Never too smart or too old to get scammed...

Discussion in 'Marketplace Discussions' started by sberger, Nov 19, 2021.

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  1. sberger

    sberger Dream Baby Dream Thread Starter

    I'm writing this because of my own frustration with myself for not knowing better, and hopefully to let others know if they didn't.

    I'm in need of a tonearm for a turntable I have, and after a few weeks somebody from another forum got in touch that somebody he knew had one and provided that email(hint no.1). I did, and the person responded with pictures. I agreed on the price and asked what his Paypal address was. He said he didn't take Paypal and could use Google Pay(hint no. 2). I never used Google Pay before and set up an account, and transferred the money to him, all the time communicating with him and he doing the same. Money took a few days to get processed, and when it was completed he confirmed. I asked him when he would ship? Nothing. Waited a day. Asked him again. Nothing. Now I'm not feeling so good. Looked at the profile for the person that had given me the tip on the other forum. His only 2 posts were the messages sent to me(bingo...I feel dumb). Went to dispute with Google and that's when I learned that there is essentially no dispute process. You're not supposed to buy goods with Google Pay. Or at least that's what it looks like to me. If I'm wrong please let me know.

    So that's the story. Of course I've learned my lesson. Not the end of the world to be sure, but boy do I feel stupid today.

    Hopefully me being a bonehead will help somebody down the road.

    Or give the rest of you a good chuckle for a Friday.
     
  2. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Ouch, sorry to hear Sam. You totally missed the [​IMG]this time.
     
  3. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    Sorry to hear that and hopefully tomorrow it will pass and relieve you in a way. Stay positive and forget about that poison.
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2021
  4. sberger

    sberger Dream Baby Dream Thread Starter

    Thanks. School never ends.
     
  5. johnnypaddock

    johnnypaddock Senior Member

    Location:
    Merrimack Valley
    Man, this sucks. I'm pissed off just thinking about it.
     
    sberger likes this.
  6. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    You know back in the early 80's during the recycler days, I use to buy from people even out of town so many things even a stereo, car parts. I don't even know the guy but I send them a check up to $500. I never encountered any problems. In fact Americans in the early days I met were very honorable and straight up. They will tell you right off if they don't like something. I'd pick that guy anytime of the day rather than meeting a nice guy that's holding something very dull to poke harder. When the general public trading went on-line, that's when I started hearing crooked people left and right.
    Today and not even too long ago, I witnessed a woman on a gas station using a stolen credit card and caught in 2 minutes by the police. And she was crying she is a mother of 3??? There are more evil people today and they don't even realize it. People are learning "easy-money" ways and it becomes a routine. Its just unreal...
     
    sberger and Motorcity supernaut like this.
  7. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Did that person "ghost" you as well? Do you think that they were a part of this scam? I would call that person out on the forum where they contacted you directly - so as to warm others about this person who only appears involved.
     
  8. sberger

    sberger Dream Baby Dream Thread Starter

    So here's the rest of the story.

    The person finally got back to me last Friday, indicating that there had been a death in the family which is why they couldn't get back to me. They said they would send the item out that night. When I responded later in the day and asked if they had sent it out, they said yes. When I asked for tracking info or method used, no reply. Nothing over the weekend. When I went to contact them on Monday, the email was no longer in use thus no way to reach them.

    I had been contacted on the Vinyl Engine through private mail by a supposedly different person who indicated that he knew somebody with what I was looking for and provided an email address. On Monday when I went to contact that person, I noticed that the only 2 posts they had made on VE were the messages to me. So he's not a member of that forum, or if he is he goes by another name. In any case I'm usually pretty careful about who I respond to when I get PM's, but this time I wasn't because the item is kind of rare and obscure and jumped. Stupid.

    So that's it. I'm filed a dispute with my bank and we'll see if they are able to do anything. But I've already moved on, a tiny bit poorer and a little bit smarter.
     
    quicksrt likes this.
  9. Myke

    Myke Trying Not To Spook The Horse

    Having been scammed right here in our own Classifieds subforum a few months back, I've stopped buying online from anybody outside actual trusted merchants like AS, Amazon, etc.
    Sorry you got bent over Sam.
     
  10. sberger

    sberger Dream Baby Dream Thread Starter

    I still will buy from folks that I know and regulars to the forum. Never been scammed by anybody like that. It was this one time where I let me eagerness overcome my sense.
     
  11. kwadguy

    kwadguy Senior Member

    Location:
    Cambridge, MA
    It happens to all of us, eventually, if you buy enough online. No matter how careful you are, there's always someone waiting until you let your guard down for an instant. I've never used Google Pay to pay someone, and after looking at this, I never will. (Friends and family only).

    Did you try this:

    Sign in - Google Accounts

    I doubt that will bring any satisfaction, but it can't hurt to at least ding the other person's account.

    This article seems to sum it up:

    Google Pay scammer dupes Utah family into paying $1,400 for a puppy
     
  12. sberger

    sberger Dream Baby Dream Thread Starter

    Thanks.

    The other party's account is history. And Google does not allow use of Google Pay to purchase or sell goods/services. It's not permitted under their terms of service.

    I've filed a dispute with my bank, so we'll see if they do anything.
     
  13. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Then they should void the purchase, claw back the money from the scammer and give it to you, and then ding the scammer for pulling a con without following terms of service. I know that's a stretch but it kind of makes sense. These money payment systems love to ding us innocent folks for fees, but when it is time for them to stand up for us and help out, it's all your fault.

    Anyway, the frightening part is that the original contact person was likely the same person or persons working and lying in wait for someone looking to purchase an item.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2021
  14. sberger

    sberger Dream Baby Dream Thread Starter

    They can't because technically the transaction was against the terms of service. And the scammer is gone. When I attempted to contact him through text on GPay, the message failed to send, meaning the link has been disconnected. Same with the email address I had for him. This person knows what they're doing and how to get the money and erase their tracks. Just not worth spending anymore energy other then waiting for my bank to make a decision.
     
    quicksrt likes this.
  15. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Did they take your money and just disappear?

    Did they scam others at the same time?

    Did they have a reputable feedback rating here?

    How much was the loss if you don't mind saying?
     
  16. sberger

    sberger Dream Baby Dream Thread Starter

    1.) Yes
    2.) Feedback where? On GPay? Don't know. Wasn't on any forum that I know of.
    3.) $330
     
  17. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Thank you, I was asking (in my post you replied to) Myke about his loss on this forum. But it's still worth knowing everything I can about any scam. The more we all know the better protected we are from a repeat.
     
  18. sberger

    sberger Dream Baby Dream Thread Starter

    Ah sorry.

    Yes I’d kinda like to know that as well.
     
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