Think i got Ripped off

zeb00 · #1 05-05-2011, 05:51 PM

Has anyone ever had any problems with buying things in trade.
I have payed a member for an item but he is not answering calles form me and or the corrier company to pick up the item.
every time i call he sends a message asking who it is then wont call me back once i tell him.
I know it is not the sites fault was just woundering if anyone else had similar expereances?

iceman (Mike) · #2 05-05-2011, 05:55 PM

Can you PM me the name of the user in question?

This story sounds familiar - sounds like this person may have accepted payment from numerous people and not sent the scope to any of them.

leon · #3 05-05-2011, 05:55 PM

No Zeb, not really, on the rarest occasion something my go wrong, but there a pretty honest bunch here on IIS.

Whoever it is i reckon would be a new one to the forum, as the members that have been here a while wouldn't dream of it.

Leon

iceman (Mike) · #4 05-05-2011, 06:01 PM

As expected, it is the same person (who is now banned from IceInSpace).

I suggest contacting the police. The more people that report it, the more likely they will be to get this person.

It's pretty easy to prove that payment was made, and you have all his details, so it should be an easy open and shut case for the police.

zeb00 · #5 05-05-2011, 07:44 PM

whell that is definatly all the money i had spare to try and get into astronomy guess i will start saving for a pair of binocs

corkwhit (David) · #6 05-05-2011, 09:02 PM

Hey Zeb
I have been ripped as well and sounds like the same (i think person is too good a word). I have reported him to the Police, so please do the same.
Like you, this was to be my 1st scope and the 1st time I have been ripped and it has left me with a very sour taste. PLEASE dont sit back and think" Oh well, I should know better than to buy from the net", Mike has been great with his efforts in trying to help me.
Dont let this Prick get away with this, I am sure most people on IIS are reliable, we just seem to be the unlucky suckers.
I hope to be able to re-save and get a scope and hope you can do the same.
Good Luck
Dave

takdriver (Graeme) · #7 05-05-2011, 09:02 PM

Hey moderator, why don' t you give everyone the details of this crook? Cheers, Graeme.

zeb00 · #8 05-05-2011, 09:40 PM

David: have sent you mail reguarding reporting him
hope your saving goes well

Graeme: i have all his details bar an ip which im sure the admins can help me out with.

i usuall dont get caught out like to so it is nearly as embarrising as anoying.

member of over 2 years with more then 100 posts
whitepages had the address correct
same name and phone number on the dns record for his so called astronomy site

his site i would like to post here as im sure it is only created so he can try to rip more people off

leon · #9 05-05-2011, 09:42 PM

Whoever he/she is they must be pretty dopey to expect they can sell and rip off on a site like this with so many watching.

Leon

Octane (Humayun) · #10 05-05-2011, 10:21 PM

Not hard to find out who it is. Have a look at zeb00's posting history. : )

I wonder how many others got conned by that guy.

H

iceman (Mike) · #11 06-05-2011, 07:31 AM

This person wasn't a random new member who's first post was a for sale. It was someone with history on the site.

Anyone would've been fooled by this - certainly not the fault of David or Zeb.

Like I said, a pretty stupid 'crook' who has his real details plastered over everything. Not exactly hard to track him down, or prove what happened to the police.

I'm pretty sure I'd be going to pay a visit but won't recommend that for anyone else.

casstony · #12 06-05-2011, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman

I'm pretty sure I'd be going to pay a visit but won't recommend that for anyone else.

I'd only do that if a police officer was with me. Otherwise there's a risk of physical violence on their property - could end up with more trouble than it's worth.

Regarding the guys who have been ripped off, if you're anywhere near a club you may be able to join and borrow a modest scope from the club.

casstony · #13 06-05-2011, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeb00

member of over 2 years with more then 100 posts
whitepages had the address correct
same name and phone number on the dns record for his so called astronomy site

I'm not excusing his actions in any way but he sounds more like a troubled individual than a common crook. Why would anyone participate in a forum for 2 years then shoot themselves in the foot so publicly?

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #14 06-05-2011, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casstony

I'm not excusing his actions in any way but he sounds more like a troubled individual than a common crook. Why would anyone participate in a forum for 2 years then shoot themselves in the foot so publicly?

I was thinking the same.
A call for help.

BUT....one must always pay for ones actions.

erick (Eric) · #15 06-05-2011, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casstony

I'm not excusing his actions in any way but he sounds more like a troubled individual than a common crook. Why would anyone participate in a forum for 2 years then shoot themselves in the foot so publicly?

If I have found the right person, I read in the profile:-
Interests:- astronomy, poker

adman (Adam) · #16 06-05-2011, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erick

If I have found the right person, I read in the profile:-
Interests:- astronomy, poker

I'd stick to the poker. It's cheaper than astrophotography.

Suzy · #17 06-05-2011, 11:47 PM

Sorry to hear what happened to you Zeb & David.

He sounds like a desperate man.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #18 06-05-2011, 11:55 PM

Yes Suzy.
He must be desperate to do such a thing to anyone (in this case several people) when being a member for 2 years!
Strange indeed.
Sad really.

He was last in here only 10 days ago.

iceman (Mike) · #19 07-05-2011, 07:35 AM

I have removed two posts which post far too many private details.

This isn't a witch hunt.

Yes, they can be found by anyone who searches - it doesn't mean they belong here. It's in the hands of the police.

The member has been banned and that closes the matter here. Closing this thread.

iceman (Mike) · #20 19-05-2011, 05:19 PM

I was contacted today by a 3rd member who had been ripped off by this same person, on the same sale.

Fortunately this person paid via paypal (in 3 instalments), so I advised him to contact Paypal immediately which he did.

He raised a 'dispute case', and the matter is now being handled by Paypal, and he should get all his money back.

So the moral of this story, is that sometimes paying via paypal is a good idea!