how do i report a scammer?

[interlaced]

So I got scammed by a guy named "Alec Bradford". We were supposed to trade 'books. I sent mine. Never got his. Never heard from him again.

We were in touch for over a month before I got comfortable enough to send. He first wanted me to send to his dorm address, but had me change it when he had to go back home.

I searched for him on MySpace, found someone with the exact same name, same city/state for school, same city/state back home. Like an idiot, he had his number posted in his profile. It was different than the number he contacted me with, but the same area code. I gave him a ring, but he insisted he was not the same guy and has never used a Mac in his life.

But I knew it was him.

So I have his name, number, addresses, picture, and OH! His newly updated MySpace picture had MY IBOOK in the background.

I'm wondering if anyone knows what I can do to report him.

[yellow]

Assuming you have all the info you need, call the Police in his local area?

[mkrishnan]

I'm sorry your trade didn't work out.

Ahem...but...report him to whom? How did you meet him? Is he a member here?

If you have real evidence of a business agreement, and that you sent him the product, call the police in the area to which you sent the computer. But if you don't have good proof...sadly... it's not going to be easy. Sorry.

EDIT: In terms of proof...get together all the hard evidence. Print out the saved transcripts of your chats. The bill of lading or receipt from the shipping company. Any e-mails you received from him or sent to him.

Good luck!

[interlaced]

hmm.. is my usps delivery confirmation good enough?

[iGary]

If he lived within a few hours, I would certainly be handling things myself. I don't recommend this to anyone, but that's what I would do.

[yellow]

I would say you also need to include ANY and ALL correspendence with this person. Plus the serial number of your original iBook, and any other relevant info. Ultimately, the burden of proof is on you.. and you're automatically at a disadvantage.

[yellow]

Originally Posted by iGary

If he lived within a few hours, I would certainly be handling things myself. I don't recommend this to anyone, but that's what I would do.

Heh.. you should change your name to iTakecarayou.

[aquajet]

Originally Posted by iGary

If he lived within a few hours, I would certainly be handling things myself. I don't recommend this to anyone, but that's what I would do.

That's what I would do, too. In fact, I'd even be willing to purchase an airplane ticket to go pay him a visit, and I wouldn't return home until I retrieved my 'book. Hopefully everything will turn out okay for you.

[mkrishnan]

Originally Posted by marissaaa

hmm.. is my usps delivery confirmation good enough?

Not unless you can corroborate this with evidence that he promised to send you something in return. I couldn't just decide to send *you* my iBook tomorrow and then call the police a week later and claim you scammed me. Not that this is what you're doing...but I hope you understand, you have to demonstrate some reason to believe it isn't what you're doing.

[EricNau]

Even if you don't have proof, you could still call the police, threaten to take him to court, anything that would just scare the **** out of him. Chances are he'll get scared and give you your 'book back.

Do you know any lawyers? You could have them give him a call just to scare him.

[wPod]

I'd start by sending a certified letter to the same address you shipped the iBook to originally. certified letters stand up well in court. attach a copy of your original agreement. tell him if you do not hear from him that you will take the issue to the police. Hopefully a stern well phrased letter will get a response because the rest could get expensive! (but dont say anything threatening in the letter like "im going to come get you if you dont respond you little &*?%! " )

if you get no response from this, then contact the police in the area that you shipped the ibook to.

keep track of:
any proof of a written or verbal agreement b/w you and him. any proof of shipment.

if its over state lines it could be a felony fraud charge which would be pretty serious.

youll probably have to press charges before the police can investigate though. youll probably have to send in a written affidavit etc. you cant just call the cops and say "hey, go search this guy's place for my laptop please, i have a hunch!"

im sure the whole process could take a long time, and could start costing a bit of money once you contact the police and start having to take stuff to court. youll probably have to sue the guy for all of the money youll end up spending, or youll end up spending more on the process than on the ibook itsself. (dont you love the legal system!!)

[EricNau]

Originally Posted by wPod

...
im sure the whole process could take a long time, and could start costing a bit of money once you contact the police and start having to take stuff to court. youll probably have to sue the guy for all of the money youll end up spending, or youll end up spending more on the process than on the ibook itsself. (dont you love the legal system!!)

When you sue, you could sue for the cost of a 'book plus all legal fees, so assuming you win, it would only cost you your time.

but taking people to court can be a pain

[Sunrunner]

Originally Posted by iGary

If he lived within a few hours, I would certainly be handling things myself. I don't recommend this to anyone, but that's what I would do.

Im definitely with you there. Even if I had to fly out somewhere... its the principle of the thing.

[kparvez]

Originally Posted by yellow

Heh.. you should change your name to iTakecarayou.

another good name would be 'ibreakauface'.

[Koodauw]

Just post where he lives on here, and im sure we can find someone on this boards to perform some iGary-esque justice.

PS, what is this myspace thing? is it like facebook for non-college people?

[EricNau]

Originally Posted by Koodauw

Just post where he lives on here, and im sure we can find someone on this boards to perform some iGary-esque justice.

PS, what is this myspace thing? is it like facebook for non-college people?

Just go to myspace.com - it will answer your question.

[yellow]

Originally Posted by Koodauw

PS, what is this myspace thing? is it like facebook for non-college people?

Yet another indicator that modern civilization is in decline..

[Nickygoat]

Originally Posted by yellow

Yet another indicator that modern civilization is in decline..

Or that it is developing - depending on your point of view
iGary -you seem to be a bit aggro these days. The back pain? I fully understand - mine makes me want to give someone a battering.
Back OT - get some evidence (like the others said - confirmation of intention) and call the cops. That will at least scare the c*** out of this guy.

[iGary]

Originally Posted by Nickygoat

Or that it is developing - depending on your point of view
iGary -you seem to be a bit aggro these days. The back pain? I fully understand - mine makes me want to give someone a battering.
Back OT - get some evidence (like the others said - confirmation of intention) and call the cops. That will at least scare the c*** out of this guy.

Aggro = aggressive?

Yeah, unfortunately my back is going downhill again. And yes it keeps me grumpy. I'll keep it in check though - seriously - thanks for the heads up.

[yellow]

Originally Posted by Nickygoat

Or that it is developing - depending on your point of view

Jinkies.. coupled with AIM... <insert whistling sound of a sky-diving plane>

Yes, Agro means aggressive.

[interlaced]

yeah, myspace is the facebook for non-college folk. it was started way before facebook, though, and i think right after friendster started. how i found this guy on myspace is that i typed in his full name, this profile came up: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...1412DF11180104. all his info is on that myspace link. i searched for him again today using the same name and he's renamed himself. if you see his pics, my ibook is right there in the pics!! (3rd row, 2nd from left) he was up on a bunch of different mac and ipod boards using the handle 'toyosuprar'. so if anyone comes across him again, don't deal with him. his email was luckyleprachaun85@yahoo, but i'm sure he's deleted that account since. oh, and i found him on the powerbookcentral boards.

thanks for all the advice, everyone. i dont have enough time or money to try to sue him, but i'll do what i can.

[sethypoo]

Please go after him, don't let guys like that get away.

Geez, just looking at his pics makes me made. There are guys like that where I live, they wear Abercrombie and have their life handed to them on a silver platter by their rich parents.....either that or he's a major poser.

Keep up posted, we'll help where we can.

Seth

[iGary]

Or we can all attack his e-mail inbox, nicely asking him to do the right thing.

[Nickygoat]

Originally Posted by iGary

Aggro = aggressive?

Yeah, unfortunately my back is going downhill again. And yes it keeps me grumpy. I'll keep it in check though - seriously - thanks for the heads up.

yellow is right. However it wasn't a heads up - it was a keep it up There ain't nothing worse.
More lingo for your British Speak thread

[OldCorpse]

Wow, this made me so angry I kicked my cat really hard. He still won't come down from the roof. Sorry, Puffy.

Disclaimer: IANAL (I Am Not A Lawyer). However, I know you don't need a written contract, an oral agreement is binding under the law. Given the $ value involved here, this is small claims court situation. But you have a very good case. No judge is going to believe that you just sent the iBook for no reason, without expecting anything in return. The other thing, is you can make it a criminal case, which means you are not so much looking for restitution (which is the civil case, small claims court), as to nail the guy - here unfortunately the standard of proof is much higher, plus the cops/FBI rarely take cases with such low $ value.

Do you know a lawyer? Is your uncle a lawyer? Maybe your cousin's friend's grandmother's brother is a lawyer? In that case, have the lawyer simply write a stiff letter outlining your determination to pursue both civil and criminal measures unless he returns your property within a specific period of time. Good luck. Now I gotta go get some kibbles for Puffy.