How can a website stay up if it's constantly scamming people?

[StageLeft]

There is a hobby website that on various forums for the hobby is known to screw people, over and over, and yet unless a person was in the know, they may order (like me) and then realize they're out $40 from a kid who never intended to ship the stuff. I cannot file a police report remotely and their paypal account seems somewhat locked down, but the site is still up and presumably taking orders--and it's been screwing people for months now. What can be done?

 

[BoomerD]

Skoorb, I don't have an answer to your question, yet Ebay continues to be in business.

 

[Crusty]

You need to contact the abuse department of the company hosting the server. What's the domain?

 

[rudder]

dispute the charges?

 

[Barfo]

link?

 

[oogabooga]

which site is this?

 

[Q]

Originally posted by: oogabooga
which site is this?

I am curious as well

 

[Newbian]

So what kind of hobby you getting into now?

 

[DaveSimmons]

CA State Attorney General's office would work for filing a report.

 

[zinfamous]

OP, were you screwed out of your man-sized bunny costume?

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
OP, were you screwed out of your man-sized bunny costume?

No, he's getting screwed in his man-sized bunny costume.


*snorgle*


<rimshot>

 

[mugs]

It's not Hobbytron, is it? I got a free Chinese knock-off of a mini RC helicopter off them, because they falsely advertised it as a genuine Silverlit Picco Z. Filed a dispute with my CC after they refused to let me return it.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Newbian
So what kind of hobby you getting into now?

Radio control planes/helicopters.

I'd rather not share the site until I know 100% it's a big scam screw around. Somebody has contacted the distributor (which drop ships for this retailer) and the distributor has taken an interest, so I'm still waiting to see what happens. The distributor said if three more people have problems like I had they'll cut the retailer off.

It isn't hobbytron.

I buy a good bit of stuff from china and although I've never had problems, I know it's just a risk with international buyers, but something really irks me with somebody in the US so close and under the same legal system screwing people.

Anyway, the seller is claiming to not have proper admin access to his site. Given who he told, who then told me, I have believe it. In any case, scam or incompetence (and he does have a history of scamming), the end result is I still am waiting for my part!

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: zinfamous
OP, were you screwed out of your man-sized bunny costume?

No, he's getting screwed in his man-sized bunny costume.


*snorgle*


<rimshot>

Haha, I laughed quite heartily at this.

KT

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: zinfamous
OP, were you screwed out of your man-sized bunny costume?

No, he's getting screwed in his man-sized bunny costume.


*snorgle*


<rimshot>

to be sure, but I would think there would no complaint if that was going on, no?

 

[StageLeft]

I don't actually see anything at the AG ofice in CA specifically for this kind of thing, but can file a complaint with the federal trade commission. Any advice? There is a thread about this site on an RC forum and I plan on updating it as well. The site has now been cut off by its dealer but is still, presumably, taking orders, as it's still up.

 

[Q]

If its been cut off, then that means you can tell us!

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Quintox
If its been cut off, then that means you can tell us!

chaosrc.com is the site I'm having an issue with. Took my money and have heard nothing since, a story echoed by others on RC forums.

BTW, should I go to the FTC or to Link?

Well, you gotta love people with an internet connection and too much time on their hands (like me). Link Here's an entire thread dedicated just to people who want to see this guy taken down a peg for a storied history of screwing people over.

 

[oogabooga]

Someone from your link suggested contacting the postmaster general, I dunno if it's in their area (I guess mail fraud?). You could try the IC3.gov website, that's a link that's come up a couple times.

I was going to recommend also adding a neg review on resellerratings but they don't seem to be listed on there.

Best of luck Skoorb.

 

[SandEagle]

Originally posted by: oogabooga
which site is this?

http://www.ebay.com

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: oogabooga
Someone from your link suggested contacting the postmaster general, I dunno if it's in their area (I guess mail fraud?). You could try the IC3.gov website, that's a link that's come up a couple times.

I was going to recommend also adding a neg review on resellerratings but they don't seem to be listed on there.

Best of luck Skoorb.

I was lucky, I think, because I actually fed this paypal payment with my credit card. After I win and his bank account has no money for the claim, I'll just dispute with them. I will get my money, but it sits wrong with me that he's been doing this for a LONG time and still screws people. A rumor is he was arrested when he was 14, but it's not well substantiated. In any case, clearly he's not learned his lesson. Like I said, if you sell me something from Hungary and screw me, I tolerate that risk, but local in the US just seems stupid to me, it should be really easy to get caught doing that kind of thing.