Olddaddy Posted October 21, 2011 Report Posted October 21, 2011 I sold a disc brake kit last month for a 55 Dodge car to a Canadian Fellow named Tom Silex (probably an alias) whose address was reported to me as 11175 Pretty Rd, Winfield, BC Canada. He even gave me a phone number that later turned out to be the Arrowleaf Cellars Winery. He paid me $215 via a Royal Bank of Canada money order which I deposited in my local Florida account. Having always believed money orders to be as good as cash and generally liking Canadians I shipped his kit. When the money order was returned unpaid my bank deducted the funds from my account. By the time I received the letter and the rejected money order I was bouncing checks and bills left and right. I was charged hefty fees totaling another $130 over and above the original $215. I contacted RBC who politely and efficiently determined the money order was not one of theirs and wished me luck. They had no interest in the fact that a person was using their bank as part of a fraud transaction. So, lesson learned. As of today I will no longer accept any form or payment for any of my services other than Paypal, or Cash in US dollars. And if anyone offers to pay you with a Royal Bank of Canada money order I would recommend that you decline the offer. RCB Money Order.pdf Quote
Tom Skinner Posted October 21, 2011 Report Posted October 21, 2011 Thanks for the Heads Up! Tom Quote
Dan Babb Posted October 22, 2011 Report Posted October 22, 2011 That sucks. Did your bank offer you any relief from their overdraft fees? Quote
Olddaddy Posted October 22, 2011 Author Report Posted October 22, 2011 Dan, no my bank, Wells Fargo did nothing for me. They didn't notify my when they took the money back out of my account until a week later when I got a letter in the mail. By then the overdrafts had done their damage. I know the banker personally, it's a small branch by my office. He didn't call or email although he has all my contact info, bank policy he says. Well,on Monday they will be my ex-bank, can't afford them any longer. Sad thing is no matter where I go it won't be any better. People don't matter, profit does..... Quote
Young Ed Posted October 22, 2011 Report Posted October 22, 2011 Charlie find a good credit union. Not that they don't charge some fees on stuff but my experience has been its a lot less. Sorry to hear you got ripped off. Edit Charlie I'd make sure they know why you are closing your account. That might be a good enough threat to get them to reverse some of those fees. Quote
oldmopar Posted October 22, 2011 Report Posted October 22, 2011 I can understand the bank not caring they are not out any money but there must be some Canadian law enforcement agency you can report this to its a shame to let the crook get away with this. Someone must live at the address where it was delivered. Quote
NiftyFifty Posted October 22, 2011 Report Posted October 22, 2011 Well first as one of your past Canadian customers I apologise that some ahole gave us all a bad view in your eyes for the moment, and actually the banks up here always recommend using money orders as safe payment but its unfortunate someone found a way to forge the papers. The other negative is that the Royal Bank doesn't even care about its customers here little own ones from other countries, so getting no satisfaction from them is normal. There is a website I believe to report fraud in Canada, might be worth a look. I won't take anything but pay pal for parts I sell and ship and if I do take a cheque I don't send any parts until everything is completely cleared, but no money orders or bank drafts... Cash is king IMO I can understand the bank not caring they are not out any money but there must be some Canadian law enforcement agency you can report this to its a shame to let the crook get away with this. Someone must live at the address where it was delivered. Quote
Dave72dt Posted October 22, 2011 Report Posted October 22, 2011 My local bank has had patrons scammed enough times,they'll tell you up front not to use those funds until it has cleared on the other end. With electronic transfers between banks, it usually doesn't take too long. Wife had received a sizable check from a questionable source, turned out to be legit, but she waited for a week and called the bank to confirm before dipping into it. Unfortunately, getting burned occasionaly by a customer seems to go hand in hand with being in business. Doenst make it any easier to swallow. Been there, done that! Quote
PatS.... Posted October 22, 2011 Report Posted October 22, 2011 (edited) Sorry you got took, Charlie. On behalf of the honest ones among us, I do apologize for your loss. I wonder how the recipient got the kit through customs with an assumed name??? Who was the shipper? Someone had to sign for it. You should file a report with the RCMP as well. Can't hurt. http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams-fraudes/index-eng.htm Edited October 22, 2011 by PatS.... Quote
NiftyFifty Posted October 22, 2011 Report Posted October 22, 2011 Ya the name must be right, as you can't pick up a parcel without ID unless maybe it was small town and your well known by the worker . Any chance a reverse search of his name and address on Canada411.com would get you a real phone number? If I was closer I would be happy to pay a visit... But it's a 18-20 hour drive Sorry you got took, Charlie.On behalf of the honest ones among us, I do apologize for your loss. I wonder how the recipient got the kit through customs with an assumed name??? Who was the shipper? Someone had to sign for it. You should file a report with the RCMP as well. Can't hurt. http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams-fraudes/index-eng.htm Quote
HanksB3B Posted October 22, 2011 Report Posted October 22, 2011 On the way to the Post Office! Somehow, I think you are going to find out who the guy is. Really don't like dishonesty, Hank Quote
Todd B Posted October 22, 2011 Report Posted October 22, 2011 I agree with Hank, what goes around, comes around. Just be patient. Quote
catfishcuz Posted October 22, 2011 Report Posted October 22, 2011 You know some crooks are not the smartest people lets all keep and eye on ebay and craigslist, just maybe we could get lucky and catch this person no matter where they are from. Very sorry about your loss Butch Quote
Dennis_MN Posted October 22, 2011 Report Posted October 22, 2011 We had a case in wright county Minnesota where a guy answered a Craig's list ad and pealed off 28 $100 bills. The gal selling said they didn't feel right so she took the cash to a nearby convenience store and the first few tested were bad. So she called the Sheriff and reported her camero as stolen. They caught the guy in thirty minutes but he tried to run and they used stop sticks on him. So the Gal got her car back with a couple of dents an bad tires. The moral, be careful, nothing is fool proof, do the transaction at the bank. Quote
ggdad1951 Posted October 23, 2011 Report Posted October 23, 2011 that sucks man, best of luck huntin' 'em down! That's why I prefer to pay and be paid by people w/ PayPal...about as foolproof as you can get even tho it's evil at times. Quote
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