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  | | Talk Delaware Online > Delaware Interests > Family & Schools | | Family & Schools Discuss Chess Scam at DE Schools in the Delaware Interests forums; Chess Scam Hits Delaware Schools
More than 57 Delaware families were scammed by a man who promised to teach their children chess after school then didn't show up for most ... | |  | Chess Scam at DE Schools Family & Schools 
04-09-2008, 10:48 AM
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Pythoness
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Chess Scam Hits Delaware Schools
More than 57 Delaware families were scammed by a man who promised to teach their children chess after school then didn't show up for most lessons, school officials say.
None of the three schools required background checks for Christopher Hackford, 21, before allowing him to send home fliers with students for his "Chess for Children" program. Hackford -- who has larceny charges pending against him related to October 2007 thefts at several Lowe's stores in Massachusetts -- was arrested in February in Massachusetts on charges that he ran chess scams there.
This guy just shows up with an out-of-state driver's license and wants to work with kids, in a public school setting..
And they don't do ANY background check on him AT ALL before allowing him to do so?!
Dear God, they were freakin' lucky the ONLY thing he did was not show up for them. He could have been a pedophile for all they knew.
It's the stuff like this that makes me scared to send my kid to public schools.
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04-09-2008, 11:46 AM
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longnecker
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 I read the article. It is interesting that state law does not require them to check backgrounds of people coming in after school hours .They were giving him a classroom free . Fortunately this guy was just stealing money . It could have been a lot worse. |
04-09-2008, 04:31 PM
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M.Opaliski
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I'll teach them to play Chess by myself if they're interested ...
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04-09-2008, 04:55 PM
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IrishTam
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bad parents for thinking their kids actually want to play chess!!!
kids should be playing quality video games like GTA... not letting kid-touchers into their home to teach them board games!!! |
04-09-2008, 05:10 PM
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Jessica
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Wow. A chess scam has GOT to be the nerdiest kind of scam. Ever.
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04-09-2008, 05:29 PM
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Pythoness
is a hip miscreant.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IrishTam  bad parents for thinking their kids actually want to play chess!!!
kids should be playing quality video games like GTA... not letting kid-touchers into their home to teach them board games!!! | I'm not implying the parents are at fault here at all. There is nothing wrong with wanting your kids to learn chess.
The fault is on the school, who let the kids go home with this criminal's fliers in their backpacks, and was perfectly willing to leave this man in charge of a bunch of kids on school property (not in their homes) with no real idea of who he was.
That's where I'm having the issue. It doesn't have to do with chess, and it doesn't have to do with the parents. | | The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Pythoness For This Useful Post: | |
04-09-2008, 05:35 PM
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Kid Lester
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The Chessmaster just demonstrated Rule #1.
Never pay for all classes up front.
These folks fell into a classic Fool's Mate.
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04-09-2008, 09:07 PM
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IrishTam
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pythoness I'm not implying the parents are at fault here at all. There is nothing wrong with wanting your kids to learn chess.
The fault is on the school, who let the kids go home with this criminal's fliers in their backpacks, and was perfectly willing to leave this man in charge of a bunch of kids on school property (not in their homes) with no real idea of who he was.
That's where I'm having the issue. It doesn't have to do with chess, and it doesn't have to do with the parents. | I know... I'm just kidding around...
but seriously, I doubt the schools would intentionally put a "criminal's fliers" in their students' backpacks... he probably "looked" okay... and as we all know, looks can be deceiving... (think Ted Bundy, etc.)... the schools are all so busy trying to deal with budget cuts and parenting their students, I guess they can't do background checks on everyone (especially if they look 'the part')... this guy was probably well prepared for this scam... business cards, brochures, etc... and when the brochures came home, the parents were more than willing to get a cheap babysitter for their kids for a few dollars...
my elementary school-age son takes after-school tennis lessons at school. I know nothing about this instructor... do we REALLY know anything about the teachers/instructors at our kids' schools?  |
04-10-2008, 08:35 AM
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Curly
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| | | Re: Chess Scam at DE Schools
"Dad, I'd like to learn Chess after school"
"You're kidding, right?"
"No Dad and I'd like to wait to have sex until after I'm married too" | | The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Curly For This Useful Post: | |
04-10-2008, 08:39 AM
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Kid Lester
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Gender: | | | Re: Chess Scam at DE Schools
Quote:
Originally Posted by Curly "Dad, I'd like to learn Chess after school"
"You're kidding, right?"
"No Dad and I'd like to wait to have sex until after I'm married too" | "Get in the car boy, we're going for a ride."
"Oh boy! Where to?"
"Don't worry about it. Just make sure to tip the nice lady when you're finished." | | The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Kid Lester For This Useful Post: | | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
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