Haven't Been Around for the Last Few Days, Here's Why

[ZhengHe]

To make a long story really I got scammed; scammed out of quite a bit of cash. In the end it was really my fault; thought I could outwit a professional criminal at his own game. That I could succeed where hundreds have failed and give a taste of the suffering that he had caused, but it just a question of time. Going up against a professional criminal was a dangerous and I should have known better. For the past few days I have been getting as much information as possible on this guy and trying to build a solid case against him, because if there's anything I'm good at its research. You might say it’s something I’m not willing to let go of and you’d be right.

In the end it has as much to do with revenge as justice, because even after a solid 3 days of this a potent anger is still simmering below the surface. Truthfully, I’m still feeling pretty bad about it. Lying around and replaying the events in my head messing with my eating habits hasn’t helped much, but that stage has largely ended. I no longer feel helpless and I know what I have to do. Though the purpose minded work has put some of those feelings out my mind I’m still not quite myself. Just thought I ought to vent a bit, because I haven’t actually told anyone. If you guys have any questions feel free, but I don't want to go into too much detail. There are questions of libel and other legal matters. Anyway, it occurs to me that I'm still not thinking straight so if you guys have any reactions or advice that would be helpful.

[tyle6]

Well then! thats pretty crazy!! but you cant go on to say all this and not tell us a little more, how were you scammed? what actions did you take to try and get back at this person?

[Sadasius]

Sounds like you went up against a pro and got screwed. Not exactly a bright thing too. You have to know when to concede and accept the losses. If this person had such a strong power over you then keeping on the coat tail will only end in further demise and further ruin your well being. Stop, push yourself away and accept the fact that you have been defeated. Don't let it consume you!

Now in saying this I have no idea what you did and to whom. This is just a general overview that is just as vague as your details in this matter.

[ZhengHe]

Well then! thats pretty crazy!! but you cant go on to say all this and not tell us a little more, how were you scammed? what actions did you take to try and get back at this person?

I was scammed through a classified ad and it had to do with the purchasing of the two PS3's I mentioned earlier, by the way they didn't get here and they never will. He started out by leveraging the price from $180 to $200 per PS3 to include shipping, which I accepted, because international can be pricing. I also thought the price was a little low, but after seeing similiar prices advertised within the same ad space I got a little more comfortable. The he gave me his number just in case there were any issues and so I got even more comfortable. That is not to mention that this is a medium I'm never had any problems with up to now.

So he says that once I send the payment he'll send me the tracking number and it will be there within 48 hours, which again sounded pretty standard. Then the day he says he is going to ship it, I have an address and everything is ready he calls, I send the money and then instead of sending the tracking number he says there is going to be an additional $200 customs fee, which is complete bull. I even called all the airports in England to make sure this was an impossible sum, not to mention he had never said anything about it before. Some bull about it being held up at the airport.

Anyway, there was quite a bit of dialogue in between that, but that is the basic jist of what happened. I can only assume he created the other ads to lure me in and intends to keep leveraging the price for all sorts of all reasons. Thus I cut contact with him then and there. Of course I can only assume the phone number is only a business number, the name is fake, and he was probably having it shipped to a real/unrelated business address or just fake, but working one. As far as the construct of the company he may very well doing business out of a real corporate building or the entire company may be based off scamming people. I have found his contact information listed all over the web for different products, but always with the same name and number. So who knows how far the rabbit hole goes?

As far as the details of what I did or what I'm doing, who he is, where I found the ad, or vise versa I'd rather not say just yet, because it could lead him right back to this site. It could also bring up questions of libel if I intend to bring charges against him. Hope that's enough information, since until I see a lawyer (luckily we have one on campus) I really can't say any more and may be taking a risk by saying this much. In truth I have no idea who I'm dealing with as far as what he's capable of, so I rather be more careful then I have to be and be absolutely sure I've what I'm going to do before I say anything about it.

Hope that is enough information for you ;).

[werty316]

This phrase comes to mind depending on your situation: If it sounds too good to be true.., it probably is. (http://www.lookstoooodtobetrue.com/)

['Amp!']

This is when you use the money order scam against him.

By sending an international money order or check, he will deposit it and wait for the funds to clear. The bank will preemptively clear the check in anticipation of the funds. The guys ships you the stuff (usually) then two weeks later the bank confirms the M.O. is a dud and you are our the money and a penalty fee. HE.

That would have been awesome to use against him.

[Sadasius]

Dude that sucks ass. If I was you I would call interpol. Get them involved in the scam this guy is doing and you may just get your money back. Have them investigate and give them the proof of emails and conversations as well as any receipts for the exchange they can track with. Give them whatever information you have and any evidence you have you gave money and made an exchange with. Hopefully this was not all done on the phone and nothing was on the payment receipt. If that is the case then it will be your word against his and then you will be screwed.

[Methious]

Sorry to hear you got scammed, their all over the place.

A while back I got a call from a computer ad I had in the paper. It was one of those relay calls for speaking and hearing impaired people. Wanted to buy the computer, I had no problem with that and agreed to sell it to him.

Said he'd send the money for the unit, and money for shipping, so the money order shows up and it's for $3000 dollars for a $300 dollar computer. So I look at the check and there's finger prints on the back in ink. I get back with him in email and tellem when he sends me a video of monkeys flying out of his butt I'll cash the check. Wants me to send the money western union, and give him the magic number so anyone without an ID can collect the money. Like I'm going to send $2640 out of my bank account before the check clears.

Long story shortened, he whined, pleaded threatened, yada yada yada, and I kept insisting on the butt monkey video. In the mean time he's being tracked by the FBI internet fraud division. Turns out it's not a he it's a them and they've been running this scam for about a year. Out of Nigeria, well US controlled agencies can't touch forien nationals out side the states. They however do have really good contacts with interpol.

They busted 13 people. Now with any luck they are some ones butt monkey.

I'd suggest trying to file with Interpol, it's a pain, but they can and will reach out and touch them.

[ZhengHe]

Thanks guys. I'll definitely take that all into account and call Interpol. In the mean time I'm out $400, so I'm going to try and sell some of my stuff to make up for it. The craziest thing is that when I listed it he tried to buy it, as though he were laughing in my face....trying to screw me 2x over. After all, how often do you list something and get 4 responses on it within an hour. He deleted the account he used with me, but the other false accounts are still there.

Anyway this has been a mentally and physically tiring day so I think I'm going to take a little break and get some food. It especially stinks, because I bought those PS3's to fold with. Anyway, once I get going on this I'll make a big update to this thread so stay tune for that.

[donpm]

Keep a positive attitude, and your head up!!! Being scammed is a part of life. It happened to me, it sucks. You are mad as hell, I understand that. But you are not stupid, and we all know that. Just know it you are not alone and this happens to everybody at least once in there lifetime, rather they admit it or not.

Be cool and hang in there.

[=CDU=Above]

Let me guess...Romania?

[slugbug]

That really sucks, I can understand why you would be angry. I got scammed on Ebay once, but I managed to get my money back by failing a claim with my credit card company.

[tomato]

At that price, alarm bells should've been going off long before you even attempted to contact the seller... Sorry for your loss, but in the end you fell for the scam. I do hope that you can get your money back, and hopefully you've learned that "too good be true" is usually right.