Boards member is scamming us out of a grand

jimi_t

I'm far too angry at the moment to go into a huge amount of detail but the boards member Optikus (a 1,000+ poster) is currently taking myself and 4 or 5 other members for a ride to the tune of somewhere between e1,000 and e1,500. He advertised a pair of electric picnic tickets which he then "sold" to 4 or 5 separate users for the full face value - all of them via bank transfer AFAIK - and of course none of them have turned up after two weeks. No response to PMs from any of the people he sold them to or the moderator.

I am aware that this is a naming and shaming, but I've already been in contact with the moderator of the FS:Tickets forum and he's aware of whats happening. It's better that this **** is exposed for what he is.

Now I have his real name and bank details, whats the next step?

chern0byl

Ten Paces At Dawn. Or is that 50 paces with everyone involved present?

Ticketmaster and the Gardai...

okidoki987

If you have his name and address, why not visit the house?

jimi_t

As appealing as that sounds, genuine advice would be appreciated. I didn't post this for a moan, I posted it for advice on trying to get my money back and to warn other people.

aidan24326

Maybe you should post this in the legal forum.

Not sure there's much you could do though.

okidoki987

Ticketmaster

Wouldn't be interested it's nothing to do with them.

jimi_t

okidoki987 wrote:

If you have his name and address, why not visit the house?

Have his name and bank details, not an address - and banks genuinely don't give out that kind of information unless ordered by a court to do it.

Miguel_Sanchez

Go to the Gardai.
Go directly to the Gardai.
Do not pass Go.
Do not collect 200.

okidoki987

If you have his name and account number, it shouldn't be too hard to get his address. I'm sure you could find somebody who works in a Bank and ask them
to get the details for you.

Spitfire666

go to the gardai with his name and bank details. they can get his address from the bank. dont need a court order. either way its fraud so shouldnt let it slide.

homeOwner

Isnt it basically scalping, to buy tickets from a third party? I am pretty sure most "event" tickets have some small print on the back to say you have to buy them from a designated dealer? So the gardai might not have any sympathy for you, even though you were buying them for face value......I could be completely wrong there....

Dunno what else you can do, you've named and shamed. Maybe get on to the other mods of boards he visits and try to get him banned? I dont think you are going to see your money or the tickets again. The most you can do is warn people. Can you post his real name? Is that allowed?

Hard luck but thanks for the warning.

okidoki987

Isnt it basically scalping, to buy tickets from a third party?

Scalping is selling tickets at above face value.
The point here is he never got the tickets so that's FRAUD.

scojones

I'm not quite sure AH is the best place for this thread OP. You may not get the help you require from this forum, as can be seen by some of the replies in here already. To prevent this thread from deteriorating into nonsense, and in the hope that you can actually get the help you need I'm going to move it to Feedback, as that is what you are looking for. I've never ventured into the FS forum(s) so I'm not sure what action can be taken against something like this, if indeed any action at all. What feedback have you recieved from the moderator of the forum? Maybe the person who sold you the ticket has become ill or is otherwise engaged?

Best of luck with this and keep us all updated.

seamus

After Hours is not the place for this.

While boards.ie provides the for sale service, there's very little that can be done in the way of dispute resolution/refunds, however the Moderator of the for sale forum, us Smods and the Admins will do our best to mediate a dispute between parties arising out of the Adverts.

boards.ie is bound by certain rules pertaining to data privacy, just like the banks are, so information that boards.ie has (if any) about this guy can't just be given to you.

I'm aware that time is of the essence, so me telling you to "wait" for the other people to respond may not be what you want, but it's what I would advise. In the meantime, if you'd like to PM me, or start a thread on the Help Desk we can at least look into it to give you a hand. Add in links to the thread where the deal was arranged, and any other info which may be pertinent. If you start a thread on the Help Desk, be aware that it's a public forum, so anyone can see what you post.

jimi_t

seamus wrote:

boards.ie is bound by certain rules pertaining to data privacy, just like the banks are, so information that boards.ie has (if any) about this guy can't just be given to you.

Well aware of it, and this thread wasn't set up in an attempt to obtain that information - more to warn people away from this seemingly respectable user and to also ask for some informal advice on what the best course of action is. Needless to say that the guards have been approached but weren't exactly forthcoming. If you'd like to get the admin view on the story then PM Redshift - moderator of the FS:Tickets forum - and he'll explain, I'd rather not post or forward his PMs to me without permission.

CuLT

It is already being looked into in detail by the administrators and moderators.

Understand, that, as serious as fraud is, libel and slander are also pretty serious.

seamus, see here and here.

LundiMardi

no offence man, but what the hell were you thinking transfering money to an account of a complete stranger? Do you trust all strangers or just the ones you send money to?

Cuddlesworth

Thats not fair to say, I'v done many dealings with boards users and have never had a problem. But I'm waiting to see how this will be resolved.

whatsupdoc?

Lundi
The original seller had over 1,000 posts and was therefore deemed to be a "long time member of boards and would considered a person of good character and have a history".

LundiMardi

There is no chance in hell i would transfer a couple of hundred euro to someone who A. I've never met, and B. See A.

Dont get me wrong, it's a ****ty thing to happen, but jesus, a bit of cop on would be nice.

I have over 2000 posts, would you send me 200 euro? Cos you can have my bank details if you want.

Supercell

As others have said, go to the Gardai, they can no doubt find this persons address or request that the bank gives them it and arrest them.

This is a internet board mate, for real life stuff contact the real life mods - aka the Gardai.

Supercell

LundiMardi wrote:

There is no chance in hell i would transfer a couple of hundred euro to someone who A. I've never met, and B. See A.

Dont get me wrong, it's a ****ty thing to happen, but jesus, a bit of cop on would be nice.

I have over 2000 posts, would you send me 200 euro? Cos you can have my bank details if you want.

I dunno, if the poster had been on board for a while and I'd read their post i'd feel pretty confidant about trusting them or not.

If its a newbie with 1000 posts in the last year in a gaming forum then wouldnt touch them with a bargepool.

Then again i'm old and probably senile by now

gamblingIRE

okidoki987 wrote:

If you have his name and account number, it shouldn't be too hard to get his address. I'm sure you could find somebody who works in a Bank and ask them
to get the details for you.

I am sorry, but I cannot resist stating that this is such an idiotic reply. Nab a guy who breaks the law by breaking the law, and getting others to do so. have some respect for the data protection laws, and they might have some for you.

kaimera

iirc, there were a number of tickets being sold in town over the Picnic weekend last year.

Take a chance. If ya don't get them, enjoy the atmosphere in town

okidoki987

have some respect for the data protection laws, and they might have some for you.

If it was a couple of hundred Euro coming out of your pocket,
what would YOU do?

jimi_t

Longfield wrote:

As others have said, go to the Gardai, they can no doubt find this persons address or request that the bank gives them it and arrest them.

This is a internet board mate, for real life stuff contact the real life mods - aka the Gardai.

The Gardai, as mildly interested as they were, basically said that it wasn't their problem - to contact the Ombudsman or the department of consumer affairs. Even if they did, banks can't give out information without a court order and an arrest is hardly likely.

As to the question of why I transferred the money? Basically I've had 30+ transactions through boards for concert tickets, lots of music equipment, computer hardware and other general stuff. I've spent maybe a grand and a half through the FS:Forums on this site in the last year and a half and, without exception, everyone I have dealt has been very friendly, honest and generally on the level. I presumed a 1,000 post user wasn't going to pull a fast one and I also reckoned that at least a bank transfer was traceable - it wasn't like I sent him a load of unmarked bills in a non-descript envelope or anything and I did try and pay via paypal first.

Either way, I'm not going to let this one bad experience scare me off. I think boards has a great community and is a unique resource - I even got delivery of a computer and an old vintage synth only yesterday evening through the for sale forums here - I'm just trying to root out a bad egg and hopefully get my cash back

Peace

Maybe the poster died?

jimi_t

CuLT wrote:

It is already being looked into in detail by the administrators and moderators.

Understand, that, as serious as fraud is, libel and slander are also pretty serious.

I'm au fait with libel and slander laws so I'm trying to stick to established facts - backed up both by administrators and other users of this website. I'm sure if there were any serious legal issues with what I was doing I would have been contacted by an Admin/Mod at this stage and told to stop. The worst thing that could probably be done in this situation is to stay quiet.

I've offered every opportunity for Optikus to respond or explain himself but all the PMs have gone unanswered. I certainly entertained the possibility that he was sick or incapacitated, but his last PM to me was that the tickets were in the post (registered post btw) - this was a day before Redshift posted publicly asking him to PM him and locked the Electric Picnic Ticket Thread, and two days before I found out that he had "sold" the same 2 tickets advertised to more than a few other users on boards and that none of them had received them.

iirc, there were a number of tickets being sold in town over the Picnic weekend last year.

Take a chance. If ya don't get them, enjoy the atmosphere in town

That's the sad thing. I got my own ticket for my 18th but I was buying for two good friends of mine who were supposed to be going in our group of 20 odd but got badly stung when Ticketmaster announced that the picnic was sold out. I'll have to give my own ticket away to one of them now as I won't have the readies to pay both of them back - which is doubly annoying as that weekend was basically supposed to be my leaving cert 'holiday'.

Vexorg

Hi Jimi_t

Did the Guards say why "it wasn't their problem". I would thought fraud of any sort especially where you have paid money to a bank account and where a number of people have had a similar experience would be of interest to them.

Do we have any freindly guards that we could talk to, do any of boards users know this guy?


Vex

WizZard

Maybe the resident legal eagles could help, or have they already been contacted?
The Gardai have a special Computer Crime unit which this may be relevant to this - they are based in Phoenix Park HQ IIRC.

I can understand the reluctance of an average stationed Garda to get involved, although I would have thought it would be policy to refer these types of affairs to the Computer Crimes unit.

jimi_t

Welll...basically...

The guards said that there was nothing they could do and that the main course of action was to go to the Ombudsman of consumer affairs. The guard wasnt quite sure the best action to take but said it would take weeks or months for the gardai to do anything. He said he would put the details on the system but that he wouldnt hold out much hope. He also said the banks are very slow to give them any info.

Also, another user called Sparky said that he bought a phone from Optikus and never received it.

Lovely stuff isn't it?

Hobbes

whatsupdoc? wrote:

Lundi
The original seller had over 1,000 posts and was therefore deemed to be a "long time member of boards and would considered a person of good character and have a history".

Post count and time spent here is meaningless.

Btw don't banks have fraud sections? You could try give them a ring.

WizZard

It happens - it's the internet. it's up to you to ensure that you have full details of a person who you are dealing directly with, or else use a third party to guarantee the payment.

Complaining here, while probably relieving stress/warning others is not really going to help, especially if the admins/smods are already investigating this issue.
You have to push this with the Gardai and/or other people with the authority to legally investigate these issues.

<edit>For the record, I'm pretty sure I have dealt with Optikus in the past with no problems</edit>

adrian522

i think it may worthwhile reporting to HIS local garda station as he may already be known to local gardai,

Raskolnikov

My stomach dropped when I read this thread. I only recently bought a phone from this Optikus lad. A Sony Ericsson K750i, despite a little apprehension, I bank transferred him the money. A couple of days later, I had a shiny, brand new SE K750i in my pocket. Had no hassle with Optikus at all and would have wholeheartedly endorsed dealing with him again.

How long ago did you pay Optikus for these tickets? When does Electric Picnic begin? When was the last time you heard from the seller? Are you sure he hasn't been run over by a bus or something?

I think I still have the box which he sent the phone in, I'll check for a return address and will assist the Gardaí in their enquiries in any way possible.

Gilgamesh

bth, I had a similar issue with someone not from boards but in the Web where I never received anything back after transferring money to them.
I got in touch with my local Branch and they pulled the money back for me.
have you tried contacting your bank locally about it, I odn't mean the telephone banking, they can't do much anyway.

good luck on this as well

stevejazzx

Aw man one of the people who has been 'scammed' cough allegedly is a friend of mine who I berrated to sign up to boards for ages. he eventually does and on his very fist transaction he's get conned allegedly.
Man if this optikus dude doesn't sort this out I am going to trace him down and make sure he brought accountable for this, he has a tsb account and I have a friend who works in the tsb on grafton st so an address won't be too hard to come by. My friend was told his tickets were in the post, what is this guy at?

adrian522

Same thing happened to me. I'm sure it's not an honest mistake for 4 reasons:

1. He advertised 3 tickets yet "sold" 7 (at least)
2. He gave me a false mobile number.
3. He told all concerned that he had posted the tickets, none arrived (too much of a coincedence)
4. 2 weeks later he sent a pm saying "It's not my fault if tickets didnt arrive check the post office" - In other words P*** off you **** youve been had and theres nothing you can do about it.

Gilgamesh

stevejazzx wrote:

Man if this optikus dude doesn't sort this out I am going to trace him down and make sure he brought accountable for this, he has a tsb account and I have a friend who works in the tsb on grafton st so an address won't be too hard to come by. My friend was told his tickets were in the post, what is this guy at?

so in other words, you are going to let your friend do an illegal act for you so you can go and bring this up where?

you do of course realise that your mate is risking his job and possible prosecution if he gives you those details?


there are procedures for things like this to be sorted I would HIGHLY recommend you guys to contact your local branches for advice on this matter.

jimi_t

Raskolnikov wrote:

How long ago did you pay Optikus for these tickets? When does Electric Picnic begin? When was the last time you heard from the seller? Are you sure he hasn't been run over by a bus or something?
[\QUOTE]

Paid him for the tickets a little over 3 weeks ago, he said they were in the post - registered post at that - 10 days ago which was the last PM I received. No response to any PM after that from me, the other users he "sold" them to, or even the Moderator of the forum.

I'm still holding out hope that there is a genuine misunderstanding about this but after hearing adrians story I seriously doubt it.

okidoki987

registered post at that

He would have a record then and An Post would be able to trace it.

stevejazzx

Gilgamesh wrote:

so in other words, you are going to let your friend do an illegal act for you so you can go and bring this up where?

you do of course realise that your mate is risking his job and possible prosecution if he gives you those details?


there are procedures for things like this to be sorted I would HIGHLY recommend you guys to contact your local branches for advice on this matter.

yeah you're totally right, just a very frustrating affair altogether, especially if it is what it seems to be and its actually a purposeful con from the begining, but we'll wait to see what happens offically first, my mate is down 360, ouch!

adrian522

I think it would actually be worth hiring a lawyer to get the money back. I know it probably cost all of what we would get back but better that than letting him have it.

I'll drop down to the bank tomorrow and see what they say, but I doubt they will be able to do anything after this time.
Another thing to note is that he hasnt signed in to boards since 31/07.

damnyanks

adrian522 wrote:

I think it would actually be worth hiring a lawyer to get the money back. I know it probably cost all of what we would get back but better that than letting him have it.

I'll drop down to the bank tomorrow and see what they say, but I doubt they will be able to do anything after this time.
Another thing to note is that he hasnt signed in to boards since 31/07.

Considering so many of you seem to have been affected by this you should probably all work together and goto the police. As the OP said it would take months but that was just one claim,

IF there are numerous complaints it should be taken more seriously. Ticket tout's fund terrorism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rolleyes:

ferdi

i've been ripped off by a boards.ie member for 60euro before...a concert ticket again.

trust on one.

Supercell

jimi_t , it just sucks balls, hope someone finds out who this tosser is and he's brought to justice.
If it was sent register post, surely there is a trail to follow ?

If you can track that down would go to the Gardai just say you were robbed and you wish to press charges, hard for them to ignore it when put in such black and white terms.

Cuddlesworth

Can i get a link to the original advert for concert tickets, since I find it hard to believe that he agreeded to sell to more people then he had tickets? Unless you or other users went and tried to deal off thread?

Gillo

Here is the post.

Mods, I didn't see a problem with posting the link, if you feel I shouldn't have, please feel free to delete.

I've bought and sold a few stuff here, but I'd only meet up.

Miguel_Sanchez

Doesn't pyrogenx know who Optikus is?

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=191626

Granted that's an old thread but they seem to know each other outside of Boards. So is Pyrogenx still about? Maybe he could shed some light on where Optikus is/who he is/what he's up to.

stevejazzx

Jeff_Lebowski wrote:

Doesn't pyrogenx know who Optikus is?

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=191626

Granted that's an old thread but they seem to know each other outside of Boards. So is Pyrogenx still about? Maybe he could shed some light on where Optikus is/who he is/what he's up to.

Just checked and and pyro was logged in yesterday
Should a mod pm him?, shame to have to get involved but I imagaine if optikus has been over at his house (as per thread) and pyro knows him then that s the best looking remedy thus far.