A russian steal 1900 Euros on intrument transaction - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: eurofox
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 12:24:17 pm
content: This is the first time I got such a bad adventure since more than 10 years buying an instrument on internet.A russian just did it to me stealing 1900 Euros by transaction on a instrument that I never got and I'm sure now he never got this instrument as well.Official criminal action as be taken but

author: Dave
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 01:39:07 pm
content: Did you pay through PayPal or was it a direct bank transfer?I hope you get your money back and justice is served to the scammer.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 01:54:44 pm
content: I wouldn't pay an unknown overseas dealer by anything but protected PayPal.

author: eurofox
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 02:06:38 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 19, 2014, 01:54:44 pmI almost always use paypal but in this case it was supposed to be covered by a UK located shipping company with contract, shipping document, tracking number .... (websitehttp://www.grudel.com/) with my own registration, password, UK bank but it appear after investigation that is is a russian.Criminal file is open by local police and Scotland Yard since the address is located in UK. This website is the base used but this cheater.

author: Omicron
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 02:30:31 pm
content: I had a similar experience with a seller in the UK about a year ago. Luckily for me I used paypal and I got a full refund from them in the end. Paypal buyer protection works, but you have to be careful to respect the deadlines for making a claim.You have to watch out buying high end gear in Europe these days. E.g. suspicious sales of Tek DPO/MSO4000 series scopes pop up regularly on eBay. The operating mode is always similar: they put an add on eBay and pretend to be somewhere in western Europe. Italy, UK, etc. But when they send you their payment details you'll get a bank account in Poland or some other eastern European country. So beware. Some recomendations:- avoid sellers that ask for direct transfer of money instead of paypal- time and date displays on the scope screen images may give a clue that the image was "stolen" somewhere- google image search can sometimes also reveal "stolen" product images- look for other things in the images that do not fit the seller's country (like US power outlets in the background)- too good to be true prices are very often too good to be true- if you contact the seller, pay attention to their use of language, e.g. poor English skills for someone claiming to be in the UK is a huge alarm bell.- if nobody else is bidding then triple check all the above

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 02:43:33 pm
content: I would think that providing a clear close-up photo of the nameplate with serial number should be easy to do for a legitimate seller.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 03:13:26 pm
content: The postal address of the international shippers appears to be a private address either a house or flat 27 Old Gloucester street London WC1N 3AX. Check it out on Google earth it is neither an industrial or office address if you look at it on street view which is something I often do before I buy something or send it.

author: eurofox
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 03:31:43 pm
content: Quote from: G7PSK on July 19, 2014, 03:13:26 pmI did it after finding that there was something wrong but is was to late. I'm usually very careful, it started with an advertisement on a well know Belgian second hand site where you can buy instruments, posted in local language without spelling error, a person with positive feed back ..... I cannot put the full story here since there is an official police investigation in Belgium and UK.Let me tell the following .....12 year ago I was a plant manager in Slovakia, I got a Lecroy oscilloscope that I posted for sale on internet, price was 8000 US$In this time Slovakia was not a EU country and reputation was not like now.A US guy contacted me and wanted to buy it, he ask my bank information, the next day the money was on my account, I was very surprised and told him that I could as well be a cheater and send him of course the instrument.I bough many things on internet (US, UK, Germany, China, Korea, Europe several country's, Israel ....), got 2 issues with bad packing and instrument was not in a good shape but could manage to find a solution to refund it.I'm sure all russians are not bad, my email was one time hacked and it was by a russian, was in russia many times and don't really got a good feeling about it.When I watch the latest development on the news, I'm convinced that the events in Ukraine are triggered by russia and to be honest I start to be very suspicious about russians.

author: fluxcapacitor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 04:14:39 pm
content: Quote from: G7PSK on July 19, 2014, 03:13:26 pmThe address has a company called british monomarks which is a virtual office with mail and call handling service . Monomark House, 27 Old Gloucester Street .http://www.britishmonomarks.co.uk/http://www.192.com/places/wc/wc1n-3/wc1n-3ax/

author: eurofox
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 04:50:20 pm
content: To avoid any comments from russians, I know it is not the place to discuss this geopolitics:I was married with a women from Luganks (Ukraine) for almost 8 years, she spoke only russian, she pass away due to cancer 5 years ago.She was a wonderful person, we have a son together. She never say anything about been oppressed in Ukraine as an russian only speaker.I'm married again with a Ukrainian women, she is from south of Ukraine (where they speak russian) , she speak russian and ukrainian and never complain about language issues in her country, it is an invention from the russian to be able to get "the right" to take action in Ukraine the "nova russia"

author: eurofox
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 04:52:11 pm
content: Quote from: fluxcapacitor on July 19, 2014, 04:14:39 pmI suppose that the police will take care of that, at least they wrote it in a report but could take some time ....

author: Refrigerator
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 04:54:52 pm
content: Ahhh, those pesky russians...That guy is most likely swimming in a pool of vodka right now.

author: Alexei.Polkhanov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 05:34:08 pm
content: Pool of vodka hahaha :-)I ordered old RF components from Russia like Gunn diodes, oscillators and other stuff like that many times - shipping for some takes forever, but everything arrived as promised in perfect working condition. I had a problem with shipment from Israel once - it was pretty expensive LNA - I got it almost 3 weeks later!, apparently Canada Post did not enter tracking information correctly when they got it. Maybe it will still arrive. There is always a problem with shipping from that part of the world for some reason.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2014, 02:48:01 am
content: It is a lot of money. Russia is not a country to do business with. Why could you have not bought the device from a reputable country? If it was too cheap to be true, it obviously was. As of today, anyone dealing with the Russians deserve to lose their money.

author: Alexei.Polkhanov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2014, 05:13:38 am
content: If I understand it right he mentioned above that item was suppose to be shipped from UK (hence that "virtual" UK address), not Russia. He also assumed that seller was Russian, not sure why.I am mostly buying on Ebay, not selling so I wonder how much you can actually gain by arranging the payment directly and thus loosing the Ebay protection? 10% 15%? Is it worth it?Something does not add up here. What was the name/account of fraudulent Ebay seller?

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2014, 05:29:56 am
content: Not an Ebay seller as the OP mentioned it was a private sale with contract, shipping docs and UK address.Maybe more along the side of craigslist.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2014, 05:36:27 am
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on July 20, 2014, 02:48:01 amSomeone sure hates the Russians for some reason.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2014, 05:49:37 am
content: To me sounds more like mistrust than hate.But just because a few take advantage of the system it doesn't mean they all do. Then again, dash cams in Russia are common because of people trying to game the insurance companies at the expense of the insurance holder in the long run. I mean people throw themselves in front of slowing down cars to claim insurance settlements, or even back up to your car even if they are driving beemers or mercs (the ones scamming) you should look on youtube, it's pretty crazy.

author: eurofox
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 20, 2014, 08:10:28 am
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on July 20, 2014, 02:48:01 amWas supposed to be an European with an European nameFor me in the future all that is russian will be on a black list.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2014, 10:19:32 am
content: Quote from: eurofox on July 20, 2014, 08:10:28 amAgreed. Unfortunately I don't think there is much alternative to Svetlana valves (vacuum tubes). Despite them being pretty good valves technically, Russia can stick them firmly where they fit. I think China still makes some valves and maybe Japan. You can still buy NOS (New Old Stock) of Mullard and Philips, and these are sometimes found on eBay.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2014, 10:21:24 pm
content: Quote from: eurofox on July 19, 2014, 04:50:20 pmOut of curiosity: how did you meet a woman from the Ukrain without getting scammed? That sounds like quite an achievement to me.

author: eurofox
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 21, 2014, 10:55:40 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on July 21, 2014, 10:21:24 pmI spend professionally several years in Eastern Europe, many trip is Russia as well and live there as well.I was scammed by a russian women but not with an Ukrainian one.With lost of near 200 of your compatriots just a few days ago in a russian directly or indirectly triggered action to shut down an civil aircraft you should not ask this kind of question.I hope I answer your question.

author: Alexei.Polkhanov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2014, 11:53:01 pm
content: So your Russian bride run away with a rich Russian oil tycoon and now you are all broken hearted and cannot sleep because you are distressed by nightmares with evil Russians stealing your test gear?

author: Prime73
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2014, 12:22:35 am
content: Quote from: eurofox on July 19, 2014, 12:24:17 pmout of curiosity what instrument you were trying to buy from the scammer?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2014, 12:47:57 am
content: Quote from: eurofox on July 21, 2014, 10:55:40 pmStill don't understand how you determined that he was Russian, not Nigerian for example? For me it sounds that you just don't like Russians.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2014, 12:48:11 am
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on July 20, 2014, 02:48:01 amSeems British Petroleum and China think otherwise. Last time I checked they signed multiyear multibillion $ contracts for Russian oil and gas. And no, it was not 1 year contracts. Also, my guess is they first did their proper due diligence.

author: eurofox
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2014, 05:53:11 am
content: Quote from: wraper on July 22, 2014, 12:47:57 amPolice did it

author: eurofox
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2014, 05:59:54 am
content: Quote from: Bud on July 22, 2014, 12:48:11 amWhere there is $$$$$$$, live of people is not important, you should better look to the history of china and about BP they don't have such a "clean" history as well just like any other petroleum company, only $$$$$$ is important.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2014, 07:49:11 am
content: Here is a Russian hero

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2014, 09:35:38 am
content: Quote from: eurofox on July 21, 2014, 10:55:40 pmThat is a totally different subject which I trust the Dutch government will handle properly.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2014, 01:40:37 pm
content: -it is an invention from the russian to be able to get "the right" to take action in Ukraine the "nova russia"-that sounds like a significant detour from the original complaint about scamming.does this meet the moderators criteria for closing a thread?

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2014, 02:34:56 pm
content: Quote from: eurofox on July 22, 2014, 05:59:54 amAgreed. Today, money speaks loud - very loud. Louder than justice. Here, a foreigner without knowing a word of English can jump the immigration queue by throwing a few $million in cash at the federal government, when genuine immigrants of integrity have to earn their permanent residency. It appears some are more equal than others, especially when there in money to be made.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2014, 03:50:37 pm
content: -residency. It appears some are more equal than others, especially when there in money to be made-that's true where I live too, except that one can jump the immigration line by being totally illegal : you get free goods, education, work, residency, citizenship, ...here, everyone has rights, as long as you don't follow the law of the land, and don't contribute to the society.

author: eurofox
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2014, 03:58:07 pm
content: Quote from: dannyf on July 22, 2014, 01:40:37 pmIt seems that you don't like the true

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2014, 04:02:54 pm
content: I have no doubt that what you experienced is true.I just think one can lie, quite effectively, by telling a collection of truth - that's what propogandalists do

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2014, 09:51:43 pm
content: Quote from: dannyf on July 22, 2014, 03:50:37 pmIIRC you are of the USA? If so: I always frowned upon the immigration laws of the US. If someone stays there for a while (like some relatives of my wife) they get automatic citizenship. That doesn't happen in Europe. If you can't sustain yourself you are not getting in. If you are illegal you will be deported even if you are working and pay taxes. Applying for a permit to stay in Europe for any other purpose than a vacation or education/internship is a long process with very strict rules.