KF6SIP John Ortiz & KG6YSB Debra Collins - Scammed me
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:27 am
Boy, that's two times in the last month where I tried to help someone out that misdirected something to me, and I got burned. This one really hurt.
1) John Ortiz KF6SIP of Sacramento, CA sent me a Money Gram Money Order for $350 by mistake. This happens sometimes... people see my callsign on the classified website and send me things instead of to the real buyer or seller. Not often, but it happens.
2) I contacted John to let him know of problem, using the email listed at QRZ.com.
3) Debra Collins KG6YSB responds to my email, says that she is John's "caretaker" and that I should mail the money order back. Later I get an email from John that confirms it's OK to send it back to Debra.
4) A week later I get another email from Debra, saying that they received the MO I sent back to them, but because the MO is made out to me, they can't cash it. She asks if she can send it back to me, have me deposit it, and send her a check for $300, keeping $50 as a donation to QTH.com. I say that is too much, but agree to $25 for the hassle. I mail the check, and it's received May 3.
5) I usually visit the bank about once a month, to make deposits, etc. Brought the MO to my bank and deposited a couple weeks ago (June 8)
6) Guess what I get for my trouble? A letter from my bank saying that there was a "stop payment" applied to the Money Order!!! They took back the $350 from my account, and dinged me another $12 in fees.
At this point, since I waited so long to deposit the MO, I can't do a stop payment on MY check, so I'm out the $337. And, of course, now neither John or Debra are answering my emails.
Once again, no good deed goes unpunished!
Live and learn... sadly, it will change how I help people out in these scenarios in the future. The good news is that people do pay for these things, one way or another... if not in this life, in the next one.
Be careful out there.
73 - Scott KA9FOX
1) John Ortiz KF6SIP of Sacramento, CA sent me a Money Gram Money Order for $350 by mistake. This happens sometimes... people see my callsign on the classified website and send me things instead of to the real buyer or seller. Not often, but it happens.
2) I contacted John to let him know of problem, using the email listed at QRZ.com.
3) Debra Collins KG6YSB responds to my email, says that she is John's "caretaker" and that I should mail the money order back. Later I get an email from John that confirms it's OK to send it back to Debra.
4) A week later I get another email from Debra, saying that they received the MO I sent back to them, but because the MO is made out to me, they can't cash it. She asks if she can send it back to me, have me deposit it, and send her a check for $300, keeping $50 as a donation to QTH.com. I say that is too much, but agree to $25 for the hassle. I mail the check, and it's received May 3.
5) I usually visit the bank about once a month, to make deposits, etc. Brought the MO to my bank and deposited a couple weeks ago (June 8)
6) Guess what I get for my trouble? A letter from my bank saying that there was a "stop payment" applied to the Money Order!!! They took back the $350 from my account, and dinged me another $12 in fees.
At this point, since I waited so long to deposit the MO, I can't do a stop payment on MY check, so I'm out the $337. And, of course, now neither John or Debra are answering my emails.
Once again, no good deed goes unpunished!
Live and learn... sadly, it will change how I help people out in these scenarios in the future. The good news is that people do pay for these things, one way or another... if not in this life, in the next one.
Be careful out there.
73 - Scott KA9FOX