posted on January 18, 2001 07:23:18 AM new
Hi all!
I'm excited, happy camper.
Someone scammed me last October on eBay.
I mailed him $85 for some a software collection and he has yet to send it to me.
Filled out a fraud report with eBay in December, and he sent me a nasty email.
Had a thought yesterday.
Searched the internet and located the police dept where he lives.
Gave the details to an officer yesterday morning & got a call back in the evening.
I had all my receipts & emails ready for the officers- they didn't need it.
They'd talked with the guy, who offered some silly excuses with noting to back it up, and he's mailing out my stuff on Friday he told them. Officer wants me to update them either way next week. Bet that was one surprized scammer. The long arm of the law- right over the internet
I'm so impressed, I thinking of writing a letter to the newspaper in that town about their wonderful police force.
Another tool in the arsenal.
Didn't wanna have to use eBay's ridiculous fraud process to recover just "some" of my money.
posted on January 18, 2001 06:20:21 PM new
Thanks for sharing your story. I had a buyer pay me with a stolen credit card through paypal and now I think I'll call the police and tell them where he lives. Maybe the police will do something. I know paypal is not doing anything (I have waited almost two months).
posted on January 18, 2001 09:20:09 PM new
sakpan:
Way to go! I recently got "taken" by what I thought was an honest seller and I followed his TOS and then never received anything. I filed fraud claims and emailed some of the other folks who won bids from this seller on the same dutch auction as I. Long story short, after TONS of attempts to contact this seller, I had this brainiac idea to see if I could get an email address for someone in the local police dept where the seller resides! Low and behold I got one! So I email the Police Chief in this town, and he emails me back...I was floored, never thought I'd hear a word...ok keeping it short ...this man's response basically tells me, "We have received information from other sources of alleged fraud involving this person and we are coordinating with the F.B.I. " I was like WHOO HOO! So, maybe, just maybe I will get justice once and for all! (Whoa, I sounded like some kind of super hero there...sorry!)
Kaffro
posted on February 2, 2001 06:28:16 PM new
Great News!
I got my merchandise from that dipstick seller this past Monday. It arrived safely and intact. The boys in blue came through. Looks like we have an effective tool in fraud cases- the local police dept of the scamster.
posted on February 11, 2001 10:33:07 PM newmdfinney
I have deleted your post because it contained identifying information in the form of an emaila ddress. The Community Guidelines have stringent steps that must be followed before you may post any information within the Mssage Center that can identify third parties.
You are welcome to post again but please refrain from including potentially identifing info.
posted on February 16, 2001 02:24:40 PM new
LOL...I wonder if I call the police in San Jose do you think they might go out and have a talk with e-Bay about how when fraud sellers are brought to their attention e-Bay does not shut them down, and how e-Bay won't stop deadbeat bidders because they make a profit from the lost listing fees. I turned in a seller with 671+ negatives and 600+ not-so nuetrals and e-Bay did nothing. Then finally after 2 guys in Cal. got busted the ID was NARU'd. Then, after one month the ID was REINSTATED around the same time as e-bay NARU'ing the www.uscommunitywatch.com for trying to warn others of fraud on the discussion boards. An honest user cannot warn others of fraud, and a fraud is offered all the protection usually reserved for the innocent. The partnership in crime with deadbeats and fraud sellers must end.....Jakkman
posted on February 16, 2001 06:33:26 PM new
Ok, here's my story, minus any email addresses(even though they were cancelled months ago).
I ordered from eBay a Pre-Sale of TY beanie babies (something I will NEVER do again!)
The seller greatfully accepted my money through Paypal & then NOTHING.
I waited for 1 month after the guaranteed delivery & then I took action. I called & emailed Paypal.com, I called & mailed my CC co., I emailed eBay...and then I attempted to call the seller- no answer or I was hung up on.
SO, to the beanie baby seller in Winthrop Harbor, IL.- I called her police dept. a very nice police dect. told me that he'd had a few calls & reports about her. I told him that all I wanted was a refund. Nothing more, nothing less.
This was in Sept. 2000. I then went out on my own...I contacted the White Colar Crime div. of the FBI, the Attorney General of IL., the BBB of Chicago, IL., and I kept records of EVERYTHING including the certified letter of which I requested my money refunded. NOTHING happened. Finally the PD in Winthrop Harbor, IL. told me that the Attn. Gen. office had contacted the lady that had my money. They gave her 1 month to refund my money or else.
Dec. 30,2000...a package arrived, smelling like a over-filled, bar ashtray. It was my beanies. RUINED! Completely. Because they are considered collectors' items they must be smoke free. So, If anyone is interested in preventing fraud...go to www.traderlist.com...And see if the person that scammed you is in the list. They list by last name,email address, state & city, and even aliases.
...this man's response basically tells me, "We have received information from other sources of alleged fraud involving this person and we are coordinating with the F.B.I. " I was like WHOO HOO! So, maybe, just maybe I will get justice once and for all! (Whoa, I sounded like some kind of super hero there...sorry!)