If he is a scammer it's highly likely the address is fake or real but not related to him. I have had many scammer attempts on me, the usual African types and they are easy to spot but situations like yours are quite different. I feel it's easy to be too trusting sometimes. It's happened to me way back in the past and I am much more wary now. Good luck.
Well, I received a letter from Barclays on Saturday along with a copy of a letter from Lincolnshire Police to get in contact.... Turns out, Lincolnshire Police have arrested a chap who has now admitted to 60 similar cases, one of which was for a Ducati engine for the sum of £500! - The link with the payment accounts, led it back to me. He had gambling debts and used the scam to pay these off, he scammed thousands apparently.... He is currently on remand without bail and going to court to be charged this Thursday in Lincoln. The bad news is that all assets have all but disappeared, and its unlikely I will get anything back, BUT as I have had to write off the loss already and I am just pleased that someone has been stopped doing this. His 'MO' is to scan wanted forums and reply offering what buyers want, all sounds legit and its only when the part does not materialise, the scam reveals itself. What's more annoying is that he lives less than 30 miles from me, so following the court case on Thursday, his details get released and I may happen upon his place to discuss what happened to my money.......scumbag
So i guess the thread will now be bombarded with posts from those expressing what a good job the bank and the police have done investigating this and not only catching the culprit but also identifying the victims for closure even if getting back the proceeds are out of their hands...... perhaps not then....
The truth of the matter is much, much more likely to be that a victim, or some other member of the public, solved the whole mess, without even the loan of a panda car and all the police actually did was send out a letter to Barclays
well lets ask the OP.... "Well, I received a letter from Barclays on Saturday along with a copy of a letter from Lincolnshire Police to get in contact.... Turns out, Lincolnshire Police have arrested a chap who has now admitted to 60 similar cases, one of which was for a Ducati engine for the sum of £500! - The link with the payment accounts, led it back to me." So now say well done Barclays and Lincolnshire Police......oh no that would be too difficult!
Either way it's a nice result. I bet it was weeks of work behind the scenes from the Bank and Police to track everyone down through accounts. If he has no assets I guess there's not much you can do. Let's hope the court give him a decent sentence, although somehow I doubt it.....
Oh! I see, so the police have written a letter to those well known crimebusters, Barclays Bank, saying 'Please can you come and explain in little words how you've traced the proceeds of crime to the bad man and we'll have to judge whether you've left us with no alternative but to begrudgingly leave the police station and arrest him now you've presented us with too much evidence to ignore. Can you also write to srad34 and the other people to let them know, please - we can't as we don't have a clue where all the victims are cos we know nothing about any of this except what you've told us. Thanks Barclays'. Typical constabulary action in trying to take credit for inaction - shelter in the glory of Barclays (who have clearly been forced to take action by their ripped off customers and those of other banks) - so credit where its due - nowhere.
To be fair - it's clear that the police have taken some action. The truth probably lies somewhere between the two extremes quoted on this forum. srda, I'm pleased that someone has been arrested for this - hopefully they will be receieve a suitable sentance. Many years ago (early 80's) I had a bike stolen in Derby - it was found, wrecked, a few days later. The police had very little to go on - but a couple of months later they arreseted someone for riding off without paying at a petrol station, and one of the (many) other crimes he admitted to was nicking my bike. He was "done" for a variety of crimes, my bike being quite a long way down the list - but, two years later, I got a cheque through the post as a compensation payment. Hopefully the thieving scumbag is now rotting in a ditch somewhere; but you never know, you may get some of your money back - eventually...
I may be wrong but I think there is a compensation fund to reimburse victims of crime. I've no idea how to find out about it though, but if it does exist then the fact that there is a suspect and a court case may mean that you are entitled to something, assuming of course that there is such a fund.
pleased to hear it pal, sounds a similar scam this so called "mate" of mine was running too, i was taken for quite a bit more sadly. I do believe in Karma and every dog has his day . . .
Glad you can get a little 'closure' from this Matt. Well done to the Police and Barclays for both doing what they are supposed to do, but as always its the victims that are left picking up the pieces. Matey will get full room and board for a bit, then will be let out and without any decent rehab, will go right back to where he started. Oh well. Matt, again, I would like to apologise at the way the 'The Forum' 'helped' you with this. Frankly, we weren't good enough. Hopefully you know where I stand on things. For what that's worth.
Hope u get at least some of this money back mate; it's funny though how strangely we just think that members on here are all 100% honest, which in 95% cases is true. The bit we forget is that anyone can sign up in 10 Mins, post a few made up intros and away they go.
I posted a thread a while ago suggesting that new members shouldn't be able to post in the classifieds section. However, I understand this wouldn't have prevented this fraud. Personally, I would be happy to spend a little time checking out a local (to me) purchase for buyers living at other ends of the country to prevent this happening in the future. If we get a good number of people doing this, we should be able to cover most of the country and ensure that people don't get ripped off by lowlifes like this guy.
I'd be happy to do this as well. Either South Devon / East Cornwall or Barrow / South Cumbria. Not saying I'm an expert on bikes but I'd be able to at give something a cursory look, and check it existed for example. Would a seperate thread just so people could offer their help and mention the areas they are in be worthwhile?
There is always a link somewhere back to a criminal, its trying to persuade the Old Bill to follow it up, unless its handed to them on a plate they cherry pick which cases to tackle, I was told just the other day by our local Nick, that the incident I was reporting happened over 20mins a go, and there was no point sending a car out, so I said based on your analogy its ok for me to commit crime as long as its reported after 20 minutes..........no reply Glad your getting somewhere, lets hope the F*****r isn't skint as the court will allow him to pay £5 a week, don't even get me started on the court system,
Call again, ask, 'just to clarify' that they are regulated by the Financial Services Authority - correct? When they say yes, ask them if they are obliged under the FSA's Money Laundering and Fraud guidelines to report ANY suspicious activity - when then say yes; push them, asking what they intend to do then with the details that you have provided as you believe that you have been a victim of this fraudulent activity. Ask them about their obligations and also their formal complaints procedure...
Doh! must remember to read the last page before posting! Glad you got it sorted, in some way at least
