not sure if this will lead to any action, but try poking around on this site:

FTC Consumer Protection

at least, you could report it to someone and have it put in database so that others don't get scammed by the same folks

 

Why don't you contact the ISP of the person you were dealing with? I hope it wasn't an anonymous web one like Hotmail. But if you have damien@localISP.net then you should be able to contact the ISP and ask them what information or documents they need to reveal the real contact info of the John Doe. It may take a court order but if you still have the signed home made contract I don't see why a judge wouldn't allow you to track down scam artists that have a good chance of being a further threat to the community.

IMO, these people never moved. No one is going to start a scam operation from their own house. I think the guy that ripped me off drove through four states to get the money in person.

 

.. And if it is Hotmail or a huge one make them give you the logs of the IP addresses used to check the account during the time of the incident. You will definitely need a court ordered for those documents though.

 

Ahem.........ESCROW SERVICES..... ESCROW SERVICES..... ESCROW SERVICES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


They work this way.........you and seller agree to transaction, you pay money to escrow service plus small fee, when you get the goods, you tell escrow service to make payment, you are protected. If goods are not up to snuff, you can instruct escrow to not make payment and get money back from them with return shipment.

If seller ships and you claim, fraudulently, "I did not get the material" if seller can show shipment was signed for with proof from say, fed ex or UPS, escrow service releases funds to seller, seller is protected. I believe many take out insurnance on the transaction so if something else goes haywire, both sides are protected.

A few bucks for piece of mind.

 

ESCROW Services - I couldn't agree more. This will be what I will be doing for all future transactions over $150 in value.

Now, an *UPDATE* on the situation.

I called up the Louisiana Police department today. The detective that I had communicated with via email wasn't there, as he's gone off to the Mardi Gras. However, I was put through to another detective there, the SUPERVISOR.

He was very helpful.

He assured me that they would definately be getting on to things, but not until next week. Most of the men had been put out to look after the Mardi Gras, with only a skeleton crew at the station.

Anyway, he promised that if these people are still living in Louisiana, (and after checking on his computer, he confirmed they were) that if he had to, he would personally go knocking on their door and bust these scumbags.

Basically, these people now have about 3 options.
1. They can send the stuff
2. They can refund the money
3. They can go to jail

Hopefully, this means I can get some decent sleep now!

 

good luck man, keep us posted. I hate scammers.