how a "burner" screwed me out of $800

[GiantPamda]

Long story short: I needed 3 burning man tickets for friends, so I hop on craigslist and what do I see? 4 tickets, selling for $240 each. What an awesome fucking deal, I think. So I email the woman, we go through a song and dance, she's far away and is leaving on a plane blah blah.
You'd think i'd be suspicious but apparently I am the world's most naive person and end up trusting everything she says. I pay her via walmart moneygram, while she sends me a "tracking number" for the package with my tickets. She tells me she can't pick up the tickets without a reference number. I think, cool, this girl's legit. I verify this with the cashier at wal mart, who doesn't see fit to clarify with me that the tickets can be picked up if the person has a photo id.

Tickets don't arrive. I find out she can pick up the tickets. Moral of the story: Victoria Serppe, if that is her real name, is a horrible flaming cuntsack. I can't pay for the rest of my medical school applications and I want to cry. Be smarter about your purchases than me, please for the love of God.

Ps if any of you would like to call her and leave mean voicemails her number is 646XXXXXXX. (edited by Anti M because you cannot give out other people's phone numbers on eplaya, even if she is a flaming cuntsack. Or not)

Pps if any of you would like to send me money I will probably say no at first but really mean yes.

[jkisha]

Sorry.

JK

[GiantPamda]

It's cool, yo. Calmed down now and feeling more optimistic :) I paid $750 for a lesson in internet scamming, it's not the end of the world.

[ygmir]

I was with ya, till you said "yo"............

but, really, sorry that happened.

And, thanks for posting it. It may well help another avoid this.

[flip flop]

I got a friend that can track her down by using her number.
We can find her and use certain methods to extract her banking information and get your money back.
If you could just send a down payment to the following yeah blah blah blah...

Thanks for the heads up.
That's the type of scam i would go for too.

[GiantPamda]

Y'know I typed that while driving (because I care about safety) and about 10 minutes later had a horrifying fishtailing almost-accident. I thought I was just having a bad day but it was probably God punishing me for my slang. (&definitely had nothing to do with me being a reckless driver). In other words i don't know why I typed it either.

But thanks. I hope no one else falls for this kind of thing. And if you do, I've found the best therapy is to leave angry messages telling the scammer they're eternally damned because they used Burning Man for evil.

[GiantPamda]

@flip flop: are you serious? Oh my god let me know. You are a magnificent human being.

Thanks for the support. I've always depended on the kindness of burners.

[Token]

Central Office: NWYRCYZN01, NY - NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - NY

Btw, flipflop is likely being sarcastic and goofing off.

Looks like a disposable cell.

File a police report. Submit all the information and who knows.

[GiantPamda]

Today is just not my day for not being gullible :(

How have I not gotten scammed before????

[GiantPamda]

&thanks, Token. I doubt anything will come of fraud reports etc. but it can't hurt. Appreciate the advice.

[Sunkix4]

She must be posting on every craigslist in the US! We thought the same thing... such a good deal! She said she was in Davis, Ca which was perfect bc we are in Sacramento! As soon as we said we could arrange a meeting, she didn't pick up her phone or return any phone calls!!!! She must have figured she would be caught if we tried to meet her!

We have posted warnings about her on the Sacramento Craigslist!!!

I'm so sorry you were screwed! Everything happens for a reason and karma really really is such a bitch!

[silkkat813]

wow I hope no one else falls for her scam. I hope karma gets her.

[GiantPamda]

she told me she was in palm springs (I'm in San Diego). I was initially off-put by how far she was but she offered to meet me halfway or even drive to me! Ugh it sickens me how thoroughly she tricked me.

I hope karma gets her too. I know she's scammed at least one other person in Seattle (they posted about her on their craigslist). Thanks for the support, guys. It's restoring my faith in the world.

[BurNER4life]

Your not the only one. Had the same thing happen to me. Guy was in Florida and wanted 300 for 2 tix. Wow what a great deal. Had his address and everything. Looked up the address and and his name was listed as the owner, worth about 300k. Theres no way this guy could want to screw me. Sent money, he sent tracking info. Tracking # was bogus. He said he would fix it and re-send it.Still haven't heard anything. Tickets were supposed to be here yesterday. Now its clear he was scamming me, probably using someones identity. John Edwards, Atlantic beach Florida 904XXXXXX. Call and e-mail this M-Fer and steer clear of him. At least it was only $300. Looks like I'm paying double to go this year. F*** it. Whatever it takes.

Again, edited by Anti M because you CANNOT post a personal phone number here, not even of a scammer.

[misslook]

sending anyone that kind of money!i cant even get somone to barter a ticket!i would never in my life send money like that,i laugh when u guys are like at least it was only 300$ wow i live off like 200$ a month...

[GiantPamda]

@Burner: It is fucking ridiculous how much effort these people go to in order to steal. I'm sorry that you got screwed too, and I definitely feel your pain. Solidarity <3
The best part is that even as it became blatantly obvious that I was being scammed, there was a part of my mind that kept going, "it's an honest mistake! I'm sure she'll call you any minute!". Ha. Lesson learned, I guess.

@misslook: see, typically that isn't an amount I would ever send under such dubious circumstances either, or one I can afford to lose....I just got overwhelmed or overly eager or something. Really, there isn't any excuse for my naivete but if I keep beating myself up about it I'll go insane.

[lizconqueso]

How have people been dealing with purchasing will-call tickets on these forums? Is just the name and the confirmation number from the e-mail sufficient for the Burning Man peeps to check it out? I don't see very much info on getting will-calls, but I did read something about completing a name-transfer form.

Anyone who has any tips at all - much much appreciated!

[BurNER4life]

Its not money i can afford to lose either. I dont have a job and am on unemployment. And yes I am fortunate it was only 300 instead of 750.Would you send 150$ to try and get a ticket? Money is money, it comes and goes. But BMAN is worth paying $600, even if its because i'm an idiot who can tell a scammer from a real person (he did get me good though). Radical self-reliance... Yes i'll be eating top ramen for a while but anythings worth it to go to the burn. Mabe I should join the ranks and start begging for a gifted ticket because "I'm arriving early this year to set up a theme camp for everybody but i don't have a ticket. Will the playa gods provide?" Mabe i do feel I deserve some help this year to make it to the burn. I'm poor and have 0$ to my name. I had $300 and that gone. But I set my mind on going and theres no other possible outcome. Theres always a way if you really want go. Anyone want to gift me a ticket? See you at the burn. I'll be there the Wednesday before.

[Fire_Moose]

Its not money i can afford to lose either. I dont have a job and am on unemployment. And yes I am fortunate it was only 300 instead of 750.Would you send 150$ to try and get a ticket? Money is money, it comes and goes. But BMAN is worth paying $600, even if its because i'm an idiot who can tell a scammer from a real person (he did get me good though). Radical self-reliance... Yes i'll be eating top ramen for a while but anythings worth it to go to the burn. Mabe I should join the ranks and start begging for a gifted ticket because "I'm arriving early this year to set up a theme camp for everybody but i don't have a ticket. Will the playa gods provide?" Mabe i do feel I deserve some help this year to make it to the burn. I'm poor and have 0$ to my name. I had $300 and that gone. But I set my mind on going and theres no other possible outcome. Theres always a way if you really want go. Anyone want to gift me a ticket? See you at the burn. I'll be there the Wednesday before.

I'll be there the friday before, find me at poly paradise or stag camp and ill give ya some booze/food

[BurNER4life]

Sure thing. I'll be posting as soon as i can get the info that i cant seem to remember. Food and booze is all you got for me? What i really need is a hit man. "need: contract killer for a discreet, nice clean job 300$ pay when you retrieve it for me."

[BurNER4life]

Just got an e-mail from the guy saying "Hey man

Hope you made it. I am very sorry for this experience. I have sent a check
to you today to cover the western union and the cost of sending.

Again I am sorry and wish you the best.

J

Made it to what? Do you guys think hes going to send my money back? Keep you guys posted on this breaking news.

[Dr. Pyro]

If I were a betting man, I'd say not a chance. Leopards do not change their spots.

[Fire_Moose]

OOOHHHHH THAT kinda hit...

[ygmir]

Just got an e-mail from the guy saying "Hey man

Hope you made it. I am very sorry for this experience. I have sent a check
to you today to cover the western union and the cost of sending.

Again I am sorry and wish you the best.

J

Made it to what? Do you guys think hes going to send my money back? Keep you guys posted on this breaking news.

maybe, he'll send you a check for 2,000.00 and, you can cash it, keep 500 for your troubles and send the balance back to him?

just sayin'.........

[BurNER4life]

HMMMMM........ I am a nigerian prince. Mabe that will work in my favor. I mean how many nigerian princes can there be?

[BurNER4life]

@MOOSE I'll take any kind of hit......man.

[AntiM]

I got a friend that can track her down by using her number.
We can find her and use certain methods to extract her banking information and get your money back.
If you could just send a down payment to the following yeah blah blah blah...

Thanks for the heads up.
That's the type of scam i would go for too.

Moderator Note: No talk of tracking her down in order to extract her information ... huge violation of the TOS. be cool, yo...

[AntiM]

There is a STICKY post on the top telling you how to verify the identity and serial numbers of the tickets through the BMORG. Do it!!!!!!

Paypal provides refunds. I know many of you don't have a paypal account set up, but DO it.

[CorvusMechanicus]

I've internet detective'd her information from the number given and some personal research into a couple suspicious Craigslist ads.

It is done.

I know I can't post it here but I have two phone numbers and a potential address as well as information on her numerous other scams (mostly the classic phone psychic deal)

Now, knowing I cannot post that information HERE, what should be done with it?

Post it up on /b/ ?

Take it to law enforcement knowing they'll probably do nothing?

Email it to anyone who asks for the information in a PM?

"Miss Spiritual", your days are numbered.

[andy]

I feel very bad for you but this scam is no different at all from the internet scams selling all manner of goods and tickets. I hate to say it, but the giant red flag is the request to pay by Western Union, Moneygram, or the like. These transactions are untraceable so scammers always use them.

I can pretty much guarantee that this scammer "sells" all manner of goods on all sorts of internet lists, probably under a bunch of different names.

As was posted earlier, be very very cautious of communications you receive from these people after a possible scam. Scammers know that you want your money back and people are very susceptible to a second scam. For example, you could get an email from a "lawyer" who claims to represent 5 other people who were scammed by this person, and do you want to split the cost of suing her? The "lawyer" might just be the scammer again coming back for more. It could be from a "bank", an :insurance company", or even the "executor of her estate, as she was hit by a car yesterday and he discovered the scam and is required by law to return your money" but gee there are a few up-front costs which of course will be refunded later.

So I'm really very sorry for your loss but this happens on the internet all the time.