Comments on: Quantum Entanglements: The Social Media Scandals

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:47:41 +0000

Apparently this is still an ongoing scam, as I was just recently friended by LillyAnn on Foursquare. I almost fell for this too. What’s remarkable is that in doing a Google search, no mention of this scam appears until about the third or fourth page of search results (that is where I found this blog post and the Connie Reece article). Usually when I use Google to investigate scammy items, I will typically see references to its fraudulent nature on page 1 of results. Instead the first pages of results all show this scammer’s various social media sites.

I saw a previous comment above referencing a trust index site, but it seems to me unless the internet community can “out-search engine optimize” the scammers, they will continue to perpetrate these falsehoods.

The other alternative is to create a Snopes-like site that independently verifies, or posting a page to high-authority sites like Wikipedia, or even a twitter page.

Anyway, be vigilant out there!

By: Phoebe

Phoebe — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:52:00 +0000

I am ashamed to say that I am a victim of that lilly’s scam. I have trusted her and thought she did suffer from Lupus! I’ve given her some money in february 2009 but that was the last. this lady is in facebook, linkedin, everywhere! I dont know about the children but i feel sad for them. I dont think I’ve interacted with her children.

This is disgusting! I do not believe this! I am very embarassed!

By: Ashiya

Ashiya — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:06:40 +0000

I know this is really old, and I’ve no idea if there’s been any conclusion to it, but I thought I’d mention that apparently she claims to be a 22 year-old from the UK as well…?? http://www.stumpedia.com/member/Blueunplugged Or is that someone else using the same picture?

By: dotlizard

dotlizard — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:23:44 +0000

Offhand, I’d say this is the single best bit of information we’ve gotten in this whole mess. I’m sure that it is fraud, but it is extremely difficult to get a fraud prosecution started on something like this, where the evidence is scattered across the internet and many of the victims may not even realize they were victimized – such is the nature of crimes that take advantage of the emotionally fragile.

I’d say that Gabrielle and LillyBarb were involved, unless Gabrielle set up all her mom’s profiles and handled them up until the time things switched to the “I’m logging in as my mom and she needs help” etc. Seems likely that it’s turned into a family business at this point.

I think the most challenging aspect of trying to prosecute such crimes would be the majority of victims not wanting to identify as victims, since in doing so they forfeit any illusion of benefit they may have gotten from the situation – and illusory benefits are important to the emotionally distressed.

Your direct personal knowledge would be a great help towards putting together a case that would have the possibility of being prosecuted.

By: Casey

Casey — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 07:14:07 +0000

I’ve personally know Barb Calandrello for many years and just came across her facebook and her myspace and her websites and can’t believe that this isn’t considered fraud altogether. But in reviewing her facebook page, all her personal info is valid. Her children’s names, ages, hometowns are valid as well but 3 of the four children are from her first marriage so their last name is different. The photo is a fake, of course as are her credentials but is this something the feds need to look into? Did Gabrielle set up the scam herself or did her mother? Unfortunately, her children have had a diffucult upbringing and none of them have not been part of a sound family unit. Their living conditions are far below what Lilly would have everyone think. So all of her followers are being duped except for the fact that she definitely has a talent for marketing to those that are in emotional distress. It is a widespread business that is collecting millions of dollars and not just by Barb/Lilly.

By: Marianne

Marianne — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:03:44 +0000

I went to Homewood Flossmoor HIgh School with Barb Olson, aka Barbara Calendrello aka Lilly Calendrello. She turned 45 in December and graduated in 1982. . .

By: antuan

antuan — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:07:03 +0000

Check out the trust index of the social networks and media at http://www.trust-index.com

Trust-index

You can add any item you want to be rated by people all over the world. Express your trust, and check out what others think about.

By: Social Media Scandals - Robert Merrill

Social Media Scandals - Robert Merrill — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:23:00 +0000

[...] Weinberg writes a detailed and extensive blog post over at Techipedia titled: “Quantum Entanglements: The Social Media Scandals” where she discusses a recent scandalous social meltdown. What can you say about a beautiful [...]

By: Tamar Weinberg

Tamar Weinberg — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:42:03 +0000

I'm not 100% sure if she was involved in HARO (maybe Kelly knows?), but I'm hearing as of today from Connie Reece that she's back. I suppose unsuspecting individuals should prepare to get scammed.

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:38:32 +0000

Thank you so much for this post. This breaks my heart but I am also wiser for reading. Is this the same woman who was kicked off HARO for nasty behavior? Her name sounds familiar but maybe that’s just from Plurk or Twitter. Since I would never lie about who I am or my needs this kind of stuff always surprises me.