Employee discovers her coworker never pays people back, gets even with epic dress shopping idea: 'Payday is just around the corner!'

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Dec 27, 2025 8:00 AM EST

No one wants to earn a reputation for being cheap, especially in the workplace.

This author's coworker, Lori, was more than just cheap. She was essentially a fraudster, frequently going out of her way to take money from one trainee after another in the office. Somehow, Lori managed to get away with uncouth behavior time and time again, but the folks on her team started informing one another of their frustrations and suspicions about Lori.

As is the case with any office environment, news travels fast. One day, the author was shopping online for a dress she planned to wear to her friend's wedding. Nosy Lori stepped in and insisted that it would be cheaper for the author if she bought two dresses (one for herself and one for Lori) so she could qualify for free shipping.

The author, however, could smell Lori's plan from a mile away. She knew Lori was never going to pay her back for that dress. Still, she decided to buy into the scheme at first so that eventually, she could confront Lori and get her to admit that she never was going to pay her back for that dress in the first place. 

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  • Most people would not have the patience to fight fire with fire in this way, so kudos to the author for devising a plan to expose Lori for exactly who she was. 

    It was only a matter of time before one of Lori's coworkers would catch her in the act. I wouldn't be surprised if this woman eventually lost her job. In fact, I'm surprised she hadn't already? Scamming your coworkers is a pretty pointless endeavor. It's nearly impossible for people not to use deductive reasoning to figure out who the culprit is after a while. We all know this is the kind of personality who will one day end up justifiably unemployed and incessantly  posting on social media about crazed pyramid schemes all day. That seems to be in the cards for Lori's future, don't you think?

  • "I’ll pay you Tuesday for a dress I want to wear today"

    I had a coworker named Lori. She was super loud and obnoxious and was into everyone's business. After the first week of working with her I requested a new desk far away from her.
    via 1961tracy
  • Although my request was granted and I got to move, Lori came by to chat at least twice a day.
    via 1961tracy
  • One time after she visited me one of the women in a neighboring cubicle took me aside. She informed me that Lori is a scammer and any money she's borrowed she hasn't paid back,
    via 1961tracy
  • she even had small claims judgement against her for when one of our coworkers sued her for not repaying a loan. She owed both the Avon and Pampered Chef reps money. She had an endless supply of new employees
    via 1961tracy
  • endless supply of new employees to scam because our unit trained new people before they went to their permanent unit. Her other scam would be she'd tell her people that her friend is making box lunches to raise money and convinces people to buy lunch.
    via 1961tracy
  • Come the day of the lunch and she only brought half the lunches and then she leaves for the day.
    via 1961tracy
  • One afternoon I am looking online for a wedding guest dress. Lori walks by and ooh's and ah's over the dresses. She asks for the website and then about an hour later she comes back to me with an idea. She points out that shipping is free if you spend $99
    via 1961tracy
  • or more. She tells me about her brilliant idea of her saving me money by buying a dress for myself and one she picks out for herself. I pay for both dresses and she said after it's delivered she will repay me, "payday is just around the corner."
    via 1961tracy
  • In reality I didn't order either dress. After about two weeks I tell her the dresses will arrive at my house by the weekend and I will need my money by then. She tried to stall me and also tried to give me reasons why she needed
    via 1961tracy
  • the dress ASAP and why she had to pay me later. She kept trying to negotiate with me. She backed down for a while, but she decided to try me one last time. I told her I sent both dresses back because I found one I like better at the mall.
    via 1961tracy
  • After that she left me alone. She kept to herself and then was made to transfer out due to her poor performance.
    via 1961tracy
  • CoderJoe1 · Glad you ad-dressed the issue
    via 1961tracy
  • Two female coworkers sit side by side glaring at one another in front of their laptops.
    via Resume Genius

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • zabadaz-huh Remember Wimpy? I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today!
    via 1961tracy
  • DifficultyFit7401 Im sorry how is a fraudster not fired.
    via 1961tracy
  • Alexis_J_M . She couldn't slip that past you.
    via 1961tracy

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terrible coworkers employee shopping entitled people karma fraud dress money
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