Sad Story from One Who Trusted without Checking!

[Sammie]

Here is a link the Beaufort County online records. HH owners will be listed here.

Ours is not listed.

 

[gottagodisney]

Thanks for the responses. Maybe these folks own at Vero or HH? Disney would list the official legal owner name only on the reservation-right?

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

The owners name and address should be on the confirmation that gets mailed. A little further down it should have your name as the person the ressie is confirmed for.

 

[Plutofan]

Ours is not listed.

Ours is not listed either

 

[BCVOwner2002]

OK, I can't stand anymore of this. This board has been really good to me and our organization so I am going to make this offer:

I currently have 224 pts available for use. I will be happy to make them available to the 2 people who were left out in the cold. You can have these points for $5 per point. Since you've already put up half of the money, then you can use your remainder for these and go on that "MAGICAL" vacation. If these are not enough points for the 2 victims, I should have some more coming in the next week or so.

Please PM me and I will give you my home phone # so we can do the deal. You will NOT have to go to Western Union! You can send me a personal check after I make your reservations.

Happy "magical" vacationing,
Tom

Tom - This is so nice of you! I don't know how this person can sleep at night knowing that they have tried to destroy people's trust. It just amazes me that someone would act this way. I have only transferred once and it was through a friend of a friend who needed points and I happened to have extra that year. The person sent me the full amount via check and I transferred the points into their account. Everything went smooth but I don't plan to make a habit of this. I know someone who rented points and the people they rented to gave the trip to high school grads and caused damage to the room! Guess who got the bill for the damage? It's just not worth it to me.

 

[chris1gill]

Be careful...Jim might have to take a minute and decide whether he wants to thank you -- or slap you! Just kidding of course.

I think Jim has certainly earned our respect throughout this process and I for one would be happy to see him as part of the DIS Team if the offer is ever extended!

I agree, Jim should be part of the DIS Team, it's his helpful spirit that makes him a logical choice

 

[tor]

Orange county has my BWV but does not have my SSR and I have owned it for more than a year

 

[InstImpres]

Sorry to go OT but I thought this was interesting...
I went to post on craigslist for the first time in probably six months, I got this pop up warning:


AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY -- IGNORE DISTANT BUYERS (SCAMMERS):
1) Most cashier's check or money orders offered to craigslist sellers are COUNTERFEIT -- cashing them can lead to financial ruin
2) Requests that you wire money abroad via Western Union or moneygram for any reason are invariably SCAMS
3) Learn more on our current scams page -- and avoid scammers by dealing locally with buyers you can meet in person!

Sounds like word is getting around in general

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Good to see some of these websites giving a little more guidance to people regarding scams. I always think what a shame it is that so many people use their brains to think of something dishonest when they could be using all that grey matter to do some good instead!!!

 

[tinks#1fan]

We just spoke with the postal investigator who is checking out this pp. We found out she was successful in cashing our money order. He told us it was essentially done. This person is homeless, she lives out of garbage bags, and has no roots to any one place. I don't know if she, at one point, had a DVC and ran into hard times and sold it since she has had one successful transaction with the Vogels. But now she has nothing. The investigator said he is still working on it, but won't be able to get anyone to take her to trial since the victims are spread out all over the country and because she has nothing, so it's not like she'll ever be able to repay us all. There is also the issue that to their knowledge the total of the scams is only around $3000 so do we really, as a nation, want to foot the bill for a trial and jail time for that small amount?

I know to those of us who she victimized the amount she stole is enormous, but to the government it's not enough to pursue.

I just want you all to know that while this happened to me, I still generally trust my fellow man, although I tread a little more cautiously now. I did turn around and rent from another owner immediatly after this happened, and have actually recommended renting points to a few of my Disney lover pals.

Thank you all for your support. I hope Stacey, Dani, and the other victim can move on both financially and emotionally after all this.

God Bless America and God Bless You All!!!
Sally

 

[twinklebug]

We just spoke with the postal investigator who is checking out this pp. We found out she was successful in cashing our money order. He told us it was essentially done. .... to their knowledge the total of the scams is only around $3000 so do we really, as a nation, want to foot the bill for a trial and jail time for that small amount?

I know to those of us who she victimized the amount she stole is enormous, but to the government it's not enough to pursue.

Oh no

This just ticks me off. I am so sorry to hear the system seems to be working in her favor. I guarentee you that this person is NOT living out of garbage bags. She has internet access that she has regular access to to conduct these scams ... she's living somewhere.

I don't understand why catching a $3000 crook be any less important than catching a liquor store thief who gets away with less money? How is this different? To her, this is a source of income, it's just a matter of time before she strikes again.

 

[Sammie]

Oh no

This just ticks me off. I am so sorry to hear the system seems to be working in her favor. I guarentee you that this person is NOT living out of garbage bags. She has internet access that she has regular access to to conduct these scams ... she's living somewhere.

I don't understand why catching a $3000 crook be any less important than catching a liquor store thief who gets away with less money? How is this different? To her, this is a source of income, it's just a matter of time before she strikes again.

You know it is one thing to be upset about this; everyone else is too. But your first paragraph is not based on any evidence. She had access when she started this scam, not sure that means she has an address now. Unless you are personally involved as are Sally and the others not sure you know for sure the facts. They do.

As to being homeless and having net access, libraries everywhere provide it. As to your comparing the robbery there is a huge difference. Even though Sally, Dani, and Stacey were scammed, they were not "robbed" at gun point, they willingly entered into this agreement with the PP, a huge difference over a liquor store robbery.

 

[StaceySaulino]

Sally,

I know how hard this can be, as I was also scammed by the same person. I was really hoping that your money order was not cashed and the authorities were some how able to stop her. Try to hang in there. Things will get better, and I believe you will receive a good gift for all your troubles - somehow. Focus on your upcoming trip. I'm sure the eight year old will be extremely excited an you will all have a wonderful time. How can you not in that fabulous place?

Have a good day and I'm very sorry.

Stacey

 

[dianeschlicht]

We just spoke with the postal investigator who is checking out this pp. We found out she was successful in cashing our money order. He told us it was essentially done. This person is homeless, she lives out of garbage bags, and has no roots to any one place. I don't know if she, at one point, had a DVC and ran into hard times and sold it since she has had one successful transaction with the Vogels. But now she has nothing. The investigator said he is still working on it, but won't be able to get anyone to take her to trial since the victims are spread out all over the country and because she has nothing, so it's not like she'll ever be able to repay us all. There is also the issue that to their knowledge the total of the scams is only around $3000 so do we really, as a nation, want to foot the bill for a trial and jail time for that small amount?

I know to those of us who she victimized the amount she stole is enormous, but to the government it's not enough to pursue.

I just want you all to know that while this happened to me, I still generally trust my fellow man, although I tread a little more cautiously now. I did turn around and rent from another owner immediatly after this happened, and have actually recommended renting points to a few of my Disney lover pals.

Thank you all for your support. I hope Stacey, Dani, and the other victim can move on both financially and emotionally after all this.

God Bless America and God Bless You All!!!
Sally

Oh no!! Okay, so are you saying the Post office doesn't want to pursue this or you don't? The postal fraud division processes far smaller claims than this, so why not these?

 

[uwate]

Hi all,
Read about 15 or 20 pages of this thread. Damn crooks

I didnt get to read the end but I am guessing that this thief never made good on the money?

Has there ever been a thread that compiles a list of transactions that went smooth? I know on this other board I frequent, there is a buy/sell part of the board and they run a sticky that you can look at the transactions that people have done. Everything is voluntary and you have to also watch out for shill posting and do your homework still, but at least it gives you a chance to see if your seller has done any other reported transactions.

 

[BurkeTribe]

Oh no!! Okay, so are you saying the Post office doesn't want to pursue this or you don't? The postal fraud division processes far smaller claims than this, so why not these?

I think most (not all, but most) of the small dollar cases which the USPS pursues are items stolen directly from someone's mailbox (they will pursue these because they need to uphold the sanctity of the mailbox), and not cases of someone sending a PMO and not getting what they ordered. This case is not really easy for the USPS to pursue because the victim willingly sent the PMO to the accused scammer, and it becomes a case of she said/she said atthis time to the USPS... more for civil court at this point. The USPS probably has or should have her name on a watch list, though, according to previous posts, at least for her area, so if she starts trying to cash any more PMOs....

If it can be shown that the alleged scammer never has had intention of making good on the deal(s), then criminal charges will be more likely (if not already). The best that can probably be done for most of the cases against her at this time is to get/keep the pressure on her through the local PD, letting her know that if she doesn't make good, eventually she'll end up in court/jail, with future wages garnished.

 

[manning]

I may be wrong but my take is intent has been established.

 

[PoohBear88]

I'm so sorry to hear about all this! Dani, Stacy, goofynme and Sally--I'm so sorry for your losses. I hardly ever get the chance anymore to join these forums and when I do, I see this. A little sprinkle of pixie dust to you all!

I know this was mentioned somewhere in this thread but not sure what was said in the end about this but is it possible to set up a type of referral report like how there are room reports for the Disney Cruise Line? I'm sure that would help those looking to rent points.

 

[WDWguru]

Has there ever been a thread that compiles a list of transactions that went smooth?

No, because outside of those mentioned on this thread, pretty much every transaction has gone smoothly. That's what makes this all the more shocking! Many renters do have references if you ask them privately, but there is no feedback thread that I know of on the DIS.

 

[crisi]

Oh no

This just ticks me off. I am so sorry to hear the system seems to be working in her favor. I guarentee you that this person is NOT living out of garbage bags. She has internet access that she has regular access to to conduct these scams ... she's living somewhere.

I don't understand why catching a $3000 crook be any less important than catching a liquor store thief who gets away with less money? How is this different? To her, this is a source of income, it's just a matter of time before she strikes again.

In my experience, they don't bother with liquor store theives, car theives or check theives either (uncle's liquor store robbed, they even know who did it, my car stolen, my house broken into and stuff stolen, and my checkbook stolen - they didn't bother for any of these).