Wowsers, how lame!
Keep up the investigation for sure.
Don't forget the normal cheque scams, and that they can bounce even after they've cleared. Make sure it all looks good, and keep a photo/scan for evidence.
I'd've insisted upon return of funds via BT - the same way they were sent.
Denis, i wouldnt accept a cheque from this guy after all of this - Can you not just go meet him and get the cash?
Arrange to meet with the police at the same time. Then you really can sit back & relax...
A meeting isn't going to work, obviously.
Maybe reply to him and state that you'll expect the cheque within 5 days and that will be the end of the matter.
Scumbag was sitting on the cash hoping you would just go away, what an ass. Poo on his doorstep.
Scumbag was sitting on the cash hoping you would just go away
Yup and its still theft. Would press the Police to follow this up, even after you have your money.
Yep, you should chase him on this.
I've told the police about the cheque in the post, but am still going ahead with the police action(s).
Didn't have much of a choice about the payment method - he surprised me really - just sent me an email as a statement of what he was prepared to do.
In the end I'll accept the cheque and hope it doesn't bounce or have any other complications.
Sounds sad, but I'll be glad to have my money back - its just a relief to (hopefully) get the money back and .......relax.
I'll keep the bottle of Newcastle Brown in the fridge for the moment 🙂
Call me cynical, but I find it pretty suspicious that he's sending you a cheque to settle things, rather than the lens you paid for.
I also got scammed by a seller on here for £80, a well known seller as there's probably the largest ever thread about it all.
Anyways, I was promised that the money would be returned by cheque on a regular basis. The post office really appeared to be very careless with all the post he was "sending".
So, press ahead, ask your bank how long it takes for a cheque to clear completely and for the funds to not be recalled / bounced (from memory it's actually quite a long time, something into the months). Until this period is up, keep on with the police investigation, and keep records of all calls / emails, including the times and dates etc and pass them on to the cops on a regular basis.
My bet is that the following will unfold:
- the post office have lost the cheque;
- this chap not prepared to send another before the post office investigation time is up (about 28 days or something)
- nothing will ever be sent so it can be tracked
- the cheque never existed in the first place
I'll just be glad that the saga is (hopefully) over.
Once this is over, I'll be posting on most of the UK camera forums to warn others. I have been looking to see if he has been trying to sell the same lens on different forums - but haven't seen it yet.
A friend of mine has emailed him to enquire if the lens is still for sale etc - he hasn't replied to date.
If he's got the money then what's wrong with a bank transfer your way again? When it's in your account, it's in for good then, non?
If the cheque is suspect, then the police will prosecute.
I contacted the bank - I can pay a fee to ensure that the funds are available in his account to cover the £975 , about £15 I think.
Its not over yet, but the police detail has spurred him into action - so it must be worrying him ?
Cheque clearing has changed, after 6 days or so it can't be taken off you. Allegedly.
[url= http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2007/167-07 ]OFT info here[/url]
thanks for the link
it's spurred him into action, but don't call them off until it's fully resolved and the cash is safely and fully returned to you.
Then leave the police on him anyway for clearly being a tool.
Keep all communication and IF the cheque arrives and it is NOT in his name inform him that you are handing the cheque, envelope and communication to the officer investigating. It could mean he has hold of a stolen chq book. If it has been stolen the chq would bounce due to the owner cancelling the book.
Keep at it. There is not a chance in hell that I'd pay someone almost a grand to 'make them go away' if I'd never received the payment. Not a chance- or anyone else who is sane. Hes using the 'harrasement' to hope you feel bad and 'believe him'.
Then leave the police on him anyway for clearly being a tool
Totally agree. He'll have form on this and even if he isn't already known to the Police, this transaction will hopefully start his record proper.
I still think hes a teenager living at home, riding his bmx and laughing at 'mugs'. He wouldn't be the first (Ebay had one of these).
Heres a few within seconds of googling:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4615117.stm
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/4694074.Haslingden_teenager_admits___96_000_eBay_scam/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3734462.stm
ummm... takes Newcastle Brown out of fridge for the moment, looking good on the dining room table.
I do hope I can open it soon....
Hmm, so he's prepared to refund you the money. Here's a thought, why not send the lens instead?
He's talking pish if you ask me.
Oh and treat yourself to a nice ale, Innes & Gunn for example.
so it sounds like he's had your money all along, there's a shock! Lets hope the scrote gets a record for his little scam.
I wonder how many others have been done like this.
TBH it's utterly amazing more of this doesn't go on. Fairly decent chunks of money change hands every day on this forum. It's astonishing that there aren't more people taking the mickey. That said, I've had a couple and that's my fill.
It sounds to me like he used it as a holiday loan until pay day, on the assumption most people got paid on Friday / Tuesday.
Cheque has arrived by recorded delivery this morning.
Photo taken of the cheque and will take to my bank tomorrow morning.
~~
Bottle of Newcastle Brown moves back into fridge in readiness.....
~~
If its genuine, then I suppose it won't be until Wednesday - Friday next week until it clears.
[i]Cheque has arrived by recorded delivery this morning.[/i]
Great news. Fingers crossed it clears.
TBH I was expecting it to be more like pk-ripper described..."the post office have lost the cheque; this chap not prepared to send another before the post office investigation time is up...etc"
Good luck - hope you get your cash back - but I also hope this doesn't mean the scumbag will get away with it.
Isn't it odd that he decided to send you money instead of the lens? If he is genuine he now has the problem of selling the lens again.
I think it's safe to say he's not genuine.
So, did the cheque clear then, or can we fetch our pitchforks again?
As a seller, if I hadn't received the payment from you, there's no way I would send the lens, or send a cheque for what you have alleged to have paid me. I would have no problem with a police investigation either.
A definite rogue!
I'm sure you already know this, but if asked, [u]don't[/u][b] give him your bank details!
Errrr! Spongebob what are you on about?
I'm sure you already know this, but if asked, don't[b] give him your bank details!
But you'd send a cheque?
What a cheque with all your bank details printed on the bottom AND a specimen of your signature?
Cheque hasn't bounced yet - according to the bank it will have "officially" cleared this coming Monday.
Police are still informed and if the cheque bounces then they will interview him with all the evidence to date.
Emails, records of texts, one (only one) telephone call in all of this.
Looks positive that the cheque will clear at the moment.
Quickly read your thread..
On occasions, I've got wound up over not receiving communication for a couple of days(never mind weeks) for an item with a value that is a fraction of yours.
Kudos for your relative calmness and the way you've dealt with it.
I'd be considering legal action against whoever is to blame (where there's blame there's a claim ;)) over the stress this has caused you 😀
Liam
There have been a few times during this episode that I haven't been quite so calm.
At one stage I had to believe that I had simply had my money stolen, as it was taking over my life.
The intervention of the police, and telling the other person about the police changed the situation.
I just hope the cheque clears on Monday officially.
Once I've got my money back, I'll discuss the options with the police. Needless to say the "seller" will be banned on the forum where he "sold" the lens. I'll probably put a post on the other forums warning them also.
I'm keeping an eye out on Ebay and the other popular photography forums for him.
A few of my camera friends have also emailed him etc enquiring about the sale of the lens - he hasn't replied to them....
Contacted the bank this morning .......
The cheque HAS CLEARED!!!
Thanks to all for your support - it has helped to have some opinions and dialogue, at times I felt I had lost the money for good.
Will be contacting the police tonight to see what I can do about this.
Looks like the closure of a long running thread.
hopefully, although it does sound like it was attempted theft at best so the police may still decide to interview the other guy...
Just read all this... congratulations Dennis.
Nice one!!
Why not treat yourself to a new lens..........?
Oh. 😉
And maybe get a new bank account number for safety reasons.
Excellent news. Now if you want to continue your run of luck, you might be able to help me. I have recently found that my family has in excess of 15 million € which we need to transfer to a UK account. As a trusted friend, you have been chosen to assist in this transaction, for a % of the 15 million €, of course. All you need to do is confirm your bank details and forward me a cheque for 975 UK pounds and we will forward.......... 😉
And maybe get a new bank account number for safety reasons.
😯
I raised a complaint against the bank (mine) as it was one of the only ways of finding out where the £975 was.
By coincidence I got a phone call this afternoon from them...
They have investigated the issue, and found that the money was successfully transferred to the "sellers" account on 31st July.
The money was always there, and he was simply trying to steal my money - thats a fact that the bank can confirm.
I'll be ringing the police tonight - attempted theft.
~~
Nice one Don, looks like a good deal, might sleep on it.....
🙂
It [i]was[/i] theft, not attempted. The fact your action make him crumble shouldn't detract from his original intention.
Good result, though.
Wow! What a scummer.
Excellent news
....and I can sharpen my pitch fork too!
Flaming torch anyone?