I just got scammed.

[DaveSavesTheDay]

Some of you may remember the Laptop I bought, you know, the one that seemed too good to be true.

Well, it is. I am now a victim of an offshore fraudster. I lost all my savings. I lost $823.00

I don't care if that doesn't seem like a lot to you, but I've never been more upset in my life. I worked so hard for it.

Here's a detailed report for those who are interested
This all started a week or so ago when I responded to an internet ad for a Macbook laptop. The item was listed on Kijiji.ca under the city of Montreal.

Living in Ottawa, I offered to drive and pick up the item the seller told me that he was in the UK visiting his sister for her wedding. The seller offered to pay for shipping through FedEx.

I was told that the item would be shipped to FedEx, and would be left in their custody. I was then sent a confirmation e-mail from FedEx under the address 'Customerdepartment@FedEx.com' informing me that they had recieved the item and that it was in their custody. I was told to send the payment to a FedEx 'agent' in the UK by the name of Josh Richards (see end of page for full contact information) through Western Union.

I had been in contact with 'customer service representatives' from FedEx under the e-mail address of 'fed-ex-customer-support@consultant.com' whom had assured me that this type of transaction was secure.

After going to Western Union, I sent the Money Transfer Control Number to the FedEx agent, and asked for confirmation. I had not recieved confirmation from either the seller. This seemed wierd to me as I had usually recieved e-mails back from the seller within the hour.

I contacted FedEx who told me that I would have recieved a tracking number and that I had been scammed.

I then contacted Western Union who told me that the money I sent had been picked up 2 hours after I had deposited it, and said that there was nothing I could do about it. Western Union requires photo identification to be picked up and they said they are willing to disclose information to local authorities.

The local police said they would do nothing.

I have paper records of every e-mail that has been exchanged between myself the seller and 'FedEx.' I have all my banking reciepts and the reciept from Western Union.

The seller's information:
First name: Freedie
Last name: Staton
Address: 21 Garlick Hill
City/State: London
Zip code/State code: W1K 4AA
Country: United Kingdom

The 'FedEx' Agent:
First name: Josh
Last name: Richards
Address: 46 Westmount Road, Eltham
City/State: London
Zip code/State code: SE9 1JF
Country: United Kingdom


I've already contacted local police, Western Union and FedEx, all whom have pointed fingers at each other and can't offer me an assistance.

I plan to take this to the local papers tomorrow, maybe they'll make a small story out of it or something.

I just felt I'd post.

Go ahead and post/comment/flame/close/give opinions this thread.

[Alf™]

I originally purchased a Dell 1150 on the January 21st, 2005 with a 3-year warranty. Over the last two years I've had to replace a faulty CDrom out of pocket for $140 and a defective Fujitsu HD that Dell had placed in there that finally committed suicide. For a replacement 60GB HD that wasn't a piece of junk I had to pay out nearly $160! After waiting a month for my new HD to arrive, I installed it and then installed XP onto it. It only seemed to last a week until my video card stopped
functioning. I spoke with one of Dell's technicians who diagnosed the problem as just that. (I had no image on the LCD, or on a external monitor.) The technician determined it was a video card or faulty connection. The courier service Dell contracts (DHL) came out to my home two days later to pick up the laptop. I placed the computer in the box, gave the opened box to the courier, who took it to their local warehouse to be sealed and labelled. My laptop was then shipped 2500 miles away to Tennessee. My laptop arrived at the Dell Repair Depot in Memphis, TN on March 5th, 2007. Two days later I started receiving harassing calls insisting I pay $438 for a replacement LCD. No one seemed to understand that I was not going to pay $438 for something that was not originally broken. I think spoke to the rudest, and most incompetent employee (within the United States) ever. His name was Shaun, he carried himself like he had a rusty pole in his orifice. Shaun's employee number is 79230. Shaun, despite his intelligent level, was actually a manager at this depot. He told me there was "no ****ing way" and that DHL had created a "super, fancy x-ray system that can see all the microchips in crystal clear clarity." I would have expected more logical, truthful and educated responses from someone in a managerial position. From March 7th, 2007 and on I received harassing phone calls everyday from outsourced employees trying to get me to authorize the repairs. I have talked to almost 20 people at Dell, only one of whom was competent and helpful (Ben Duperrior, ext. 7136236) he referred me to higher management. I thought that would solve everything ... but it didn't. Prior to talking to Sharon Rhodes (ext. 7240872) I had spoken to at least 15 different employees (more than half were some type of supervisor or manager.) I had been told that my computer was not actually broken, and that it was a mix up. Then I was told they had attempted to charge the credit card the computer had been originally purchased with over 2 years prior ... however, they were unable to because the credit card had since expired. However, when they attempted that all the warranty paper work reverted back into my fathers name (even though I am the registered owner.) I was then told that my computer had been fixed without "authorization" and they were holding it until they could get their money. During this time I spoke with an employee named Marvin (01127596) who informed me I was entitled to have my computer repaired to my satisfaction, or replaced with comparable technology. I have raised this question with Sharon Rhodes, and it goes unanswered. The only time Sharon Rhodes actually called me ... was at 7:59am. Which is the usual time of Dell's billing reps me to get me to fess up a credit card that isn't expired. I've asked numerous Dell employees why they don't exercise the insurance on the parcel shipped through DHL. Some have no idea what insurance is, some put me on hold for 2 hours and don't come back ... or in Sharon Rhodes case ... she says she'll call me back in 15 minutes with some technician ... and then doesn't. That's how every single conversation I've had with Sharon Rhodes has ended. She blatantly refuses any active receipt of information, she doesn't get back to me ... not even in 15 minutes and she lacks basic understanding and comprehension. I've also been told my computer would be shipped back "broken" and never to call back again.

Update: March 28th, 2007

After talking to a bitchy representative who told me DHL "wouldn't do ****". I decided to call DHL for myself and ask them a few questions! I spoke to the nicest lady named Nikki (Boise, ID Center) who went and asked her manager if I (the owner of the product in the parcel) could exercise the insurance because of damages. The response was I couldn't because of the contract agreement DHL has with Dell. Dell purchases the boxes my laptop was shipped in from DHL, pays the shipping and accepts all responsibility for damages and losses. I then went and looked on the DHL website and discovered that they only endorse these boxes for "safely transporting laptops on drivers' truck" not by airfreight transportation. Dell has instructed the repair depot, since it is not owned by Dell, to ship my laptop back and Dell will dispatch a repair technician to come to my home and replace the LCD at no cost to me.

I ****ing hate Dell, they're beyond stupid.

[Der Übermensch]

I remember reading a rather humerous account of someone who knew they were being scammed, and themselves scammed the scammers... does anyone else know what I'm talking about? I long since lost the link...

...and yes, dell sucks major... Get a mac :) I've had mine almost a year now, and the only problem is that the DVD drive is kinda funky... doesn't read cheap brand blank media (the more expensive stuff it does... go figure), but I can get that fixed for free once I stop being lazy and get it to an Apple Store.

[Crapdragoon]

why tell us of your stupidity?













seriously who falls for scams like this

[DaveSavesTheDay]

^ **** off, cunt

[4yearpro?]

thats sucks. one of the news channels here has something called, "shame on you" and they do it like once a week and they pretty much just show scammers and tell stories of people that have been scammed and the news channel tries to get the people's $ back. c if they have something like that where u live.

[form]

I originally purchased a Dell 1150 on the January 21st, 2005 with a 3-year warranty. Over the last two years I've had to replace a faulty CDrom out of pocket for $140 and a defective Fujitsu HD that Dell had placed in there that finally committed suicide. For a replacement 60GB HD that wasn't a piece of junk I had to pay out nearly $160! After waiting a month for my new HD to arrive, I installed it and then installed XP onto it. It only seemed to last a week until my video card stopped
functioning. I spoke with one of Dell's technicians who diagnosed the problem as just that. (I had no image on the LCD, or on a external monitor.) The technician determined it was a video card or faulty connection. The courier service Dell contracts (DHL) came out to my home two days later to pick up the laptop. I placed the computer in the box, gave the opened box to the courier, who took it to their local warehouse to be sealed and labelled. My laptop was then shipped 2500 miles away to Tennessee. My laptop arrived at the Dell Repair Depot in Memphis, TN on March 5th, 2007. Two days later I started receiving harassing calls insisting I pay $438 for a replacement LCD. No one seemed to understand that I was not going to pay $438 for something that was not originally broken. I think spoke to the rudest, and most incompetent employee (within the United States) ever. His name was Shaun, he carried himself like he had a rusty pole in his orifice. Shaun's employee number is 79230. Shaun, despite his intelligent level, was actually a manager at this depot. He told me there was "no ****ing way" and that DHL had created a "super, fancy x-ray system that can see all the microchips in crystal clear clarity." I would have expected more logical, truthful and educated responses from someone in a managerial position. From March 7th, 2007 and on I received harassing phone calls everyday from outsourced employees trying to get me to authorize the repairs. I have talked to almost 20 people at Dell, only one of whom was competent and helpful (Ben Duperrior, ext. 7136236) he referred me to higher management. I thought that would solve everything ... but it didn't. Prior to talking to Sharon Rhodes (ext. 7240872) I had spoken to at least 15 different employees (more than half were some type of supervisor or manager.) I had been told that my computer was not actually broken, and that it was a mix up. Then I was told they had attempted to charge the credit card the computer had been originally purchased with over 2 years prior ... however, they were unable to because the credit card had since expired. However, when they attempted that all the warranty paper work reverted back into my fathers name (even though I am the registered owner.) I was then told that my computer had been fixed without "authorization" and they were holding it until they could get their money. During this time I spoke with an employee named Marvin (01127596) who informed me I was entitled to have my computer repaired to my satisfaction, or replaced with comparable technology. I have raised this question with Sharon Rhodes, and it goes unanswered. The only time Sharon Rhodes actually called me ... was at 7:59am. Which is the usual time of Dell's billing reps me to get me to fess up a credit card that isn't expired. I've asked numerous Dell employees why they don't exercise the insurance on the parcel shipped through DHL. Some have no idea what insurance is, some put me on hold for 2 hours and don't come back ... or in Sharon Rhodes case ... she says she'll call me back in 15 minutes with some technician ... and then doesn't. That's how every single conversation I've had with Sharon Rhodes has ended. She blatantly refuses any active receipt of information, she doesn't get back to me ... not even in 15 minutes and she lacks basic understanding and comprehension. I've also been told my computer would be shipped back "broken" and never to call back again.

Update: March 28th, 2007

After talking to a bitchy representative who told me DHL "wouldn't do ****". I decided to call DHL for myself and ask them a few questions! I spoke to the nicest lady named Nikki (Boise, ID Center) who went and asked her manager if I (the owner of the product in the parcel) could exercise the insurance because of damages. The response was I couldn't because of the contract agreement DHL has with Dell. Dell purchases the boxes my laptop was shipped in from DHL, pays the shipping and accepts all responsibility for damages and losses. I then went and looked on the DHL website and discovered that they only endorse these boxes for "safely transporting laptops on drivers' truck" not by airfreight transportation. Dell has instructed the repair depot, since it is not owned by Dell, to ship my laptop back and Dell will dispatch a repair technician to come to my home and replace the LCD at no cost to me.

I ****ing hate Dell, they're beyond stupid.

lol

[Crapdragoon]

so everyone in ottawa can know how stupid you are :thumb:

[Alf™]

lol mac

[Der Übermensch]

One of my roommates almost fell for something like this...
It was a camera, and he literaly spent days asking if he should do it, and we all were like "**** NO!!", but he decided to go ahead with it anyways, and the only reason he didn't send the money was because the Western Union guy talked him out of it. Apparently had seen it happen before.

[DaveSavesTheDay]

so everyone in ottawa can know how stupid you are :thumb:

You are a ****ing twat. Do you have any common curtosey, or are you just too ****ing jacked up on your internet hype.

Go back to your ****ing hole you piece of ****.

[Alf™]

How stupid is this idiot thread starter. What kind of useless person falls for these scams?

:)

[Der Übermensch]

Dave... u posted this... u should have expected the ridicule... It does make you look like a godawful idiot afterall

[Light Fantastic]

hey davesavestheday do not worry i am a nigerian businessman and im here to help you get all your money back and more

it seems.. yes you have approximately $4 million stuck in bank accounts here

i just need a little downpayment to free the money and then its all yours

[Alf™]

hello i am the king of nepal and i need to get some money out of the country

i will give you 20% of my 200 million dollars

all i need is your bank account details

this is not a scam

[Rrrrrrr]

I remember reading a rather humerous account of someone who knew they were being scammed, and themselves scammed the scammers... does anyone else know what I'm talking about? I long since lost the link...
http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/index.php/P-p-p-powerbook

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=1016390&userid=0&perpage=40&pagenumber=1

[nicatterberry]

I remember reading a rather humerous account of someone who knew they were being scammed, and themselves scammed the scammers... does anyone else know what I'm talking about? I long since lost the link...

...and yes, dell sucks major... Get a mac :) I've had mine almost a year now, and the only problem is that the DVD drive is kinda funky... doesn't read cheap brand blank media (the more expensive stuff it does... go figure), but I can get that fixed for free once I stop being lazy and get it to an Apple Store.

Funny ****,

http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/

[Surtr]

No offense, but you had it coming if you actually fell for it.

Use common sense, this was way to obvious of a scam.

Sorry though mate, hope you get your money back anyways, and I hope you've learned your lesson.

[DeckerDontPlay]

It could have been worse. You could have spent 823$ on a mac.

[Hbp]

I've heard that if you beat the frauder, money comes out of their beaten pulp.

[Alf™]

It could have been worse. You could have spent 823$ on a mac.

lol

[Iscariot]

first you thought you could buy a legit laptop for under $1,000

then you thought it was completely legitimate that you were being bounced all over the place with your payment while the seller was conveniently out of the country

and after all that you still sent them your money

tbh you deserved it

you can't do something stupid and then expect the cops to fix the mess for you afterwards and that's why they won't do anything

[Hbp]

Elanore DuValt has a Audrey Hepburn wig...

[Meatplow]

**** dude, must be a real kick in the teeth saving up that kind of money and losing it that way. Take it to to any fair trading practices you have in your country they might be able to assist you better.

Gotta be careful online, could happen to anyone but the general rule is if it looks too good to be true it probably is.

[Iscariot]

my name is keith jones i am a resident banker in south africa

recently one of our extremely wealthy customers died of malaria with no will to dictate who his finances will be reassigned to

we were unable to contact any of his immediate family and so after a period of 30 days it is within our power to choose a recipient of his $25,000,000 US

this is why i am contacting you

you have been specially selected to receive a share of this money all that you have to do is reply to this email with the account you want the money deposited to and a copy of your social security card for processing purposes

as soon as i receive this information the money is yours

sincerely,

keith jones
chief banker
pretoria savings, s. africa

[Amit]

replace ur northbirdge

[thedeadwalk!]

tbh you deserved it
Opening yourself to scams doesn't mean you deserve being scammed. How many crimes are you willing to pardon with such a mindset?

[Light Fantastic]

and thats why you leave your front door open at night right

[thedeadwalk!]

And I guess we can blame the victim instead of trying to get the criminal. It is a lot easier.

[Iscariot]

considering all of the information available about internet fraud and the typical poor quality of the scams that are committed yes it is appropriate to blame the victim in a situation like this

both parties are responsible and if he didn't pick up a funny odor on this transaction by the time he wired the money transfer then he got what was coming to him

the police aren't going to go out of their way to track down $800 i don't know about canada but here in the us that's not even a felony it's a misdemeanor

[Meatplow]

Can't you hear the violins playing your song?
Those same friends tell me your every word!

Walk.... walk on home boy :cool:

[thedeadwalk!]

the police aren't going to go out of their way to track down $800 i don't know about canada but here in the us that's not even a felony it's a misdemeanor
And yet you can get a trial by jury for any amount over $20.

Anyway, we disagree on the issue at hand... So, that's that.

[Light Fantastic]

And I guess we can blame the victim instead of trying to get the criminal. It is a lot easier.

no if you do something stupid im pretty sure its your fault as well as the person who commits the crime

and its a waste of resources.. you wont find him, let alone get anywhere near to getting him deported so why waste police time and effort when it could have been avoided if the threadstarter wasnt such a dunce in the first place

[thedeadwalk!]

no if you do something stupid im pretty sure its your fault as well as the person who commits the crime

and its a waste of resources.. you wont find him, let alone get anywhere near to getting him deported so why waste police time and effort when it could have been avoided if the threadstarter wasnt such a dunce in the first place
I can understand some involvement in cases where the victim does something legal, like taunting, that provokes someone to commit a crime against them. But when someone falls into a trap set by another, despite available information (common sense isn't always common), I think it's even more futile to blame the victim than going after the criminal. At least with the latter, you're acknowledging a problem.

[mightygod]

800 bucks is not some 10 dollars, i say that you should see if you can contact england police or something, after all you have all the documents to prove the scam, and im sure that you weren´t the first person those people scammed. It is unlikely that you will get your money back, but maybe they can do something and put those crimminals under arrest.

BTW there are people with serious anti-social problems in this thread.

[Light Fantastic]

yes im sure they will care about ~£400 of some american when there are people who get away with scamming tens of thousands here

yep

[DaveSavesTheDay]

I'm beyond caring about my money. It's gone.

I fell for a stupid scam, and there isn't anything I can do about it now. I learn from my mistake.

[Kage]

You can earn it back in a couple weeks.

[Let's Chop Cats!]

wait you thought 'kajjiiij.ca' was a legit website? I haven't even been to it and I can imagine its sketchy. Why didn't you just use ebay?

[bradc1988]

Yeah according to all the current affairs shows here in Oz there's nothing you can do. Nothing.

Suck it up and move on.

[Dave de Sylvia]

You have his address. You could always send him a letter asking for your money back.

[Kage]

:lol:

[descendents1]

I remember helping this guy out when he was looking for his computer and telling him not to buy anything used or anything that seemed fishy.

You learned a very important, expensive lesson there buddy. Welcome to the real world.

[Pop music sucks]

Honestly, you are a moron.

Many legitimate auction sites warn you to not wire money for payments, because it's a scam.

I'm sorry, you are an idiot, but kijiji.ca sounds completely fake, and a 'FedEx' agent telling you to wire money over Western Union is completely unrealistic..

[GreyHam]

to be fair mate, you should have expected that on this forum.... 99% of the people are much happier when theyre belittling other people...

tough break, but... Western Union? Alarm bells should have been ringing, you might as well have put the cash in a bottle and thrown in out to sea

[Kurrpt]

as SOON as you mentioned using Western Union, I knew it was a scam.


Legit people don't use money orders, or require you to use them. There is no recourse to getting your money back when you use a money transfer.

It's sad that you had to lose so much money to learn your lesson, but hopefully this saves you from any more embarrassment

[d-mart]

owned lolz, wonder what he spent your money on

[Der Übermensch]

Beer and pussy... Thats my guess...

[Iscariot]

he probably spent it on a new macbook

[sLarkin20]

Why in God's name would you WIRE MONEY to a "FED-EX AGENT"???

I'm not even trying to be mean, but did you seriously put any thought into what you were doing? Like...nobody has ever had to wire money to a shipping company like that for any reason...ever.

[mightygod]

yes im sure they will care about ~£400 of some american when there are people who get away with scamming tens of thousands here

yep

Your logic is impressive. TS, i highly recommend to tell what happened to the UK police, it really can help other people to avoid get scammed by those crimminals. And LF if you cant solve your own little puzzle that you set in that post, here is the hint: if they dont care for 800 US, and dont care for tens of thousand neither, whats the police for?