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Is There Help Out There?
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Author:  michb [ Sun May 08, 2005 11:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Is There Help Out There?

Hi, does anyone know what a person could legally do to protect themselves if they are scammed? I have recently fallen victim to an online scammer. I performed a service for someone who paid me through email money transfer. I thought this was safe because I didn't have to give the person any of my banking information. I also thought that since I did a project for the person and they were paying me, there didn't seem to be anything to worry about. But now my bank is telling me he paid me with fraudelent money. I do not understand what is going on at all, and I don't know why my bank would do this. Why wouldn't they be bothering the person who paid me? The thing I am worried about is that I don't quite understand what has happened and why I am the one being treated badly! I didn't even do anything wrong!

Any opinions I can get on this would be greatly appreciated.

Author:  Rebel [ Tue May 10, 2005 2:56 pm ]
Post subject: 

1. Did you take money out of your account after you deposited it ? 2. What service did you do? Were you cashing checks for them ? 3. Did you send money via wire ? We need to know this much if anyone is to help you . Please tell us your storie so we know what happed . Rebel

Author:  michb [ Fri May 13, 2005 12:16 am ]
Post subject: 

Thanks for your reply. Truthfully I am not even totally sure I WAS scammed, but my bank is telling me I have been.

First, to answer your questions - 1) Yes, I did take the money out of the account after it was deposited. It was sent through email money transfer. 2) The service I did was a website. 3) No, I was not cashing cheques for them. 4) I sent $20 of it that night through email transfer to my friend who wanted to borrow money, and I sent the girl who helped me with the website her percentage through western union.

I respond to ads online all the time for contract work and had finally got a response. I did a website for someone and everything seemed legitimate and I thought I was being careful. He was taking his time paying me so I started bugging him for the money. He wanted my account details to do a wire transfer but I refused, so he suggested email money transer. I looked into it on my banks website and it seemed ok so I agreed. - I was just sick and tired of bugging him for the money, and the person who helped me with the site bugging me for her cut and just wanted to get paid and get rid of this guy.

Two days later I found that both of my accounts were frozen and one of my banks directed me to the fraud unit. I called them and have spoken to them a few times now. They won't tell me much except that they will call me once the investigation is done. It has been a while now and I am getting very frustrated. The only thing they will tell me is that the money was sent from a fruadulent source and they are trying to figure out where it came from. I told them exactly about making the website and he told me that it "looked like I got scammed"

I don't understand how I could have gotten scammed when I actually did a service for someone who and got paid. I spent hours and hours doing work and this guy even sent someone over to pick up the CD once I was finished. In the meantime, I am having all these account problems and have to go through hell trying to use my accounts. I don't understand why it is me that is getting the trouble for this. When I think about it now, there are some things that didn't really make sense, but nothing really important. But...when I text the guy I did the site for he will no longer respond to me at all. I have no idea what I should do. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have.

Author:  Rebel [ Fri May 13, 2005 8:22 am ]
Post subject: 

I would post what the site was you built for them . They will more then likely use the site to scam other people . You have to remember these people are good conmen they use every angle they can . There's alway's the chance that the check could have been good . But the money came from an account that has scammer money in it . Just be glad that you not getting arested ....

Author:  michb [ Sun May 15, 2005 10:56 pm ]
Post subject: 

Arrested??? Oh No! I could actually get arrested for this? I have been waiting for a call back from my bank for about two weeks and am not hearing anything. I am wondering if I should keep waiting or call them again?

I didn't do a thing wrong, as least that I know of. It's strange that I was being so careful because of things like this, and it happens. What I don't understand is why they would say that it came from a fraudelent source, but punish me for it. Shouldn't it be the sender who sent those funds?

Is there anything I should be doing in the meantime? Thanks so much for your replies.

Author:  Rebel [ Mon May 16, 2005 8:56 am ]
Post subject: 

You have to understand that the cop's offten don't care or want to spend the time researching what you tell them . They just see that your connected to a scammer and they just asume your part of it . They can't get the scammer since they are out of the country . So they grab you since they can . Keep all the email's that you have and every little thing you got and did for this person . Make many copy's burn a copy of you hard drive make several CD's so if the cop's come and take your computer you have a copy of what was on it . I'v seen too many people/victim's on this site become victims of the law system and over zealous cop's and court's .

Author:  Guest [ Tue May 17, 2005 12:22 am ]
Post subject: 

So basically what you are telling me is that all I can do is prepare myslef for "if and when" I get in trouble? Wow that doesn't sound very promising...in fact, it sounds pretty frightening! Also, it isn't helping me that the 'jerk' I did the work for won't answer any messages I am sending to him! Gee, I wonder why.

It sounds like you have heard about many of these cases. I can't even believe that things are turning out like this! I am still sitting here shaking my head wondering how this could happen. I have no criminal record and have never done a thing wrong and now I have to worry about being arrested for something I didn't even know was happening.

On one hand I feel like cursing at my banks for treating me like I did something wrong, but on the other hand I feel like the joke could really be on me in the end if something happens. I wish there was a way to find out where this guy is coming from.

Thanks so much for all your responses.

Author:  michb [ Tue May 17, 2005 12:23 am ]
Post subject: 

That last post was from me...sorry, I forgot to sign in first.

Author:  KarynSolo [ Sat May 21, 2005 9:19 pm ]
Post subject: 

Mich take it from someone who was arrested and charged with a crime for getting scammed, it not only can happen but it does if the bank wants to get nasty and cops dont want to investigate and just get a quick bust to close a case.

IF and I say IF the police want you to answer questions here is what you do.

You tell them you are invoking your right to remain silent. You demand your attorney be present at which time you will fully cooperate with them.

DO NOT allow them to come to your home to search your home without a proper court ordered warrant. NEVER EVER volunteer to help the police in any way without legal back up, what you say can and will be held against you, 99% of what I told them got twisted way out into left field to suit their need to get a state attys office to take the case off of their hands.

YOU HAVE RIGHTS and you make sure they are upheld!

Author:  Guest [ Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Is There Help Out There?

michb wrote:
Hi, does anyone know what a person could legally do to protect themselves if they are scammed? I have recently fallen victim to an online scammer. I performed a service for someone who paid me through email money transfer. I thought this was safe because I didn't have to give the person any of my banking information. I also thought that since I did a project for the person and they were paying me, there didn't seem to be anything to worry about. But now my bank is telling me he paid me with fraudelent money. I do not understand what is going on at all, and I don't know why my bank would do this. Why wouldn't they be bothering the person who paid me? The thing I am worried about is that I don't quite understand what has happened and why I am the one being treated badly! I didn't even do anything wrong!

Any opinions I can get on this would be greatly appreciated.

Author:  alax [ Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:47 pm ]
Post subject: 

I have had the same situation too.
One man wanted to buy my products and I asked for the payment method, first he wanted to pay me by credit cards or checks I did not want them at all so I told him I only could accept was bank to bank account transaction then I can send my products to him.

he did but my account has been closed by my bank as soon as my account been credited by him with the same reason.

After many reports and calls I made the bank informed me to closed my bank account with them and open a new one but the money bank kept for returning the really owner.

I still don't know what was went wrong ?

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