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Have I been scammed?
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Buliarios



Joined: 02 Nov 2010
PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 9:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yikes! Thanks for all the replies. Some really useful information on here, with the exception of Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida Laughing Sometimes forget plebs like that exist.

Steelrails, thanks a lot. That's exactly the kind of post I was hoping for. Indeed I shall not give up. Thankfully, I do have all the correspondence between us. I've actually done a googlesearch on her already and got some interesting results, including this one which appears to have been written this year:
http://engworld.pofler.com/home/bbs/board.php?bo_table=menu4&wr_id=100041
The email and phone number match, plus there is an address (though she may not still live there, but it's progress). I've compiled all the information I've found so far, so I'll give it to the police as you suggested and get ready for a trip up to Seoul.

I sincerely hope that the last scenario you stated (where she turns out to be a ditz) is the truth, but at this point I'm doubting it.
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Steelrails



Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks.

One more bit- Don't just fill in the cops, fill in your co-teacher and any Korean people who can vouch for you on the situation and show them the evidence. When you go up to Seoul, if you deal with the cops/the person's boss, you are probably going to need to ring up a Korean speaking person with some weight behind them to vouch for you and explain the situation. Get all your ducks in line. The good thing is, the person probably won't have their's in order and will be scrambling and waffling. Also neither them, nor their boss is likely to want to get the cops involved. Have everything printed out and organized. Don't be overly aggressive though. Again, there is the chance this might be an innocent mixup and you're going to end up going down to the post office and finding out the package was mailed to the wrong address and everything is just fine. At the same time, you know what cards you have up your sleeve and be ready to play any or all of them.

And remember you can tell if they're lying by how they smell. If you smell that stink, don't let up. That being said, don't be afraid to offer an out to the person to let them save face- "Well if you haven't shipped it yet, can you just refund me the money?" But don't let them leave their place of work so they can run. Only get back the money, or only agree to take the PS3 ("I understand it can be hard to get to the post office, I'll pick it up from your house") if the cops are already there and are going to follow you all. Good news is that theft seems to be taken fairly seriously here relative to some other crimes.
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madoka



Joined: 27 Mar 2008
PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 9:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I may be wrong, but the seller doesn't seem to be ill-intentioned. After all, what scammer would use their real name, phone number, bank account and email address linked to their resume.

All bets are off if her account was hijacked though.
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Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida



Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Location: Not Korea
PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 12:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Buliarios wrote:
Yikes! Thanks for all the replies. Some really useful information on here, with the exception of Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida Laughing Sometimes forget plebs like that exist.

Steelrails, thanks a lot. That's exactly the kind of post I was hoping for. Indeed I shall not give up. Thankfully, I do have all the correspondence between us. I've actually done a googlesearch on her already and got some interesting results, including this one which appears to have been written this year:
http://engworld.pofler.com/home/bbs/board.php?bo_table=menu4&wr_id=100041
The email and phone number match, plus there is an address (though she may not still live there, but it's progress). I've compiled all the information I've found so far, so I'll give it to the police as you suggested and get ready for a trip up to Seoul.

I sincerely hope that the last scenario you stated (where she turns out to be a ditz) is the truth, but at this point I'm doubting it.


Here's a new word you can try out on your students. Fleeceable. Look it up and learn it Laughing
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Kuros



Joined: 27 Apr 2004
PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 2:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Steelrails wrote:

And remember you can tell if they're lying by how they smell. If you smell that stink, don't let up. That being said, don't be afraid to offer an out to the person to let them save face- "Well if you haven't shipped it yet, can you just refund me the money?" But don't let them leave their place of work so they can run. Only get back the money, or only agree to take the PS3 ("I understand it can be hard to get to the post office, I'll pick it up from your house") if the cops are already there and are going to follow you all. Good news is that theft seems to be taken fairly seriously here relative to some other crimes.


This is a bad idea.

Report it to the police, if you want. Or initiate a collections lawsuit. But don't show up at her work. As Madoka said, you don't know if its theft (she may lack requisite intent). Moreover, you don't have any power to make her cough up the money, not remotely, not while in her face. Pretending you have that power could only get you into trouble.
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Steelrails



Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 3:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kuros wrote:
Steelrails wrote:

And remember you can tell if they're lying by how they smell. If you smell that stink, don't let up. That being said, don't be afraid to offer an out to the person to let them save face- "Well if you haven't shipped it yet, can you just refund me the money?" But don't let them leave their place of work so they can run. Only get back the money, or only agree to take the PS3 ("I understand it can be hard to get to the post office, I'll pick it up from your house") if the cops are already there and are going to follow you all. Good news is that theft seems to be taken fairly seriously here relative to some other crimes.


This is a bad idea.

Report it to the police, if you want. Or initiate a collections lawsuit. But don't show up at her work. As Madoka said, you don't know if its theft (she may lack requisite intent). Moreover, you don't have any power to make her cough up the money, not remotely, not while in her face. Pretending you have that power could only get you into trouble.


You're assuming she knows that. And when you first get there, as I said, you aren't there to collect, you're there to inquire. If they have the stink on them, then they may rather pay you back than be embarrassed and even if nothing can actually be solved by the cops, it sure would be a shame if the police showed up when all the parents were there. Now you do raise a key point, never directly accuse in public. Just say you're trying to sort out the problem and need the police's assistance in clarifying. "Why did you call us?" "I need your help". NOT "She stole from me"

Quote:
After all, what scammer would use their real name, phone number, bank account and email address linked to their resume.


Crime makes you stupid.
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slothrop



Joined: 03 Feb 2003
PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 7:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
edit

Last edited by slothrop on Thu Jul 12, 2012 5:48 am; edited 1 time in total
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DeLaRed



Joined: 16 Oct 2008
PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 7:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
copy and paste her e-mail into facebook....you'll find her there too
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maximmm



Joined: 01 Feb 2008
PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 9:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
All right, I guess someone has to save the day. To the TS, I have two playstations 3 (brand new) with five factory sealed games. I'm selling both consoles for 250K Won. If you send me the money today (I'll PM account#), I'll send 2 consoles and five games to you the next day with a tracking number.

Let me know if you're interested!@@