Somethings that I've been going through...

[VroomGrrl]

And Kathy, his actual name is Mr L P Mulholland so the Jason Mulholland guy is someone else...

How do you really know what anybody's name or location is in all of this?

All you know for sure is that you sent some money by western union to somebody who picked it up (different name from who you thought you were buying from....), they have your money, and you have....nothing. At this point, I don't see how you could rely on the word of the "seller" for anything, especially a real name or contact info.

Maybe the "Lee Mulholland" in the article I linked to about ebay scams is a total coincidence, but that's the first place I'd start looking if this ends up being a scam.

I really hope your trust in this guy ends up being well-placed, but it's not looking too good right now. Keep us posted!

[87RX7RACER]

Thanks for the support everyone. If I'm screwed, I'm screwed-but I plan on contacting the shipping company next week to check the validity of the e-mail I received from them with my name on it...

I have also given him an ultimatum to either A. Send me a correct reference number or B. Refund my money. If not, then I'm going to the FBI. We'll see what happens.

-Vincent.

[VroomGrrl]

Thanks for the support everyone. If I'm screwed, I'm screwed-but I plan on contacting the shipping company next week to check the validity of the e-mail I received from them with my name on it...

I have also given him an ultimatum to either A. Send me a correct reference number or B. Refund my money. If not, then I'm going to the FBI. We'll see what happens.

-Vincent.

Well nobody wants to see you get screwed. If that's how it ends up I do hope you will pursue it however you can. Sadly, this is a cautionary tale for the rest of us! Let us know what happens.

[dr_phatcity]

I tried to PM this to you...
Things on the good side ...

The guy you identified, "xerius", has a long string of posts on that website. He also has a picture of his car with his license plate demonstrated clearly. He should not be difficult to find.

Royal Mail is exactly how you would ship an engine from london to the U.S.

The bad-

You sent money western union to London. I really hope you have an email or written request from xerius to send the money to this guy in london. Otherwise, even if you find xerius, he can just say that he never got the money.

Automatic emails from shipping companies are almost never wrong.

I would immediately contact Royalmail and see if shipping at royalmail.com is their real address. Try and see if they have accepted the package --- they don't ship to tuscaloosa all that often, I promise. They can likely back track from the destination.

If that doesn't work, then I would contact xerius.

When talking to xerius I would try to be very diplomatic. Try to get him to confirm that you sent the money to the correct place etc. If he decides to not reply to you ... you are in trouble...
-Jamie

[87RX7RACER]

Yep, I have tried contacting him a few days ago with no response. His last post was 3 days ago on the NICOClub.com forums. I already know that he doesn't get online very often, so I can only hope to hear from him some time this week.

Another bad mistake I made was giving him the money order number when he asked for it. Also keep in mind he never mentioned that he was from Romania the entire time we spoke about the transaction. The cards are stacked against me here...I've been praying...alot.

I want to thank everyone for being understanding about this at the events this weekend. Most people probably think I'm an idiot, and they are probably right. I mean if this does turn out to be a scam-I deserve it. Hell maybe I deserve it anyway.

Good things to look at is that he has been a member for over a year on NICOClub.com and for over 3 years on 4TuningRO. So unless he just deciding to start scamming people, maybe I'll be okay....maybe.

[Cholewa]

If it does turn out to be a scam, besides taking the professional routes, I would post this up on every car forum in the EU in hopes that there are people who might know, or know of him, and would be willing to check things out. I remember a long time ago this guy got scammed when he was buying a powerbook, or maybe selling it. Either way, he enlisted some help from people in the buyer/sellers city, and got a little bit of payback. It wasn't glorious, but it was a great moral win.

[87RX7RACER]

Well, it's confirmed-it is a scam. I will be starting my FBI case in the morning. Royal Mail e-mail was a fake. I have contacted Leigh Mulholland (a woman) and I am awaiting her response. I'll keep you guys posted.

-V

[Erv]

sorry bro

[TouringBubble]

Man ... that sucks. I hope you get your money back.

[87RX7RACER]

Well I just spoke with the local FBI office. An agent named Brian is helping me. I also started a case on the IC3.com site that Kathy sent me. So far it doesn't look good. He's told me that getting my money back will be next to impossible. And that getting the US Attorney's office to prosecute for a measy 2,800 dollars will be hard too. It's not enough money for them to waste their time on...

[TouringBubble]

Most of these guys aren't one-timers though ... he's likely scammed many more. That is reason to prosecute.

[87RX7RACER]

Most of these guys aren't one-timers though ... he's likely scammed many more. That is reason to prosecute.

Okay, I have finally heard from the guy. He says that he was working with a partner and that it is possible that his partner is screwing him over. I will know more in the next 24 to 48 hours. He promises me that either way I will receieve either the swap or a full refund.

Wish me luck!

-Vincent

[VroomGrrl]

Okay, I have finally heard from the guy. He says that he was working with a partner and that it is possible that his partner is screwing him over. I will know more in the next 24 to 48 hours. He promises me that either way I will receieve either the swap or a full refund.

Wish me luck!

-Vincent

Frankly, I understand your hope, but that's what they've banked on all this time, your hope and good will, just striiiiiinging you along. THEY ARE STILL SCREWING WITH YOU. The address you were given for the so-called "Leigh Mulholland" is for a COMEDY CLUB, for example. Who says "Leigh" is a woman, if s/he is even a real person? There are several male "Leigh Mulhollands" in Sheffield and surrounding areas, also. Not to mention the "Lee Mulholland" arrested for eBay scamming that I emailed you about.

Just because they have spoken to you and made more promises does not mean this is not a scam. It still is. They have still given you entirely bogus information, they have your money, and you have nothing. The whole bit about a partner, Vince? BOGUS. Why would you even believe that or repeat it as if you do? SCAMMERS AND LIARS. Period. The business partner bit is made up by a scammer to stall for time since they know you have contacted the FBI. Coincidence? I think not.

Don't let them reel you in again. You can't believe a word they tell you at this point. Money talks, BS walks. Tell them to WESTERN UNION YOUR MONEY BACK IMMEDIATELY, give him your city code and a deadline when you want to pick it up at Western Union, and get your $$ back. Period, end of story. Too bad you can't get the FBI to tap your line to check where the call is really coming from.

Anyway, you have to know by now that this so-called engine does not exist. You do know that, right? Even if it did, with all the bits & bobs involved, it's bound to have some little thing or another missing, and you will have NO recourse. Go for your full refund IMMEDIATELY if you can get it, and call it a lesson learned.

Don't make me come over there and smack some sense into you!

[Cholewa]

- +1 -

[VroomGrrl]

Vince I'm glad you followed my advice and used the contact I gave you for the agency we talked about. They have a whole division devoted to Romanian scammers, and as they told you, they are obviously very interested in your situation. The individual transactions may be "small" (tell that to somebody who's lost $3k!) but they add up, and they have been very successful at nabbing these folks. If you pursue a claim with them, your case will probably end up part of the ongoing investigation and prosecution of these criminals. If it's a scam, of course.

If it's not, hooray for trusting people on the internet?

I thought this was interesting, re: Romanian scammers and their methods:

The conspirators posted items for sale that were never intended to be sold, then collected money from the "successful" bidders. The victims were instructed by the online sellers to send their payment by Western Union to circumvent online payment systems. Manolache and Salageanu then went to Western Union locations in the Los Angeles area and, using false identification, collected the victims' money. None of the victims received the items they had purchased.