I have been scammed and its my fault!

[Lashov]

Originally Posted by Ratdog

The person requesting the funds represented himself to be Marshall Alexander. I just found out that Marshall had been dead since sept 2021. This person posted: https://vansairforce.net/community/s...d.php?t=200577
A Garmin SL30 for sale. I responded to an email address of jrs148855@gmail.com and paypal'd the money. Later, he had me cancel that transaction and asked that I sent a paypal gift transaction to mrsjesuschrist@live.com
I just found out the person that I thought I was dealing with is in fact dead. I have not received a tracking number or the item as they had agreed to.

Don't ever do .... The gift/donation transaction!! That's when you are f...ed and PayPal, can't do sh*t to help you.We all wanna make a good deal but I always remember a saying they have in my country - My worse nightmare is dying and my wife selling my plane for the money .... I told her I invested in it!!

[Lashov]

Originally Posted by RV10Man

Also, my dad’s twin brother, Mitchell Alexander, passed away in September as well. I don’t know if he was active in here, but anything received or posted in his name is a scam also.

Steve, I’ll give you a call soon. I’m flying all day & should be back in DFW late tonight.

Michela

Please except my deepest condolences for your lost! May your father have a peaceful flight up there! And I'm sure he will look after you from up there!

[catmandu]

Originally Posted by BillL

There is some harvesting being done.

Which sucks so bad. I have done so many friendly transactions on VAF, "I'll send it now, pay me later." Etc.

<SIGH>

We had our happy little island here, and then the scammers got driven down river.

I will do my best to keep the island mentality alive as a seller, offering to video chat, etc. I've got a hangar to clean out, after all.

[Gusmax]

Video chat is an awesome idea! Even picking up the phone and talking with the person is recommended. It is easy to discover if you are dealing with an aviation person or not when your actually talking and not texting.

[rv6n6r]

For some reason the SL-30 seems to be a favorite for scammers, based on previous reports and some other suspicious posts I've seen along the way.

In light of this, it seems worthwhile to remind anyone considering buying avionics on this site to read this post from Doug: https://vansairforce.net/UsingTheCla...uggestions.htm

[vikbee]

How in the world this can ever be your own fault?

You and another person (a scammer in this case) entered into a legal contract. This contract was even in writing in your case (message exchange). The scammer had no intention to fulfill the contract. Just to take the money and run. All over the world this is considered a crime. Where is your fault? You fulfilled your contractual obligations.

Please, stop blaming yourself. It is not your responsibility to vet the other party. The more your blame yourself, the more justification you give to the scammer to continue. It is not their fault that you got scammed, it is your fault that you did not spend your life doing research on them. Right?

File the police report to make them to investigate. They won't of cause. File the complaint with the attorney general. That is probably all you can do. Chances are slim, but that is not your fault. It is the fault of the people who scammed you and those who do not give a s..it to investigate and prosecute the crime. The latter just encourage the first to continue. Too sad...

[Turbo69bird]

I’d suggest having someone local
On the board go look at or pick up whatever it is even if you have to pay them extra ,
If no one local can see it or knows them
For an airport something is wrong.


Or we could just start laying a little
Old
Time justice on people like this and this stuff would stop!

[Ratdog]

Michela so sorry for your loss. I'm sorry for how this situation is causing you more pain.

[Ratdog]

[quote=vikbee;1567808]How in the world this can ever be your own fault?

I'm so thankful for the support here. That is why this group is so great! I have bought and sold here many times and have been blessed. But I let my guard down. The deal was too good to be true. I thought the guy was trying to help a fellow RVer with the low price. I tried to help him get his full price so I did as he requested to gift paypal him. Looking back the 3 percent paypal fee protects him and me. Lesson learned but I still have a desire to trust and help people.
Ernesto Sanchez
Pismo Beach, CA
CFII Flying RV-6A, RV-10, RV-12

[grubbat]

My name and password from VAF was compromised from a data breach. Hackers posted the names and passwords on the dark web and thus that’s why several have had imposters post here. I caught one trying to post for Clint at Vetterman. I notified Clint that somebody stole his password and was posting under his name and he changed his password.

These criminals have ruined Craigslist. It can’t be overstated how important it is to have someone serve as an escrow for online transactions. The criminals will get worse because they are making easy money and not being prosecuted.