Scam Artist

I was recently scammed by a posting on craigslist; similar posting here.  I was looking for a makeup/hair stylist for Provincetown who would come to the hotel, had reasonable prices, etc etc.

One of my bmaids found a posting on craigslist and I contacted them and arranged for them to do the wedding.  With a 50% deposit, $500 through paypal, it was a done deal until we needed to schedule my trial.

In the middle of August I contacted her because I'd be up on the Cape for a week.  This would be the ideal time to do it because it didn't have to be a weekend.  Easy enough right?  Contacted her 4 weeks ahead of time.  Numerous emails later, a call to a disconnected number, and I started snooping.  Turns out, the email address I was communicating with wasn't The Final Touch's email, tried The Final Touch's phone number and that was disconnected too.

At this point I'm freaking out.  Less than 8 weeks til the wedding and now I've been SCAMMED!  Not only am I out the $500, but now I have to find another stylist/artist who's open at the end of October who can accommodate my relatively large party.  YIKES!

Paypal was awesome!  Let me file a disputed, encouraged me not to communicate with the person after she tried to reach out to me, and after 10 short days, closed in my favor and I got my money back.

I also found a spa who will do our makeup and hair.  West End Salon wil be open and can accommodate us and I really liked Jonathan's style when he did my trial.  Whoop whoop!

Moral of the story - craigslist really can be shady despite all precautions you take to be safe.