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dawnraid

macrumors regular
Nov 9, 2007
161
0
Nope, not stupid... like those that fell for this scam.

Those that brought the MB's were under the full pretense that they were likely entering into a scam, and that they were possibly not going to actually receive their laptops. However they decided to purchase them anyway because they knew they had they had the full protection of paypal and their credit card companies. They knew the worst thing that could actually happen was that they would have to wait a couple of weeks to get their money back, they didn't "fall for the scam" nor did they loose anything other than some time. You come across as an extremely childish person who deserves little respect. You shouldn't have taken matters into your own hands when you were not directly involved with the matter.
 

spacecadet610

macrumors 6502
Mar 11, 2006
389
4
Back to topic..

Not surprisingly I never got a USPS tracking number like some people did. I already filed a paypal dispute yesterday morning so i'm just waiting for my money back.

I can't believe this guy is responding to phone calls. Maybe we should have someone call him saying he wants to buy 10 laptops and will send him a certified check in the mail. Then we could have the cops or whoever apprehend whoever gets the mail.

Ruben probably wouldn't fall for that but he doesn't seem like the smartest tool in the shed
 

Stachelsk

macrumors regular
Dec 17, 2008
132
0
Back to topic..

Not surprisingly I never got a USPS tracking number like some people did. I already filed a paypal dispute yesterday morning so i'm just waiting for my money back.

I can't believe this guy is responding to phone calls. Maybe we should have someone call him saying he wants to buy 10 laptops and will send him a certified check in the mail. Then we could have the cops or whoever apprehend whoever gets the mail.

Ruben probably wouldn't fall for that but he doesn't seem like the smartest tool in the shed

I'd just call PayPal directly, and you'll get your money back instantly.

The cops are probably already on him. Regardless of not if he used someone else's account, his IP address and possibly other information was logged. They can find him very easily, if they want to. I would think that a $100,000 fraud attempt would be a valid reason.
 

spacecadet610

macrumors 6502
Mar 11, 2006
389
4
I just called Paypal, and they said by their policy they are required to wait 10 days for the seller to respond to the dispute before they can release the funds. She reassured me that I will get all my money back if this guy is a fraud. I mentioned a "friend" that already got their money back and she doesn't know how that is possible.

I somehow doubt this guy will get caught.

I'd just call PayPal directly, and you'll get your money back instantly.

The cops are probably already on him. Regardless of not if he used someone else's account, his IP address and possibly other information was logged. They can find him very easily, if they want to. I would think that a $100,000 fraud attempt would be a valid reason.

it's an ill-planned failed heist

If he cant get to the money, and its all there, is it still a scam?
I am not sure?
 

eddieaus

macrumors regular
Feb 19, 2009
134
119
Back to topic..

Not surprisingly I never got a USPS tracking number like some people did. I already filed a paypal dispute yesterday morning so i'm just waiting for my money back.

I can't believe this guy is responding to phone calls. Maybe we should have someone call him saying he wants to buy 10 laptops and will send him a certified check in the mail. Then we could have the cops or whoever apprehend whoever gets the mail.

Ruben probably wouldn't fall for that but he doesn't seem like the smartest tool in the shed

of course he wouldn't fall for that, he's probably reading this thread right now.
 

NickM

macrumors 6502
Feb 24, 2009
282
0
USA
I just called Paypal, and they said by their policy they are required to wait 10 days for the seller to respond to the dispute before they can release the funds. She reassured me that I will get all my money back if this guy is a fraud. I mentioned a "friend" that already got their money back and she doesn't know how that is possible.

I somehow doubt this guy will get caught.

I definitely got my money back immediately.
Maybe the money you sent "Ruben" already entered his account by now. The money I sent was not even in his account yet... it immediately went on hold when I sent it. (so the lady told me, and even though it showed up as "completed" on my transactions page)
 

NickM

macrumors 6502
Feb 24, 2009
282
0
USA
Just because you talk to someone on the phone and get a "picture" of a item doesn't mean squat. I can fabricate up an entire person if you wish? Name, phone number address, pictures of all sorts of "Ebay items" I could sell. If that is all it takes to convince some of you it's "real" I feel for you, because your way to trusting.

The first clue this was a scam is he very simple fact someone questioned it enough to post a question on a message board because his gut told him this was BS. If your not 100% sure it's legit up front, it likley isn't. If you have to get confirmation just to convince yourself it's ok "to be stupid" your likely going to get scam'd. Nothing about the outcome of this entire thread should suprise anyone if you read it from the start and all the enteries. There were lots of people calling BULLS@#T the entire way.

In the end I'm glad people are not getting hosed for 1k+ a pop but if it did it would only make anyone that did lose money more careful in the future. The good part about being scam'd one time... it will never likely get you again because you will remember losing money and how that pissed you off and you will be a hundred times more careful and let common sense do your online shopping for you :).

First off, you can NEVER be 100% sure anything is legit upfront...especially when you're talking about buying through eBay.
There are signs that show a seller's legitimacy, and "Ruben" actually seemed pretty damn legit.
I've been a registered user on eBay for 10 years, and I'm also not a moron.
His account had 200+ positive feedbacks, and had been registered for a decent amount of time. He was selling the MacBook Pros at a very good price, but there was nothing UNBELIEVABLE about the price he was asking.
Auctions for brand new MacBook Pros end every day around the same price that he was asking.
Most importantly, I would never send anyone I didn't know a money order or check.
I exclusively use PayPal. I'm 100% protected.
Worst case scenario, I'm out of a little time. An inconvenience, but not the end of the world.

I got my money back...immediately upon calling PayPal.

Second, please don't "feel" for me. If anything, I should be the one doing the feeling... for YOU because you don't understand the concept of the contraction "you're" which is the word to use when you want to combine You and Are.
If you aren't involved with this guy and his eBay shenanigans, why are you posting here? Do you really feel THAT superior and "smarter" than people who are posting here for a legit reason? Maybe I'm the only one who took it this way, but your post came off kinda pompous to me.

Lastly, what are you talking about? Do you honestly think that eBay, PayPal, the FBI can't track this guy down if they wanted to??
If he is indeed scamming people, he is attempting to scam a LOT of money.
It would be SIMPLE for the FBI alone to find the guy... prepaid cell phone or not. Like someone else said, it's called "IP addresses" and "bank account information."
 

grefwe123

macrumors newbie
Feb 25, 2009
9
0
I was one of the last 8 person who bought the MBA stupid of me to do that still havent received A tracking number no more response for this seller. Good thing im covered by paypal but will only receive the money after 11 days if this person did not respond.


So stupid of me to fall into this :eek: learned my lesson should have been a gift for my kid this saturday

:(
 

NickM

macrumors 6502
Feb 24, 2009
282
0
USA
Everyone who hasn't already should CALL PayPal and speak to someone about this situation. The more people who actually call and complain about this guy, the better.... and the better chance that they will speed up the whole process for those of you who are having to wait for a refund.

Did anyone else aside from me get reimbursed immediately upon calling?
 

grefwe123

macrumors newbie
Feb 25, 2009
9
0
i have to wait for 10 days for the dispute tried to get the money back but all i have to do is wait how did you get right back need to get the money cant wait
 

macPlayer15

macrumors member
Feb 19, 2009
61
0
i have to wait for 10 days for the dispute tried to get the money back but all i have to do is wait how did you get right back need to get the money cant wait

Same with me, i argued for about 10 mins, the stupid paypal person said even if the guy a complete fraud, closes his ebay account and paypal account, i still have to wait 10 days. I told them i called visa and blocked the funds, she tells me visa will take 105 days for an investigation, i told her visa temporarily reversed the charge to my account and said it iwll take max 30 days, and in those 30 days i don't have to pay the charge because its temporarily returned.
 

bugout

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
May 11, 2008
721
40
is everything!
ok get this..

Ruben called me.. He said there were 2 batches of airs that went out, one on monday and another yesterday and that I will be receiving mine by the end of the week..

These guys are nuts.. don't they realize its over? lol
 

spacecadet610

macrumors 6502
Mar 11, 2006
389
4
Paypal woman told me his funds were frozen but they had a policy of waiting 10 days to release it

I definitely got my money back immediately.
Maybe the money you sent "Ruben" already entered his account by now. The money I sent was not even in his account yet... it immediately went on hold when I sent it. (so the lady told me, and even though it showed up as "completed" on my transactions page)
 

NickM

macrumors 6502
Feb 24, 2009
282
0
USA
Paypal woman told me his funds were frozen but they had a policy of waiting 10 days to release it


I know... this guy is my THIRD attempt in the past few weeks to buy a MacBook Pro on eBay... as I keep saying.
The first time, it took about a week, then finally the just reimbursed me.
The second time, the seller mysteriously refunded my money after a couple days.
This time, I told the lady that I wanted out of the transaction. She said it would take 2-3 days for the funds to hit my account again. Then she said, "OK, nevermind... the funds went through immediately." And then they were in my account.

Really, where?

On eBay. "Ruben" wasn't asking THAT unbelievably low of a price.
If someone has 40, 50, 60 laptops to sell... they would more than likely not try to charge top dollar for them all. They would probably want to cut a good deal to get rid of them a lot quicker.
 
T

The Toddfather

Guest
To quote you again, you stated:

"Auctions for brand new MacBook Pros end every day around the same price that he was asking."

I'm just curious to see what auctions you're talking about, I've been unable to find them. If you could post a link to one that would be great.
 

NickM

macrumors 6502
Feb 24, 2009
282
0
USA
To quote you again, you stated:

I'm just curious to see what auctions you're talking about, I've been unable to find them. If you could post a link to one that would be great.

Quoting me again isn't necessary... I know what I said.
You must not be searching hard enough. Try filtering out everything else that comes up when you search "MacBook Pro."
Put the minimum price at $500... that will cut out all the accessories and crap that isn't actually a MacBook Pro laptop.

One is ending soon that I am hoping to win. I don't want to give it any more attention than necessary ;)
If I win it, or if I don't, I'll post a link then.
This seller has been selling them on a regular basis for a while now... and he has 4 or 5 listed in separate auctions right now.
 

bossxii

macrumors 68000
Nov 9, 2008
1,754
0
Kansas City
First off, you can NEVER be 100% sure anything is legit upfront...especially when you're talking about buying through eBay.
There are signs that show a seller's legitimacy, and "Ruben" actually seemed pretty damn legit.
I've been a registered user on eBay for 10 years, and I'm also not a moron.
His account had 200+ positive feedbacks, and had been registered for a decent amount of time. He was selling the MacBook Pros at a very good price, but there was nothing UNBELIEVABLE about the price he was asking.
Auctions for brand new MacBook Pros end every day around the same price that he was asking.
Most importantly, I would never send anyone I didn't know a money order or check.
I exclusively use PayPal. I'm 100% protected.
Worst case scenario, I'm out of a little time. An inconvenience, but not the end of the world.

I got my money back...immediately upon calling PayPal.

Second, please don't "feel" for me. If anything, I should be the one doing the feeling... for YOU because you don't understand the concept of the contraction "you're" which is the word to use when you want to combine You and Are.
If you aren't involved with this guy and his eBay shenanigans, why are you posting here? Do you really feel THAT superior and "smarter" than people who are posting here for a legit reason? Maybe I'm the only one who took it this way, but your post came off kinda pompous to me.

Lastly, what are you talking about? Do you honestly think that eBay, PayPal, the FBI can't track this guy down if they wanted to??
If he is indeed scamming people, he is attempting to scam a LOT of money.
It would be SIMPLE for the FBI alone to find the guy... prepaid cell phone or not. Like someone else said, it's called "IP addresses" and "bank account information."

First off if I offended you, my apologies. It was not intended but as text does not reflect the intent of some words.

Ebay, Paypal and the FBI won't catch these people, Ebay and Paypal are a joke, the FBI, if they could catch these types of scammers we wouldn't have had these types of scams escalate for the past 20 years. If anyone has read any of the articles about the various "419" scams these types of listings become more obvious.

To the point about IP addresses, for 29.95 I can make my IP address show up anywhere in north america, canada or mexico. I thnk 59.95 gets you world wide IP's. This is not tough to do.

To your point about a bank account, again people get their identity stolen every day and I'm sure if these people wanted to they could create an online bank account without much trouble. All without using their real information.

This type of scam is rampant throughout Ebay, Craigslist and many other online venue's my interest in the thread was to give an opinion (that was asked for originally but the OP) about if this was Legit or not. I was unaware I needed to be a total dumbass and try to buy one from "Ruben's" Ebay posting to give an opinion. My bad.
 

NickM

macrumors 6502
Feb 24, 2009
282
0
USA
First off if I offended you, my apologies. It was not intended but as text does not reflect the intent of some words.

...

I was unaware I needed to be a total dumbass and try to buy one from "Ruben's" Ebay posting to give an opinion. My bad.

Please don't offer fake apologies if you are obviously only interested in still trying to sound like a self-righteous and pompous a$$hole.



I understand that people can and do spoof their IP addresses.
I'm just taking a stab in the dark with this one......but I have a feeling that the FBI has more resources and knowledge than YOU on this subject.
I also have a feeling that they can find anyone they want to...If they want to.
 

spacecadet610

macrumors 6502
Mar 11, 2006
389
4
Is it just me or has the testosterone level in this thread escalated the last couple days?

It seems this thread has run its due course and degenerated into bickering.

Well it was good while it lasted.
 

bossxii

macrumors 68000
Nov 9, 2008
1,754
0
Kansas City
Please don't offer fake apologies if you are obviously only interested in still trying to sound like a self-righteous and pompous a$$hole.



I understand that people can and do spoof their IP addresses.
I'm just taking a stab in the dark with this one......but I have a feeling that the FBI has more resources and knowledge than YOU on this subject.
I also have a feeling that they can find anyone they want to...If they want to.

"Create an online bank account"?
What is that? Aren't most online bank accounts tied to REAL bank accounts, which require information that can be traced back to someone?

If you don't understand how it all works nothing I can say will help that. I don't care what petty name you wish to call me. The questions you ask and statements you have made indicate you don't know how they do it.

I do. nuff said.
 

NickM

macrumors 6502
Feb 24, 2009
282
0
USA
If you don't understand how it all works nothing I can say will help that. I don't care what petty name you wish to call me. The questions you ask and statements you have made indicate you don't know how they do it.

I do. nuff said.

Once again, you are trying to come off as more intelligent and all-knowing than all of us "dumbasses."
Once again, you are pretending like you're more capable than the FBI.
Get a life and get out of the thread. You aren't involved with this situation.
You've said what you wanted to. Now you can leave, since you're better than all of us and already know everything.

I already got my money back...and anyone else who paid through PayPal is insured.
All you're doing now is trying to argue...and I'm not going to play your internet forum "Mr. Knowitall better-than-everyone-else" game.

Feel free to take the last word again, if you your internet ego really needs it.
I won't be giving you any more attention.

Once again...to everyone else who is actually involved with this, just call PayPal, if you haven't already.
 
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