In wretched jam with gun purchase, could use your input.

[RTE]

And thank for reading an helping out.
Scumbag criminals in this world. How do they live with themselves.

They probably make a better living than we do.

Expensive lesson for sure. (call it schooling)
Probably no way to get your money back.
FWIW
Should cut off their heads so it wont happen again to someone else.


Lots of western union car scams under $5000 (usually $4500) because its under the dollar amount to prosecute.

[emtmark]

I have the name, exact address and phone number in Anaheim. The man that received the money.

Let's go. Best dinner you ever had on me. We both have guns but they remain hidden unless........

He's even on facebook with his picture and family. Easy ID.

Damit I want to put one hand on his shirt and a .45 on his foot.

What is it??

[Merc1138]

The picture and address likely mean nothing. The fact that you're apparently dealing with an entity that used a shipping service based out of London England should be a sign that nothing you were told by this guy is legit.

If you do go to the address you somehow have, who knows what situation you'll walk into, if the address is even real.

This is pretty much the same MO as half the frauds on the internet. Consider it a very expensive lesson learned, maybe hand the info you have over to the cops, see if your insurance might be able to help, and if none of that works, move on with your life.

[rickey65]

'well.....what would you guys do at this point?
You have an address, a name and phone number. You're in the hole for 1,900 and the man that picked up the Western Union Money in Anaheim (I checked), is most likely at that address.
What would you do?
Learned the lesson but geez, ya have to scout that address don't you? Tough to rollover on 2k.

[Moemoe1]

Odds of the address and picture being fake are extremely high.

[lovnik]

ARMSLIST + Western Union + Overseas (although undisclosed in this instance) = DANGER! SCAM! AVOID!

I am sorry this happened to you, Rickey, that is a huge investment loss; certainly would be for me, at least. If this deposit did land in Anaheim, hell, maybe the crook can be tracked down?

[PolishMike]

So..

Hard to get rifle for half of retail price
Armslist
UK address
Western Union


....

I don't think you are going to see your money or rifle any time soon, sorry.

[rickey65]

What is it??

Ribeye and lobster tail work?
I keep the peace, have a conversation, you do nothing but stand (with Greygoose in hand).

[b1oodgroove]

I'm not Mr gonna kick your *** violent tough guy macho however I can quietly bring a man to the threshold of desperation very quickly with a sweeping grip. No money is fine but perhaps he may learn how fast he will forget not to engage in fraudulent activities with good people. Not a sound other then my lecture.

Nobody gets hurt, just a lesson from a visitor.
Violence in any form is unacceptable but sometimes a little reminder to the undesirable elements that breathing is important.
It's worth it.

Take a breath man and think that out.

Intl scammers steal domestic Facebook profiles and the IDs associated with them for these type of scams. They also create fraudulent Facebook profiles using pilfered pictures. You can buy magnificent Government Identifications near Downtown Los Angeles as well.

I would recommend getting advise from a Legal Advisor as to your options because wrist locking some dude in Anaheim for your money for an English gun sounds like a recipe for failure.

"As much as the police will allow me to get away with is what's going to happen" - They won't "allow" you anything.


What the hell is a Colt 901 doing in England anyway? Don't the cops run around with little bats? Hope its not an Airsoft....

[rickey65]

ARMSLIST + Western Union + Overseas (although undisclosed in this instance) = DANGER! SCAM! AVOID!

I am sorry this happened to you, Rickey, that is a huge investment loss; certainly would be for me, at least. If this deposit did land in Anaheim, hell, maybe the crook can be tracked down?

Thanks much, I'll do my best'to track. Spoke with ATF, Anaheim PD and US Customs about his story. Surprisingly Customs has shown the most interest in giving me a hand with this name location. Young lady took mercy and scheduled an appointment with an ICE agent. She was very nice.
Money an rifle gone but maybe they can help the rest of us honest people in the future.

[b1oodgroove]

Thanks much, I'll do my best'to track. Spoke with ATF, Anaheim PD and US Customs about his story. Surprisingly Customs has shown the most interest in giving me a hand with this name location. Young lady took mercy and scheduled an appointment with an ICE agent. She was very nice.
Money an rifle gone but maybe they can help the rest of us honest people in the future.

Good on you for making the marketplace a little safer for others!

[Manolito]

OK now that we have that out of the way lets see what we do have. Armslist? Have you contacted them? Serial number of rifle? Can you report it as stolen so if used again in a scam it comes back stolen. Check the revers directory of the address you have and see if the name matches what you have. I know this sounds like a huge waste of time but I had a claim against a guy and filed some obscure report with DMV and renwed it each year and five years later the dude needed a driverslicense and had to pay me before they would issue.

Can you report this to England police? They could at least make a call to the address and see what is there. Quit talking violence on a web site. If your investigation proves it is the same guy then you have options better left unsaid but I have heard of people holding possesions until they got their money back.

I know this sounds terrible but the price you paid for this education is not that steep. many have been taken for their entire pension savings. Let us know how you proceed.

[rickey65]

Thanks all of you for responding. 1,900 is a huuuuuge hit for me.
Appreciate your input and words. Feel pretty awful.
Lesson learned and time will soften the blow.
Appreciated greatly.

[rickey65]

OK now that we have that out of the way lets see what we do have. Armslist? Have you contacted them? Serial number of rifle? Can you report it as stolen so if used again in a scam it comes back stolen. Check the revers directory of the address you have and see if the name matches what you have. I know this sounds like a huge waste of time but I had a claim against a guy and filed some obscure report with DMV and renwed it each year and five years later the dude needed a driverslicense and had to pay me before they would issue.

Can you report this to England police? They could at least make a call to the address and see what is there. Quit talking violence on a web site. If your investigation proves it is the same guy then you have options better left unsaid but I have heard of people holding possesions until they got their money back.

I know this sounds terrible but the price you paid for this education is not that steep. many have been taken for their entire pension savings. Let us know how you proceed.

Yes I have contacted Armslist. They need a searchwarrant to proceed with the identity of the poster. I don't have a serial number. NIB so I failed there.
I have filed a small claims case against the name in the proper venue of Anaheim.
I'll follow your steps, good information and thank you, especially on the reverse direct and dmv. Have plenty of time to handle a fight with this bacteria.

[71MUSTY]

I would not waste my time going to that address. Likely the real accomplice works for western union and that is just one of many ID's they use. And I would forget about the box being held by the shippers. The rifle never existed and the box likely full of camel dung or something just as worthless.


However I would file the LEO report. Believe it or not they do care and have task forces just form these types of crimes. Better resources then us too, so perhaps they ID a common IP address or something. Eventually the evidence builds up and from time to time the do get some good busts.