Beware of online scams and creative erosion
- col-lee-elliot-aging-graciously
- May 1, 2025
- 235
Please be sure to read Teri Stein’s column from last week. It was spot-on and resonated immediately with me because I also was scammed by Angie’s List … or Angi, as it goes by now.
For the two of us, who deal with the computer every day, keep up with the news and consider ourselves at least still halfway “with it,” this comes as a shock.
I have been somewhat desperately trying to find a reliable, reasonable local company to deep clean and seal the ceramic tile and grout that is most of my downstairs. The last company came two hours late, splashed, did not clean wooden furniture and base boards, wouldn’t move furniture, and said the grout wasn’t worth cleaning. They also are exorbitantly expensive.
As I searched, I ran across Angie, something I have used in the past. They asked several questions such as how soon do you want the work done, what type of tile is it, et cetera, all seemingly legitimate. A little later I was told I could have an 8 a.m. appointment in two days and that it would cost $390. That evening a man called to check that I would be ready for the appointment. I told him I would but I thought I should talk with the company before they came so they would know the size and expectations.
I asked him how they knew it would be the price they gave me. He said that was standard and that the person who was going to come was now available to me on the internet so I could contact him. From that point on, all communication stopped. Shouldn’t I have known right then? But I am desperate to get this tile back to its original spit and polish.
So I went to their help menu, and this is where the scam starts working. They advise you that indeed their man is coming to your house and get all the information they need including your credit card number. I know, I know. I have always known, but it seems so natural. This is a hard lesson learned because I am constantly warning others to be watchful. Well, be watchful. And whatever you do, don’t deal with Angi.
While my blood is still boiling, this brings me way above 212 degrees. A local newspaper has announced they would like to give you more hometown coverage. Sound good? Here’s how it works: You send your information, and it will be made into a “polished” article by Espresso, a generative artificial intelligence tool, thus “freeing up full-time staff members to focus on hard-hitting and impactful news coverage.” Shows you how important your news is, doesn’t it?
To someone like me, who after years of training, has been a professional writer (been paid for my work) exactly 68 years, this is the ultimate insult. I appreciated the studying and training and stick by its rules today, knowing they are still good rules. Truly, I never thought I’d see the day that something like AI would take over newspapers, magazines, films, music, art, dance and all creative work.
What does the future look like for creators? At the moment it appears bleak. We can only hope that by some stretch of imagination (and that’s really what it’s all about … our imaginations) new inspiration will give those who live for creation their world back.