Ok Shame on me.. I think I got Scammed

[kbareit]

Sorry to hear about this John,

So far I have pretty much stuck with Ebay, Craigslist and fellow members for buying parts and machines without any problems. I know it sucks but wish to thank you for letting us know about this so we don't get ripped off also. It takes a big man to admit that a scammer got you and I respect you for that.

Ken

[cokecolaman]

I think I had texted him about the same clock...I told him I wanted to come see it in person and where is it..he told me the city, but was very vague...I said I need an address ( it really was too far away to see In person , but this takes care of 95% of the scammers)...he texted me back about ten times but never would give me an address...even after I told him I was no longer in the area, he reassured me that we could still some how do the deal...I told him no thanks and he still texted me 3 more times...

[brasskey]

John - if you want to see if he's avoiding your calls, just set up a new gmail account and get a new google voice number and call him from that number. You can get any area code number you want for free.

[mznb1u]

That sucks!

  Tim

[mygoose101]

Don't spend to much time on this. Do your follow ups and I'm not saying don't try at all but you don't want to get to wrapped up where it pisses you off daily because in the end all that anger adds up. You already lost the $1,000, don't add to that debit with countless hours because your time is valuable as well.

Quick story, I bought a 81A off e-bay years ago for $1,000 out of state. Got here fine with no issues. He later contacted me saying he had 2 other 81's and wanted the same $1,000 ea. for them. I already felt I knew him and trusted him so we did the deal out of e-bay, sent him the $2,000 and he disappeared. Dropped his e-bay account, killed his phone number, everything.

I was determined to find this guy so I spent days on this exploring every possible avenue and got nowhere. I was hard to live with during that time, wife was more upset on what it was doing to me rather then loosing the 2 grand.

It was then when Moondawg told me to quit my crying and not to let it affect doing what I loved in buying, selling, restoring coke machines. He also reminded how much money I had made in coke machines so I did get over it.

I will be honest in saying I do still think about it now and then. Damn that guy.

[Jim]

John,

Very sorry to hear this story...
Reviewing the thread on oldgas sounds like this guy is still continuing to rip people off ! ! !
Hopefully something will come out of this...

[ClassicCokeLover]

Well, you do have some recourse. Go to your local Post Office and ask to speak to the Postmaster. File a Postal Fraud claim and give them the PO Box that the check was mailed to. They can look into it and find name and contact info. Postal Fraud is a Federal Offense.

[SIGNGUY]

Yeah just read that thread on old gas tonight as well. I'm not letting it go just yet. I got a lot of fight in me yet. And after I posted this. He actually did text me telling me he was out if town and just getting caught up on emails and phone calls. He texted me three times tonight assuring me they where on a grey hound only a few days away from me. But of course couldn't provide any proof. So well see how this works out till the weekend. In the meantime I'm talking with the guy on old gas as well about what we can do as a group of other scammees.  To get him. Well see.

This is not my first long distance transaction but I should have insisted on PayPal or some more secure way of paying. I guess the days of trusting my gut are done.  

[ClassicCokeLover]

Ya, I agree. Those days are gone. I remember a guy in Japan sent me $300 cash in the mail for an old camera I sold. WHAT??? And another time I sent  a Western Union M/O to a guy in Germany for some old military stuff. I received the items all ok. But will never do this type of transaction nowadays.

[Kaleid20]

Hang in there John. What goes around comes around, I firmly believe that. This guy seems to be rather sloppy, so I don't doubt it will all catch up with him soon.