Thanks for sharing your experience. Although I’ve now googled this scam and seen it documented on other websites, your example is still the best at showcasing how easy it is to get sucked into this kind of thing, and how sophisticated and subtle the artists can be, no matter how jaded/precautious/savvy we think we are.

I’m sorry your experience cost you a sizeable chunk of dollars, and even if the tea isn’t of the quality you’d hope for, the craftsmanship and artistry of the lady who led you there was exquisite (with the distance I have from what happened, I can’t help but have a certain admiration for her skill in manipulating you). I feel sorry that the opportunities available to her are so limited that she is compelled to ‘work’ in this way. Someone of her intelligence and charisma deserves so much better.

Both of you have been screwed by the same circumstances, but from what I’ve read, it could have been much worse. My sincere commiserations.