Ebay Internet Scam

[karennh]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?NH
I was e-mailed by a Ebay Seller from Spain who asked me if I would be interested in a business proposal. Would I act as a middle man so that payment would be quickly recieved & item's shipped? I accepted payment via check & Moneygram for several of his items then forwarded him the money in Spain as he requested. A few days later I was contacted by police & asked to provide the merchandise or return the money! The e-mails from this character in Spain ceased as soon as I was contacted by the police & I'm being threatened by the Mass. Police if I don't return the money! I don't have the money~it was forwarded on & I have all the reciepts! Am I responsible~have I committed some kind of crime?

 

[The Greek]

To Crime or not to Crime

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?NH
I was e-mailed by a Ebay Seller from Spain who asked me if I would be interested in a business proposal. Would I act as a middle man so that payment would be quickly recieved & item's shipped? I accepted payment via check & Moneygram for several of his items then forwarded him the money in Spain as he requested. A few days later I was contacted by police & asked to provide the merchandise or return the money! The e-mails from this character in Spain ceased as soon as I was contacted by the police & I'm being threatened by the Mass. Police if I don't return the money! I don't have the money~it was forwarded on & I have all the reciepts! Am I responsible~have I committed some kind of crime?

Karen, This sounds a bit shaddy. You may be listed as an accomplice to a crime, without actually committing a crime. If it can be proved that you had any knowledge of any wrong doing.

 

[karennh]

I have made copies of all the e-mails from this supposed Ebay Seller & turned them over to my local Police Dept., I refunded the people whose money was still in my "hands" when I found out that this was a scam~and notified them of same but there are still funds that were forwarded to this guy via Western Union~am I to be made another victim by the Police Dept. I had no knowledge of this person or what was going on at all-I was badly shaken & now it's sounding like I'm to be blamed! Am I responsible for returning the funds that were transferred to Spain?
It just doesn't seem like I should end up the soul victim here.

 

[stephenk]

how old are you?

 

[The Greek]

Innocent Until Proven Guilty

I have made copies of all the e-mails from this supposed Ebay Seller & turned them over to my local Police Dept., I refunded the people whose money was still in my "hands" when I found out that this was a scam~and notified them of same but there are still funds that were forwarded to this guy via Western Union~am I to be made another victim by the Police Dept. I had no knowledge of this person or what was going on at all-I was badly shaken & now it's sounding like I'm to be blamed! Am I responsible for returning the funds that were transferred to Spain?
It just doesn't seem like I should end up the soul victim here.

First, how much funds are we talking about? This may determine if it is considered a Federal Crime or not?

If you have been cooperating with the local authorities, while maintaining your innocence, then you should not have alot to worry about. If you returned all funds that you have access to, then you have cooperated. The funds that are gone, are just that, gone. If you take responsibility for those funds, then you become responsible for them. I think to maintain your innocence, you should not take responsibility for those funds and call them collateral damages. You are not a victim of the police, but of the scam, remember that, "innocent until proven guilty". Cooperate with the police, but do not let them "pressure" you into paying for your ignorance <no insult intended>.

 

[Some Random Guy]

Come on here

This isn't the first time this has happaned and it won't be the last. Yes, you were conned, but don't call yourself an innocent victim here.

You were taking a cut of the money in order to dupe people into thinking that the e-bay seller was in the US at a known address instead of in Spain at a western Union pickup office. Its money laundering and/or fraud. For the police to believe your claim that you didn't know something shady was going on you have to be able to prove some kind of brain damage.

As for the advice "Cooperate with the police, but do not let them pressure you into paying for your ignorance", well you may want to get a lawyer. Because you may find yourself pressured into the situation of "make restitution or face jail time."

 

[Breakthecycle2]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?NH
I was e-mailed by a Ebay Seller from Spain who asked me if I would be interested in a business proposal. Would I act as a middle man so that payment would be quickly recieved & item's shipped? I accepted payment via check & Moneygram for several of his items then forwarded him the money in Spain as he requested. A few days later I was contacted by police & asked to provide the merchandise or return the money! The e-mails from this character in Spain ceased as soon as I was contacted by the police & I'm being threatened by the Mass. Police if I don't return the money! I don't have the money~it was forwarded on & I have all the reciepts! Am I responsible~have I committed some kind of crime?

Yes, I lost three grand this way.