Rant Scammed.

[Damini]

My own fault really. Put an advert out to see if anyone had spare faith no more tickets. Guy got in touch, seemed genuine, offered to set up details for a direct bank transfer and send the tickets. I knew I was taking a gamble, but I cyber stalked him, the email account matched up to a facebook page, complete with family and friends (so not just set up for the occasion), and I assumed that a scammer probably wouldn't use their real name.

Wrong.

I'm not heartbroken, because I knew there was a possibility I was being taken for a ride, and saw it as a risk worth taking. However, that doesn't mean I don't want to make him inhale a broken mirror, and then do the heimlich on him until he coughs it up bloody chunks of glass shrapnel. Can't get the money back, because it was a bank transfer. However, I do have: his name, e-mail address, facebook page, potentially his home address, potentially his phone number, a photo of him, another photo of him that someone has helpfully drawn a cock on to, and a desire for vengeance.

Suggestions on a postcard.

 

[nath]

So has he just not sent the tickets or actually told you he's not going to send them?

 

[Scouse]

Unlucky Dams.

I'd say police? You've got the bank account number you transferred to after all - and technically what he's done is theft?

 

[inactionman]

Sign him up for donations via direct debit to your charity(ies) of choice? It's what was done to Jeremy Clarkson after all?

If you do this, make sure to do it via a web cafe or something!

 

[Damini]

He's said the money was reversed out of his account, which isn't true. So my spider senses started tingling, and I increased my cyber hunt, and found his name associated with War Rock (whatever the hell that is) as someone who is a scammer. The picture of him on that forum (with additional cock and semen spurts ms painted on) matches roughly the facebook page I found. At the moment he's playing me along by e-mail, but I think basically its a forgone conclusion that I'm not getting the tickets, or my money back.

 

[old.user4556]

Damini,

Was it a BACS transfer or a Visa Debit payment you made?

You could either (and you must be VERY fast) phone the bank and tell them that the transaction was a mistake and to attempt a BACS recall of the funds, or if you paid by a Visa Debit transaction, you could try to start a chargeback procedure.

I paid £500 for a new camera body with a company called Simply Electronics, I never got the camera and never got a refund (I am one of maaaany people caught out). I phoned the bank, they did a chargeback, I got every penny back - thread here.

Phone the bank. Immediately.

BACS recall.

 

[MYstIC G]

Suggestions on a postcard.

1. Phone your bank as Big G says.
2. Phone the police.
3. Fill out a court form.

R

PS: You know better and I hope Kenny is burning holes in the back of your head with his stare.

 

[Lazarus]

add his phone number to the wall of a phone booth outside a gay bar

 

[Damini]

It's too late to get the money back, it cleared already. I know that I know better, and I knew at the time that it was a gamble, but since he was so bloody easy to cyber stalk I figured that he's be retarded to try to pull a fast one.

I'll phone his house tomorrow, make sure I have (stalked down) the right address. Then I will go to the police. Then they will patronise me, and make me angry, and then I will do something incredibly immature with all the information I have acquired.

 

[old.user4556]

Dam, have you phoned the bank and asked them?

 

[Gumbo]

Just post all the info on here, purely for information purposes, I think you've been quite clear that you weren't inciting anyone to do anything.

What then happens to the fella once the info is out there is nothing to do with you really.

 

[rynnor]

and then I will do something incredibly immature with all the information I have acquired.

I'm sure that you are far too grownup to do such a thing and I certainly reccomend that you dont write to his bank posing as a grieving widow to inform them of his death as this would probably cause them to put a freeze on the account, and I wouldnt advise you to do the same to his utilities and local council since this would undoubtably cause him to spend many frustrating hours on the phone sorting it out.

I certainly dont reccomend that.

 

[Damini]

I have phoned the bank, yes. And the official terminology for it is "screwed". Nothing to be done.

I will wait to hear his latest response, then I will phone his house, and then I will message him and let him know that I know his phone number, where he lives, what he looks like, where he banks, and any other info I can scavenge from cyber space on the way, and politely ask for my money back before I take all this info to the police.

 

[Damini]

Widow? Hah. This guy can't grow chin hair.

He does have a girlfriend though. I know. I cyber stalked her too.







Sometimes I scare myself...

 

[ECA]

How about announcing a homeless persons celebration party at his house and organising some minibuses from city centres

* offer free alcohol.

 

[Tom]

Just out of interest, in which part of the country does he live, specifically his town? Just so I know to avoid him.

 

[Trem]

Bank will do nothing, police will do nothing, its like handing over cash, once done you are fucked.

I had police visiting me and all sorts when a bunch of us were ripped off via Ebay, seller wanted bank transfer and nothing else, we put it down to them wanting to avoid fees. In total we lost 20 grand and still the police and banks weren't interested (neither was Ebay but you would of guessed that anyway).

Good luck anyway Damlar.

 

[Mey]

"Fraud Act 2006. Section 2. Fraud by false representation

(1) A person is in breach of this section if he—

(a) dishonestly makes a false representation, and

(b) intends, by making the representation—

(i) to make a gain for himself or another, or

(ii) to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.

(2) A representation is false if—

(a) it is untrue or misleading, and

(b) the person making it knows that it is, or might be, untrue or misleading.

(3) “Representation” means any representation as to fact or law, including a representation as to the state of mind of—

(a) the person making the representation, or

(b) any other person.

(4) A representation may be express or implied.

(5) For the purposes of this section a representation may be regarded as made if it (or anything implying it) is submitted in any form to any system or device designed to receive, convey or respond to communications (with or without human intervention)."

It is a criminal offence, the police are getting more keen to crack down on cyber crime.

 

[Mey]

Also from the Police National Legal Datebase (god i love that site).

https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q680.htm

Fraud by false representation
This offence is committed when a person dishonestly makes a false representation and in doing so intends to make a gain for himself or a loss for another. A representation could be a statement or an act, for example, giving a stolen credit card to a shopkeeper (you are implying that you have the authority to use that card when you don't) or implying that you have goods to sell on an internet auction site (and you don't).

 

[pez]

I don't know what your bank would do. After all they simply followed your instructions. Also if the account you transferred the money to is not their's they don't even possess the money any more. What they might do is write an official letter to the scammer's bank stating that the funds were paid incorrectly and could you have them back, which I have seen happen before. Official Letters from a persons bank tend to make people take it a bit more seriously.

 

[mooSe_]

Post all his details on 4chan /b/ and add a story about how he hates cats...

 

[TdC]

damn Dams, that sucks babes still, as said above, just talk to your bank.

 

[MYstIC G]

I will wait to hear his latest response, then I will phone his house, and then I will message him and let him know that I know his phone number, where he lives, what he looks like, where he banks, and any other info I can scavenge from cyber space on the way, and politely ask for my money back before I take all this info to the police.

Before you overplay your hand. Is this person adult or minor? If adult it may be worth you paying £3 to find out if they own the property address you have for them. I can PM you how to do this if you want.

Secondly, go to the police first. If they say "ring him" then do it. They may very well tell you not to and he could lie and say you're a nutball or you've threatened him, etc, etc.

 

[Damini]

The bank has already stated that there is nothing to be done on their end. I spoke to fraud department and everything.

I would guess that this guy is a minor. He certainly won't be owning a house. I was only going to ring the number, ask if he's there, and if he lives there hang up, just to prove that I have the right address, but I'm pretty sure that I do. I wasn't going to do the phone confrontation thing. My fight or flight response is too strong to deal with phone conversations. Makes me twitchy.

Trouble is, as far as I can tell, he's ooop north, Birmingham way, so it's not like I can turn up on his doorstep and set fire to a poo in a paper bag.

What the hell IS War Rock anyway? Does anyone know? He's made quite a name for himself trying to scam people on there. Multiple accounts, that kind of thing.

I don't know if I should just call him out in an email, and tell him to give the money back before I go to the police, or if I should just go to the police.

If anyone wants to practice their cyber stalking though, message me, and I'll give you what I know so far and you can see if your detective work matches mine and Arnie's detective work.

 

[`mongoose]

My advice is to take it to the police and then leave it in their hands. Satisfy yourself with the belief that what goes around comes around and he's bound to get fucked over by someone at some point.

If you carry on as you are then you may well end up being done for cyber stalking yourselves and if he is a minor (even a little shitbag) you're going to get taken to the cleaners.

I know you must be furious but don't let your frustration lead you down a path that has serious long term consequences.

M

 

[Mey]

Damnini as far as I can tell War-Rock is a CS like computer game thats free to download/play.

Official War Rock Website -- New User

 

[Chilly]

Tell him you're good mates with a lawyer and that you will be contacting both him and the police unless he sorts his fucking act out ASAP. Tell him he has 3 days. Do not be flexible.

 

[WPKenny]

I suggested she post him a stamped, self-address envelope with a polite note saying she'd like her money back within 2 weeks or the next letter will be hand delivered.

 

[Bahumat]

What a ****. I got scammed a while back, luckily got my money back. I would assume if he does this thing to people all the time, the address you found (maybe from facebook?) is false

 

[Tom]

If he is a minor my opinion is that he'll ignore just about anything you try to do.

Once however you confirm his identity and address, and get the legal system involved (via a small claims court procedure), I think you'll very quickly get a resolution, if not from him, from his parents.

I doubt the police will get involved unless there is evidence of large-scale fraud. It seems to me to be a simple breach of contract.