I responded to a Craigslist ad that changed my life.

I was sitting under solar panels in the campus parking lot after finals one summer semester. The previous week I had purchased a 2009 Ford Explorer XLT from my friend for $300. Classes were done for the semester so I thought to myself, " I have a vehicle, $275, and a cell phone. Let's see what I can do."

And so I was browsing CL gigs when I stumbled upon an ad that read "Helper needed for mounting paintings in a gallery." I responded immediately, and was invited to a gallery located in an affluent beach city here in sunny California.

When I arrived, I was greeted by a man with a heavy accent. The man explained to me that he was exhausted as he had arrived from a trip to Japan the previous day. After mounting a few giant 7' paintings, he asked me to accompany him to Starbucks where we can grab a cup of coffee.

It was summer, so I opted for the Cold Brew, he chose a hot coffee. The man was exhausted, and asked if I happen to have a truck, which I coincidentally purchased the week prior. He then offer an additional $200 to bring 3 painting to his framer in San Diego 80 miles south I agreed.

Upon completion, we kept in contact and I was offered another job a few days later, I accepted. I was instructed to drive to a Home Depot in Palm Springs, where I will find a Penske box truck with the keys in the glove compartment. I was instructed to leave my car in the parking lot and drive the Penske truck to a warehouse nearby.

When I arrived, we caught up; as this was only the second time meeting this man. And so we began working, filling the yellow Penske box truck with beautiful paintings and sculptures. The truck was full to the brim so we closed it a locked it. I thought work was over buti was invited to lunch and we drove in his black Chevy Suburban to a local sandwich shop.

The man turns out to be a prominent gallery operator/owner and businessman. I was adding salt and pepper to my veggie sandwich when the man offered me another job: drive the big yellow truck to Sarasota Florida where they'll open their newest location in 2 weeks, I agreed.

The only condition; I must have a driver's license, and I didnt have one, but I lied and I said I did. So he scheduled the start day, and gave me his accountants email where I'll send copies of my DL and citizenship documents.

I had 3 days to get a DL and so I went to downtown Los Angeles, where I found a high quality fake for $240 the next day. Equipped with this forged document, I packed a bag and sent the accountant copies of my documents.

When I arrived for the job, we met at a hotel where we shared a room, this man stripped down to his red briefs with a Ferrari logo on the back, and as a slim handsome 24 year old male college student I was hoping he didnt think I was gay or anything especially since we were in Palm Springs. Only foreigner vibes were detected, nothing gay, so I stayed as I was excited to for the trip.

I was told I'd be driving to Sarasota Florida from Palm Spring California and I will be paid $1000 upon arrival and a flight back to Las Vegas Nevada where they live and where their biggest gallery is. All expenses were paid including gas (they gave me a company C.C) hotels in any city I chose to stop at along the way; New Mexico, San Antonio Texas, New Orelans Louisiana.

In Florida, we unload the precious artworks and filled the new gallery and got it ready for the grand opening. They got me a 2 week stay at a luxury hotel and rented a black camaro for me. They were so impressed with my work, that I was offered a permanent job as their personal assistant.

After 2 weeks in Florida, we flew to Las Vegas where they lived in a luxury penthouse right on the srip. We did some work at the gallery their for another week, and I began working as a personal assistant. Delivering paintings and sculptures in a black Chevy Suburban to mansions everywhere in California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.

I went back to the Home Depot to pick up my truck, finding a 64 pack of crayons melted onto my seat from the hot desert sun after weeks, i was at the car wash for an hour washing away the desert dust.

( I then got a title loan on the truck for $3,500, which I never paid, so I surrendered the truck but gained $3,200 profit. Yes, I bend the rules.)

AMA