Dear Annie: I have worked for many years at a small family-owned company. I believe my boss has been the victim of a scam, but I can’t tell her.
For several years, my boss has been communicating with a gentleman who claims to be Nigerian. He keeps telling her he is supposed to come to America in the near future and will bring her a cheque for $40 million. I don’t see it happening.
There are three people sending this man money. By now, they have probably given him more than $100,000.
When I am at work, my boss asks whether the man has sent any emails, and if not, she wants me to write to him.
Every few weeks, he says the trip has to be postponed, and then he needs more money for a new ticket. How do I tell her I don’t want to be involved with this any longer? — Seeing a Scam
Dear Seeing: The “Nigerian scam” has been around for a very long time, and we are surprised people still fall for it.
This man will never come to this country with $40 million, but he’s certainly doing a good job of collecting money from naive people like your boss.
Not only should you stop contacting this man, but you also should protect your boss by informing her that this is a scam and she should report it to the local FBI office or register a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Of course, if she chooses to ignore you and contact him on her own, there is nothing you can do. Some people have to learn the hard way.
Dear Annie: My husband and I live on a quiet dead-end street. Quiet, that is, until the neighbours rev up their Harleys.
They have two motorcycles that have been altered to be much louder than the factory intended. These neighbours often come home well after midnight and sometimes leave early on Sunday mornings, making it impossible to sleep with our bedroom window open.
When they travel back and forth during the day, the thunderous noise is quite disturbing.
I realize that some Harley owners feel that the loud pipes and leather are a form of prestige, but I wonder whether they ever consider their neighbours. Please, Harley owners, pipe down! — Hate Those Harleys
Dear Hate: Have you asked your neighbours directly whether they would please muffle the noise until they are out on the open road? Does your neighbourhood have a noise ordinance prohibiting such volume at certain hours? Is there a neighbourhood association to resolve conflicts?
Don’t give up without first checking to see whether you have any recourse in the matter.
Dear Annie: I read the letter from “Helpless, Tired Granny,” who is raising her four grandchildren, and two of them are terribly messed up. That letter moved me.
My two oldest sons were wonderful little boys, but something changed in middle school, and they became rebellious and angry. They would skip school and run away. They were so out of control that we could not have family events.
Counselling didn’t work until we took our older boy to a psychiatrist when he began using drugs. They eventually were both diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Now, even though we still have our ups and downs, we have our happy family back, and my sons are preparing for their futures.
My suggestion for “Helpless” is to get help. She should get a referral to a psychiatrist and find out whether her local health department has a program for grandparents in her situation.
Government programs have a lot to offer, but you have to ask. She needs to be strong. — Been There
Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.