For Sale scammers at MyTT

The For Sale section here at MyTT is a popular feature where people can buy, sell, and trade for used and sometimes new equipment of various sorts.  While only a subset of our forum members actively buy and sell there, everybody might be interested when we have identified people who have used that section to rip off other members---and in effect to commit internet fraud.  We take a very dim view of this and permanently ban members who do it.  As moderator of that section I have created a stickied thread in which we identify members who are known scammers, by name and location when it is possible to do it.  I am not taking that step lightly.  We need to get the attention of potential scammers, and they need to know that their names will show up on future Google searches.  They also need to know that we will often get their names. 

Well done and well said, Baal.  Thank you!  

Thanks Baal. Great job.

jrscatman wrote: Thanks Baal. Great job. I am not that familiar with US law but when committing fraud across state lines and using US Post - aren't those considered serious crimes in the USA?  Perhaps if he is an international student, he might not realize how serious these little transactions might be.

Cameron, our resident scammer, is from the US, not a foreign student.  He is quite aware of the laws, as Theologian has reminded him.

The guy he tried to pin it on, by creating an account here and a fake email address in his name, is from abroad, and was nearly a victim in this.

totally awesome.

Good job Baal, MYTT mods and all members trying to keep this forum clean.

From a legal and justice standing point - is there anything that can be done here?

Banning and prevention is always good and i'm sure everyone is greatful for the hard effort by mods here. But if there is no punishment from a legal and justice standing point, these guys will come back and con some other people. I believe more scammers will surface.

From a prevention point of view - I think some members may need more education. So maybe this threads can be a sticky and teach new and unfamiliar members on what kind of scammers you have out there, and the ways they opperate.


Edited by ZApenholder - 09/15/2014 at 8:03am

ZApenholder wrote: Good job Baal, MYTT mods and all members trying to keep this forum clean. From a legal and justice standing point - is there anything that can be done here? Banning and prevention is always good and i'm sure everyone is greatful for the hard effort by mods here. But if there is no punishment from a legal and justice standing point, these guys will come back and con some other people. I believe more scammers will surface. From a prevention point of view - I think some members may need more education. So maybe this threads can be a sticky and teach new and unfamiliar members on what kind of scammers you have out there, and the ways they opperate.

If there is no official request to the police from the member/s that Cameron has cheated, then nothing could be done. It seems he is thinking nobody will call and write request to the police for just a blade/rubber, because usually these things are not so big in his eyes.

gnopgnipster wrote: There are several federal and state & local laws that have been broken. Identity theft, wire fraud, theft, money laundering, possession of stolen goods... Kolevtt is right. If the victim(s) and moderators who know who the criminal is do not act together and go to the police, the scamming will continue.

It is 99% likely that local police receives hundreds of complaints like these and cannot fully investigate them. They will probably file it with thanks to Baal and the_theologian but it will be put on the shelf until "later".

What will be - likely - much more effective approach (if we intend to make an impression on the scammer) is to forward all the documents/proofs/copies etc to the college. They must have some local government or ethics committee or dean of students. Let them deal with it - especially since the scam was done not only by their student but also intended as an identity theft against one of their other students.

JimT wrote: gnopgnipster wrote: There are several federal and state & local laws that have been broken. Identity theft, wire fraud, theft, money laundering, possession of stolen goods... Kolevtt is right. If the victim(s) and moderators who know who the criminal is do not act together and go to the police, the scamming will continue. It is 99% likely that local police receives hundreds of complaints like these and cannot fully investigate them. They will probably file it with thanks to Baal and the_theologian but it will be put on the shelf until "later". What will be - likely - much more effective approach (if we intend to make an impression on the scammer) is to forward all the documents/proofs/copies etc to the college. They must have some local government or ethics committee or dean of students. Let them deal with it - especially since the scam was done not only by their student but also intended as an identity theft against one of their other students.

Do you get a police case number when you file the case?
If yes, then provide this case number, together with supporting documents to the college too.

Theologian and I are looking into the next steps. Not much more to say for the moment.

JimT wrote: gnopgnipster wrote: There are several federal and state & local laws that have been broken. Identity theft, wire fraud, theft, money laundering, possession of stolen goods... Kolevtt is right. If the victim(s) and moderators who know who the criminal is do not act together and go to the police, the scamming will continue. It is 99% likely that local police receives hundreds of complaints like these and cannot fully investigate them. They will probably file it with thanks to Baal and the_theologian but it will be put on the shelf until "later". What will be - likely - much more effective approach (if we intend to make an impression on the scammer) is to forward all the documents/proofs/copies etc to the college. They must have some local government or ethics committee or dean of students. Let them deal with it - especially since the scam was done not only by their student but also intended as an identity theft against one of their other students.

That is true. But! If you hand the police the case in a "silver platter" as is apparently the case here, I don't know of any detective who is not willing to take an easy "stat." That being said did the "scammer" actually go through with his schemes, or was he thwarted by alert victims and moderators? Did he or she return the goods after confronted? Did he or she actually create accounts in the name of other people ie. with Paypal to further his criminal enterprise? This are sample questions (and many more) likely to come up when talking to the police and whoever files the report should be ready to answer.

CHEERS! 

You know, what makes me think is that I actually asked him makira sell me one of his blades for $5 lower than his offer. He didn't bite, but I can only wonder why and what if..

beeray1 wrote: this thread's relation to fraud has given me an excuse to check out MYTT at work while I review other bad  guys. HAHA!  Seriously, this was awesome. Good job to everyone who dug this up. It's always the guys like this who have exactly what I want to buy, too. So the temptation is there, but the fear of getting scammed is there even stronger.  Big time kudos.

If you are an expert at this, I may at some point have some technical questions for you.

racquetsforsale wrote: I'm often wary of new members who appear just a bit too enthusiastic by responding to many threads, starting their own threads about various topics, and being quick to express agreement with others, all within a short time, as though in an attempt to befriend and gain trust quickly.

Edited.

Edited by NextLevel - 09/15/2014 at 4:32pm