Transaction Safety

[ConcinusMan]

What can you do to prevent getting totally ripped off

• If a deal looks too good to be true, it usually is.
• If a deal looks illegal it probably is.
• Ask them where THEY got it and then check.
• Ask for a photo of the animal.
• Ask them to fax you a copy of their drivers license.
• Ask them for references in the industry.
• Ask them for local references.
• Look up their name and address on the internet white pages.
• Ask for their phone number
• Ask for references on USENET newsgroups.

Okay so I got ripped off, what do I do now? First determine whether it was just a bad deal or a complete ripoff cause once you start some of this there no turning back....
Make copies of the advertisement on your local hard drive. Try to get a copy of the logfile transcript that shows this users post
Complain to the persons Internet Service Provider that the advertiser is posting fraudulent advertisements and ask the Internet Service Provider to terminate his account for violating it's Terms of Service Agreement
File a complaint at FBI Internet Fraud Complaint Center
File a complaint at ScamBusters
File a complaint on the National Fraud Information Center
File a formal theft complaint with their local law enforcement authorities
File a complaint at the Better Business Bureau
Post a complaint on the pubic USENET forums.
File a formal complaint with the US Postmaster General. (This works best if you sent the person a US Postal Service Money Order). Mail Fraud is a FEDERAL OFFENSE and there are lots of people in PRISON for committing MAIL FRAUD. If you sent your check/money order via US Postal Service to him and he accepted it congrats thats mail fraud.

[infernalis]

Or make it easy on yourself, I only buy snakes from the key breeders who we talk to every day on the forums.

Rarely I get a one off from someone else, however they are usually well known.

Now if I can only get Avon to leave my bank account alone! Never done any business with them, ever. and they keep putting holds on my account, The bank won't do anything until they actually take the money, and Avon has no record of any transactions, yet they keep tagging "holds" on my account. there is 2 of them parked on the account right now.

[ConcinusMan]

Holds? what the heck?

[Spankenstyne]

Steve, sorry to hear this. Glad you ended up getting your money back.

Unfortunately we can be as diligent as we want but sometimes there are just dirtbags out there looking to take advantage of folks. Lots of good suggestions on protecting ourselves have been brought up that can help at least limit one's exposure to those situations.

I've only had a few transactions with members of this forum but they have been great so far. Only one small outstanding "issue" that was a simple mistake on the breeder's part that was understandable & I'm confident will be rectified this season. Overall the folks here are good people.

[infernalis]

Holds? what the heck?

A hold is a Temporary authorization, right now I have $60 I cannot access because it is being "held" for Avon.

Two separate transactions for just under $30 each.

I complained last week, the charge "fell off" (was released back to me) and the next day it returned, Today I made a withdrawal and noticed the balance was off, I went inside the bank and they pulled up my report, and now Avon appears twice.

They refuse to pursue it as fraud, since the funds never leave the bank. If I bounce a transaction because of this, I'm going to be livid.

Top that off, My daughter used our cell phone over the weekend, she sent/recieved 1,372 (you read that right) international text messages at a rate of 30 cents each!!! that's right, over $400 in one liner text messages.

[PINJOHN]

A hold is a Temporary authorization, right now I have $60 I cannot access because it is being "held" for Avon.

.

Top that off, My daughter used our cell phone over the weekend, she sent/recieved 1,372 (you read that right) international text messages at a rate of 30 cents each!!! that's right, over $400 in one liner text messages.

i hope you remember that murder is illegal, even if it is your own kids
i almost felt a rhyme coming on but then i thought no too cruel.

[Stefan-A]

What can you do to prevent getting totally ripped off

• If a deal looks too good to be true, it usually is.
• If a deal looks illegal it probably is.
• Ask them where THEY got it and then check.
• Ask for a photo of the animal.
• Ask them to fax you a copy of their drivers license.
• Ask them for references in the industry.
• Ask them for local references.
• Look up their name and address on the internet white pages.
• Ask for their phone number
• Ask for references on USENET newsgroups.

Don't forget to pay the Fauna Classifieds BOI a visit.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Steve, sorry this happened to you.Thanks for warning the rest of us to be more cautious. It always seems like bad things happen to good people, Im so glad in the end you were rewarded your money back.

[infernalis]

Don't forget to pay the Fauna Classifieds BOI a visit.

Superb point..

and also, if you can spare a little time, make some "good guy" posts about the folks who make you happy.

[Spankenstyne]

Don't forget to pay the Fauna Classifieds BOI a visit.

Absolutely. That way you can help someone else possibly avoid getting ripped off by whoever this was.