My fiance and I came across an ad for a 2004 Range Rover... perfect condition, low miles... MUST SELL! I emailed the owner (William Shauck) asking for details... 3 days later I received an email back, very generic, claiming he was out of town on business, so sorry I took so long to get back to you, and re-instated what the CL ad had said. I, again, sent an email asking for a few more specific details. I received an email back giving me the VIN and explaining how the buy/sell process would be handled through moneybookers.com. I went ahead and ordered a carfax and investigated Moneybookers. I came across nothing stating that they were anything but legit and that they did in fact do these sort of transactions.
The carfax came back with all the matching info that William had given me. I went ahead and gave him my full name, address (which i was comfortable with since that is the sort of info one can get out of a phone book). I received an email from Moneybookers 'escrow' giving me a VERY legit looking order request. It was 3 pages long and answered every question i had. I still had reservations about the transaction, but how could carfax and moneybookers.com all be lying, right?!
So, as indicated by the order, I was to send 30% of the total ($2700) through Moneygram to a verified Moneybookers agent (Robin Merlingers in England). After that amount was received and verified the delivery process was to be started. I went ahead and sent the moneygram.
Then, i received another email claiming that I needed to send another payment of $2700 in order for the vehicle to arrive on March 26th at 6pm at my home address. I sent 2 emails, (William and to the moneybookers email address) stating that that was not the initial aggreement. I received an email apologizing for the missunderstanding and that this was their policy, please pay to continue the transaction.
I went ahead and sent another $2700 thru Moneygram.
On March 26th, at approx 4pm when I was beginning to anticipate the arrival of the vehicle I received yet another email claiming that i was almost 100% completed with the transaction... please send the remaining balance of $3600 in order for the vehicle to be delivered.
I was furious by this time and wrote multiple emails to moneybookers. They promptly responded claiming that this is their policy and they apologize for the missunderstanding. With confirmation of the final payment, I could expect delivery of the vehicle on March 28th at 6pm, the delay due to traffic problems.
I then began another online investigation... and came across this website... WHY DIDN'T I FIND IT SOONER?!?!
I now know i have been completely scammed by this person and his team of people impersonating Moneybookers.com. I feel like a complete fool and have dumped my hard-earned money into the wind.
Grand total spent on nothing= $5508.oo USD. That is a HUGE amount of money to me... I'm getting married in a few months and this was nothing i was prepared to deal with. I'm left with an empty savings account and no money to fix my current car that needs work.
I filed a claim with ic3.gov and just hope that this doesn't happen to anyone else! Save Yourself! If anyone knows how to get even $1 back of my money, please let me know!! I've done all that i can think of, and i feel lost... and horribly broke.
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