Scammed by an NP member

financialaidnyc · 03-27-2011, 01:42 PM

Hi all. I think I've been scammed by an np member. About two weeks ago I posted an ad here for a webdesigner, and this person replied. He agreed to create my site for $300. His reviews were positive, although for small projects like logo design, nothing for a full website.

He sent me a link to sample work, and said the site would be completed in 3-4 days (that was a week ago.) We corresponded regularly until I sent him payment for $300 via pay pal. He responded once after I sent payment, and has not replied since. His profile name is Bob_M.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/warnings-and-alerts/708583-scammed-by-an-np-member.html

I've informed paypal, and hope to get my money back. in the chance that this is a misunderstanding (incremental weather for a whole week, he was hospitalized for a rare disease...sorry, I'm a littl skeptical!) I hope Bob sees this and replies. if it's not, i want my money back--has any one had luck with paypal dispute?

Thanks!

CureCancer · 03-27-2011, 02:10 PM

shameful

HostMantis · 03-27-2011, 03:36 PM

That is the problem with paying a designer up front. It doesn't give them any motivation to finish the job on time.

We paid a designer and were told 3-4 days as well. It was over a month by the time the design was actually finished.

financialaidnyc · 03-27-2011, 03:44 PM

I know, I know. Kicking myself. In my first email I said I would pay $150 uprfont, and $150 upon delivery. Then, felt bad because of the low budget for my project. Always go with gut instincts. I'm hoping pay pal awards a refund...but, could be wishful thinking.

3D · 03-27-2011, 04:12 PM

To be quite frank, $300 is not a low budget at all. (Well-obviously depending on what you wanted done).

Money is money and needs to be respected. Remember, as the person paying you have a right to security. So even 30% payment upfront, then 40%, and so on... in stages, as he shows proof of what he has done is definitely in order.

Wrt the payment, if a "personal" or "gift" payment was made via Paypal, you may never see that money again. That said, if that isn't the case, I am sure Paypal can do something about reversing the payment IF the money is still in his account.

Wish you the best of luck. Hope he comes back to you and either refunds you or does the work promptly.

Regards,

Originally Posted by financialaidnyc

I know, I know. Kicking myself. In my first email I said I would pay $150 uprfont, and $150 upon delivery. Then, felt bad because of the low budget for my project. Always go with gut instincts. I'm hoping pay pal awards a refund...but, could be wishful thinking.

financialaidnyc · 03-27-2011, 04:38 PM

I did write on pay pal that it was for services. But they only refund if the money is in the account...damn.

HostMantis · 03-27-2011, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by financialaidnyc

I know, I know. Kicking myself. In my first email I said I would pay $150 uprfont, and $150 upon delivery. Then, felt bad because of the low budget for my project. Always go with gut instincts. I'm hoping pay pal awards a refund...but, could be wishful thinking.

Hopefully it works out in your favor. Next time, trust your instincts (they're usually right).
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=708583

financialaidnyc · 03-27-2011, 04:49 PM

I'm banging my head here. $300 is a lot to me. Do you think there's any legal action I can take? If it was $50, chalking it up to loss would sting, but not affect anything. Thanks guys for listening to me whine! live and learn...but i want to do everything I can to try and get my money back!

**Dave Zan** · 03-27-2011, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by financialaidnyc

Do you think there's any legal action I can take?

Small claims court?

snicksnack · 03-27-2011, 05:54 PM

if the person resides in a different country it would cost you much more than $300 to get the money and in many cases might not even be able to get the money. Best chance is paypal, if they do not refund the money, there is not much you can do, unless the desginer sends you refund or finishes the work.

silentg · 03-27-2011, 06:14 PM

I would like to hear his side of the story as well. He hasn't logged in since the 19th. I don't think anyone would want to put their rep in jeopardy for $300. Did he leave a phone number you can contact him?

financialaidnyc · 03-27-2011, 06:29 PM

Silent G-- that's true. But he told me in an np email that he doesn't come on here very often and to contact him directly. I've tried both his email, and the paypal business email. There was a phone no. but its disconnected. I am thrown because his reviews were good. I want to give the benefit of the doubt, but its hard when someone changes their correspondence pattern immediately post payment. I'd like to believe he'll reply. If so, I'll be sure to clear up the confusion on here.

renek · 04-05-2011, 05:32 AM

Has paypal done anything for you?

BillyConnite · 04-05-2011, 07:06 AM

Have you directly reported this to a moderator here yet? There has been a similar case with another NP member just recently.

If both cases are related to Bob_M, i'd be patient, i don't know this member but he has 15 positive trader ratings (0 negative) and has been a member for just under 2 years. I wouldn't throw that away for a few hundred dollars (some might). Perhaps something has happened.

Nonetheless please report this to a moderator. I will refer the other instance to my post, if the two events are related.

EDIT: It looks as if they're both related, given asantha has posted on his profile page.

financialaidnyc · 04-06-2011, 05:46 PM

Thank you for your advice, Billie. Yeah, I don't get why someone would ruin his professional reputation either! Hard times for everyone...(including the "robbed party!") I have a dispute with pay pal open. Bob_M actually replied to them and said the transaction is for digital services. I faxed them all of our emails--so expecting a ruling for me. not that it guarantees I'll get my money back. But, I'll let a moderator know.

silentg · 04-12-2011, 10:09 AM

You should report the incident to the Mods and have him banned.

03-27-2011, 01:42 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
financialaidnyc NamePros Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 69	Scammed by an NP member Hi all. I think I've been scammed by an np member. About two weeks ago I posted an ad here for a webdesigner, and this person replied. He agreed to create my site for $300. His reviews were positive, although for small projects like logo design, nothing for a full website. He sent me a link to sample work, and said the site would be completed in 3-4 days (that was a week ago.) We corresponded regularly until I sent him payment for $300 via pay pal. He responded once after I sent payment, and has not replied since. His profile name is Bob_M. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/warnings-and-alerts/708583-scammed-by-an-np-member.html I've informed paypal, and hope to get my money back. in the chance that this is a misunderstanding (incremental weather for a whole week, he was hospitalized for a rare disease...sorry, I'm a littl skeptical!) I hope Bob sees this and replies. if it's not, i want my money back--has any one had luck with paypal dispute? Thanks! __________________ AmazingDryCleaner.com http://www.madmarketingmethod.com/be...adlesson_1.php

03-27-2011, 02:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
CureCancer Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,222	shameful __________________ End User Domain Name Appraisal - How to find End Users - How to Email End Users Domaining Blog - Domain Name Landing Page Templates - Domain Name Appraisal Domaining Tools - How to sell Domain Names - How to buy Domain Names

03-27-2011, 03:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
HostMantis Best Web Hosting Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 691 Follow @HostMantis	That is the problem with paying a designer up front. It doesn't give them any motivation to finish the job on time. We paid a designer and were told 3-4 days as well. It was over a month by the time the design was actually finished. __________________ ██ HostMantis Affordable Web Hosting ██ Shared • Reseller • 24/7/365 Support • Instant Activation ██ CloudLinux • Softaculous • Fantastico • FFMpeg • PHP 5.3 ██ HostMantis on: Facebook • Twitter

03-27-2011, 03:44 PM	THREAD STARTER #4 (permalink)
financialaidnyc NamePros Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 69	I know, I know. Kicking myself. In my first email I said I would pay $150 uprfont, and $150 upon delivery. Then, felt bad because of the low budget for my project. Always go with gut instincts. I'm hoping pay pal awards a refund...but, could be wishful thinking. __________________ AmazingDryCleaner.com http://www.madmarketingmethod.com/be...adlesson_1.php

03-27-2011, 04:38 PM	THREAD STARTER #6 (permalink)
financialaidnyc NamePros Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 69	I did write on pay pal that it was for services. But they only refund if the money is in the account...damn. __________________ AmazingDryCleaner.com http://www.madmarketingmethod.com/be...adlesson_1.php

03-27-2011, 04:49 PM	THREAD STARTER #8 (permalink)
financialaidnyc NamePros Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 69	I'm banging my head here. $300 is a lot to me. Do you think there's any legal action I can take? If it was $50, chalking it up to loss would sting, but not affect anything. Thanks guys for listening to me whine! live and learn...but i want to do everything I can to try and get my money back! __________________ AmazingDryCleaner.com http://www.madmarketingmethod.com/be...adlesson_1.php

03-27-2011, 05:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
snicksnack NamePros Regular Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: China Posts: 452	if the person resides in a different country it would cost you much more than $300 to get the money and in many cases might not even be able to get the money. Best chance is paypal, if they do not refund the money, there is not much you can do, unless the desginer sends you refund or finishes the work. __________________ DomainersChoice.com - The Registrar for Domainers -Annual fees in Euros: .BE 4.00, .DE 3.50, .ES 5.80, .NL 6.70, .CO.UK 3.50

03-27-2011, 06:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
silentg Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: ariyas.com Posts: 1,394 Follow @domainsg	I would like to hear his side of the story as well. He hasn't logged in since the 19th. I don't think anyone would want to put their rep in jeopardy for $300. Did he leave a phone number you can contact him? __________________ █ Makeup Games Funny Gags - Free Education Online- Cooking Games

03-27-2011, 06:29 PM	THREAD STARTER #12 (permalink)
financialaidnyc NamePros Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 69	Silent G-- that's true. But he told me in an np email that he doesn't come on here very often and to contact him directly. I've tried both his email, and the paypal business email. There was a phone no. but its disconnected. I am thrown because his reviews were good. I want to give the benefit of the doubt, but its hard when someone changes their correspondence pattern immediately post payment. I'd like to believe he'll reply. If so, I'll be sure to clear up the confusion on here. __________________ AmazingDryCleaner.com http://www.madmarketingmethod.com/be...adlesson_1.php

04-05-2011, 05:32 AM	#13 (permalink)
renek NamePros Regular Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 499	Has paypal done anything for you? __________________ Pm me for a PR3 link priced at $5 per year www.a--g.com

04-05-2011, 07:06 AM	#14 (permalink)
BillyConnite Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Coffs H, Australia Posts: 3,456	Have you directly reported this to a moderator here yet? There has been a similar case with another NP member just recently. If both cases are related to Bob_M, i'd be patient, i don't know this member but he has 15 positive trader ratings (0 negative) and has been a member for just under 2 years. I wouldn't throw that away for a few hundred dollars (some might). Perhaps something has happened. Nonetheless please report this to a moderator. I will refer the other instance to my post, if the two events are related. EDIT: It looks as if they're both related, given asantha has posted on his profile page. __________________ Free Forums / GoDaddy Coupon Codes (NEW DOMAIN!) / Free Arcade Script / <?='Your computer is '.(1?fine:broken).'.'?>

04-06-2011, 05:46 PM	THREAD STARTER #15 (permalink)
financialaidnyc NamePros Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 69	Thank you for your advice, Billie. Yeah, I don't get why someone would ruin his professional reputation either! Hard times for everyone...(including the "robbed party!") I have a dispute with pay pal open. Bob_M actually replied to them and said the transaction is for digital services. I faxed them all of our emails--so expecting a ruling for me. not that it guarantees I'll get my money back. But, I'll let a moderator know. __________________ AmazingDryCleaner.com http://www.madmarketingmethod.com/be...adlesson_1.php

04-12-2011, 10:09 AM	#16 (permalink)
silentg Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: ariyas.com Posts: 1,394 Follow @domainsg	You should report the incident to the Mods and have him banned. __________________ █ Makeup Games Funny Gags - Free Education Online- Cooking Games

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