I am an Idiot (Did I get scammed?)

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

I've been scammed before. I realized it within minutes after the phone call. Felt like such a fool.

I entered one of those contests to win a free trip at the Tastes of Calgary. A few weeks later, I get a phone call from some guy saying I had won. Just had to pay a $400 deposit or something along those lines, plus I had to make my way to Florida on my own. I gave the guy my cc number, and was all happy. For some reason, as soon as I hung up, I knew I got hosed. Why I couldn't figure out during the phone call, I dunno. In any case, I did a quick search on Google of the website the guy gave me, and realized my suspicions were true.

I called my credit card company immediately. They told me they couldn't do anything yet because the transaction had gotten through. I asked if they could stop it, and they said they couldn't do anything until the transaction was complete. They told me I should try to file a complaint to them first and try to get my money back. If that didn't work, then call them back.

Within a few days, the transaction went through. So I wrote a letter to the company telling them I wanted a refund, and if they didn't oblige, I would be contacting the BBB. Within a week, I got a response from them saying they would refund my money minus a $25 fee or something like that, which I did get back. I considered the $25 paid for a lesson learned and the fee I paid for my own stupidity.

In short, I know how you feel man

[yads]

I got scammed by a guy on Ebay about 5 years ago. Bought a $1800 drum machine, this guy actually scammed a whole bunch of people. Paypal & Ebay contacted the police who eventually found out that the guy highjacked his girlfriend's account. She turned him in and I actually got my money back. Took a few months though and I did not think I would get my money back.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

I entered one of those contests to win a free trip at the Tastes of Calgary. A few weeks later, I get a phone call from some guy saying I had won. Just had to pay a $400 deposit or something along those lines, plus I had to make my way to Florida on my own. I gave the guy my cc number, and was all happy. For some reason, as soon as I hung up, I knew I got hosed. Why I couldn't figure out during the phone call, I dunno. In any case, I did a quick search on Google of the website the guy gave me, and realized my suspicions were true.

Funny, that sounds very similar to the free cruise story I posted a few pages back. Same location, same idea with the deposit, etc. Wonder if it's the same company?

Well, let that be a lesson to everyone to avoid any free trips to Florida that require a deposit over the phone...

[Jedi Ninja]

Originally Posted by jeremywilhelm

I know a ninja that is really good at solving these types of problems.

My services don't come cheap.

I haven't been involved in this thread, so this is all hindsight now, but I think the advice to him to empty his chequeing account was not sound. The transaction between Paypal and the scammer and between Paypal and the OP are 2 different transactions, and all you have accomplished is possibly getting yourself into trouble with your bank and with Paypal. Did he ever phone Paypal directly? We really needed to get Paypal involved in the resolution.

[Deegee]

Originally Posted by narbeZ

UPDATE: So I pulled up my account today and even though I emptied my chequing account, a mysterious amount was pulled from my savings and im guessing my visa was charged. So it looks like the money is indeed gone.

Now, the seller emailed me saying and I quote "already shipped" So i sent him a reply asking for a reference/tracking number in which he said "there s none".

I phoned fed ex and they said they had no record of anyone shipping a package out from QC to my address. She said if he indeed did sent it Saturday it would have been here today.

So I emailed him again and am awaiting for a response. His last 2 responses have been under 3 words. To that I say is it because of his lack of english, or embarrassed to come out about his scam?

Dispute with paypal is still open, not sure what to do now but wait.

Call your Bank/Credit Union. See if it's too late to return it or not.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by yads

I got scammed by a guy on Ebay about 5 years ago. Bought a $1800 drum machine, this guy actually scammed a whole bunch of people. Paypal & Ebay contacted the police who eventually found out that the guy highjacked his girlfriend's account. She turned him in and I actually got my money back. Took a few months though and I did not think I would get my money back.

That's weird because I knew a guy that was a scammer on eBay and he never heard a peep. He figures within a year with the amount of actual cash or merchandise purchased with stolen credit cards he pulled in close to $50,000 and never got an email, phone call or letter from eBay, Paypal, a bank or the police.

It truly is amazing what people can get away with over the internet when it comes to fraud or scams. I'm sure most people got their money back from their credit card company or paypal but don't you think that they would like to catch the person(s) that ended up walking away with their money?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by MissKat

Sorry but youre just wasting your time, why even bother? Its 2 months after this all happened. I can gaurentee you he read your email and is sitting there laughing while looking at his brand new TV that you helped pay for.

And you should have posted this earlier, waiting 2 months is going to be near impossible to get your $ back.

Haha, Miss Kat giving advice in an advice thread.

[yads]

Originally Posted by HOOT

That's weird because I knew a guy that was a scammer on eBay and he never heard a peep. He figures within a year with the amount of actual cash or merchandise purchased with stolen credit cards he pulled in close to $50,000 and never got an email, phone call or letter from eBay, Paypal, a bank or the police.

It truly is amazing what people can get away with over the internet when it comes to fraud or scams. I'm sure most people got their money back from their credit card company or paypal but don't you think that they would like to catch the person(s) that ended up walking away with their money?

Well I'm not sure what the policy is now, but at the time. Credit cards were not allowed to do chargebacks against paypal, but I also think I got quite lucky with the guy's girlfriend being very cooperative once they were able to get a hold of her.

[stang]

Here is my getting scammed story

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=63925

[narbeZ]

Its good that you won yours stang, mine sadly looks like a never ending sea of BS. 5 emails sent out today, no reply's. I now am just about 100% sure I got screwed. I would love to talk to this guy face to face. I have to admit a creeped white pages people finder and facebook and found some names but again im not 100% sure. Can and will paypal reveal this information? You need paypal to be able to recieve money through email im guessing.

In a way I kind of just wish the guy would just say, "HA HA I screwed you". Then I could be done worrying about all this BS when obviously there is better things to worry about around christmas. As it stands I can't escalate my dispute to a claim UNTIL christmas day. Even then whats the over/under I even see a cent of my money back, who knows.

All I know is that I learned a lesson the hard way. You just cant trust people without being face to face it seems...

[Nage Waza]

Do you have this guys phone number? We should call him.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by narbeZ

In a way I kind of just wish the guy would just say, "HA HA I screwed you".

No, because that stop the next email of "The package came back from the post office, so I had to pay a return email fee." Then he asks you for another $60.

[Rathji]

Screw his phone number, give me his ip address!!

[ricosuave]

I have 2 words for you: beyond CSI.

[Iceman90]

narbeZ, I do a lot of work with PayPal, both on eBay and off.

have also been handled many PayPal disputes over the years for my clients who use PayPal, and I know the dispute resolution process well.

If you described what happened as you have here, I am pretty sure they'll rule in your favour. Just be sure to keep all documentation, emails, etc in case PayPal wants to see them. They will need original email headers in many cases, so don't forward to yourself, keep the originals.

[Dan02]

I got scammed for ~$2200 probably back in 01. Thing was I had done numerous transactions with the guy before in the $50-$500 range, so i figured it's safe to start doing larger transactions through him. Then he literally drops off the face of the earth. C'est la vie.

[narbeZ]

UPDATE:

Recieved an email from PayPal today, and it reads as follows:

Dear narbeZ,


We have concluded our investigation into your case and have decided in your
favor.

We were able to recover $400.00 CAD and this amount has been credited to
you. Please allow five business days for this adjustment to be posted.

If you are due any additional funds, we will make our best effort to
recover the balance from the seller.


If the seller's account has insufficient funds to complete the refund owed
to you, please be assured that we will take appropriate action against the
seller's account, which may include limitation of the seller's account
privileges.

.................................................. .................................................. ......................


My PayPal account is being shown as 400 dollars richer, and as of right now it looks like I am going to get my cash back.

Thanks to all CP'ers who contributed in helping me in this thread.

Remember, if you are asked to send money to k_demers@yahoo.ca, DONT DO IT.


k_demers@yahoo.ca = Scam

[burn_this_city]

Thats a fortunate ending.

[Antithesis]

Very glad to hear that it worked out for you in the end!

[burning_acid1]

Glad it worked out for you.