Found a scope on a Facebook but/sell optics group. Very common scope for a very common price. I message the guy that I would like to purchase the scope. He responds with he was helping his neighbor sell the scope. I know the safest transaction is thru PayPal so that's what I suggested be the payment method. He asked would I be comfortable with mailing a postal money order instead of PayPal Bc he did not have a PayPal acct. I did some googling on the safety of a postal money order and in a moment of stupidity said sure. I mail 2 money orders to the neighbors name and address (both of which can be googled and lead back to each other). Send the tracking numbers and he said he will mail the scope as soon as the money is in his account. It arrived in Thursday and he said he tried to cash / deposit the money orders but that there is a standard 2 day hold ( I immediately called my banking lady to which she said was true ) and that as soon as it cleared that he would mail scope and send tracking #. All of that lead up to Friday afternoon about 5 and all was right in the world. For whatever reason I started digging into the guy that was leading this arrangement. His fb profile is ur standard older guys page with very few pics of family and an occasional dog. Then I click on his friends..... there's 19 of them with none of them having his last name and none of them in his state. This is when I started wigging out. I can't find any info on the guy leading this transaction. So I start looking up the guy who is supposedly selling the scope and the name the money orders are made to. I know there are a lot of people with the same name so I looked up the name on fb and the city / state. Bammm.... a younger guy with a Alabama hat on. I message him and ask if he is selling a scope , he says no. So I asked was the address I mailed the money orders to his address and he has yet to respond. This is now sat night, I get a message from the guy leading up the sell and he asked how hard was it to make a PayPal acct since the money order is taking more time than originally thought. I said that I suggested this first but if he could mail back the money orders (not sure how u could get them out of the bank after u supposedly deposit them........and after I made sure they were the real ines I mailed) that I would send payment via PayPal. He said that Monday afternoon, if the funds weren't available, that he would mail the money orders back . I know u can't stop payment on a money order but since someone by the name on the money order had to deposit it into his bank account I should be able to figure out who he is right???? And if I don't get my scope be able to do something right???

This is by far one of my dumbest moves to date and should have stayed with my PayPal only policy on fb transactions. So aldeerians.... what should my next step be besides going to work to make back the $$$ I just pissed away

Contact the post office. That is mail fraud. Do it first thing Monday. Maybe they can do something. There are so many crooks on the internet.

On One end, maybe it will all work out. On the other you might have to eat it and move on unless you want to invest alot of time and energy trying to track this guy down and it still might result in you eating it. Good luck

Well, he or they will have at least committed mail fraud if you don't get your scope. Post Office folks are the ones to start that process with.

Why two money orders for one scope?

$1000 is max amount for a postal money

Can I ask; did you buy this scope on an AL page, from an out of state seller?

Ouch.

and I would spend 3x what I paid for the scope to roast his a$$.... should this end up a scam. And Wisconsin isn't that far if ur mad

Facebook. High end optics trade/sell. I've bought several scopes off there with zero issues. I got complacent and didn't investigate the seller enough. I should have smelled a rat right off the bat but hindsight is always 20/20

Man, that's a lot of money to send like that. I've got no advice other than trying to get your money back if it doesn't work out.

I would give it more than one business day before I got all worked up over it.

So how much $$ you saving (potentially) on this scope by buying used?

Geese, is it that good of a deal to buy in Wisconsin and go through all that? Good advise from Perch, that seems to be mail fraud. Google earth that address and see what it is. You can zoom down to look at the the house. See if it is a residence. It would at least tell you where/what your dealing with. I wonder if Facebook would offer any help?

File with Post Office; expect a resolution, if you get one, to be slow and frustrating.
May also want to call the local Sheriff at shipping address.
Did you google Earth the address?

Flag #1. It doesn't sound/look good, but give it a few more days. Plenty of folks will tell you it's mail fraud, theft by deception, etc. Reality is there's little you can do unless he's down the street and you can go knock on his door...

Hope it works out.

A common price for a common scope that was over $1,000 used? Where is this sumbitch at?

I know that you know this already and it's not helping your situation but that was just retarded as hell.I hope the guy sends your scope and it all works out but there's no way in hell I'd ever send money via PayPal or money order to anyone for anything unless it's a legit business or something like Ebay where sellers have feedback.

drive to Wisconsin and whip his ass to the tune of the amount you lost.

You can bet that is not his address. most likely it's one of his criminal buddies or a mail drop at a vacant house.

Well the guy the money order was made out to responded and it was his address. He got the money orders and cashed them...... and then promptly sent a money gram to K/atherine Orbitie. Said that we were friend and that I was sending her money. Son...... of...... a...... &;&;@/&;&/@@-@/@:&;&;&&:/@@.&:&:

How does a money gram work.... obviously I could still file for mail fraud on ol boy even though he claims he was innocent and thought he was helping out some random chick

Who is Katherine Orbitie and why did he send her money?So there never was a scope at all?

Pig in a poke

100% he's in on it too. Go to the post office tomorrow and file with them, might also call their local police jurisdiction where they are located.

This^^^^^^^

call the sob and tell him you are driving up there to get this straight the old fashioned way.

I had a seller in New York run my wife thru the ringer for all of $50. It took me a week but I got his home phone number/name. I called him and told him he had three days to make it right or I WOULD drive up there and stomp his azz for $50. Wife got an email in three HOURS fixing the problem. Never deal with anyone you cannot drive to and see face to face.

Print every message that you have from anybody/everybody connected to the deal. Take those copies with you when you go to the PO.

Another avenue might be the Alabama Attorney Generals office. I bet they could help or at least tell you what your options are. They have a toll free number. I bought a car in Georgia that involved odometer fraud and they were a great help.

Does the guy still have the Scope listed? That would be a great way to backtrack to the guy.

How does a moneygram work ?? I would assume since this isn't her/his/their first go round this is a fairly safe scheme and would be next to impossible to catch them easily hence...... a scheme

I hate me so much right now........

No. He took it down after I said I would buy it. For some reason ol boy said he doesn't have any of the messages he and Katherine exchanged....

Send him back a message telling him if he doesnt send your money back, first thing tomorrow morning you're going to file a mail fraud charge with the postal service and file a complaint with consumer affairs with the attorney general. Small chance but maybe he'll get it back. If not, file charges with anybody that will listen. The Alabama AG will work with the Wisconsin AG to bust this asswipes scheme.

I'd go ahead and let him know he'll be getting a visit from the police for questioning about it. Tell him some BS about your a former state attorney or some crap and you will be following thru to the full extent.

All this internet posturing and bad assery is going to look foolish when the scope shows up in the mail in a couple days. Hell give the guy a chance to make good on it. But have plan b already decided on.

Uhhh, dude already told him he cashed his money orders and gave the money to some chick!! Which is a lie, he actually just cashed them and him and the guy you actually thought you were buying a scope from split your funds.

They use things like scopes for this scam on purpose - they know there are some really expensive ones out there, they know gun/scope/hunting fanatics like us save up money to make these kind of purchases and we're always looking for a good deal. Plus, scopes are small and all over the country, something that could typically be purchased in the manner it is being purchased here. And they also expect that 98% of the folks, are just going to drop it, accept the fact they were scammed and move along.

hunterturf I told you before You Can't Have Nothing

I believe plan A is already in the garbage can. There is no scope to send and the money is spent. Plan b,c,d, or e is the order of the day now.

boy this is fun....

Post up this guy's fb page so we can see if we know him. He lives in Alabama?

X2, aldeer detectives can ruin his life

He lives in Wisconsin

Did you google earth the neighbors address?
Google his email handle; amazing what you can find, sometimes.

Sadly I'm betting he really doesn't. I'd try not to tip him off popo is on it. Ask if he's got any more to sell and send the popo in on that one.

Where in Wisconsin? I have have a really close friend who lives up there. Let's put it this way. I'm glad he's my friend and not my enemy.

Sick the Postal Service on his ass. They are like Papaw Troy - just sitting around waiting on someone to do something dumb.

This ^^

Post the address and all names involved. You just never know who knows who

Did you send the postal order with any sort of tracking # or signature required?


God Bless,
David B.

Post up everything about it man. Let us have a go at him/her/it. I'll drive to WI if it's on a Friday or Saturday.

Post up all the info you have on the scumbag

I will post everything tomorrow after I talk to 2 of my customers, ones a lawyer and one is a asst d.a. Not that they know the Ins and outs of every nook and cranny of mail fraud but I wanna ask them first. Standy by gentlemens

Hope you get em pal.

update?

Whatever you do make sure and take a fullsize friend with you, I'd hate for them to put you in a letter size envelope with one stamp and mail you back and you be out a truck too.

That was well thought out

And this

did you get this on Craigs list

Well???

Was advised to hold off on making the only real guys name involved public for a little bit. The person who posted the scope is now telling me the owner of the scope was in a horrible motorcycle accident. Will be in the hospital for several days....

Ah yes; the old motorcycle accident scam.
I bet he does not make it....

You should get their name and address of hospital to send flowers.

You should probably send him a money order to help with the hospital expenses, make it out to his neighbor because he is on bed rest.

Was highly considering a small donation for motorcycle repairs

horsechitt!!!!!!

Is his name Joe Piencikowski from Coleman, Wisconsin?

Prayers sent for the owner of scope for a quick recovery.

And you believe this? You need to tell that sob you don't care if his grandmother was on the back of that motorcycle. he's got x number of days to get that scope in the mail or money back or the law is coming his way. People like this will carry on with their bullchit hoping you will go away and if they turn out to be honest you'll get your stuff.

I called the local police dept of the know real person who deposited my money orders, told them the story and I didn't have his last name completely said and she cut me off saying we are familiar with that name. And then promptly told me they can't do chit and call my local pd. So I did. She asked for my name and address and a nutshell of the story. Said a officer would be in touch. 10 minutes later she calls me back mad Bc a officer had gone to residence and I wasn't home. Ma'am....I never said i was home..... yes u did..... no, u asked where I lived. Now she's sho nuff mad. Well where u werx at. I'm self employed.....where at.....hunter turf..... are u there now??? Yes...... where is the business located...... I treat yards and I'm currently in mccallat. Well sir we can't come to Mccalla. Why do you have to come to Mccalla????? For you to fill out the report. I apologize ma'am, I didn't know I had to fill out a physical report Bc u haven't mentioned that not one time during our phone conversation. Sir.....sir.....
I'm sorry but there couldn't have been a less informative person answering the phone for the POLICE DEPARTMENT!!!! Not a bowling alley or fast food restaurant..... the flipping police department!!!! Rant over. Going back to work to recoup lost funds

What Facebook page? Usually you can post about it on there and find someone local to the thief. Most people that want a postal money order do it so that they can cash it when they ship the item.

x2 to what Skullworks said. What's the name of the page ?

Rifle optics buy sale trade

That's why I didn't have any reservations abt sending them to him. The guy was real, the address was real. He may not like it but he is the only person I can point at, so he will receive all heat from here on

As social media would say, make him famous

Isn't bud meadows a Michigan res? Have him make a visit for you.

Was that Bessemer PD? They will have a recording of your conversation if you need it. Best to go by the PD and do the report.

I've got an empty scope box at the house that I'd sell you for $800.00 but you know where I live.

I still can't believe you have not posted up this guy's info. Who advised you to wait?

What's the dollar amount for a felony?

in Wisconsin? $2500.

However with a federal crime the limit is $250 I believe. Mail fraud however is a felony I believe...as well as wire fraud.

WIRE FRAUD:

18 U.S.C. § 1343 provides:

Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If the violation affects a financial institution, such person shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.

Also, by MAIL: Via a Money order mailed:


18 U.S.C. § 1341 provides:

Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, or to sell, dispose of, loan, exchange, alter, give away, distribute, supply, or furnish or procure for unlawful use any counterfeit or spurious coin, obligation, security, or other article, or anything represented to be or intimated or held out to be such counterfeit or spurious article, for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice or attempting so to do, places in any post office or authorized depository for mail matter, any matter or thing whatever to be sent or delivered by the Postal Service, or deposits or causes to be deposited any matter or thing whatever to be sent or delivered by any private or commercial interstate carrier, or takes or receives therefrom, any such matter or thing, or knowingly causes to be delivered by mail or such carrier according to the direction thereon, or at the place at which it is directed to be delivered by the person to whom it is addressed, any such matter or thing, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If the violation occurs in relation to, or involving any benefit authorized, transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection with, a Presidential declared major disaster or emergency (as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)), or affects a financial institution, such person shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both

Call the dang Postal service already. You dont run to the local PD over a Federal crime...I dont care what some dispatcher in some Liberal arse Wisconsin town says!

The Postal Service is like Papaw Troy with an almost unlimited budget. You don't normally think of them as a law enforcement agency but the wing or whatever it's called that does that is very good and has access to resources most others won't have.

Is the seller still on the Facebook page?

No scope was ever involved. The person who posted the scope for sale is a fake person/page. The same person with another fake page talked to the guy that got the money order.

Hopefully you can get your money back. I already know that I'm an A-hole so you don't have to tell me. The old saying goes something like this, "There's a sucker born every minute".

oh yes. Think I can right it off as a charitable donation??

I have a friend of mine who is a postal inspector in Mobile, AL and I work with him a lot involving other issues. Pm me if you want and I will run it by him if you want me to.

I bought a vehicle from Georgia that involved odometer fraud too. How did it work out?

Reporting postal fraud is like trying to find santas cell phone #. Everyone says to call someone else....

Have yet to find where to report Facebook scam

His local pd will do nothing

My local pd took a report and said they'll be in touch.... at some point

Moneygram said I had to have a reference # to look up the transaction.... how the hell am I supposed to know that "Julie" from the call center in the Philippines....

Does he know you're onto him?

Try this with the guy with the bama hat and/or the fake profile, take a couple of pics from the profiles and run them through tineye. You never know what might come up.

I got bama hat mug shots and it's the same dude. Will try the fake profile dude when I get a break in work. Thanks

Fake profile guy has no idea. I'm trying to find someone with authority that can get PayPal to tell them who's on the other end of the PayPal acct he sent me to send money via pay pal and he will send back money orders

Hope you get the pos

Major red flag

Mail him a box full of dog shucks with some sardines in there with it. Use a plastic bagged lined box. Then sign the guy up for ever everything free, free magazines, free stuff after a brief survey, for the free trips to Hawaii.