Possible fraudster on pfm

[Seenmyspecs?]

Had to laugh at the bleeding heart having a go at the posters calling out the scammer, I wonder how much milk he takes in his Museli whilst reading the Guardian?

Oi, I read The Guardian and eat Muesli, don't have a beard and sandals though

[SMEagol]

...ah but have you been tempted to get the other two, looking in the mirror rubbing the chin, leaving 4 plus days stubble, or gazing into Millets front window for a furtive glance of open toed loveliness are the first signs.

[Seenmyspecs?]

Now you come to mention it, my toes are rather fetching...

[Flimber]

We'll see if Cartman and myself get our money back. I'm hoping between paypal and the credit card company I'll get some kind of result. If need be I'll involve the police.

How much are you out, James ?

[themadlatvian]

Oi, I read The Guardian and eat Muesli, don't have a beard and sandals though

I don't do either, but I do have a beard - no sandals though.

[James Evans]

£310 of your lovely english pounds.

[MJ]

£310 of your lovely english pounds.

Ouch !!

[JPG]

We'll see if Cartman and myself get our money back. I'm hoping between paypal and the credit card company I'll get some kind of result. If need be I'll involve the police.

I would be VERY much inclined to involve the Police even when I had the money back.

[James Evans]

Yes, it's a not inconsiderable sum. I'm usually very careful with transactions, must have caught me on an off day. I even spoke to the guy on the phone, which must have made me drop my guard a bit. I'll see about the police.

[gregf]

Good luck guys with getting your money back. I agree you should get the police get involved, at the very least to get an insident recorded.

[dohraeme]

I've just read a newsletter from 'HiFi For Sale' which mentions a new government run initiative to help individuals or organisations prevent / report online fraud cases. Probably worth a look.

http://www.actionfraud.org.uk

[hifiwigwam]

Sorry but why are people talking about phoning the police. Why have they not already phoned the police?

Phone the bloody police for god's sake.

[gjm]

Unfortunately the police have (historically) not done much in such cases. Caveat emptor, etc.

Many years ago I 'bought' a Nak RX202E for £250. Bankrupt clearance sale (alarm bells now, but back then...) Suffice to say I didn't receive it.

All cheques went to a house in Skelmersdale which turned out to be on a short-term rent, cash paid. A bank account had been opened, had money paid into it for about weeks, then emptied. Not even closed. The perps were eventually tracked to 10 Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin, itself a dubious address. No extradition or co-operation in place, so that was the end of that.

It's not difficult to do.

[Valvebloke]

Well as a counter-example I once, some years ago, paid by cheque for a £300 eBay item. The seller (noob, zero feedback) cashed the cheque immediately then silence - no item, no answer to any of my messages. After a week or so eBay gave me a phone number which, when I called it, turned out to be the number of the secretary of the local parochial church council which was posted on the church notice board for all to see. She told me that the address I'd mailed the cheque to was one of a row of cottages owned by a local farmer and used to house itinerant workers . So I went to the police. They were very helpful. They took the details and said they'd contact the local force and ask them to pay a visit. I don't know if they did but a few days later the item duly showed up . Maybe my scammers were just too thick even to organise a relatively simple con. But whatever the details, my dealings with my local police were great - sympathetic, positive, willing to set about getting me my thing. Even back then they said they were doing quite a bit of online fraud work, they had specialists in the back office and efficient procedures in place for handling my complaint. Based on my experience I would give them 10 out of 10 and would certainly go to them again.

VB

[JonR]

Based on my experience I would give them 10 out of 10 and would certainly go to them again.

Let's hope you don't have to!