules of several foreign languages and can realistically fake me being a native of that language attempting English. Bonus points for a "proficiency" parameter.
  - ImprovedSilence 14y ago
    I was thinking the same thing. My internal, subconscious, exceedingly inaccurate, and possibly very biased filter wants to say Indian.
  - bicknergseng 14y ago
    While sometimes this happens naturally, I wish HN had a built in "Projects for HN'ers." Like pg's RFS put into a list that we could vote on or something... a kickstarter/aggregator for good ideas.
  - JasonFruit 14y ago
    I'm sad to suspect it was English, but my experience suggests so.
  - whichdan 14y ago
    I think it would be enlightening to see how many poorly written posts are due to language difficulties vs. incompetence.
K2h 14y ago
charging someone $1 to have a chat with the director may be a good tactic to weed out the riffraff.
- ktizo 14y ago
  Make a puzzle game that people have to complete before they can talk to you, with variable difficulty levels for when you are feeling particularly anti-social.
klochner 14y ago
Eben has the patience of a saint. The irony of that exchange was that Eben showed pretty amazing customer service the whole time.
- DanielStraight 14y ago
  Perhaps, but I think his approach could be improved. Basically, he was feeding a troll and now they're playing the troll's game by using "eyecatching headlines". (I don't think for a minute they are seriously concerned about blackmail; this was a troll being a troll, not anything serious enough to warrant the name "extortion".) "sorry, I’m afraid we can’t provide free samples" was the right response (although "we do not provide free samples" would have been better as "can't" implies there's a barrier that might be overcome; do not give unreasonable people a reason for a decision because then they have a target). If the troll asks "why", the answer can be "because we do not offer free samples." Repeat meaningless responses until the troll gets bored (or better yet, block and ignore them). As soon as you say the reason is policy, they can try to get you to change or go around the policy. If you provide no reason at all, there is nothing to discuss.
  - dasil003 14y ago
    Why do you think it was a troll? Don't trolls have better things to do like troll message boards where people will actually see the havoc they're attempting to wreak? Personally it smells legit. If it was a prank then kudos to the troll.
noonespecial 14y ago
It still hard enough to get ahold of them one at a time paying full price. They are definitely not at the "free samples and thousands of orders" stage. As I understand it, the foundation doesn't even directly control production. Even if "Steve" had been reasonable, it's a perfectly understandable policy. Those interested in samples and big orders would be much better off talking directly to the distributors.
smoyer 14y ago
I suspect "Steve's" address is in Nigeria.
vsviridov 14y ago
The sound of a collective face-palm rolls like thunder through the hills...
sixtypoundhound 14y ago
Repeatedly hustling someone over $35? Seriously???
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
X-Istence 14y ago
I paid for my RaspberryPi and just recently got an email from Rs Online that my RaspberryPi will be delayed by a further 9 weeks. I ordered July 3rd, it was supposed to be delivered in 11 weeks, now it looks like I won't get my RaspberryPi until mid October if I am lucky, most likely mid November. At least I will get an early christmas gift, by the time it shows up I will have forgotten all about it and version 2.0 will most likely be out ...
wildmXranat 14y ago
Throughout the whole ordeal, Eben didn't break character. If that maroon wasn't trolling, it was indeed a very funny attempt. Overall, the RP is hard to get. I paid about 2 months ago. All I got since was a couple of emails saying that the shipment will be pushed back, etc. And I'm totally fine with that. I guess, some aren't and shit like this happens.
droithomme 14y ago
We get similar requests fairly often. Traits: 1. They want free stuff. 2. They dangle the possibility of hundreds or thousands of sales. 3. When the answer is no, they start making threats and/or take to the internet to post lies about the company. Current policy is no free samples under any circumstances whatsoever. We do give away copies of our products as gifts sometimes though and we make available review copies to journalists who can actually verify their credentials. (With about 9 out of 10 claiming to be writing a review for a magazine the magazine editor will say they have never heard of the person.)
- joezydeco 14y ago
  Sounds like a lot of RFP bids I worked on at my current job. Big company shows up, dangles a bid the size of Texas (at least in our eyes). We pull all-nighters making a killer design and proposal. The client "changes their mind" and takes the completed bid overseas and has it made for peanuts.

66 points by ukdm 14y ago

"Nutjob" To me it just looks like a kid who is willing to randomly make up stuff to try and get a Raspberry Pi for free. As amusing/crazy as this was, I'm not really sure if it merited it's own blog post (or HN submission for that matter).

joejacobs 14y ago
think I'm going to agree...don't think this "journalist" deserves any publicity
amanvir 14y ago
Yup, there are forums full of people trying to get things for free using "social engineering". See: http://www.hackforums.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=70 http://www.hackforums.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=70 In chrome, if you want to see a thread without signing up, just type in cache: before the URL and it will show you the full content visible to googlebot
peejaybee 14y ago
I saw it as a preemption of a threatened attack on Upton's and the Foundation's reputation. Probably unnecessary, but then, not as much trouble as having someone spreading rumors that you are an anti-semite.
ceejayoz 14y ago
I think the nutjob part comes in where he threatens to smear the organization as anti-Semitic in retaliation.

motoford 14y ago

I kept waiting for the guy Steve to type "someone set us up the bomb"

tlrobinson 14y ago
I kept wondering what his native language must have been. And then I wondered if you could write a program that analyzes text written by someone who doesn't speak a language natively to figure out what their native language is.
- noonespecial 14y ago
  I'd be more interested in a system that knows the grammar rules of several foreign languages and can realistically fake me being a native of that language attempting English. Bonus points for a "proficiency" parameter.
- ImprovedSilence 14y ago
  I was thinking the same thing. My internal, subconscious, exceedingly inaccurate, and possibly very biased filter wants to say Indian.
- bicknergseng 14y ago
  While sometimes this happens naturally, I wish HN had a built in "Projects for HN'ers." Like pg's RFS put into a list that we could vote on or something... a kickstarter/aggregator for good ideas.
- JasonFruit 14y ago
  I'm sad to suspect it was English, but my experience suggests so.
- whichdan 14y ago
  I think it would be enlightening to see how many poorly written posts are due to language difficulties vs. incompetence.

K2h 14y ago

charging someone $1 to have a chat with the director may be a good tactic to weed out the riffraff.

ktizo 14y ago
Make a puzzle game that people have to complete before they can talk to you, with variable difficulty levels for when you are feeling particularly anti-social.

klochner 14y ago

Eben has the patience of a saint. The irony of that exchange was that Eben showed pretty amazing customer service the whole time.

DanielStraight 14y ago
Perhaps, but I think his approach could be improved. Basically, he was feeding a troll and now they're playing the troll's game by using "eyecatching headlines". (I don't think for a minute they are seriously concerned about blackmail; this was a troll being a troll, not anything serious enough to warrant the name "extortion".) "sorry, I’m afraid we can’t provide free samples" was the right response (although "we do not provide free samples" would have been better as "can't" implies there's a barrier that might be overcome; do not give unreasonable people a reason for a decision because then they have a target). If the troll asks "why", the answer can be "because we do not offer free samples." Repeat meaningless responses until the troll gets bored (or better yet, block and ignore them). As soon as you say the reason is policy, they can try to get you to change or go around the policy. If you provide no reason at all, there is nothing to discuss.
- dasil003 14y ago
  Why do you think it was a troll? Don't trolls have better things to do like troll message boards where people will actually see the havoc they're attempting to wreak? Personally it smells legit. If it was a prank then kudos to the troll.

noonespecial 14y ago

It still hard enough to get ahold of them one at a time paying full price. They are definitely not at the "free samples and thousands of orders" stage. As I understand it, the foundation doesn't even directly control production. Even if "Steve" had been reasonable, it's a perfectly understandable policy. Those interested in samples and big orders would be much better off talking directly to the distributors.

smoyer 14y ago

I suspect "Steve's" address is in Nigeria.

vsviridov 14y ago

The sound of a collective face-palm rolls like thunder through the hills...

sixtypoundhound 14y ago

Repeatedly hustling someone over $35? Seriously???

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

X-Istence 14y ago

I paid for my RaspberryPi and just recently got an email from Rs Online that my RaspberryPi will be delayed by a further 9 weeks. I ordered July 3rd, it was supposed to be delivered in 11 weeks, now it looks like I won't get my RaspberryPi until mid October if I am lucky, most likely mid November. At least I will get an early christmas gift, by the time it shows up I will have forgotten all about it and version 2.0 will most likely be out ...

wildmXranat 14y ago

Throughout the whole ordeal, Eben didn't break character. If that maroon wasn't trolling, it was indeed a very funny attempt. Overall, the RP is hard to get. I paid about 2 months ago. All I got since was a couple of emails saying that the shipment will be pushed back, etc. And I'm totally fine with that. I guess, some aren't and shit like this happens.

droithomme 14y ago

We get similar requests fairly often. Traits: 1. They want free stuff. 2. They dangle the possibility of hundreds or thousands of sales. 3. When the answer is no, they start making threats and/or take to the internet to post lies about the company. Current policy is no free samples under any circumstances whatsoever. We do give away copies of our products as gifts sometimes though and we make available review copies to journalists who can actually verify their credentials. (With about 9 out of 10 claiming to be writing a review for a magazine the magazine editor will say they have never heard of the person.)

joezydeco 14y ago
Sounds like a lot of RFP bids I worked on at my current job. Big company shows up, dangles a bid the size of Texas (at least in our eyes). We pull all-nighters making a killer design and proposal. The client "changes their mind" and takes the completed bid overseas and has it made for peanuts.