DIARY: Ruminations, Occasional thoughts & happenings - as they arise
Yahoo! Auction Scam - . April-June 2004
On 20 April 2004 I paid US$940 to a seller on Yahoo Auctions for a HP
Laptop
Computer.
By the middle of June 2004 - almost two months later - I am still waiting for
delivery.
The Yahoo vendor is known as enduromysl,
who in her first email to me signed herself .
Rae Ann Wexler.
When we agreed a price she said that her 'supplier' is a man named
Derek Roberts who lives at 469 SW 3 St, Ap #10, Miami, FL 33130. US
This is how the thing developed:
On looking at http://page.auctions.shopping.yahoo.com/auction/85439621
(Click here to view if you have difficulty
viewing the Yahoo link to the closed auction)
I noticed that the vendor enduromysl stated that . 'Seller will ship
within
the United States' so I clicked on 'Ask Seller a Question' and asked
if the Compaq Pavilion
ZE5470US Pentium IV 2.66GHZ 15.0 laptop computer could be shipped to
Northern Ireland.
> ______________________________________________
> enduromysl emailed back saying:
> _______________________________________________
> "Hi,
> Yes, I'll ship it to Northern Ireland. Shipping fees ~
> 40$ with UPS courier - 3 or 4 days delivery.
> Payment could be made through money transfer or bank
> transfer.
> Please send me your home or business address so I can
> pass it to my supplier in order to proceed with
> transaction.
>
> C u,
> Rae Ann".
> _______________________________________
I REPLIED:
_______________________________________
Ah Yes Rae Ann, but the auction is not yet over, is it?
This (below) is the situation at the moment (without a bid and with almost
4 days to go) - and while I would readily ask you to sell it to me at $400 I
> suppose you will want to see how it goes? [You could, of course, let
me
> know about this, i.e. if you have a Reserve I could meet.]
> If you are willing to alter this to an immediate 'BuyNow' transaction at
an agreed price I would be very pleased to make immediate payment and ask you
> to send the item to me: Michael O'Shea, 36 High Street, Ardglass,
County Down, Northern Ireland
BT30 7TU
> [You can check who I am by looking at one of the following
> personal web: www.o2c.org
village web: www.ardglass.net ]
> Thanks for your help,
> Mike O'Shea
> ____________________________________________
>
THE FOLLOWING WAS THE REPLY:
> ____________________________________________
> Hi Mike,
> Our buy now price's 900$ + shipping. Just let me know
> if that's fine with you.
>
> Ann
> ____________________________________________
> AND I SENT BACK:
> ____________________________________________
> Right, Rae Ann, that looks good - a wee bit on the expensive side for me
but
> the Spec. looks so good I cannot resist.
> I calculate I should now send $940 to you, or the equivalent in GB£,
which,
> the last time I checked through Yahoo was about £510. You would need
to
> confirm this amount and also your address or Bank Account or whatever,
plus
> your preferred money transfer method. I will then transfer cash.
> Yours with thanks,
> Mike
> ____________________________________________
> THEN FROM enduromysl
> ____________________________________________
> Hi Mike,
> Right now I got the confirmation that your system has
> been delivered to UPS warehouse.
> In order to receive tracking number payment should be
> confirmed and verified.
> Here you have all details and information needed for
> payment:
> SouthTrust Bank
> Routing no: 063109430
> Acc number: 31222042
> My supplier's details:
> Derek Roberts
> 469 SW 3 St, Ap #10
> Miami, FL 33130
> US
> Amount 940$ ~ 522.64GBP (I just made the conversion
> with Yahoo).
> As soon payment has been made please send me your bank
> name and routing or, if that's possible copy of
> transfer form.
>
> C u,
> Ann
> ______________________________________________
> AND FROM ME:
> ______________________________________________
> I have had the devil of a time trying to make payment directly from my
Bank,
> which is closed for the weekend.
> All this will be explained by Paypal communication that you may have
> received by now.
> Sorry to have troubled you - and I hope it does not REALLY cause trouble.
> Let me know situation as and when convenient. I did not wish to wait
until
> Monday morning to clear my account with you.
> Have a nice weekend - when it catches up with you!
> Yours,
> Mike
> ____________________________________________________
> WITH THE REPLY:
> ____________________________________________________
> Hi Mike,
> I don't have paypal account and I'm not authorized to
> accept PP payments.
> Ann
> ___________________________________________________
>
THERE THEN FOLLOWED exchanges in which enduromysl
(Rae Ann Wexler) said that she could not accept payment by Credit card.
I THEN arranged for my Bank in Northern Ireland to transfer US$940
to the designated Account, as detailed on Attachment (see cashtransfer).
___________________________________________________
From the moment that cash was transferred Rae Ann
did not answer any
of my emails - as follows:
27 April 2004 15:48
----- Original Message -----From: Michael O'SheaTo: Rae Ann WexlerSent: Wednesday, April 28, 2004 3:30 PMSubject: Delivery of Compaq Pavilion ZE5470US
Rae Ann,Here we are - 8 full days since my Bank paid 940USD into
Derek Roberts Account (20th April) - and I still have no confirmation from you.What's up?I remind you that on 17/4 you said:"Right now I got the confirmation that your system has
been delivered to UPS warehouse.In order to receive tracking number payment should be
confirmed and verified."We really need to get this moving. I plan a major project and need this laptop to get on with it.UPS Tracking number?Yours,Michael O'Shea
Rae Ann,
to set about destroying your reputation and that of Mr Roberts. No joy in that.
I then emailed Yahoo auctions as follows:
> > Date Originated: Friday April 30, 2004 - 14:27:24
> > Name: Michael O'Shea
> > Yahoo! ID: mikeo2
> > Type of feedback: Abuse Report
> > Type your feedback here:
> > Tried to enter this in comments about
> > Seller, who had emailed me and agreed
> > to 'Buy Now' sale of Compaq Pavilion
> > ZE5470US Pentium IV 2.66GHz 15.0
> > Laptop Computer.
> > This the basic information I wished to
> > post:
> >
> > CAVEAT EMPTOR! Beware of RAE ANN
> > WEXLER, aka enduromysl@yahoo.com
(said
> > to be of Saint Paul, MN) and of her
> > sidekick DEREK ROBERTS, of 469 SW3
> > St., Ap 10, Miami, Florida. Tel. No:
> > 3055455539.
> > Here's why! On April 20th 2004 my
> > Bank, The Northern, in Belfast,
> > Northern Ireland, transferred US$940
> > to Mr Robert's account with South
> > Trust bank, 1900 Alton Road, Miami
> > Beach, Florida (Account NO: 31222042;
> > Routing No: 061109430). This was in
> > payment for a Compaq Pavilion
> > ZE5470US, on a 'Buy Now' basis.
> > From the moment that my US$940 was
> > paid into Derek Robert's Account Rae
> > Ann Wexler stopped answering my
> > emails, and now, on 30th April - ten
> > days after this sum was lodged in
> > Robert's Account, I discover that his
> > phone is "temporarily disconnected -
> > with no further information".
> > I leave it up to you to come to a
> > conclusion.
> > As a 71-year-old existing on a small
> > pension this loss means a lot to me.
> > My plans for a specific writing
> > project are severely disrupted. I am
> > sick and disillusioned, of course, and
> > angry, but I am mostly sad that such
> > people exist - well, no, that they are
> > making themselves into non-people.
> > They are, probably without knowing it,
> > evil people, in the sense that they
> > lack any sense of truth, goodness,
> > care and compassion. What a pity that
> > people should do this to themselves.
> > If anyone can help me with this please
> > email me: mike@o2c.org.
> > Yours,
> > Mike O'Shea
___________________________________________________
I got this reply :
> >> From: "Yahoo!Auctions" <auctions-abuse@yahoo-inc.com>
> To: <mike@o2c.org>
> Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 7:38 PM
> Subject: Re: Feedback - Abuse Report - Registration and account
> configuration (KMM11135523V9426L0KM)
___________________________________________________
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > Thank you for writing to Yahoo! Auctions.
> >
> > We appreciate your concerns and are sorry to hear of your situation.
Due
> > to the fact your transaction occurred outside of Yahoo! Auctions, we
are
> > unable to assist you with this matter. You should contact the company
> > that hosted your auction. Please go to that auction company's website
to
> > find their help pages and information on how to contact them.
> >
> > If you think you may be a victim of fraud, we recommend that you
contact
> > the Internet Fraud Complaint Center, your local postal inspector
and/or
> > the Federal Trade Commission at:
> >
> > https://www.ifccfbi.gov/
> >
> > http://www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect
> >
> > http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.htm
> >
> > It may also be appropriate to contact your local law enforcement
> > officials (through a non-emergency number).
> >
> > More information on fraud can be found at:
> >
> > http://www.fraud.org/welcome.htm
> >
> > Sometimes auction sellers and buyers will contact each other to
suggest
> > that an item be purchased outside of Yahoo! Auctions. For your safety
we
> > do not recommend or encourage this type of activity. If you purchase
an
> > item without receiving an official Winning Bid email notice from
Yahoo!
> > Auctions:
> >
> > * you will not be recognized as the official winning bidder on the
> > auction page
> > * you are not covered by our Buyer Protection Program
> > * you will not be able to leave feedback for the seller
> >
> > For more information on safety tips for online transactions with
Yahoo!
> > Auctions, please visit:
> >
> > http://auctions.yahoo.com/phtml/auc/us/promo/safe.html
> >
> > Thank you again for contacting Yahoo! Customer Care.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Yahoo! Customer Care
> >
> > For assistance with all Yahoo! services please visit:
> >
> > http://help.yahoo.com/
___________________________________________________
I then emailed Yahoo again:
From: "Michael O'Shea" <mike@o2c.org>
To: "Yahoo!Auctions" <auctions-abuse@yahoo-inc.com>
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 10:48 PM
Subject: Re: Feedback - Abuse Report - Registration and account
configuration (KMM11135523V9426L0KM)
> My purchase did NOT take place outside Yahoo! Auctions.
>
> NOW - You, at Yahoo! Auctions, are the only people who have access to
> enduromysl, know the identity of the 'Company' you host on your website.
> I CANNOT, as you suggest, "contact the company that hosted [my]
auction",
> other than Yahoo! Auctions.
> Yahoo! is the company that hosted enduromysl and must, under Law, reveal
> this person's identity, location, full address and telephone number.
> If you do not I will report this as negligence to the authorities you
> suggest in your dismissive email.
> I expect a much more responsible reaction from a company that I have
> hitherto held in high respect.
> There is no doubt in my mind that a 'Company' accepted and promoted by you
> as a bona fide Seller has used Yahoo! to rob me of US$940 (unless
enduromysl
> and her supplier have been having a long Labor Day holiday!).
>
> I expect that you will investigate this occurrence and report back to me
at
> the earliest possible moment with full details, recounting the action that
> you have taken.
> Yours,
> Michael O'Shea
.___________________________________________________
.. and then again to Yahoo:
___________________________________________________
> >10th May 2004
A week ago I asked you to investigate the standing of one of your Sellers -
enduromysl - providing details of how this person, accepted by Yahoo! as an
approved Seller, had defrauded me of US$940 .
Since then I have heard nothing from you.
It appears that while you are aware of this criminal act you are not
prepared to investigate it in any shape or form - actually PROTECTING the
identity of this fraudster, colluding with her in an illegal act.
If I do not hear from you, providing full details of this person, and of the
actions you have taken, I will most certainly commence proceedings against
Yahoo for collusion to defraud.
Michael O'Shea
___________________________________________________
I got no reply, and did not quite know what to do.
Then I got an automated notification that enduromysl had had the effrontery
to put up an auction for a further ten HP laptops, at the very low price
of 760USD (seeking for more suckers?)
I created a second Yahoo identity as mickeyjoe@btinternet.com
i.e. MickeyJoe
Mulheron (using my mother's maiden name and demonstrating how easy it is
for
makeshift identities to be created on the Yahoo Auction website - a lack of
security
and ordinary care shown by Yahoo, enabling criminals such as RAE ANN
WEXLER
and DEREK ROBERTS to come back
under assumed identities and continue with
their fraudulent activities.
Yahoo, by refusing to take normal security precautions
and by refusing to take action
when alerted to fraud is guilty, by omission, of active collusion with such fraudsters.
The rest of my story is briefly told (thank you for sticking with me so far!).
Using my mickeyjoe@btinternet.com
identity I made a successful bid for another HP laptop.
See here.
I then got an email from Wexler as follows:
|
Add
to Address Book
Hi, You have won my auction #86110960 - HP Pavilion ze5470us, your winning bid was 760$ .The notebook is new, sealed in the original box covered by manufacture warranty. It will be ship directly from my supplier by UPS courier. Payment should be made through WesternUnion service.I can arrange with supplier to deliver the package to UPS warehouse and after that, UPS will contact you to confirm package receipt and you will make the payment. On this way you can be sure that you will not be scammed. Please advise me with your shipping address. Thanks, Rae Ann |
To which I replied - giving her the benefit of a
doubt and hoping that
she might, even at this late stage, repent of her fraudulent activities:
|
|
Ah, Rae Ann!
I thought I had lost contact with you!
No doubt that there was some sort of mix-up between you and
your supplier so that you lost my other email address -
as well as my physical address, which is:
Michael O'Shea, 36 High Street, Ardglass, County Down,
Northern Ireland, BT30 7TU.
As 940USD has been paid, as requested, into your
Supplier's designated account (see attached) you should
now make arrangements with UPS to contact me with
confirmation of posting + tracking details.
I look forward to receiving this item very shortly - not
before time I may add.
This will leave my Account with you 140USD in Credit
Yours,
Michael J. O'Shea
|
|
Hi Michael, So sorry but I don't remember you, did you get product from me?Which one? |
... so that I came back with this - still hoping that she (whoever she is) would come to her senses:
|
|
I KNEW that you had mislaid
your data:
It was a Compaq Pavilion ZE5470US Pentium IV
2.66GHz 15.0,
payment arranged by your goodself as stipulated in
the email exchanges indicated below.
Now that I have managed to establish contact again -
and verified payment into your suppliers account I trust that you
will supply the above item - immediately if you don't mind. I
have been waiting a long time to commence my project and I can't
afford much more time.
I look forward to hearing from UPS that delivery has
been immediately initiated.
Yours,
Mike O'Shea
|
.. and then, a few days later ...
|
|
Yesterday I returned from a visit to
my son and found that you had not mailed this laptop to me.
I remind you that you hold 940USD of my money and that you are
duty bound, in honest dealing, to send this laptop to me, or
refund the $940 lodged to your account.
If I do not hear from you within 24 hours I will
assume that you have conducted a scam operation, and will
take immediate action.
Self-created unhappiness brought about by dishonest dealing is really
bitter torture, and imprisonment for fraud is also probably
unpleasant.
I would not wish either on anyone.
Only the honest face life with joy.
Please send this computer to me, immediately - or
the 940 dollars.
For your sake - Do not delay.
M.J. O'Shea
|
|
No reply to this - so I am driven to the final,
absolute conclusion that RAE ANN WEXLER and her confederate DEREK ROBERTS are dangerous scammers and fraudsters who must be
stopped -and that Yahoo Auctions are lax to the point of criminality, and need to put
their house in order. |
Sunday 27 June 2004
Sent the
NEWS RELEASE below to various media - and also to FBI in Miami &
Saint Paul Minnesota:
Wonder will it do any good!
NEWS Release |
DOWN
PUBLIC RELATIONS Michael
O’Shea MIPR
36 High Street, Ardglass,
Co. Down, N. Ireland BT30 7TU
Tel/Fax: +44(0)28 44
841436 Email:
mike@o2c.org
BT
YAHOO AUCTION SCAM
FBI to Investigate
FBI
and police forces in Miami and Saint Paul Minnesota are to launch an
investigation of scam online auctions promoted by Yahoo and its English
associate company British Telecom.
The
action is the result of a complaint by Northern Ireland pensioner Michael
O’Shea who paid US$940 for a laptop computer to a fraudulent seller hosted
by Yahoo.
In
April 2004 seventy-one year old retired teacher and former PR consultant
Michael O’Shea, from County Down, N.I., transferred US$940 from his
Northern Bank Belfast account to the South Trust Bank, Miami, Florida
account of a Derek Roberts, on the instructions of a Rae Ann Wexler, a
Seller hosted by Yahoo BT.
As
soon as the cash was paid into the seller’s account all communication with
the seller was cut. The laptop
was never delivered. Yahoo subsequently refused to accept any responsibility
for the fraud.
“It
appears,” says Michael O’Shea, “that BT Yahoo have no security vetting
procedure whatsoever, and anyone can register as a buyer or seller without
any check on validity of names or addresses, so that a fraudulent dealer can
appear, disappear and reappear under any assumed identity.”
“I
discovered this,” he says, “when to my amazement the seller who had
stolen my $940 continued to sell items by auction, but refused to reply to
emails.”
“I
made use of Yahoo’s lax procedures to register under a different name and
bought another laptop from Rae Ann Wexler.
This meant that she contacted me, to get new money, not
realizing who I was. Email contact ceased immediately she realised I was the
person she had already milked for $940.”
“It
is a scandal that BT and Yahoo appear to be actively promoting a system that
permits such fraudulent activity. Legally they are guilty of collusion.”
“I
have been informed that the
Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) - a partnership between the
Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center -
will immediately commence proceedings.”
end
CONTACTS
/ Information
Full
data Michael O’Shea’s Complaint
can be viewed at http://www.o2c.org/scam.htm
verification $940 Cash Transfer: http://www.o2c.org/transfer_cash.htm
Michael
O’Shea MIPR Cert. Ed. (retired
teacher & former industrial PR Consultant)
36 High Street, Ardglass, Co. Down, N. Ireland BT30 7TU
Tel/Fax: +44(0) 28 44 841436
Email: mike@o2c.org
Yahoo
Auction: Yahoo! Inc., 701 First
Avenue, Sunnyvale, California 94089
(408) 349-3300 (408)
349-3301 http://www.yahoo.com/
FBI
North Miami Beach 16320
Northwest Second Avenue, North Miami Beach, Florida 33169-6508
miami@fbi.gov (305) 944-9101
FBI Minneapolis Suite 1100 111
Washington Avenue, South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401-2176
minneapolis@fbi.gov
(612) 376-3200
Saint
Paul Resident Agency Federal
Building, United States Courthouse, 316 North Robert Street, Room 683, Saint
Paul, MN 55101-1464 Phone: (651) 291-7100 Fax:
(651) 291-0912
Email: stpa.minneapolis@fbi.gov
email:
mike@o2c.org
webs: www.o2c.org
www.ardglass.net
36 High Street, Ardglass, Co. Down, N.Ireland Tel: 028 44 841436