[Lateralus]

MacNN's Markerplace forum isn't as large as the trading areas of other messages boards, such as ArsTechnica and Anandtech, so we don't have near the same number of scam attempts being made. However, they do still happen. And either it's just me or they seem to be happening more often lately.

So as a way of providing our good traders some protection, I'm creating this thread as a source for information on scammers who are known to be members of this board.

If you've been victim of a raw deal, feel free to post details here.

[sledsbehave]

steven landon from Michigan, he may give various cities in michigan as his address.

i set up a trade with him, he agreed to send first since he is new to this forum. he sent me a bogus tracking number today and demanded i send my end with a tracking number today or he will cancel his shipment and tell everyone here i scammed him.

after this phone conversation, i did some checking on steven landon from Michigan and it would seem there is a steven landon from Michigan that scammed somewhere near 32 people at applefritter.com see below links

http://www.applefritter.com/node/4283

http://www.applefritter.com/node/4452

he is a professional at ripping people off, and then coming up with complicated stories to cover. and very convincing.

i had debated whether to bring this up, but considering he is offering the same pismo powerbook here now that he supposedly sent to me today... it seems obvious he won't quit.

the great people at applefritter.com also found this...

http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis...cNumber=307030

this is the first time i've felt the need to do anything like this, and i've done many dealings on this message board, some very recent.

i'm just glad i didn't send as he requested

if you need anymore info on this guy, feel free to PM me.

[techound1]

Thanks for adding this thread!

[doucy2]

Don't do business with either of these two guys that are on AIM their S/N are vxfilmer04 & lowcostmacs

[SSharon]

Would it be effective to make a list of safe traders here. For example after a transaction both people PM Lat. or Scott and after x number of transactions they are added to the safe list.

This would be useful for some of the members here with low post counts but that are trustworthy and have actually been here a long time.

I always tell people here that they can use me as a reference, but so far no one has ever contacted me. The small PM box also means that I can't even remember some of the people here that I have done business with so it would be nice if there was a more public way of keeping track of things (rather than a text edit document on my desktop).

[discotronic]

Here is another one.

His screen name here is omar96 and his real name is Ben Funk. Here is the thread:

http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.php?t=250897

There where a few of us that had a hard time getting our stuff from this guy. He goes by the name derfunkenstein on the TechReport.com forums.

He never did contact me. PayPal had to initiate the refund.

[rambo47]

A couple of resources for anyone making a deal on any forum:

http://www.pcabusers.net/forums/show...?threadid=5254

http://www.trollhunters.com/

A little homework can save you major headaches!

[Bryanmc]

Don't buy from georgev.

Looks like I just got took. Will PayPal refund the money if I make a complaint or am I screwed?

[neilK]

georgev = george vanier, using george.vanier at gmail dot com. encountered him through another site selling used macs. claims to be in montreal.

initially asked me to paypal the money, then agreed to a canada post COD shipment. have not heard from him since, despite many emails. last saturday learned of brianmc's situation from a link at the other website - unfortunately outside of the gmail address i have no further information to add.

today (apr 11) learned that at the same time he was closing the sale with me, he was also closing the sale with a co-worker in the very same building! watch out for this one.

[theokandroid]

How can we protect ourselves via a trade? Is their some company that would take both our items and then only send them out if they're the right items, i really dont want to get screwed out of my only computer.

[gromit95]

Back on 03/10/06 I purchased this canon lens kit from deermatt. I got most of the stuff except for the lense bag. I emailed him numorus times. he respoded once saying he would ship it, that was the over 4 weeks ago. nothing since.
Buyer beware.
Fred

" Canon 70-200 f4L . it has seem very light use, the gllass is mint. no nicks or scratches on the body, could be confused with brand new. comes with front and rear caps, gray carrying bag, lens hood, and box. Price: $510.00 shipped"

[uicandrew]

Originally Posted by theokandroid

How can we protect ourselves via a trade? Is their some company that would take both our items and then only send them out if they're the right items, i really dont want to get screwed out of my only computer.

what Macbookprojoe and I are doing is that since we both have established macnn and ebay references on ebay, we agreed to ship them on the same day using the same shipping method

for ebay references, you can go to ebay, click on community, put in the ebay id, and send the person a message, just to verify that the forum member really is the owner of the ebay id.

i think this is a good way.

If the other guy doesn't have an ebay reference, then the person with the least number of marketplace forum references would send the item first.

[©öñFü$íóÑ]

ugh.... trading online looks to be a headache to begin with and, imho, better to avoid altogether unless both parties are local or at least referred to by someone else they really really trust.

i don't know if anyone here knows of craigslist.org, but i was able to find stuff for my mac when i was on a serious upgrading spree a few years ago. I'm sure you can find some trustworthy people there for trading purposes. For me, the default location is in San Francisco Bay Area, but this link takes you to a listing of craigslist classifieds in such available cities.

[Orlyplox]

Don't buy from georgev.

Looks like I just got took. Will PayPal refund the money if I make a complaint or am I screwed?

Hi As far as I know Paypal will arrange a refund if you have not received the service promised, I have cancelled a few legitimate transactions without any fuss. so good luck.

Would it also be an idea for this forum to have a dedicated catagory for scams and a scammers black list...anyone in favour ?

[sledsbehave]

Originally Posted by Phil Carvey

Don't buy from georgev.

Looks like I just got took. Will PayPal refund the money if I make a complaint or am I screwed?

Hi As far as I know Paypal will arrange a refund if you have not received the service promised, I have cancelled a few legitimate transactions without any fuss. so good luck.

Would it also be an idea for this forum to have a dedicated catagory for scams and a scammers black list...anyone in favour ?

that's what this thread is, i think, right?

that guy was in this thread already, twice by two different users. this thread doesn't really work unless you check here before dealing with someone here.

[Gamoe]

I suggest putting an actual list of (screen)names of bad and possibly good traders in the first post, so users don't have to read the entire thread to get those, although admittedly the thread is rather small and readable now, it may not be so later on, and it would still be easier to read as I suggest.

[hickey]

THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR JSTEIN-EXTREMELY PLEASANT TO WORK WITH

Username: Jstein
Item bought: 512 stick of Kingston RAM
Comments: Very easy to work with, kept in contact constantly, gave me his personal information in case something went wrong. Item was exactly as described. Great price on product, he paid shipping, and it got here in 2 days! I couldn't have had a better transaction.


I highly recommend jstein.

[b1NARY73]

Originally Posted by hickey

THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR JSTEIN-EXTREMELY PLEASANT TO WORK WITH

Username: Jstein
Item bought: 512 stick of Kingston RAM
Comments: Very easy to work with, kept in contact constantly, gave me his personal information in case something went wrong. Item was exactly as described. Great price on product, he paid shipping, and it got here in 2 days! I couldn't have had a better transaction.


I highly recommend jstein.

Why do you post a highly recommended buyer in a thread titled " traders to watch out for "..just a question.

[macintologist]

Originally Posted by b1NARY73

Why do you post a highly recommended buyer in a thread titled " traders to watch out for "..just a question.

I'll be watching out for the good traders so I know who to deal with

[hickey]

well i also posted it in the good traders thread, but that is not a sticky, so its around page 3 now.

I just wanted everyone to be able to see jstein was good.

[deerock]

This guy Charles Rivera - he's still using the same "family's sick and/or dying" thing which at first I had compassion for - then I found that when I looked up his name - he's been using the same excuse for everybody...and not coming through with orders, canceling them, flaking out, etc.

Be very careful of this one folks -> MASTERSONICS - Charles Rivera

Derek Sample

[houstonmacbro]

what about buying online? i see a nice machine and nice price, but i have only ever bought through eBay, which tends to have some protections built-in.

i am very leery about buying where i have no 'middle-man'.

thoughts?