Need some help / Opinions

[69 Code51 Z]

Bought an endura off an ad on camaros.net about 2 weeks ago. Actually talked with the guy on the phone for about 45 minutes and he seemed pretty straight. Sent him a cashiers check the next day. The cashiers check has been cashed. It's been 2 weeks now and no bumper - he will not respond to my phone calls or e-mails. Short of driving to Columbus NE to get my bumper( if there really is one) or money back any suggestions on how to proceed? Carl

[TDW]

If you haven't contacted Al, the owner of the Camaro site, I would suggest you do. He will look into it for you. Good luck.

[69 Code51 Z]

I did send an e-mail to camaos.net informing them of the situation. I also called the Columbus Police Department and asked if the could provide any assistance. I was told it is considered a civil issue and I needed to contact a lawyer.

[69LM1]

I now always use postal money orders. If you pay with a postal money order, the postal "police" go after them for you if you do not get anything. The term anything is the kicker. If he sends you a ratty steel bumper instead of the endura, then they may say it's civil (opinion, they don't know what endura is, you paid for a bumper and got a bumper) and not do much.

If he sends you nothing, then they will almost always investigate (no offense to postal employees, but I get the impression that the postal "police" do not get to play cop to often, so they are more willing to look into these things).

You can also call the local FBI office.

Finally,

if nothing else works,

If you are mad enough,
And IF you are willing to risk retaliation (remember some things are not worth it)

bug the living hell out of him. Fill his voice mail with messages. Sign his email address up for spam emails so that his mailbox is filled with junk (try some daily scripture sites, who knows, he might convert and make it right http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif ), Look up relatives and family members contact information and call them and explain what he did.

Just some ideas from a Dago'
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Rich

[Jeff H]

Postal money orders are no safer than any other payment method. Once it has been cashed it's gone. You need to start by finding out if the guy actually lives at the address you sent the money to. If not, then you'll probably never find him again. Check the FBI website, they have a special section for internet fraud and that might be your best pursuit.

[PeteLeathersac]

Before driving the guy crazy or doing other things you may later regret...it has only been a couple weeks, right?
Do you know if the guy is a known scammer to other enthusiasts? .
Maybe he's really just a good guy who's out of town or wrapped up in a personal or family situation? .
I'd consider checking deeper into who you're really dealing with and try futher attempts at contact before the conviction and sentencing stuff? .
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif
~ Pete

[69LM1]

Jeff,

No safer as far as they can be faked as well, my point was that the postal inspectors take the idea of faked postal money order much more serious than local police and banks do. I am currently recieving a monthly check from a engine scammer (The FBI wound up taking the case over, but the postal investigative services helped ALOT).

Just my experiance.

Rich

[Jeff H]

[ QUOTE ]
Jeff,

No safer as far as they can be faked as well, my point was that the postal inspectors take the idea of faked postal money order much more serious than local police and banks do. I am currently recieving a monthly check from a engine scammer (The FBI wound up taking the case over, but the postal investigative services helped ALOT).

Just my experiance.

Rich

[/ QUOTE ]

Consider yourself very lucky. I was scammed years ago and the guy is in jail but I'll never see a penny back. And I used postal money orders as well. I just wanted to point out that there truly is no safe method of payment.

[Mr70]

If not a PO box,try contacting his neighbors either next door or across the street.
They can be a wealth of information and may help you resolve this.

[Jeff H]

Good idea. And try putting the address into Google Earth and see if there is even a house at the address. The guy might be away or had other issues so bugging him may not help.

[69 Code51 Z]

The check was sent 9/11 and cashed 9/18. If he was experiencing personal or family issues or out of town it didn't stop him from getting to the bank. I haven't done anything inappropriate as of yet. All I've done is left a couple of phone messages and a few e-mails. I'd like some suggestions on checking deeper into a situation when there is no response from the individual. Carl

[69LM1]

Jeff I agree. It's always a risk factor. I guess it helped that he eventually scammed a senators son. That's when the FBI got involved. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

[70 copo]

[ QUOTE ]
Postal money orders are no safer than any other payment method. Once it has been cashed it's gone. You need to start by finding out if the guy actually lives at the address you sent the money to. If not, then you'll probably never find him again. Check the FBI website, they have a special section for internet fraud and that might be your best pursuit.

[/ QUOTE ]


Here is my experience: I guess I must know who to talk to and which portions of the postal laws to quote when I complained about a scammer 3 years ago to the local postmaster. After doing so I had little problems getting $1500.00 back from a scammer in Florida.

If you do USPS MO transaction right your good. This means that you Document your contacts with the scammer upfront, notate what the USPS MO is for (on it), exactly what the item is (or is not) the anticipated condition of the item you are paying for (again-in writing) and finally when you expect to get it. Get the seller to agree in writing.

Later if the scammer provides you junk or does not deliver - the US Post Office is more than happy to investigate.

I had all kinds of crap from a scammer on a set of junk 974 heads. When the upfront documentation was provided to the USPS the Scammer soon got a knock on the door and I got the money back quick.

If there is any loose ends on your side (on the front end of the deal) you may have screwed yourself but if you are tight you are good. Any major purchace I do is completed this way and always with USPS MO's. Mail fraud charges with documentation to back it up is what you need to drive the investigation.

Phil

[CamarosRus]

Here is the website for filing a mail fraud complaint....


http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/MailFraudComplaint.htm

[Jeff H]

When a criminal uses the internet and postal money orders to scam people, there is no money to be found when he is caught. He goes to jail, he has no income so you'll get nothing back. In my case there was a national case against the guy(he scammed people all over the US and the world) but there was a limited number of people allowed to file against him. Some people might be getting $.01 a month as the guy stamps out license plates in jail, but basically the money is gone. If the scammer is dumb enough to give you his real address and name then you have a chance to recover something. I'm just saying the you shouldn't be fooled into thinking postal money orders are any safer for sending money, they aren't.

[70 copo]

You make your own way through life. The same is true when you are doing business. The net is a dangerous place, so use the mails as well as the net, Heck nothing beats the up front statement "I am planning travel soon How about I just pick it up!"

If the seller delays, hedges, or does not like that offer that is red flag #1.


Bottom line: be smart in any transaction you participate in and you are more likely to prevail later if it goes sour.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif