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ContractsScammed on localbitcoins.com. Have scammer's real name; any recourse? (CA, USA:WI, USA) (self.legaladvice)

tbrean が 投稿

On 3/5/16 I initiated a trade in response to an advertisement on Localbitcoins.com. The trade was to sell $3,200 worth of bitcoins via cash in the mail. The buyer had well over 100 confirmed trades with perfect feedback. He talked me into releasing the coins early, and due to his history I agreed. (This means he gets the bitcoins instantly instead of waiting for an escrow process. Obviously this was very foolish on my part.) He provided me with a tracking number. The tracking number never tracked, and the user was banned the next day. I have the user's full name as Localbitcoins has verified their identity, phone number, ip address, and email, although I only have access to his name. I understand localbitcoins would provide more information to police.

Three days later the tracking number he gave me showed action, but it was for a delivery to a different city.

Is it worth filing a police report? Is it worth pursuing the matter through through civil action? I reside in California, and he resides in Wisconsin.

Here is a copy of our discussion with names, address, and tracking redacted:

Communication (total 15 messages)

March 6, 2016, 11:13 a.m. ME: Hey, that tracking isn't working yet. Is everything okay?

March 5, 2016, 12:18 p.m. HIM : No prob, any time.

March 5, 2016, 12:17 p.m. ME: Ok, thank you.

March 5, 2016, 12:16 p.m. HIM : Tracking # will be EK#########US Check on it in a couple hours, they take an hour to update uo here.

March 5, 2016, 12:16 p.m. HIM : Tracking # will be EK#########US Check on it in a couple hours, they take an hour to update uo here.

March 5, 2016, 12:15 p.m. ME: its done.

March 5, 2016, 12:15 p.m. HIM : Ill need release before i get it ready.

March 5, 2016, 12:14 p.m. ME: awesome. thanks

March 5, 2016, 12:13 p.m. HIM : Ok, ill mark paid and get it ready. Will have a tracking # ready in 45 mins when i drop it off.

March 5, 2016, 12:12 p.m. ME: Ok, lets do it.

March 5, 2016, 12:12 p.m. HIM : And by "Lost" i really meant stolen by a USPS employee.

March 5, 2016, 12:11 p.m. HIM : Ive sent out 1,000+ packages in my entire lifetime. Stealth is prime. Ive had 4/1,000 deemed "Lost in Transit" and 2 were in CA, other 2 were in GA.

March 5, 2016, 12:07 p.m. ME: Hi! What is up with shipping to CA that requires the early release?

March 5, 2016, 12:05 p.m. HIM : No problem getting this out today, they close in 1 hour. $20 gets deducted from the trade amount for Priority Express Shipping. Finally, all packages with a CA or GA destination must be released before i drop the package off at the post office. Lmk if i should get it ready to go, or cancel. Peace.

March 5, 2016, 11:52 a.m. ME: (My address provided here)

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[–]swalsh411 29ポイント30ポイント  (1子コメント)

Most likely it was a hijacked account so who knows what you were dealing with.That he wanted to skip the escrow process is further evidence of this. You are probably never going to see those bitcoins again.

[–]grasshoppa1 3ポイント4ポイント  (0子コメント)

Most likely it was a hijacked account so who knows what you were dealing with.That he wanted to skip the escrow process is further evidence of this.

Nah, it wasn't a hijacked account. Before being banned the guy was all over the forums defending himself. He was a well known seller, and this particular incident is being talked about on multiple forums, which is how I knew who OP was talking about. Either the guy decided to pull an exit scam, rip off OP personally, or the package actually got stolen.

[–]grasshoppa1 19ポイント20ポイント  (3子コメント)

Your recourse is to sue him in small claims court. You can file a police report, but they may not give a shit about this, especially since it's a shady bitcoin trade.

Let me guess, this is B** S*** Bitcoins?

[–]tbrean[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (2子コメント)

Correct.

[–]grasshoppa1 9ポイント10ポイント  (1子コメント)

Yea, I'm really hesitant to believe he scammed you. I think it's much more likely that someone stole the package. This is why shipping cash is a horrible, horrible idea.

[–]tbrean[S] 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

Yes, this was definitely a very expensive lesson. The thing is, the package was never stolen. The tracking number he gave me didn't track when he said it would, but several days later that tracking showed it was turned in at his location and delivered successfully to a different city.

[–]PlutoniumPa 5ポイント6ポイント  (0子コメント)

You can sue him I guess?

Really though, you don't see the irony here? You decided to financially transact in ways specifically designed to elude intervention by governmental authorities, and now you want the government to intervene?

[–]ContextOfAbuse -2ポイント-1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Paging Bitcoin Expert /u/Zapopa, please pick up the courtesy white courtesy phone!