Selling my extra gongys!!

[kamakiri]

File your paypal claims now. DO NOT close the case until you have your money back!

Hopefully you all used credit cards and can simply get credited from the card issuers if the paypal claim doesn't work.

Good luck to you all.

 

[Opivy]

Wow, I'm really sorry to hear this guys. I saw this a few days ago, and thought it seemed kind of suspicious, but didn't think much of it.

Hope you can all get your moneys back - Really makes me mad that there are scumbags like this out there.

 

[JohnCon]

13.1 How am I protected if I have a problem with a purchase?

PayPal Buyer Protection is available for purchases you make both on eBay and off eBay:

Purchases made on eBay

For eligible items, protection is available for both items not received (INR) and significantly not as described (SNAD); and

Purchases made off eBay

For eligible items protection is available for INR only

If the problem you're trying to resolve involves a transaction that you did not authorize, please report the unauthorized transaction through the PayPal Security Center at https://www.paypal.com/security.

13.2 What are the eligibility requirements for PayPal Buyer Protection?

You must meet all of these requirements:

Use PayPal to purchase an eligible item

Pay for the full amount of the item with one payment. Items purchased with multiple payments – like a deposit followed by a final payment – are not eligible

Open a dispute within 45 days of the date you sent the payment – then follow the online dispute resolution process described below under Dispute Resolution

Keep your PayPal account in good standing

In addition, for items purchased on eBay, you must meet the following requirements:

Send the payment to the seller through:

The eBay Pay Now button

An eBay invoice

The Send Money tab on the PayPal website, by clicking the Purchase tab and selecting eBay Items or by clicking the Pay for eBay Item tab

In addition, for items purchased off eBay, you must meet all of these requirements:

Send the payment to the seller through:

The Send Money tab on the PayPal website by clicking the Purchase tab and selecting Goods

The seller's PayPal checkout flow

The item you purchase must be a physical, tangible good that can be shipped

How do I know if I'm purchasing an eligible Item? The following applies in addition to section 13.8, below:

Items purchased on eBay:

Look for the buyer protection message in the eBay listing in the right hand column under the Buy Safely banner. If you see this message, and you meet the eligibility requirements, then your purchase is covered by PayPal Buyer Protection. You can also view this message after you complete your purchase by logging in to your eBay account, going to "my eBay" and looking at the listing. If the listing does not include the buyer protection message, then it is not eligible for PayPal Buyer Protection.

The buyer protection message will vary based on the eBay website. The following is an example of the PayPal Buyer Protection message:

Items purchased off eBay:

Items are eligible unless they are excluded below:

Real estate, motor vehicles, capital equipment, travel tickets, and events tickets

Intangible items

Services

Items purchased using Website Payments Pro or Virtual Terminal

You may not file a dispute for a Personal Payment

13.3 How much coverage do I get with PayPal Buyer Protection?

Items purchased on eBay:

If you see the PayPal Buyer Protection message "Pay with PayPal and full purchase price is covered", and if PayPal finds in your favor on your Claim, PayPal will reimburse you for the full purchase price of the item and original shipping costs – with no cap on coverage. PayPal will not reimburse you for the return shipping costs that you incur to return a Significantly Not as Described item to the seller or other party PayPal specifies. If the seller presents evidence that they delivered the goods to your address, PayPal may find in favor of the seller even if you did not receive the goods.

Items purchased off eBay:

If PayPal finds in your favor on your claim, PayPal will reimburse you for the full purchase price of the item and original shipping costs – with no cap on coverage

13.4 Dispute Resolution

If you are unable to resolve the problem directly with the seller, go to the Resolution Center and follow this process:

Open a Dispute

Open a Dispute within 45 days of the date you made the payment for the item you would like to dispute.

Escalate the Dispute to a Claim

If you and the seller are unable to come to an agreement, escalate the Dispute to a Claim within 20 days after opening the dispute.

You must wait at least 7 days from the date of payment to escalate a Dispute for an Item Not Received (INR), unless the Dispute is for $2,500 or more. If you do not escalate the Dispute to a Claim within 20 days, PayPal will close the Dispute.

Respond to PayPal's requests for information in a timely manner

During the Claim process, PayPal may require you to provide documentation to support your position. You may be asked to provide receipts, third party evaluations, police reports, or anything else that PayPal specifies.

Comply with PayPal's shipping requests in a timely manner

For Significantly Not as Described (SNAD) Claims, PayPal may require you to ship the item back to the seller - or to PayPal - or to a third party at your expense, and to provide proof of delivery.

For transactions that total less than $250, proof of delivery is confirmation that can be viewed online and includes: the delivery address, delivery date, and the URL to the shipping company's web site if you've selected “Other” in the shipping drop down menu. For transactions that total $250 or more, you must get signature confirmation of delivery.

How is the Claim resolved?

Once a dispute has been escalated to a claim, PayPal will make a final decision in favor of the buyer or the seller. You may be asked to provide receipts, third party evaluations, police reports, or anything else that PayPal specifies. PayPal retains full discretion to make a final decision in favor of the buyer or the seller based on any criteria PayPal deems appropriate. In the event that PayPal makes a final decision in favor of the buyer or seller, each party must comply with PayPal's decision. PayPal will generally require the buyer to ship an item that the buyer claims is Significantly Not as Described back to the seller (at the buyer's expense), and PayPal will generally require a seller to accept the item back and refund the buyer the full purchase price plus original shipping costs. In the event a seller loses a claim, the seller will not receive a refund on his or her PayPal or eBay fees associated with the transaction. If you lose a Significantly Not as Described claim because the item you sold is counterfeit, you will be required to provide a full refund to the buyer and you will not receive the item back. (It will be destroyed.)

13.5 What is the PayPal Buyer Complaint Policy?

It is PayPal's process to help you resolve a problem directly with the seller through the PayPal Resolution Center for purchases that are not eligible for PayPal Buyer Protection. This process is available simply to facilitate communication between buyer and seller. PayPal does not provide protection for items that are not eligible for PayPal Buyer Protection.

13.7 SNAD Definition

What is Significantly Not as Described (SNAD)?

An item is Significantly Not as Described if it is materially different than what the seller described in the item listing. Here are some examples:

You received a completely different item. Example: You purchased a book and received a DVD or an empty box.

The condition of the item was misrepresented. Example: The listing said "new" and the item was used.

The item was advertised as authentic but is not authentic.

The item is missing major parts or features which were not disclosed in the listing.

You purchased three items from a seller but only received two.

The item was damaged during shipment.

An item is not Significantly Not as Described if it is materially similar to the seller's item listing description. Here are some examples:

The defect in the item was correctly described by the seller.

The item was properly described but you didn't want it after you received it.

The item was properly described but did not meet your expectations.

The item has minor scratches and was listed as used condition.

13.8 What items are not covered by PayPal's Protection for buyers?

The following items are prohibited under the PayPal Acceptable Use Policy and are not covered even if they do have the PayPal Buyer Protection message in the eBay listing: firearms and firearm parts, illegal and prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia, tobacco, offensive items, child pornography, and any illegal items.

13.9 Relationship between PayPal's protection programs and Chargebacks

Credit card chargeback rights, if they apply, are broader than PayPal's protection programs. Chargeback rights may be filed more than 45 days after the payment, may cover unsatisfactory items even if they do not qualify as SNAD, and may cover intangible items.

You may pursue a Dispute/Claim with PayPal, or you may contact your credit card company and pursue your chargeback rights. You may not pursue both at the same time or seek a double recovery. If you have an open Dispute or Claim with PayPal, and also file a chargeback with your credit card company, PayPal will close your Dispute or Claim, and you will have to rely solely on your chargeback rights.

If PayPal does not make a final decision on your Claim until after your credit card issuer's deadline for filing a chargeback, and because of our delay you recover less than the full amount you would have been entitled to recover from the credit card issuer, we will reimburse you for the remainder of your loss (minus any amount you have already recovered from the seller).

Before contacting your card issuer or filing a Dispute with PayPal, you should contact the seller to resolve your issue in accordance with the seller's return policy as stated on their auction or website.

13.10 No Double Recovery. You may not file a dispute/claim or receive a recovery for a purchase under PayPal's protection for buyers if you have already received a recovery for that purchase directly from eBay or the seller.

good luck, but like i said before. Call the FBI

 

[wero626]

Wow i thought you where kidding about the FBI they deal with big cases federal cases not mantids they wont even turn there head maybe a cop but you will just get your self in trouble...

 

[sufistic]

This scammer will get what he deserves. Really sorry to know about this guys. The fact that he knows that Idolos and Gongys are sought after clearly shows that he's been around, probably in other forums too. Get his IP and run a check on other mantid forums to be thorough.

 

[Colorcham427]

File your paypal claims now. DO NOT close the case until you have your money back!Hopefully you all used credit cards and can simply get credited from the card issuers if the paypal claim doesn't work.

Good luck to you all.

i say call the paypal police or whatever they are.

google: i got robbed through paypal. you will find numerous listings, because in this world, there are numerous low lifes.

file dispute, and raise it to the next level when u can.

get a person who is very good with computers to track this scum underneath my shoe down.

and as far as the whole "this species isnt allowed or whatever" it doesnt matter. its not weed or crack dude, its a bug. i personally, had no idea this was something serious. so just ignore the fact that this guy brought them in illegally or whatever. that doesnt matter. what matters is he used a "helping the kids so trust me" sorta deal.

hopfully you guys can get all the money he took from u, so when hes done on his shopping spree or whatever, his scumbag a$$ would be in great debt.

 

[sbugir]

Didn't anyone think the charity story was a dookie? The prices were also "too good to be true".

Sorry for all the people that bought from this guy. Shame

 

[kamakiri]

Didn't anyone think the charity story was a dookie? The prices were also "too good to be true".

I did, and I was *trying* to warn everyone else...without calling the new guy a liar.

 

[sbugir]

I did, and I was *trying* to warn everyone else...without calling the new guy a liar.

:S, Hopefully everyone will get file cases and get their mullah back. It's a shame man .

 

[revmdn]

Can you set up a bogus PayPal account? Close it before someone files against you? If he has a bunch of people file claims real close to each other like that, will it make a difference? Sorry guys, shame that people will prey upon others like that.

 

[yeatzee]

I did, and I was *trying* to warn everyone else...without calling the new guy a liar.

Thats what you get for being nice <_<

Besides... new guy selling the most sought after species available (IMO) with a story like he had... I mean come on.

 

[[email protected]]

I though it was a little scam-ish when i was told the prices, being loaded up on bugs now and travling soon i thought it better.

I doo feel bad for all that were fooled. <_<

 

[PhilinYuma]

O.K. I'll do this. I am so sorry that some of you got stung by this low level con man, not because you were stupid ,but because, apparently, you have no idea how crooks work. This guy's first post smelled like a scam to me, and I tried to point this out as discretely as I could. His answers to my questions made the scam even more likely, but so many of our members are nice folks used to dealing with other nice folks that they missed the inconsistencies ($400 for school computers? Keeping I. diabolica in his kid's fort??). Perhaps this will help.

Bill has a modest job in a big city. It pays enough for him to rent an apartment for himself and his wife and kids, but he knows that he could do better if assholes weren't always trying to keep him down. He knows that he is smarter than most, because he makes an extra $20,000+ a year (not tax free, he is too smart for that) running small scams from his home computer, with the occasional help of his girlfriend. Cheating others does wonders for his own self esteem.

He wisely operates below the radar. His individual thefts are so small that the cops won't bother with them. Any given scam brings in no more than $2-3,000 nationwide, and he is able to run them all through his three PayPal accounts and three more in his girlfriend's name.* He likes to run the scams through forums, Breyer horses, baseball cards, Elvis memorabilia, Barbie Dolls, and the like, and will occasionally tap something like MantidForum. He makes sure that he is familiar with each market. He also sells kits for high colonics and a variety of "herbal" and "homeopathic" nostrums (he doesn't call them "medications") as well as something called Viagora (powdered sugar and coloring in a capsule. Very pretty. If you have an erection lasting for longer than four hours, consult a psychiatrist).

He has a number of spiels, including "My son John, " which is perfect for Mantidforum and which he posts as a new member on a Friday. My Son John has just turned eighteen and joined the Marines to serve his country. He has always loved to keep all sorts of bugs and spiders and the like as well as a bunch of mantises since he was in fourth grade, and he trades them with his friends. I really can't care for them all, but although he got rid of a few to his friends, his room is still crawing with them, and I have to get rid of them. He will almost certainly get shipped out to Afghanistan early next year, and I will use the money that I make on his bugs to buy him some comforts from home. He also has some herps, but I will wait until I have sold the bugs before I sell them.

Then he'll have a list, made up from names that he has read on the forum, including G.gongylous or I. diabolica but not both (how amateurish!) and some of the mantids that are recently out of culture or very hard to get, and some nice inverts. He then points out that no one knows him, so they won't know whether his critters are of good quality or well packed for shipping (no word of outright fraud, of course). To show that his merchandise is well packed and in good shape, he is offering 5 G. gongylus for $20 to the first member who is prepared to take a chance on him, and they can post whether or not his goods are up to standard. He is a pro, and has done this before, of course, so he knows what to do. Two months ago, girlfriend joined the forum and has gained a rep for being sweet and cute, and guess what, she makes the bid and reports that the nymphs she recieves are absolutely marvelous, "and very carefully packed!" She even shows pix (taken from Asian sources, Photoshopped, printed and then photographed). She posts on Tuesday afternoon, and the orders for Bill's imaginary critters flood in. On Wednesday, he says that he will ship everything out next Monday, and if there is anything left over, he will divide it among the packages for free. This gives him five days in which to collect as much money as possible. Payments are to one of his paypal accounts.

He makes no attempt to mail anything or send tracking numbers or even answer mail. Late on Monday, a member (also girlfriend, who signed up with a second name from work) posts that she has Emailed Bill about her order and gotten no answer. She says that if she doesn't get a tracking number or her package from him by Wednesday, she will file a "no delivery" claim with PayPal and urges others to do the same. This is Very Important. No one hears from Bill and they file claims for non delivery (just as they were told!) witth Pay Pal, who suspend Bill's account until he makes good on his deliveries. After a week, he sends everyone a small package by Priority ($9.00) containing a few dead cockroaches. Infuriated buyers notify PayPal who tells them that the seller has answered the complaint that they made and on this transaction they cannot file a second, different complaint! Bill's account is unfrozen and he keeps the money.

By this time, Bill (as Jolene) is busy explaining why she has to sell up the Breyer horses that her dear late husband bought her (his lingering illness ate up all of their savings). But don't feel abandoned, he will be back in two years (his daughter is having an operation, poor love) and he will take you again. And that's how it's done, folks. The miserable frauds perpetrated by the likes of Villosa are the exception to the rule, and this guy was certainly not in the top ranks of con men. The top guys do this for a living and do it well.. If you place an order with someone you don't know because it seems "too good to pass up." it is also "too good to be true."

* No I am not going to tell you how to open three PayPal accounts, and yes, there is one deliberate minor error in my explanation. If you spot it, keep it to yourself. This is meant to be a cautionary tale, not a tutorial for wannabe crooks.

 

[ABbuggin]

Besides... new guy selling the most sought after species available (IMO) with a story like he had... I mean come on.

That's what raised red flags for me. Prior to Yen selling the gongies and Idolos I knew of nearly everybody who had them in the US (sadly, very few people). I have never heard of this guy before and this also raised my suspicions.

Sorry for all that were taken advantage of.

 

[chrisnoahdana]

Has anyone figured out if its the same guy from way back that was from california? Myself and Ismart (One of the Nicest people I know ) are the people who really took the blunt of it ordering over 30 from him all together! I asked being its so cold in NY does he know how to ship he said oh yes I do it all the time (stupid me never asked on what forum then , so I asked if he would sell me 16 for $180 he said sure and I said do you throw in extra because most do but I understand if you dont because there so rare and not as easy to raise like others so he said sure I will give you 2 extra , I then asked if he would overnight them after he got paid for the extra 20 agreed to do so I was supose to get them today I asked him all day yesterday for a tracking number finally around 130am he mailed me a # well I found that this morning so when I called and it said he electronically bought the lable at 110am I new already it was a scam because he told me he shipped them out arounf 12 noon dah why did he even bother giving me a tracking number because you get the customer service on the phone and I kinda thought hey maybe he did ship out well I asked the lady if he bought it at 110am how will they get to NY by today mind you this is 7am this morning she said NY (sire this tracking number purchased stated its going to SanJose California I said WHAT???? I then said let me ask you were was it bought from she said I dont know but the shipping is going from sacramento Cali to san Jose I just slammed the phone down I had very little hope left still saying maybe he sent the wrong one . but then I remembered were he said he lived so maybe there is a 3rd party involved in this scam does anyone know mantid people in SanJose???? because the dirtbag might be splitting money with the person who owned the pictures !!!!! so he sent him the $$$ from were he is in CA to a partner In Sanjose well I know I wrote alot but im just really upset for what he did everyone knows Ismart he is the best guy out there in my eyes its a shame If I just new were he was I would by a plane ticket and show him how we do it in NY he wouldnt be able to ever log onto a computer again unless they had prstetic fingers well im sorry to all the people out there that fell for this lets all try our best to have a good Holiday and Happy new year to all my Mantis people Chris!

 

[sbugir]

Phil, my dad gave me an almost same explanation... Are you my father?

 

[PhilinYuma]

Phil, my dad gave me an almost same explanation... Are you my father?

Just call me Darth, Luke!! :lol:

 

[sbugir]

Just call me Darth, Luke!! :lol:

Oh gosh Phil, I lol'd.

 

[Emile.Wilson]

I feel sorry for you guys, but all i can say is buyer beware

 

[Peter Clausen]

Villosa's IP address traces to San Jose, CA. I'm wondering if this is him again, using a friend's computer. He was always big on Idolomantis. Could be sitting somewhere having himself a nice little laugh at our expense (some more than others).

Indycolts IP traces to Sacramento. Didn't notice this at first (it requires more digging offsite), but just that his IP didn't match any existing members', past or present or any known spammer's IP (I use a database as a cross-reference and manually approve all new members).

I was very tempted to drop some money down on these too, but didn't. Had the money too, but every factor seemed risky, especially taken together. I have a feeling we aren't going to fall for this again. I am going to post another sticky thread at the top of the ads section about avoiding scams.