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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    2

    Default Scammed Buying Discounted Merchandise Credit / Gift Cards Through Craigslist

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Washington

    Every once in a while I'll buy a discounted Lowes or Home Depot merchandise card off Craigslist. The discounted price is nice for my small woodworking operation.

    I found a good deal on some cards last night and called the guy and said I'll take them. He met me at Home Depot where he returned a sink for the merch. card. We then went to Lowes to verify the balance of that card.

    Total value, $670. My cost $420.

    Apparently I misunderstood the ad and thought it was $360... I told him I'd give $360 for it but his "girl" rolled down the window and told him not to sell it for that little. I didn't bring enough with so we had to run to my bank downtown to get a few bucks more out. I then walked up to him and took the cards and AGAIN called Lowes and Home Depot to verify the amounts before giving him money. It was all there. ...but I still took down his license plate number before leaving.

    I give him the money and go on my way... thinking, "Maybe I should go to the store(s), buy something, and then return it quick so I can get the credit put on different cards". But I had friends waiting for me so I didn't.

    I should have.

    This morning I go to Lowes to consolidate 3 merch. cards into one. They check the balance on the $235 card I bought last night. $17 on it. Yep.

    I went over to Home Depot to check balance on the $435 card I bought... $110 balance.

    Lowes and Home Depot both said they will give video of the transactions if the Police ask for them. Both stores have given me records showing that after he got the merch cards and gave them to me he went to Home Depot/Lowes stores about 20 miles away and used their #/Pin there to use the balances.

    I called the police and they said it'd likely be a civil court case and he wouldn't get much more than a slap on the wrist for it. I then gave the police the guys license plate number. He has quite a record apparently. He goes on saying there isn't much they can do at this point. I asked him if there's any problem with me trying to get the money back from him directly. "Nope", he said.

    So I Google his number and come up with an older cached Craigslist Ad where he's selling a boat. His number along with another number are included in that ad. I call the other number. An older man answers, it's his father. I tell him that his son stole $420 from me. He seemed quite interested. We talked for 15 minutes, nice guy... he says his son is in and out of jail "100 times a year!" and that his son has done the same scam on him! Scammed his own dad with giftcards. I felt bad for the guy. He was so innocent that he gave me his son's full name. Told me about his girlfriend(who was in on the scam).

    So I call his son up. He answers. I said "Hello?" He hangs up and turns off his phone.

    So I punch his name and city into Facebook. Comes RIGHT up. Links right to his girlfriend's profile even. So now I have quite a bit of info/photos on them.

    I text him the info that I've gathered. I told him I want my money or the police will be involved(further involved).

    About an hour later, I get a phone call. "Private Number"

    "Hi, this is [Girls first name]"

    Me: "[Girls full last/first name]?" It's probably awkward to her that I know her full name when I barely even saw her and didn't know her name while he was using a false name.

    To summarize, I told her I want my money back and she ACTUALLY said "Well I had nothing to do with it. I'm not admitting to anything but it's your fault that you didn't go use the card right away, that is YOUR responsibility" That sort of "logic" hurt my brain.

    She said that her grandfather is a police officer and that she'll tell on me if I don't stop HARASSING them(what?) and that she'll get her attorney involved. I told her that sounds like an excellent idea and I would greatly appreciate both of their phone numbers so I can speak to them about the details of the situation.

    She said I'm a "freaky *expletive" and then she hung up.

    I immediately texted him saying that her phone call was counter-productive in the process of him giving me my money back.

    -

    At this point I feel like all I can do is just make it as awkward as I can(without breaking any laws of course) for him hoping he'll have enough of it and pay me back.

    So, assuming I won't just let the situation go, as I won't, what can/should I do?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    9,096

    Default Re: Scammed in a Face-To-Face Transaction Initiated Through Craigslist

    Call the police again to report a theft. Get a plan together on taking the guy to small claims court... and then a second plan together on how you think you are going to collect.

    This may be a lesson in the way you SHOULDN'T fund your business.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    38,867

    Default Re: Scammed in a Face-To-Face Transaction Initiated Through Craigslist

    either sue the guy or let it go. I am surprised the police are not taking action though since what happened is a crime.

    I have to say; anybody that buys a discounted merchandise card has to realize it is more than likely a scam. The person with the card paid all of the money that is now on the card. Why would they take a loss like that?

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