Sad Story from One Who Trusted without Checking!

[mom2my3kids]

I am so sorry. You have her name and info maybe small claims?

 

[mom2my3kids]

Also, I think there should be a link of the good sellers of points when someone has a good experience and a bad thread for the losers who scam. Like a feedback link. I rented my points from a honest seller last month and had absolutely no problems and paid everything up front via paypal.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I'm really sorry this person is continuing to steal. I bet if the 2 other people that were ripped off joined in the investigation it would help with nabbing her. It would also provide more information and in the end a much stiffer legal penalty. The stiffer penalty is sorely needed, IMO.

Don't know how feasible it is, but it would be worthwhile!

Good luck to all that were dupped! I hope you get your money back and that justice will be served.

 

[goudaman40]

I know about renting out II trades is against II rules - what I am speaking of, we do guest certificates for friends & family and only rent out our points through the Fairfield boards that we belong to.

What I was saying, was that maybe this pp did something like this and became really greedy and you can probably trace this person back to e-bay scams also.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I know about renting out II trades is against II rules - what I am speaking of, we do guest certificates for friends & family and only rent out our points through the Fairfield boards that we belong to.

What I was saying, was that maybe this pp did something like this and became really greedy and you can probably trace this person back to e-bay scams also.

Okay, I see now. I kind of doubt this person would be into an Ebay scam, since the points they own are not even really their own, but belong officially to an Aunt. (or at least that is the 'story').

 

[mic_KY_mouses]

I don't post much but I have been following this thread from day one. Since that time I did a successful transfer to another DVC member using references both ways and payment by cashiers check. Everything went without a hitch. You can bet we were both more cautious because of these recent events....... We just got back from WDW last night and I was so saddened to read these new developments. My heart breaks for all the victims who have had what should be magical family fun turned into such a nightmare. I just want you to know that mic_KY_mouses from Kentucky are sending you a

 

[Alicnwondrln]

this is getting crazy 2 more victims
i hope you all get resolution

 

[twinklebug]

Not that it helps, but has it been verified that all 4 victims were scammed by the same person? It would be nice to know if there's only one person who's been working these boards.

 

[JimMIA]

Not that it helps, but has it been verified that all 4 victims were scammed by the same person? It would be nice to know if there's only one person who's been working these boards.

Yes. The same person is involved in these four cases, plus two more unsuccessful attempts that we know of. Your question is important, because it's important to remember that this is one bad apple in a huge barrel of good people.

Sally's case is the most recent one we are aware of, happening on October 19 or thereabouts. We were aware of the situation, because it happened right in the middle of something we were doing, but we didn't know the identity of the victim until Sally posted. Hopefully, she'll be able to prevent the cashing of the money order and things will work out.

I believe the person is no longer attempting to rent DVC reservations. If anyone is aware of any rental attempts after October 19, we would sure love to hear about them. I won't go into why, but that would be important information for us to have.

***
On another note, I've offered to confirm the identity of the person doing these rentals to anyone considering renting points. If someone is involved in a rental transaction, and they want to PM me the real name of the person they're dealing with, I will confirm if that's the bad person. Screen names are of no value, because anyone can create as many as they want and this person has used several screen names.

However, I am not going to post any names or screen names -- that would be against DIS rules, and would also possibly be libelous --nor am I going to PM or email anyone's name, for the same reasons.

 

[JimMIA]

I asked this a couple pages ago, and I'll ask it again...

Have ANY of the people scammed by this person contacted DVC? I would think at the very least, DVC would be able to put a hold on the membership during the time of an investigation. Perhaps even a legal representative or law enforcement official could be the ones who contact DVC. This is a membership being used in a fruadulent way, and DVC should be able to do something about it.

DVC has been contacted. I was not a party to those conversations, so I can't tell you any more than that. But suffice to say DVC is aware of the problem. I don't know what, if any, action DVC has taken...or even could take.

As Sammie correctly noted, to compel DVC to do anything would require some kind of legal process.

Keep in mind, however, that freezing a DVC account would offer zero protection to potential renters. In most of these cases, there never was any call to MS or any ressie made, so shutting off the DVC account wouldn't really help.

 

[Inkmahm]

Interesting. I wonder if the victim that used PayPal knew about this. There must be a time limit on this (dispute CC charge that month to reverse the charges). Do you have to dispute this when the PayPal bill comes? What if you don't know that you have been scammed by the time the CC bill comes?

There is no paypal bill, the money is transferred immediately and charged to your credit card immediately. As long as it's a service that you didn't get, I think the cc will still help you get your money back.

The one time I considered disputing the credit card charge, I talked to someone at paypal. She reminded me that I agreed to not reverse charges through the credit card directly when I opened the paypal account, but that it was still my choice whether I wanted to take that route or not *wink* *wink*

As for getting money back for services not provided, I've been successful at that with my VISA card, too. I put a $500 deposit down in early February 2004 for a wedding photographer who went out of business in June of that year. I found out and filed a request for my $500 back in July, so that was 5 months later. The $500 was credited to my account almost immediately.

 

[Parkhopper13]

I have also followed this thread from the beginning and wish you all luck on a potential resolutions. Just FYI, I have rented points and do my best to be very forward and open with the renter, even giving them my telephone number. I want them to feel comfortable and handle all issues/concerns quickly and efficiently. If you are renting and you get a bad feeling from the person you are renting from...don't rent from that person. There are too many honest, helpful DVC members out there...and you might get scammed.

 

[Olaf]

Keep in mind, however, that freezing a DVC account would offer zero protection to potential renters. In most of these cases, there never was any call to MS or any ressie made, so shutting off the DVC account wouldn't really help.

True. But, it might put some pressure on Auntie to give her DN a swift kick in the you know what. I wonder if Auntie is even aware of what her DN is up to? I also wonder about her legal liability in this whole mess.

 

[dianeschlicht]

True. But, it might put some pressure on Auntie to give her DN a swift kick in the you know what. I wonder if Auntie is even aware of what her DN is up to? I also wonder about her legal liability in this whole mess.

I have thought the same thing. Heck, I've wondered if there really is an "auntie".

 

[Sammie]

I'm sorry to hear that, but also not surprised. Mail fraud is hard to catch too. We once got "robbed" of about $500 when we purchased something on Ebay where the person listing the item absconded with the money, disappeared and never surfaced again. His address and personal information listed with Ebay was all bogus. We filed a mail fraud case, but they were never able to locate him.

I understand completely and no one is more distressed about this than me. I have been a victim of idenity fraud and as bad as losing money to someone is, nothing is worse than someone pretending to be you and then scamming others. It was horrible and I am not even sure at this point if they are not still doing it.

My info was stolen from a business website personal records, and they took my info, stole others credit cards, after I canceled mine and they were using my name and personal info to scam others.

The name known in this case might not be real, her Aunt might be bogus, there truly is any number of scenarios.

I had to involve the FBI, postal authorities and the Secret Service, as these scammer had an international scam going on.

After they sold my personal info and hundreds of others from this business, they then shared it to others scammers on a Scammers blog. Only because some good person shared that info did we even know such a place exisited. And PayPal was a active participant in the scam, in my opinion, as they would do nothing to stop it. They could care less who was getting ripped off, as long as they were making money from it.

So I wish the best to all involved.

 

[UKDEB]

There is so much I could say about this whole ordeal, but little that would add anything of benefit. I am struggling to understand, though, why an attempt can not be made to prevent this person from perpertrating these frauds on the DIS. People have been banned from these boards for far less. If the posting guidelines need to be changed to include fraud, then why would that not happen? I've been a member here for many years and I think I know enough about Pete's integrity to be certain he would not wish to condone this.

 

[JimMIA]

I am struggling to understand, though, why an attempt can not be made to prevent this person from perpertrating these frauds on the DIS.

What specific steps would you have the DIS take? And how do you know they haven't already taken them?

There are real issues here. The DIS response is not one of them.

 

[Sammie]

I agree with Jim, I don't think the DIS can do much more than they do.

Even if the user named is banned, the person scamming can change it and come back again with another user name. Even banning an ISP is not necessarily going to stop someone that is determined.

I think the best that one can expect of the DIS, is what they have done. They have made it very obvious this is a personal agreement between two parties and they have listed all the info that could possibly be listed to assist in a safe transaction.

But what everyone that has never been scammed is not realizing , there is still only so much one can do to protect themselves. I am sure those affected have learned alot about the red flags in this situation and will recognize them if they should arise again. Hopefully others have learned from it also.

But many times one can not avoid all the risks even then and must try to make sure that they are covering thier participation by making it is safe as possible and even then there is still an element of trust involved and on the other side an element of risk.

While there are surely more honest transactions being completed than fradulent ones, the only truly fail safe method is to avoid the situation completely.

 

[UKDEB]

I do agree with Sammie that there isn't any sure way to prevent this sort of thing happening, hence my use of the word 'attempt'.

And how do you know they haven't already taken them?

I don't know, but I would like to. I apologise if my tone comes across as judgemental, Jim - it certainly wasn't written that way. My question wasn't intended at a criticism, I'm just puzzled. From some posts earlier in the thread, I got the impression that no action was being taken because the perpertrator wasn't breaking any board guidelines. Perhaps I misunderstood.

Maybe steps are being taken behind the scenes, but with new victims popping up and in the absence of any statements confirming that to be the case (I haven't read the thread beyond page 27 so I could well have missed some dialogue), it seems to the casual observer (me ) that nothing is being done. As I said, having gained a little insight into the characters of those running these boards, I'm struggling to understand why that would be.

 

[rantnnravin]

i've been watching this thread since day one and it has taken me about that long to scoop my jaw off the floor and compose myself enough to post.

First and foremost-- to all who have been HURT by this unscrupulous person. I am so sorry this happened to you and your families. I don't what i would do if the vacation money i had scrimped together had been stolen. I have to commend and applaud you for your integrity and attitudes throughout this ordeal. God will certainly step in where you have stepped back.

UKDEB-i suppose what we view as "inaction" on the part of the DIS and others can be likened to what intelligence agencies do each day that we don't know about - and I, for one, don't want to know about it - for example, who wants to tell the terrorists what we're doing to stop them? That's how they got control of those planes in the first place; they knew exactly how everyone was going to react and planned accordingly.

I check this thread each day in hopes of some sort of resolution for those hurt. And, I agree with Sammie in that I think we all need to be cautious in all aspects of our transactions and such. A pinch of prevention...