Ripped off by Service Member - Need Advice
 

Dunno if this is the right topic category, but I made a deal with someone claiming to be a member of the US armed forces, sent him $350 dollars, and have received neither the parts, nor a refund. This started in December. After contacting PayPal, I got one further message from him in January, saying he'd been suddenly deployed to Korea but would get back to me in a couple weeks. Now it's been a couple months, and no further emails. As I see it, I'm probably out the money, but will either (a) file a civil suit, or (b) attempt to locate this swindler through the military itself. I understand that the services deeply frown on misbehavior by its personnel.

So, I'm requesting advice from you service people out there: Should I do (b) and if so, how and whom should I contact?

Thanks!

First, are you sure he's actually military? What branch? What info do you have on him....got his unit info?

Others will pipe in, but you will have to get to his C.O. and they will take care of it for sure!

I imagine having Paypal contact his C.O. or Base Commander outta do it!

B - and you need to know his Chain of Command, IE what unit he is with.

The cavalry has been called........ :lol2:

Oh shit....not the Cavalry! Everybody run!!!!!!!

Navy right here. PM me his name and I will look into it for this branch.

BHR has friends in VERY high places, thanks to this website.......

Chain of command for sure.. BUT if he deployed to korea I want to say hes going to most likely be army seeing as they have a base there. But I know some of my Marines are also there. Make sure if you do figure out his unit that he isnt FAP'd to a different unit for deployment because it could make things more complicated. Either way if he is deployed most likely he couldnt get the part out and you could receive it when he returns.. a civil suit will cost more than $350 dollars..

My credentials: USMC Military justice section Staff Judge Advocates office.

I hope your PayPal was backed by a credit card and not your bank account. I've had PayPal tell me to go fly a kite several times in these type of situations. A quick call or email to my credit card company, then fax or email them the proof (emails, correspondence, etc), and BOOM! I've got my money back.

Good Luck

Also PM me his info and I will check him out and find out where he is at.

I have seen the Calvary in action and know outright who some of the soldiers are, and can deduce some others.
I only mean that I wouldn't want to be in the sites or anywhere near the stampede of this Calvary. :)


Mine on the other hand would be considered......errrrrrrr..............well....... .....more of a clandestine nature. :naughty:
Sort of like..........instead of the Cavalry, it would be like a sneak attack by Stealthy Indians that might be brought to the party.

That's exactly the problem - it was off my bank account, so PayPal basically won't help. They explain all the advantages of billing from your account, but don't tell you the real cost.

I appreciated that service members can be called up and sent away on short notice. After PayPal contacted him, I got a single email on 1/08/11 explaining the delay, but that it'd be a short one. Since then, neither response to my followup emails, nor updates. He may not be able to send the parts (which he claimed were already packed and ready to ship) from Korea, but he could issue a refund from there. Being patient has put me outside of PP's 45 day window for contesting transactions. Filing a civil suit for small claim is, as I understand it, essentially free in MI. I hate messing with this sort of stuff, but I hate getting ripped off too.

Incomplete information ... friends call me naive 'cause I generally expect people to be decent. He gave me a phone number which I tried when the parts didn't show up as expected. I got the "Not taking calls at this time" recording, a few days later, "Number temporarily out of service", and now it's being answered by someone who denies knowing him.

I'm trying to get info from PayPal, but apparently selecting "Payment Owed" in the transaction, eliminates you from straightforward access to their help system.

Chain of command is important. You wouldn't want to go to the installation commander with something like that. They have a lot more important stuff to worry about. Company commanders would be better suited to dealing with such an issue.

HiFlite,

In a seriousness. Listen to what Ray had to say.
You need to think about any communication you had with this person for any info, even though you think it may not be helpful or meaningful. You'd be surprised at what a little info can do. Scammers have been tracked down before by this posse.
Even if you wish to send all that info privately, you should do so. This could take the form of telephone numbers, name(even if only first name), usernames(even if not on this forum), and detailed description of what you were buying(as it might show up on some other site). Unfortunately, I cannot bring my contacts into play or exercise my resources here for certain reasons, but others can and will.
Personally, I think you should make a post here with every little bit of info you can(Including the info you PM's me with), and let's see what happens. I think you would be happy with the result as people will jump in and find him and be able to provide you the info to put the squeeze on him.

I don't want to post what you sent me in a PM, but I think you should along with all else that I have recommended. Think hard, sometimes it's just that little tidbit that ties the whole thing together.

I will try to help where I can without getting myself in trouble.

Good luck!

^listen to these guys OP!

I also forgot to mention that in small claims court.. first, you would need to have him served papers.. could be difficult not knowing his location and all. Second, typically just serving someone will get a result without ever entering court. An attorney can act on your behalf in the serving process and there ARE attorneys on military bases all over the world with the same jurisdiction as if he were your neighbor. But remember military attorneys will not represent a civilian nor get involved in civil matters, it is out of their range of duty. Lastly when dealing with your own civilian attorney in a civil suit, at the end of the process the will most likely enter a motion for him to pay any and all legal fees you have "racked up" provided that you win in the first place. Most likely you would. But again, serving him papers will be just as hard as contacting him to get a resolution out of court.

Your best bet would be, as others have said, through the company CO. No the Military does not take it lightly. Not only will they take it from your check they will also issue you NJP. Which could me reduction in rank up to two ranks, half months pay upto six months, and restricted duty. Which means no liberty, no leave, you cant even go to the PX or Commissary. You clean clean and clean some more for months.

That is after you have paid back the debt he owes you. Assuming he is service connected.

Thanks for the help guys, but please don't get into any trouble over this. No one likes to lose money, yet a $350 loss won't cause me any serious hardship. I suspect he's not evil, just irresponsible. Recently, at the day job, I hired a guy who so far, is working out really well. The fact that he had an impressive job history as first enlisted, then as an officer, in the US Navy definitely played a role in our decision to hire him. You successful military guys, while encompassing a wide range of "characters", generally exhibit a level of responsibility much greater than average - which is part of why I find this guy's behavior distressing.

The screen name is low_&_slow and the original for sale thread (carbon fiber fenders) is here:

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-parts-sale-wanted-44/carbon-fiber-fenders-208753/

$350 payment was made via PayPal to Eddie Alvarez (unverified), email: alvarezeddie22@yahoo.com on 12/8/10

On 12/11/10, I received a PM from him stating that the fenders were packed and he'd be shipping them out "next Saturday".

I sent a PM inquiry to him on the 21st with no response, I sent a txt message to the number he gave me (845-978-8076) on the 28th, with no response, and called on 1/4/11, getting a "not accepting calls" recording. That day I also sent an email to the listed yahoo address, with no reponse. On 1/6/11, I sent a complaint to PayPal.

On 1/7/11, I got a pm from him with apologies stating he was out in the field to train in Korea, that he wasn't home for Christmas or New Years and that the other mechanic had broken his collar bone so he had to go. He also said that he would be home soon.

Okay, fine, service member and all that.

Further PM's and emails have elicited no further response and his phone number has apparently been re-issued to someone else. Two months now since the last contact. The old phone number is consistent with a post he made about being the the area of Pine Bush and Newburgh, New York.

That's all I know. "low_&_slow" + mechanic + military + not near major base, makes me think helicopter mechanic, possibly Army National Guard.

Dunno, if that's enough, or perhaps someone by chance happens to know him personally.

Like I said, please don't anyone get into trouble over this! That would make me feel worse than the $350. But if there's a reasonable way to resolve this, it would be nice, plus the guy, if he's indeed military, needs a little remedial instruction in personal integrity. (Unless there's some major reason he can't read or respond to emails). :Wconfused

Post it up on 4Chan... Haha Things will get done. It's scary what people can find on the interbutz... I've seen it happen a few times where it only started with a picture of a location
(it had something to do with a car), and eventually the dudes address and everything was posted up.

for ur next purchase when paying using paypal wait a couple of days after payment and start a dispute for non receive item , after that u got 30 days for escalating to a paypal claim and u will get ur money back if the item is never shipped, i have done this everytime. it works.

And we wonder why Paypal gets sick of dealing with people ;)

Deal with responsible adults....I have only had one problem buying or selling things on this forum...and it was because I didn't listen to that voice in my head that said "beware"

well his name is Eddie Alvarez :)

not that it means much but there is no base around there. but of course there are guard and reserve units.