Lost 1215 EUROS on a SCAMMER at Ebay.. instead of getting Ampeg SVT 2Pro :(( so sad!

Terrorstorm · #1 06-17-2007, 11:23 AM

Hey guys... hard days for me...

Just wanted to share my Ebay dilemma with everyone here on TB...

About a month ago a was bidding on an Ampeg SVT 2-Pro on Ebay. My highest bis was 1215 Euros (about 1625 $), but I did not win the auction.

2 weeks ago I got a 2nd Chance E-Mail from some ****** scammer, who misdealt to be the seller of the Ampeg. He said, the original buyer of the amp, does not want it or some **** like that. I was totally happy, that I can get the amp for 1215 Euros. This bastard faked all the "Ebay"-mails and told me to buy by Western Union, which I did.

I checked the tracking number and the money was already picked up by this bastard.

Since I have heard nothing from this person, I checked the internet with sad results. Now it's 100% sure that I was screwed by a cheater!

I think, I can't do anything now. Ebay can't help me, because the mails were faked and not from Ebay itself. Western Union can't do anything.

!!! WARNING to everyone, who gets 2nd-chance-offers from this guy:

Paul Besser
62 Charing Cross Road
London
WC2H 0BB
United Kingdom

(although I doubt that's his real name, probably he changes identity from time to time. But that's the name, I sent the Western Union payment to)

But if you have any infos on this person or come across this bastard.. or if you think you can help me. Please contact me!

...

Damn.. people. I'm so ***** up and sad! I am a student and that's a WHOOOOOLE lot of money for me. I saved like a mad on this amp and sold 90 % of my beloved effect pedals for it. And now.. this!

Whatever...

thanks for listening to my problems and keep your eyes open.
I never thought this could happen to me... and here it is... the dilemma!!

Have a nice day
Markus

Lorenzini · #2 06-17-2007, 11:27 AM

Sucks, bro. Now you know - never trust anyone who requests Western Union if you don't know them in person.
They'll destroy you.

I almost fell for it buying a motorcycle.

BurningSkies · #3 06-17-2007, 11:28 AM

Sorry to hear about this...

As a word of warning, the 2nd chance scam is about the most popular on ebay for the past few years. Anyone who gets one of these offers should think not once or twice about it, but about 15 times before doing it. There should also be an official eBay related email from anyone making a legit 2nd chance offer.

TrooperFarva · #4 06-17-2007, 11:29 AM

Have you contacted the police?

fish slapper · #5 06-17-2007, 11:32 AM

Sorry about that, man. Really sucks.

I don't eBay a lot but somewhere I remember the warning that if you get one of the those "buyer backed out" emails that you need to run, run, run.

Also the Western Union thing would have been a flag for me.

Chalk it up to experience I guess. I feel for you, bro.

Terrorstorm · #6 06-17-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

Have you contacted the police?

I doubt our police department can do anything. I live in a small town in Austria and the person that cheated me is in England, with probably a wrong identity.

But I wrote to Federal Ministry

Trial to foreign countries are expensive and the success rate is low, I think. I lost enough money. I could never pay a lawyer or something like that..

broerevb · #7 06-17-2007, 11:35 AM

Hm, maybe western union can 't do anything on their own, it's possible they may not give you more info, but you should go to the cops and put down an official complaint. With an official warrant western union should be forced to track down the bank account that got the money I'd say.

JGR · #8 06-17-2007, 11:37 AM

I get those all the time from retards. You can forward the email to spoof@ebay.com and they can verify it.

If it is a true message through eBay, it will show up in your eBay mailbox too.

Anyway, sorry to hear that - hope you hunt him down and beat him badly.

JR

broerevb · #9 06-17-2007, 11:38 AM

This is no lawyer thing, this is public prosecution. Normally, all you have to do is go to the cops with all the docs you have. And if they have the time and the guts, they get the bastard...

T-Bird · #10 06-17-2007, 11:49 AM

Hi, Markus

Sorry to hear that, it always sucks when someone does that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terrorstorm

I doubt our police department can do anything. I live in a small town in Austria and the person that cheated me is in England, with probably a wrong identity.

But I wrote to Federal Ministry

Trial to foreign countries are expensive and the success rate is low, I think. I lost enough money. I could never pay a lawyer or something like that..

If You have all the documents it shouldn't be a problem to have the guy caught, just go to the police and let them handle it and I believe they will. That is after all what we pay them to do.

BTW, just "clean" Your hard drive of unwanted material if You have your emails and the ip-data in your own computer. Its really easy to track someone in the internet with proper skills and software.

Good luck.
Sam

broerevb · #11 06-17-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Hi, Markus

If You have all the documents it shouldn't be a problem to have the guy caught, just go to the police and let them handle it and I believe they will. That is after all what we pay them to do.

Voila!

And I didn't read your post well enough, but for 1250 € they should do something for sure, certainly Austria-U.K. Lots of EU-rules for that sort of stuff. Good luck!

**JayAmel** · #12 06-17-2007, 12:21 PM

Sorry Terrorstorm, that sucks, but as far as I know eBay has been claiming for a very long time that no-one should accept any kind of transaction payable via Western Union. Either you did not read, or you did not want to believe what they said. Now you know.

Don't want to blame you or harass you, but who in the world would still make a 1,200 € deal for an amp via Western Union, in a transaction between two individuals ?

OK, let's say it again :

NEVER MAKE A TRANSACTION FOR GEAR VIA WESTERN UNION, UNLESS YOU SEND MONEY QUICKLY TO A PROFESSIONAL.

(I did it once with an American dealer who sold me a RIC 4003, and being a pro he caused me no trouble and the transaction was perfect)

Maybe this time really no-one will ever make that kind of dangerous transaction.

Sorry again.

Low D. · #13 06-17-2007, 12:36 PM

ts ts this really sucks! I m so sorry to read this brother... I cant believe what sick people are out there. Some english bass players should hunt this creep down! If I was in London I would go to the address and find out if its real. What a looser he really is. Hope God gives you 3-times back the money you lost in such an injustice way! Be patient.

Fender32 · #14 06-17-2007, 02:18 PM

Firstly, I'm really sorry to hear about your loss - that kind of money doesn't grow on trees, I know!

Secondly, don't bother to hop on a plane and go looking for him - his "address" is better known for it's Macchiatos, than for it's Ampegs.

CHECK THIS LINK:

http://blog.davidkaspar.com/archives...oad-london.php

Fender32 · #15 06-17-2007, 02:22 PM

Sorry, I forgot to say;

I think it's really good of you to share this story with the rest of us because, contrary to the way some (experienced) people have made it seem, there are a lot of people out here who will be reading about this scam for the first time.

Your generousity might just save someone else from the same kind of criminals.

Peace and good karma

!

pstyle · #16 06-17-2007, 02:35 PM

How did he get your contact info? Ebay doesn't show the names of bidders if its over a certain amount (like $100 or something) Maybe he's affiliated with the original seller? Maybe the original seller is the scammer and bids on his own items to win.. then contacts the 2nd highest bidder? I don't know... just a thought.

i_got_a_mohawk · #17 06-17-2007, 02:38 PM

Dude that sucks beyond belief, ive had a few scam second chance offers, and if you ever get a second chance offer, email the user througrh ebay, as in "Contact Member", from your "My Ebay" to confirm they actually sent you that offer. And a bit +1 to everyone saying not to use the Western Union money transfer!

ducknturtle · #18 06-17-2007, 02:45 PM

I've bought and sold quite a bit on e-bay and I can say from personal experience that there are a lot of cheats out there. This kind of experience shows that there is still a place in this world for brick and mortar retail establishments where an honest reputation still counts for something. Caveat Emptor.

Jazz Ad · #19 06-17-2007, 02:54 PM

Well yeah Western Union wasn't designed to pay merchants.
It's actually forbidden to use it for eBay transactions.
It's a great system but using it with a dealer is a no-no.
Paypal would have gotten the money back for you.

Terrorstorm · #20 06-17-2007, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pstyle

How did he get your contact info? Ebay doesn't show the names of bidders if its over a certain amount (like $100 or something) Maybe he's affiliated with the original seller? Maybe the original seller is the scammer and bids on his own items to win.. then contacts the 2nd highest bidder? I don't know... just a thought.

Hi, that's what I thought first, too.. but I already got in contact with the original seller... And it seems like Ebay (at least Ebay in Austria/Germany) shows all the bidder's names..

http://offer.ebay.at/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...m=140118660150

greetings..