Warning

[firemouse]

I want to post this just to warn you all, as other have. Beware of auction deal for tickets to Disney. First I never knew that the tickets were not supposed to be transfered to others, guess I figured you bought them you can use them how you see fit. So I bid on a set of 4 - 5 day park hopper plus passes and won the bid for $700. I was so excited and could not wait to tell my dd8, ds4 and dw about our vacation we have been talking about. I emailed my seller and felt VERY comfortable, she talked about her job as a dispatcher for the City of Atlanta and mine as a firefighter, she seemed to be real. I sent the money via USPS money order and waited. I got the ship info I was waiting for and had the date set to get the tickets. I went to my mailbox and there was the box of our magical vacation to WDW. I opened it and found the planning DVD from Disney, discount coupons, and the mag of where to go, but what.......... no tickets, I was crushed and thought surely she left them out in her haste, I emailed and waited, I emailed and call...disconnected. Cell # No good. Web site, shut down. I am out $700( about a months worth of mowing yards on the side). I can get $175 back from yahoo....OOOH big money. Please protect yourself. I thought that I was dealing with a real person, but every real thing has a conterfit. Watch yourself. We are now hoping to save enough to make it next fall. I have a lot of yards to mow to make up for the $700 I just handed to this person. Thanks for letting me vent and tell my story. Remember that it doesn't always happen to someone else.

Take care and God bless.

FM

 

[firemouse]

BTW I had not told my dd or ds yet, so they will never know I hope.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

That is terrible! I feel bad for you. I would think you would be able to file a claim against this seller for fraud with the auction site or USPS, since you paid with a USPS money order and this is mail fraud. This seller should be reported to someone.

 

[DWhittles]

My heart is breaking for you! How awful!
Doesn't the auction site have any info on the seller at all? You should have SOME form of legal recourse...is the auction site still up? You might be able to go back to your past auctions and see the sellers page with the info. Print it out. You have legal recourse for SURE.
Do you still have the sellers address and name and phone numbers and stuff?

 

[JaxCon]

I am so sorry that is terrible.

Margaret

 

[Nanu57v]

You can press charges as well.

 

[firemouse]

I have all my info. I have contacted Yahoo, but I have to wait 25 days to file with their buyer protection, but I can re-coup a grand total of $175 after my $25 deductable. Thanks for the sympathy, I needed it, LOL, but more importantly I want others to not get taken like I did. I also have contacted and filed a complaint through internet fraud, which is the FBI. Hope they are looking into it, but there is more important stuff like terrorism.

 

[Amirah95]

I really feel for you...just take it as a major learning experience. We have all been through something like this...maybe more extreme or less. It is always good to pay by credit card/Paypal (I don't like plugging Paypal, but I don't recommened giving out credit card numbers to strangers) and to make sure that who you buy from has lots of great feedback. I, myself, purchase from power sellers only. And sellers also beware because there are also dishonest buyers as well. Cheer up because what goes around always comes around.

 

[DWhittles]

You know what might be helpful? Post the persons info HERE...give us a screen name and the like...
Are they just not answering the emails or is the email being returned to you as user unknown?

 

[my2tinkerbells]

I feel sooo sorry for you. But, what that person did is a crime and you need to file charges against them. I would contact the police and here is a link to a web site that you can file fraud charges against this person. I highly recommend that you do it!

http://www.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp

Good Luck with everything! I hope you eventually make it to Disney!

 

[cokegal19]

Wow, that is just horrible. I can only imagine what you must be feeling right now.

I was really thinking on buying disney tickets off of ebay once, but someone (I think it might have been someone on the disboards) told me that I should NEVER buy disney tickets off of ebay or any auction thing because there is nothing that says how many days are left. It would be so easy for someone to just put their old, used tickets online and sell them, and letting everyone think they still had days on them.

Good luck, and I hope this person gets what he deserves.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

I am so sorry

That is terrible!

I hope you do still get to go and have a wonderful time

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I doubt this seller has disappeared for good. He/she may reappear on the same auction site (if they haven't already) under a different user name. If you do a search on the same type of tix you bought, you just might find the seller again and be able to report them before they steal from anyone else.

Good luck!
Tink

 

[SoCalKDG]

Some suggestions for everyone that uses auctions for large dollar amounts.

I always use Ebay. I only go with sellers with good ratings. I always use Paypal. I only use my credit card through Paypal. If the dollar amount is more than what EBAY and Paypal will cover, then I use an escrow service.

This will give you the most protection that you could ever have.

I went to my mailbox and there was the box of our magical vacation to WDW. I opened it and found the planning DVD from Disney, discount coupons, and the mag of where to go, but what.......... no tickets

Why would anyone go to the trouble of mailing all this if they were going to commit fraud. This only opens them up to additional charges, I believe. Strange.

 

[DD2Disney]

How horrible. I am glad you didn't tell your kids yet. I hate hearing these stories. Do remember as someone put above .... what goes around comes around.

so sorry.

 

[firemouse]

Someone asked about sent emails, They are being sent, but I get no return, so the email account is active. I agree with the above comment too, why would they go to all the trouble to send the other stuff. The person had a good rating, be it a small number, and all the right answers to my questions about the job they had, a 911 dispatcher, she had info that a true dispatcher would only have reference to, but that was a sham, City of Atlanta and Fulton County didn't have her employed.
The thing about this too is this was to be our first trip down to wdw and was I excited (more than the kids would have been, LOLOLOL). My son has asked and dd too about going sometime. Right now I am trying to unload the condo we had reserved.

Believe it or not I gave the bitterness and anger to God last night and said I will not let this harm me anymore than it already has, I don't know why someone would defruad someone, but I am not in their shoes (still doesn't make it right though). I forgive the defruading, but I also believe they will be rewarded, either here or afterwards when we will all get our reward. Now if you go to any auction and there is a screen name of levijohntre beware, the email address of lisa@johntre.com is a flag too. After I posted my VERY NEGATIVE rating, seems like the rater came out of the wood work. They got someone for $110 for baseball cards, and someone else on a matrix trilogy movie. Also be leery of a Lithonia GA address, CAry NC address. Believe me I am doind and have done a bunch of background and have old phone number, old addresses and stuff, plus my bro is a cop, so I will see what we can work there LOL. Pays to be a firefighter sometimes Thanks for all the ideas and be safe out there!!!

Eric

 

[jcemom]

Just wondering if you would mind posting a link to the auction for us...I can't seem to find that person's username!

 

[bounceytigger]

Wow I am so sorry to hear your story, and am totally bummed out for you. Some people really suck.

Have you thought about having someone (maybe your brother?) send an e-mail to the person's e-mail address....to try and make a ficticious offer on some auctioned item? Maybe try to catch this person in the midst of scamming someone? I don't know how easy that would be, but perhaps Ebay would be willing to help?

Anyhow, sorry again, and I hope you gets lots of $$-tips on your future lawn mowings, to re-coop that money fast!

 

[luvthatduke]

Believe it or not I gave the bitterness and anger to God last night and said I will not let this harm me anymore than it already has, I don't know why someone would defruad someone, but I am not in their shoes (still doesn't make it right though). I forgive the defruading, but I also believe they will be rewarded, either here or afterwards when we will all get our reward.

Good for you, firemouse - the Lord will honor this,
that is His promise - just don't know when...
It sounds like you are doing a good job of
NOT letting Satan rob your joy...
Prayers to you that somehow you'll make
the $$ up in double-quick time!

Blessings & hugs - I know this experience hurt!



P.S. - we LOVE our firefighters!!

 

[firemouse]

I am Firemouse's wife.. it was on Yahoo Auctions, is that where you are looking?

Thanks for all the kind words, everyone! Your concern is heartwarming.