User 'Vileredfalcon' scammed $140 from my friend, what should I do?

[bb_hood]

Recently my friend payed user vileredfalcon $140 for a SNES system and a bunch of games. Long story short, the money was sent as a 'gift' so he wouldnt have to pay paypal fees and vileredfalcon sent nothing, and we received no communication or tracking after he took the money. He hasnt responded to any of our emails/PMs.

I know he has an account on GTZ. I am curious as to what is the best way to get reimbursement for my friend or spread the word that this guy is a total scammer.

If this is in the wrong forum, please feel free to move it..

[Icarus Moonsight]

Checked his profile. He hasn't been on the boards in 2 weeks... Last Activity: 08-12-2009 10:32 PM

I guess you can try and send him an email here (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/sendmessage.php?do=mailmember&u=21732)

His email wasn't on his profile but a link to send a msg to the email account he used to register on DP was there.

He has a load of positive FB on GTZ. Either he ripped you off or he's paying someone that ripped him off a 'visit'. This (text below in red) is smoke and mirrors to make others think he's brutally honest or he is honest and something else is wrong. Hard to say with no response, but keep in mind that it may not be intentional. Hope it works out for everyone. :) Try to reach him at GTZ also, he seems to be checking in there -> Snippet from his GTZ profile page. Last login: on 26-Aug-2009 at 9:35pm & Well, kind of a scary guy IMO...

For your own safety, know that I do not take kindly to be ripped off or cheated. I am centrally located in the United States, and I have no problem with taking a road trip to show up on your door step and show you that I am serious. I will not hesitate to burn, steal, or kill something that is dear to you for my own satisfaction. Consider yourself warned.

[kedawa]

If you have records of all correspondences, you might be able to get PayPal to do something. They likely won't be terribly sympathetic to your friend, but they won't be too happy with the scammer, either.

[bb_hood]

Well, this is the last PM I recieved from him. We both attempted to contact him through PM and Email multiple times with no response.
The last PM he sent to me was on 8/06 and was this:

Received your friend's payment. Thank you.

I'll have his stuff shipped out on Monday morning, and I'll message you with tracking info later in the evening.

Have a nice weekend.

[Baloo]

Shame to hear something like this happened to you, I hope you get the stuff or a refund.

[Kitsune Sniper]

If you have records of all correspondences, you might be able to get PayPal to do something. They likely won't be terribly sympathetic to your friend, but they won't be too happy with the scammer, either.

The 'Gift' option provides absolutely no buyer protection whatsoever. It should only be used with trustworthy people.

I'm sorry for your friend, really, but he should've used a regular payment.

[bb_hood]

Not really me, it was my friend who doesnt use these forums. I mentioned the sale and he wanted to buy it and sent the money. Then NOTHING. We have the paypal reciept, and he hasnt sent any tracking info, nor has he replied to my pms or my friend Matt's emails.

I don't really expect anything to show up or have my friend get refunded, but I want it known that VileRedFalcon stole $140 on these forums.

[bb_hood]

The 'Gift' option provides absolutely no buyer protection whatsoever. It should only be used with trustworthy people.

I'm sorry for your friend, really, but he should've used a regular payment.

Of course. Hindsight is always 20/20, but the guy did steal $140.

[bb_hood]

Checked his profile. He hasn't been on the boards in 2 weeks... Last Activity: 08-12-2009 10:32 PM


True, but the last time he logged onto GTZ was yesterday.

[TonyTheTiger]

For your own safety, know that I do not take kindly to be ripped off or cheated. I am centrally located in the United States, and I have no problem with taking a road trip to show up on your door step and show you that I am serious. I will not hesitate to burn, steal, or kill something that is dear to you for my own satisfaction. Consider yourself warned.


Anybody who writes something like that as a disclaimer is a highly disturbed and/or just plain rotten human being and isn't worth dealing with in the first place, legitimately or otherwise.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Yeah, that's why I added him to my black list already... I deal here and GTZ so I need to be double careful of this guy. Even if he did not intentionally steal, I don't care. My life is fine with the sociopaths I'm forced to deal with IRL. Don't need to farm for more online! LOL

@bb_hood: The inference there is he is ducking out. Not hard to check for PMs once a week...

[bb_hood]

All I want is a tracking number for the package. It was paid for, and he said I would get a tracking number. This was 3 weeks ago.

[PapaStu]

I've moved this to Buy/Sell, since then we can let more people see what's going on. Please also drop feedback in his thread (if there is one, if not, start one) letting people know of this situation. If things chage, you can make another post telling people of the progress in there.

I can only second Kitsune's comment about the 'gift' vs payment. I don't know if you've got any recourse with PP now, since what recourse does one have to a 'gift'.

[Ed Oscuro]

Was this trade done within the GameTZ system, or outside? If it was done within the system, it should be fairly easy to file a BTR (Bad Trader Report in GameTZ parlance).

Otherwise, what you should do is you contact the moderators (http://gametz.com/?x&A=Users&Moderators=1) directly about the situation.

[bb_hood]

I've moved this to Buy/Sell, since then we can let more people see what's going on. Please also drop feedback in his thread (if there is one, if not, start one) letting people know of this situation. If things chage, you can make another post telling people of the progress in there.

I can only second Kitsune's comment about the 'gift' vs payment. I don't know if you've got any recourse with PP now, since what recourse does one have to a 'gift'.


If the items, a refund, or a tracking number is received I will gladly post the outcome.
If it turns out the items were shipped on-time I will publicly apologize to VileRedFalcon, but it seems pretty clear that he just kept the payment and sent nothing.

Of course sending payment as a 'gift' is unsafe, but it doesnt give VileRedFalcon the right to steal. His post with all the SNES stuff is still up. You can find it if you do a quick search. Its the lot that includes a snes system, chrono, FF2, mario RPG and other games.

[bb_hood]

Was this trade done within the GameTZ system, or outside? If it was done within the system, it should be fairly easy to file a BTR (Bad Trader Report in GameTZ parlance).

Otherwise, what you should do is you contact the moderators (http://gametz.com/?x&A=Users&Moderators=1) directly about the situation.

He posted the stuff for sale here on the DP forums, the post is still up if you search.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Direct link: http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1608004

[Ed Oscuro]

He posted the stuff for sale here on the DP forums, the post is still up if you search.
Posts are always up, unless the server is down, actually.

I'm gonna hop on their chat and ask about this...

(Edit) that doesn't seem to be going anywhere, I did get spammed with a link to somebody's store site 12 seconds after getting on though :P

I'm wary of opening a thread about this in Site_Feedback when I don't know it's the right step to do (nevermind I'm not an involved party in this dispute).

[darkslime]

http://gametz.com/forum/Site_Feedback/topic/354687.html#new

I posted a thread in site feedback about it.

OP, could you file a bad trader report on him on GTZ?

[DreamTR]

He's also on NintendoAge and lives local to me. I've had two good deals with him, something must be going on, I would not think he would just run off with the monies.

[mobiusclimber]

I was going to say that he could just be having internet trouble, but if he's been logging in to gtz, there goes that theory. Here's hoping it's something else and your friend gets his console & games.

[Ed Oscuro]

He's also on NintendoAge and lives local to me. I've had two good deals with him, something must be going on, I would not think he would just run off with the monies.
Put up a "wall of shame" entry at Game Galaxy, maybe? :king:

Eh, that's terrible advice. Moving on...

[TonyTheTiger]

I don't know. Maybe I'm being unreasonable but if this guy prefaces a transaction with "I'll burn, steal, kill anything you care about" then I don't see why he deserves the benefit of the doubt when a deal goes bad. Not saying all lunatics are thieves but I find it amazing that people who have dealt with him before seem to be saying how awesome a guy he is and that something else must have happened. Even if this guy were willing to sell me his entire game collection for $8.50, ship quickly, and tape a red rose to the package, I don't think I'd be all that comfortable doing business with him and certainly wouldn't praise him knowing what kinds of threats he makes to potential buyers/sellers.

[dao2]

and i was thinking of nabbing that :o

damn that sucks man I hope somethin good comes out of it, it really doesn't seem like it though :|

[Icarus Moonsight]

I don't know. Maybe I'm being unreasonable but if this guy prefaces a transaction with "I'll burn, steal, kill anything you care about" then I don't see why he deserves the benefit of the doubt when a deal goes bad. Not saying all lunatics are thieves but I find it amazing that people who have dealt with him before seem to be saying how awesome a guy he is and that something else must have happened. Even if this guy were willing to sell me his entire game collection for $8.50, ship quickly, and tape a red rose to the package, I don't think I'd be all that comfortable doing business with him and certainly wouldn't praise him knowing what kinds of threats he makes to potential buyers/sellers.

It's possible that it was posted in jest... But, how does a stranger know that? That's the catch.

[todesengel]

Posted this on the RF Generation bad seller thread so that everyone on there knows to avoid vileredfalcon and linked to this thread.

[camarotuner]

His "threat" in his profile is absolutely hilarious. I'd be willing to bet serious money he's a keyboard warrior who's 160 pounds soaking wet and hasn't been in a fight all his life. Sorry to hear about the money but I'm just gonna go ahead and say it. Your buddy lost 140 bucks. That sucks. Remember the important lessons this has taught you about buying stuff online and be more careful going forward. At least 140 isn't a huge chunk of change to be out.

[BeaglePuss]

I'd be willing to bet serious money he's a keyboard warrior who's 160 pounds soaking wet and hasn't been in a fight all his life.
His picture from a post on NA:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j204/beaglepussband/stupid%20shit/ROBattack.jpg

[MachineGex]

His picture from a post on NA:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j204/beaglepussband/stupid%20shit/ROBattack.jpg

How much of a badass can you be, if ROB can give you a beat-down?

[mobiusclimber]

At least 140 isn't a huge chunk of change to be out.

It is to many of us, and it's way more than anyone would actually care to lose.

He's actually been replying to an offer on GTZ we've been going back and forth on so I'm going to send him this link and see what he says.

[nationgamesdepot]

I have had a couple deals with him over the years as well. I will see if I can get in contact with him as well over at NA.
~~NGD

[bb_hood]

It is to many of us, and it's way more than anyone would actually care to lose.

He's actually been replying to an offer on GTZ we've been going back and forth on so I'm going to send him this link and see what he says.

Yes, for me and my friend Matt $140 is alot of money.
If anyone can help get a response from 'Christopher Hughes' that would be great. I have been unable to get any response and neither has Matt who had the $140 stolen.

By no means an I asking to have this person harassed or messed with in any way, that is not how I operate. I just want to see a resolution to this situation.

If he would be willing to log onto the Digital Press forums and join the conversataion that would be great. If he is truly not trying to get away with stealing this money than he obviously has nothing to be afraid of.

[Icarus Moonsight]

His picture from a post on NA:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j204/beaglepussband/stupid%20shit/ROBattack.jpg

OMG! I know what happened. Rob, sparring this poor man his life, required a boon in return of the favor. The boon was called in at the sum of $140. Rob probably wanted the Batman: Arkham Asylum LE and a couple cases of brew to wash the experience down. Mystery solved and watch your backs guys... Nintendo WiFi service has apparently become 'Skynet' self-aware. Lock up your Robs before you're shacken down too! LOL

Seriously, I hope he steps up and does right by you two... These things get so depressing. Lighthearted sarcasm only goes so far. :/

[HappehLemons]

I find this really sad, and hope that everything gets worked out. I'd look for him on facebook if you know where he lives around.

[dao2]

OMG! I know what happened. Rob, sparring this poor man his life, required a boon in return of the favor. The boon was called in at the sum of $140. Rob probably wanted the Batman: Arkham Asylum LE and a couple cases of brew to wash the experience down. Mystery solved and watch your backs guys... Nintendo WiFi service has apparently become 'Skynet' self-aware. Lock up your Robs before you're shacken down too! LOL

Seriously, I hope he steps up and does right by you two... These things get so depressing. Lighthearted sarcasm only goes so far. :/

no one wants the arkum asylum LE

[Icarus Moonsight]

no one wants the arkum asylum LE

Self-aware Rob is still very young. He just got the hang of racketeering and protection. Give the little guy time. Look how much trouble he had playing Gyromite before he gained consciousness! LOL

[garagesaleking!!]

i think someone should pay a visit to this scammers doorstep and teach him a lesson in humility.

[HappehLemons]

Here's his facebook, that wasn't so hard.

http://www.facebook.com/VileRedFalcon
If you check out his friends list he has family members as his friends too. (Or, at least they have his last name) So I would contact them too.
Location: South FL, US
Birthday: 1981-10-31
Job: Student, International Academy of Design and Technology

[Pezcore343]

This is quickly getting very creepy. Remind me to never scam anyone here. Dayummmm.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Community: Take care of your own and your own will take care of you. ;)

[LAGO]

This is quickly getting very creepy. Remind me to never scam anyone here. Dayummmm.

I recommend not scamming anyone anywhere.

[RoyVegas]

This is quickly getting very creepy. Remind me to never scam anyone here. Dayummmm.


If you need a reminder not to scam people then you worry me already. :smash:

[SnowKitty]

This is quickly getting very creepy. Remind me to never scam anyone here. Dayummmm.

you think this is crazy? you should see what the neo-geo.com forum does to scammers :P

[The 1 2 P]

you think this is crazy? you should see what the neo-geo.com forum does to scammers :P

Let me guess: tie them to a chair, tape their eyes open and make them watch Napoleon Dynamite over and over again. Not much else is as convincing at making people lose their will to live.....and to stop scamming people.

[Damaramu]

Haha! Remember the resealer named Nick Morgan from NJ? The investigative work invested in that debacle would've done Simon & Simon proud.

[c0ldb33r]

Here's his facebook, that wasn't so hard...
Job: Student, International Academy of Design and Technology
International Academy of Design and Technology? What the hell is that?

It sounds like it should be advertised during the afternoon during Maury Povich. "you're on the phone all the time anyway - call now. If she can do it, you can too!"

[pseudonym]

No comment, but I read his gametz profile last year, and the bit about being scammed made me not want to deal with him ever.

[Damaramu]

International Academy of Design and Technology? What the hell is that?

http://www.academy.edu

He's probably attending the Tampa campus.

[HappehLemons]

International Academy of Design and Technology? What the hell is that?

It sounds like it should be advertised during the afternoon during Maury Povich. "you're on the phone all the time anyway - call now. If she can do it, you can too!"

Found it here

http://www.amateurillustrator.com/profile.php?id=3891&view

Anyway, any updates on the scammer?

I tried to add him as a friend on facebook but it looks like he blocked me now.

[Pezcore343]

I recommend not scamming anyone anywhere.

Obviously I was planning on scamming anyone, I just think it's a tad creepy how much everyone is investigating every aspect of this guy's life. Especially when it's not confirmed it's a scam yet. There have been a couple people backing him up.

[Icarus Moonsight]

It's not hard to keep the dogs at bay. Just answer your freakin' PMs and email. He brought this on himself, unless he has a damn good reason why he's all over the internet other than this board...

[Starwander]

Obviously I was planning on scamming anyone, I just think it's a tad creepy how much everyone is investigating every aspect of this guy's life. Especially when it's not confirmed it's a scam yet. There have been a couple people backing him up.

An online society like this one works because of trust and honesty. Without both it couldn’t function. Therefore when situations like this come up, that disrupt the very fabric of the society, its members take it seriously. I understand how it might seem like an overreaction, although really situations like this can’t be dealt with lightly, because of the above reason.

[bb_hood]

Is it possible for me to open a bad trader report on Christopher Huges on GTZ?

[bb_hood]

Obviously I was planning on scamming anyone, I just think it's a tad creepy how much everyone is investigating every aspect of this guy's life. Especially when it's not confirmed it's a scam yet. There have been a couple people backing him up.

I haven't heard from anyone who is backing him, Christopher Huges 'VileRedFalcon' up on this matter. He won't even back himself up. Its been over 3 weeks since he accepted the money and of course, he hasnt sent the tracking number that he said he would.

[Pezcore343]

I haven't heard from anyone who is backing him, Christopher Huges 'VileRedFalcon' up on this matter. He won't even back himself up. Its been over 3 weeks since he accepted the money and of course, he hasnt sent the tracking number that he said he would.

In this thread there were at least three people who said they have dealt with him in the past and don't see him scamming people. But anyway, I'm not saying he didn't do anything wrong, I can't know that for sure. I'm just saying that it's a tad weird how people are looking into his school location, his place of work, it's a bit unnecessary. I absolutely agree with filing reports with any sites he's known to frequent, but stalking his facebook and other personal things are going a bit too far in my opinion. At least by those not involved.

[bb_hood]

In this thread there were at least three people who said they have dealt with him in the past and don't see him scamming people. But anyway, I'm not saying he didn't do anything wrong, I can't know that for sure. I'm just saying that it's a tad weird how people are looking into his school location, his place of work, it's a bit unnecessary. I absolutely agree with filing reports with any sites he's known to frequent, but stalking his facebook and other personal things are going a bit too far in my opinion. At least by those not involved.

When you say 'backing him' it implies that these three people are defending Christopher Hughes and his actions. All they really said was that they had done deal(s) with him in the past. A person with such good feedback on GTZ should be more than willing to defend himself and not ignore all my and my friend's emails and PMs. He obviously has done many trades in the past and should know very well to ship $140 of items with delivery conformation or tracking.

Obviously, nothing was shipped.

Also, nobody is stalking him or doing anything of the sort. I don't see anything wrong with seeking public information about an individual who is alleged to have stolen $140.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I'm sure you'd appreciate the effort if it was your 140 bucks... We're not being aggressive here. It's all information from the public domain. If you don't want people to know something about you, don't put it up on the internet. Duh!

[Pezcore343]

I'm sure you'd appreciate the effort if it was your 140 bucks... We're not being aggressive here. It's all information from the public domain. If you don't want people to know something about you, don't put it up on the internet. Duh!

Some of it is however useless in terms of solving this issue, such as his school and work information which I quoted before. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see a happy ending to this, but...ah nevermind it doesn't matter anymore. You guys get the idea.

[mobiusclimber]

As soon as anyone asks him about it, he clams up. He wanted to do a trade with me, but after I sent him the link here, he got pretty quiet. Yes, he's done a lot of good trades in the past, I've traded with him in the past with no problems. That doesn't mean he didn't just take someone's money and run, tho.

[BeaglePuss]

In order to rectify the situation VRF just needs to show up, say he fucked up, apologize, give the cash back, and call it a day.

Some people wont deal with him in the future, and that's the way it goes. He's had enough good feedback in the past that his rep shouldn't be completely tarnished as long as he makes good on this deal (and the sooner the better).

[darkslime]

In this thread there were at least three people who said they have dealt with him in the past and don't see him scamming people. But anyway, I'm not saying he didn't do anything wrong, I can't know that for sure. I'm just saying that it's a tad weird how people are looking into his school location, his place of work, it's a bit unnecessary. I absolutely agree with filing reports with any sites he's known to frequent, but stalking his facebook and other personal things are going a bit too far in my opinion. At least by those not involved.I think you'd want to do that if it was your $140.

I would contact the local police department about it.

[bb_hood]

I think you'd want to do that if it was your $140.

I would contact the local police department about it.



I am honestly very close to calling the police. I really don't want to do this. If I were to call the police, would I need to contact the police in my state or call the police in his state/county?

[Crazy Climber]

I am honestly very close to calling the police. I really don't want to do this. If I were to call the police, would I need to contact the police in my state or call the police in his state/county?
Police can't do much, did your friend pay with a Credit card on paypal? You might have a very slight chance of a chargeback but not very likely since you sent it as a gift. I don't think you can really do much since it was sent as a gift, you can't even take him to court, etc.. Has he signed in to any of the forums he visits? Has he wrote on anyones facebook wall, etc.. You never know, the guy might be in the hospital or jail or something. I doubt it but just trying to ad a glimmer of hope. I wish you luck and hope everything works out.

[mobiusclimber]

You would need to contact police in HIS jurisdiction, not yours. This can be considered mail fraud, however, the problem would be proving it. Where did your friend set up the trade (what website)? PMs or whatever might help. Really should have done this deal thru gtz, but it's too late to worry about shouldas now.

[dao2]

Police can't do much, did your friend pay with a Credit card on paypal? You might have a very slight chance of a chargeback but not very likely since you sent it as a gift. I don't think you can really do much since it was sent as a gift, you can't even take him to court, etc.. Has he signed in to any of the forums he visits? Has he wrote on anyones facebook wall, etc.. You never know, the guy might be in the hospital or jail or something. I doubt it but just trying to ad a glimmer of hope. I wish you luck and hope everything works out.

I think it's been confirmed that hes fairly active.

[bb_hood]

You would need to contact police in HIS jurisdiction, not yours. This can be considered mail fraud, however, the problem would be proving it. Where did your friend set up the trade (what website)? PMs or whatever might help. Really should have done this deal thru gtz, but it's too late to worry about shouldas now.

Thanks, that is what I thought.
The deal was set up here, on DP. Everyone saw the listing of what he was attempting to sell.
In the PM(s) before my friend sent the money, Christopher Hughes had asked that it be sent as a personal gift so that he wouldnt have to pay the fees. This sounds like intent to commit fraud to me.
We have the paypal receipt and records of the few PMs that he sent before just clamming up and avoiding our emails/PMs totally.

I just talked to my friend and he has no problem contacting Nashville police and filing a mail fraud complaint against him. We decided to give him a week to refund the money before we do so. If anyone has any contact with Christopher Hughes (VileRedFalcon), please let him know whats coming. I will send him an email informing him that the police will be called in his hometown unless the refund is sent by Monday, sept 7th. And we are very serious.

If anyone can help me out by helping me find his mailing/home address that would save me alot of trouble.

I also want to thank everyone here for all the support. Its nice to know that it bothers everyone here as much as it bothers me. Its a shame that this crap happens at all, and should not be tolerated. People who pull this shit have to be called on it and not allowed to get away with it.

[c0ldb33r]

I know very little about the US legal system, but I think that mail fraud falls under federal jurisdiction, so I don't think the local police have the jurisdiction to do anything. In all frankness, I really doubt this would be high on their list of priorities even if they did have jurisdiction.

If I were you, I would fill out this form and see what happens:
https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx