Craigs audio scam in Salisbury MD????

[loonze]

contact the F.B.I interstate fraud division.

 

[motorstereo]

Having read and reread of what happened and digested it a bit more I'm inclined to believe this is a case of human greed getting in the way of common sense. You're obviously not a stupid person and you thought you were taking advantage of someone but instead got taken yourself. You bypassed lots of red flags, got what you sent for and "Jeff" got paid a paltry $50 for his half hour's work of story telling.

 

[tubed]

It's always possible and never to good to be true only if you have "it" out the door and in your possession.
Consider the 50 bucks a cheap offering to the audio gods.

 

[Rob41]

I feel foolish for losing $50 but it could have been a lot worse.

Yes it could. This time last year I responded to a CL ad for a SAE 2600 for $500. I spoke with the owner Albert at House of Sound in Bakersfield, Ca. on several ocassions totaling about an hour and felt that he sounded honest.

The $500 check was cashed and the amp never showed up. His business shares a location with JCC Wireless and they actually gave me a cple numbers to call since Albert wouldn't answer his phone. I spoke with his wife and his son and they both assured me they would return the $500 and of course never did.

I spoke with the local police who would not do anything. My only recourse would have been to file a claim in court but I would have had to go there to do that. I was foolish to trust someone like that and lost $500.

It blows my mind that this guy has CL ads up all the time and even has a FB page. And.....his wife and kid are crooks just like him.

 

[Sam Cogley]

Never ever ever ever.. did I say ever? send anyone on CL money... IN PERSON DEAL ONLY... BTW, never send money to anyone for a CL ad...

I've done long distance CL deals. You just have to have a functioning BS filter.

Yes it could. This time last year I responded to a CL ad for a SAE 2600 for $500. I spoke with the owner Albert at House of Sound in Bakersfield, Ca. on several ocassions totaling about an hour and felt that he sounded honest.

The $500 check was cashed and the amp never showed up. His business shares a location with JCC Wireless and they actually gave me a cple numbers to call since Albert wouldn't answer his phone. I spoke with his wife and his son and they both assured me they would return the $500 and of course never did.

I spoke with the local police who would not do anything. My only recourse would have been to file a claim in court but I would have had to go there to do that. I was foolish to trust someone like that and lost $500.

It blows my mind that this guy has CL ads up all the time and even has a FB page. And.....his wife and kid are crooks just like him.

No, you missed the obvious way to strong-arm this guy. You mailed a check. The United States Postal Police don't like people using the USPS to steal, which happens to be a Federal felony. The threat of a nice stay in Leavenworth usually gets the attention of asshats. If not, the knock on the door by some nice federal police does the trick. It's probably still within the statute of limitations, give the USPP a call.

 

[Rob41]

I'll try that. I did contact the FBI office in Bakersfield but knew before I called them that they would have no interest in something so trivial. It would be nice to have some recourse.

 

[audiomagnate]

Scammers are EVERYWHERE now. I don't know if it's a "changing moral compass" or something in the water, but I have been scammed three times in the past month in some way or another. Before that it had never happened, and I've been doing this for ten years. There's a change afoot in this hobby, and it is NOT good. I think the word is out amongst the lowlifes that there's money to be had in audio. They're crawling out of the woodwork, so now I just assume everyone is a scammer, which makes me very sad.

 

[bhebbel]

I have been flagging these ads for over a year here in florida, buying on craigs is tough enough, but wiring cash thru thru craigs is a risk that need not be complained about.
Just outing yourself is painful enough am I right?

here is one from this mornings they are still working this area!
KENWOOD KR-9050 $275.00 Fraud Theif Beware! (wilton manors)

This guy (named Jeffery) selling his so called Kenwood KR-9050 stereo receiver for $275.00 in Wilton Manors, Florida is a fraud so beware. I bought it from him and paid with Pay Pal and he was supposed to ship it too me and nothing and no refund. I would recommend not dealing with him as he will steal your money steer clear, trust me! Fraud! Fraud! Fraud!

I included his name and number on this posting!

Also, he will ask for you to send his money to Jeff's Attic and if anybody knows any info like a phone number to this place please, let me know so I can give to the authorities and Pay Pal to help me and my case, thank you!:sigh:

He used 757-276-3024. He identified himself as Jeffrey. He is changing phone numbers regularly.

 

[mech986]

Scammers are EVERYWHERE now. I don't know if it's a "changing moral compass" or something in the water, but I have been scammed three times in the past month in some way or another. Before that it had never happened, and I've been doing this for ten years. There's a change afoot in this hobby, and it is NOT good. I think the word is out amongst the lowlifes that there's money to be had in audio. They're crawling out of the woodwork, so now I just assume everyone is a scammer, which makes me very sad.

unfortunately, fraud, cons, stings, etc. have been going on ever since money was invented. There's plenty of people out there who want something for nothing, and aren't afraid to screw people, well meaning people, but gullible or greedy people, out of their money, and sometimes more.

As above, have a super strong and fine BS filter. Insist to see newest pics taken with today's newspaper, or other evidence of item in possession. Even then, you don't know what they will do with the money once sent. So for the most part, even though it can work out, you've got to be very good about dealing on CL from afar. You're at the mercy of the other person, even with paypal/credit card etc. because its a hassle if it goes south.

Caveat emptor as always.

 

[similost]

I've done long distance CL deals. You just have to have a functioning BS filter.

I have too, only I got in my vehicle and drove there to get the item and PAY IN PERSON...

Anyone sending money for anything through CL is taking a HUGE risk... CL is designed to be for local sales.. That is why are are not supposed to post your items for sale to CL in outside areas...

I had a guy all the way across the country contact me to buy a motorcycle I was selling... I was skeptical at first.. until the guy bought a plane ticket and flw from Oregon to DC to come buy my bike... I would have NEVER shipped the bike to the guy or taken his money.... It's a reverse deal from the OP, but I will NEVER deal with money with a private individual with an anonymous web site..

Heck... Look at ll the sales that happen here on AK... Most people here won't even trust you enough to send the item before they cash your check...

 

[bhebbel]

Having read and reread of what happened and digested it a bit more I'm inclined to believe this is a case of human greed getting in the way of common sense. You're obviously not a stupid person and you thought you were taking advantage of someone but instead got taken yourself. You bypassed lots of red flags, got what you sent for and "Jeff" got paid a paltry $50 for his half hour's work of story telling.

Greed was a factor. It is the best tool that any scam artist depends on. Greed will blind you to from the BS. It did me. Guilty!!!!!

Was I taking advantage of him?-I was willing to pay his asking price ($350). I don't see this as taking advantage of someone. There were red flags including the all-to-perfect pictures. I was willing to risk $50 and was willing to drive three hours to pick it up. He took the ad down (per our agreement) when I sent him the deposit. I knew that i had been had when he put the ad back on craigs two days later.

My conscience is clear. While it is embarrassing to admit that I got taken, that's just my ego. I started this thread when I was 95% sure that I had just been spear phished. I thought that I could provide a service to the AK community by putting out the warning. I didn't know that it seemed to be a nationwide scam.

So what do we do fellas? This guy is doing this nation wide and is getting a lot of money from people.

 

[Killer Fox]

Yes could have been a lot worse. My friend's dad had recently retired. He had saved for a boat for many years. He wired someone on CL over $30,000 for a boat. When he showed up to pick up the boat, you guessed it - no boat and no seller. Nobody knew he was doing that so couldn't warn him. Everybody just knew he was "boat shopping".

The Internet is a grifter's paradise.

 

[audiomagnate]

Try posting a WTB thread on USAudiomart. Even if it's for an item that doesn't exist - just choose a well known high end brand and make up a model number - and you will get flooded with offers to sell you the item at really great price. Be careful out there.

 

[motorstereo]

Greed was a factor. It is the best tool that any scam artist depends on. Greed will blind you to from the BS. It did me. Guilty!!!!!

Was I taking advantage of him?-I was willing to pay his asking price ($350). I don't see this as taking advantage of someone. There were red flags including the all-to-perfect pictures. I was willing to risk $50 and was willing to drive three hours to pick it up. He took the ad down (per our agreement) when I sent him the deposit. I knew that i had been had when he put the ad back on craigs two days later.

My conscience is clear. While it is embarrassing to admit that I got taken, that's just my ego. I started this thread when I was 95% sure that I had just been spear phished. I thought that I could provide a service to the AK community by putting out the warning. I didn't know that it seemed to be a nationwide scam.

So what do we do fellas? This guy is doing this nation wide and is getting a lot of money from people.

Good to see you're an honest man and admitting you've made a mistake or 2:thmbsp:. A lot of guys can't or won't do that for whatever reason.
Thanks for spreading the word and once again good luck to you in getting your money back.

 

[mrjbq]

I've done long distance CL deals. You just have to have a functioning BS filter.

Yes, I've done long distance deals, as well. I ran a local only CL ad for a Carver amp. A guy in Denver contacts me to buy it. Over 1700 miles away. At first I'm thinking he's trying to scam me.
But, no he really wanted the amp. He paid, I shipped, we were both happy.
I'll sell long distance, but it would have to be special circumstances for me to buy long distance.

 

[audiomagnate]

More and more buyers are responding to ads from out of the area. So far I've had good luck. It's the brand new "locals" that are giving me trouble here in gassy western Colorado.

 

[SoCal Sam]

Local pickup with deposit demanded? Ooph, you are lucky you lost only the fifty. Imagine if you had shown up with the cash... A lot worse has happened for a lot less money than what you would likely have been carrying.

 

[ffrink23]

In this case, where you decided to send the money via Paypal for a deposit, adding a couple dollars on your own to cover his fee deduction and not using 'friends or family' saves you $50. Short story ....I sold football tickets last month on the day of the game. Buyer could not meet because of icy roads. I told him he could Paypal me, then I would email the tickets. I also explained up front that to protect myself from him filing a complaint with Paypal after I email the tickets that I would want him to do 'friends and family'. I explained that using the family/friends option would eliminate any chance for him to recover money if I did not follow through with emailing. I told him that I understood if he declined the offer but I guess my explanation sounded trustworthy. Everything worked out.

 

[stevo1214]

Sorry to revive this thread, It seems like the same "Jeffrey" is showing up in Palm springs,CA. A few days ago on the Marantz's add, he used a full "Jeffrey" name, today is only "Jeff".

http://palmsprings.craigslist.org/ele/4890497815.html

He also has the Sansui 9090DB for sale too at a very good price. But I can't find the pioneer add.

http://palmsprings.craigslist.org/ele/4891349586.html

And I just saw this one warning people about the add.

http://palmsprings.craigslist.org/ele/4896071270.html

 

[Thocom]

Greed was a factor. It is the best tool that any scam artist depends on. Greed will blind you to from the BS. It did me. Guilty!!!!!

Was I taking advantage of him?-I was willing to pay his asking price ($350). I don't see this as taking advantage of someone. There were red flags including the all-to-perfect pictures. I was willing to risk $50 and was willing to drive three hours to pick it up. He took the ad down (per our agreement) when I sent him the deposit. I knew that i had been had when he put the ad back on craigs two days later.

My conscience is clear. While it is embarrassing to admit that I got taken, that's just my ego. I started this thread when I was 95% sure that I had just been spear phished. I thought that I could provide a service to the AK community by putting out the warning. I didn't know that it seemed to be a nationwide scam.

So what do we do fellas? This guy is doing this nation wide and is getting a lot of money from people.

You're publicizing of this is appreciated. I understand you feel embarressed that you fell for this guys BS. Hopefully you saved someone else from being preyed upon.
Don't feel to bad and beat yourself up about it. Live and learn.

I can understand being blinded by a great deal.

the nice thing about BT here, is that scumbags get weeded out REALLY quick.

-Tom