Redemption: Served Cold

Comment left by Keith on the "Satisfaction" blog entry below:

I know who this is so there is no need to disguise him as Mr. X. I am doing my best in this. I have some issues. I am not a total piece of shit. My life is crazy. I would love to see any of you raised in my family and having a child diagnosed with Cancer. It does not make life easy at all. Don;t knock it till you have tried it. I will talk about my daughter always, she is the biggest part of my life. I never said that what I did was right...I made some mistakes and I am looking right here right now to correct them. I have to admit this blog site is not helping the situation. But there is nothing I can do about it. It is here to stay, no matter what I pay back and who I pay back.

Email sent to me soon after:

On Mar 4, 2009, at 10:17 PM, Keith // Subject:Yourself wrote:

What is it going to take for the blog site to come down..? I would like to talk with you about this. I just want to know where you are at on this…do you think you can go back on vacation again. I am working on getting things squared away with others. I really need to find another job. I am trying to make good with you on everything. I sent the extra 50 to show my motivation. I literally gave you every last penny I had. I am making changes and sacrifices to keep my word with you and Justin.

Here's my answer:

1. I didn't call him "Mr. X" for your benefit, Keith. I'm sure you know who he is.
2. I've grown really tired of hearing about your problems. Let's not play games of tit for tat in suffering. It's pointless and whiney and offers no real excuses for decisions we make as thinking adult people.
3. You ask what it will take for the blog to come down. Before, I've said that nothing would make me take it down, but I think there may be something after all. You keep saying that you're sorry and that you want to make "good" for the mistakes you've made, but what were these "mistakes" you speak of? As far as I've seen, you really haven't admitted to anything. YOU ROBBED PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET. Say it. Tell the truth. Admit you took advantage of Justin and borrowed money under false pretenses. Admit that Hilary called him for more money after he said he couldn't give you any more. Admit you ran scams on Craigslist and tried to sell people equipment you didn't have. All this whining and making excuses and telling us all how hard you've had it is soooo tired. Tell everyone how I reached out to you last summer and asked you to just pay $25 to show good faith and how you promised me you would mail it right away and never did. Talk about how you would make plans to meet us with equipment and never show up. Admit that the only reason we're getting paid is because I have this blog and you've basically told everyone else to f*ck off. Stop acting like people are attacking you. Stop being a victim. Say "I'm Keith Kiiroja and I stole from innocent people."

The blog is up as a warning. It's a public service. You're a criminal. If you want to make restitution to all the people you've scammed, then that is a respectable thing and I encourage you to do that. However, your money does little to pay people back what they've really suffered because of you. A real, honest apology is in order... plus, of course, the cash.

Satisfaction Rate: 12%

Today was another good day. Keith deposited $450 into my bank account, bringing his total amount paid back to us to $850 or 12% of his total: $7212.17. He was only supposed to deposit $400, so I'm not sure what that little extra was for... maybe a bonus for my compassion chart.

I must say, however, that this event is somewhat bittersweet. The news for the rest of the Keith Kiiroja support group is not so good. In fact, I received a phone call today from another person who bought equipment [or thought he was buying equipment] from Keith on Craigslist, and this one really upset me. It certainly gets me worked up to read dozens of angry emails calling Keith a scumbag and a loser, but its quite another feeling that I get when I hear the actual voice of someone who Keith has {allegedly} scammed. This guy just sounded really sad. He was looking to me for advice because he just isn't getting anywhere with Keith.

He sent me some emails Keith had sent to him regarding his Craisglist "purchase" and gave me permission to reprint them without his name. I'm calling him "Mr. X". This is the second person who has called me about Keith since I posted the blog. There are also about 7 people in the "support group" - other than Justin and me - of which I think two got paid back partially or in full.

Here are some of the emails from Keith to Mr. X:

"I know you are infuriated with this situation and I want to do my best to correct it. There was a posting about me by someone on craigslist and I know that you are upset by this knowing that there is someone else out there who is dealing with the same issues that you are. Truth is in all of the daily madness I am dealing with in my life things became a bit overwhelming and I may have double sold an item and I have not shipped what was sold or I did and it was to the wrong person. Luckily, I have all of your emails and I am not a complete asshole. I am not looking to take advantage. However some of you may not end up with what you purchased. You will however get every penny back. I know I also gave a lot of you the runaround. I am truly sorry and I only have myself to blame for you being upset.

What I would like for all of you to do is write me back an email and let me know an amount that you paid, if you did a transfer, how much did it cost you? What did you buy from me and when? Also send me your correct address. I do not need any other words at all cause I know I handled this wrong. I am not looking to scam anyone and I think that is proven by the fact that I gave you all my home and cell #’s and I have been in contact as often as I could be. Some of you will get your money back and others will get what they purchased by January 15th 2009. I cannot afford to send anything overnight or express. I will also be willing to meet with some of you in person for the final transaction. Others are too far.

What I do find odd is that I sold numerous items on CL and I had some issues with shipping delays. I sold a desktop computer, a really expensive laptop, a digital point and shoot, a 30d and 3 lenses (more than a few months ago), 2 Alex Grey paintings, and more…all of those people walked away with their stuff after awhile and were all happy helping me and dealing with me. I am guessing though that none of you are interested in hearing their stories. I know you are all unhappy. Send me those emails as soon as possible and I will send you back either what you purchased or your money. Anyone who is waiting longest or paid in full will get priority over anyone else and I will notify you via email on what you will be getting. I am looking to get this back on track and as organized as possible.

Sorry for the inconvenience this all caused.
Thank you for your time.
Keith Kiiroja

Email me at keith@unkphoto.com with the following info.

Name:

Ship to Address:

Phone:

Email:

Item(s) Purchased:

Money Paid:

Balance Owed (Only if applicable):"

---

"Mr. X,

I just figured it would be easier to send you an email.

I am going to ship you the Camera ONLY and refund the money for the Lens. I have things squared away here with everyone else and you will be getting a BRAND NEW 5d.

I will call you in the morning after I arrange shipment.

Thank you,
Keith"

---

"Please one more final time, send me whatever info you would like for me to send you your money back. I know I may have sent some of you checks but I have to close my account after 2 of them clear this week. I had some fraudulent activity happen on my account and now I know how all of you feel.

You will all be paid what you laid out in a timely fashion, I promise (not that my promise means anything to any of you). No more bullshit from me. I am done playing games with all of you, I am sorry that you got caught up in my fucked up life. I know what I owe to you so please just send along one of the following so that you can be paid what you put forward.

Just so you all are aware, I am doing my best to fix this in a way that will not involve scamming or stealing from anyone.

I am once again sorry that I allowed my suffering in my life affect you in any way.

Full Name:
Address:
(for this I would send you a Money Order ONLY)
Bank Account:
(money would be deposited directly into your account)
Routing Number:
(if you want money transferred)
Branch Name:
PayPal Email Address:

keith@unkphoto.com
Long Island, New York
tel: 631-xxx-xxxx
mobile: 613-xxx-xxxx
AIM: SnapshotAssassin"

Mr. X made this transaction with Keith in late October 2008, and has yet to receive any merchandise or any of his money back. This is the latest email Mr. X sent to me [after I told him Keith paid us $450 and wondered if anyone else has had any luck getting the money he had promised them this week]:

"Rebekuh [sp],

Keith said they wouldn’t transfer money by phone so he is going to go Friday in person to the bank. He is still stalling. I text him that he is just stalling and I said that I was maybe going to start a blog to get his attention. I even ask what I should title it. He wasn’t too happy. Here is his blog “no, I am no stalling… u don’t need to waste ur time on a stupid fxxxxxx blog.” Then I said something about the law and he said “ I have spoken with the police and a lawyer… u have to take me to small claims. I could get u the money Friday…ur choice.

I am getting real tired of his lies. I still think I’ll wait to post anything on your blog but I can show you some of his emails if your interested. I have a business receipt for the 5d I bought from him and here are four emails that I received.

Keep in touch,
Mr. X"

All I can say here is that I'm really glad that Keith is keeping his word with us, but I wish he was able to make things right with the other people he's hurt. Keith has also made arrangements with us to send us equipment next week and asked for a two week period to get a larger amount of money together to pay for the Canon equipment. There has been some murmuring in the group that Keith is going to be "away and unreachable" for two weeks causing some worry that he's trying to disappear. Like I always say, "we shall see".

Thanks for the $$, Keith!! Hope to hear from you on Monday :)

[Disclaimer for those of you who have googled Keith Kiiroja in regard to considering him for a job: My intent in this blog is not to make commentary on Keith Kiiroja's skills as a photographer or character as a potential employee. I am merely documenting the collection of personal loans made to Keith by my husband, Justin, and also some anecdotal/alleged accounts stories of others who had business transactions with Keith involving the sale of camera and gaming equipment over the internet. Look, I can't stand the lying jerk, but if you want him to take your picture, more power to you.]

Update [Shortest Vacation EVER]

Keith didn't make the deposit today citing the snow storm and lack of transportation as his reasons for failing to make good on his promise. He has now promised to make the deposit first thing tomorrow [03.04.09] morning. We shall see.

Compassion + Time to Relax

It is a true fact that if you open me up and take a photo of my insides that my heart appears mostly black with sharp corners and burnt edges. If you look close enough you'll see a happy face with a smirk branded into the side of it. But if you take one of those very expensive fancier pictures of my insides, it will reveal a very adorable image of my heart - all fluorescent pink with yellow and green polka dots. What I'm trying to say is that I'm actually very sweet - very, very, very ... very deep down inside.

To know me is to know a very optimistic and forgiving person who loves puppies and babies and who smiles 99% of the time. I have compassion and love for all living things. To illustrate this further, I have prepared a "compassion pie chart" for your review.

[image lost - I'll update when/if I locate it]

I also have an "aggravation" pie chart, but I'm saving that one for later. I've decided that today is a day for compassion, so Justin and I are going to take a much needed vacation from the strain of feeling sour and focus on polka dots and rainbows instead.

We're not sure if or when we'll be back, but you can all be sure that all our stories will be locked up safe in a vault while we're away and will be back for your viewing pleasure upon our return.

Namaste.

Come On, Mama Needs a New Pair of Shoes!!

Note: I'll be blogging under my "Rebekah + Justin" ID from time to time to make it easier to transition between my blogs without logging in and out...

Anywho, I have a small and uninteresting update and a slightly larger and more interesting update that I thought might be worth sharing with you all.

First, in the interest of being fair, I want to share with you the smattering of text messages that Keith has sent to Justin over the past few weeks. It seems that Keith really wants to pay us this money back [read: wants us to think that he really wants to pay us this money back]. I find it interesting that the conversation always seems to hit a brick wall when there's any mention of getting the equipment back. Oh well... moving on. Here are the texts:

[text images have been lost to time and the internet]
I, being the eternal optimist, am very excited about this. The Drunken Classy Ladies have our March brunch coming up, and this requires me to purchase a new dress and shoes... I'm so glad Keith will be funding my shopping trip. This slow economy has definitely put a dent into my dress buying and it'll be nice to have some of our money back to keep it "business as usual".

I'm really placing a lot of faith in Keith to come through [mostly because I already bought the dress and it looks great on me], and I'll be sure to update you with what happened by the end of banking hours tomorrow.

Ok, now for the second thing: There's another blog out there written by another person who was "allegedly" scammed by Keith Kiiroja. I contacted the owner of the blog to find out who he was and what his story is, and he got back to me late last night via email. He's actually one of the people who Keith listed as someone he owed money to in an earlier email to me. I've said before that our story is the only one I can guarantee as true [even though I whole-heartedly believe all the others who I've been in contact with about Keith], so I wanted to reach out to him myself to see if he's legit. I'm waiting for him to get back to me with permission to link his blog and maybe post his story. FYI: it was another Craigslist scam... he didn't lend Keith anything. Hopefully, he'll let me share his story here.

That's all for now, folks. Hold for the update... [PS I obliged and removed Keith's phone number from my blog as per his request. I find this a weird request considering that the number will supposedly no longer work, but what the heck... I don't care.]