Dodgy money used for purchases and the LL response

has anyone ever been on the receiving end of a suspension because they've sold something to someone and LL has decided the money transaction was dodgy?

It's happened to someone I know. He's locked out of his business as his account is suspended from SL, the website and xsl. All because they're investigating a sale he made. They say they'll get back to him but it's coming up to a week now.

It seems like normal subpar LL behaviour to me - punish the innocent because it's easier than having to investigate - but do these things resolve themselves or does he have to push LL?

He rang them but the Spanish language option isn't working it seems and he's afraid it will make it worse if he tries the English one and doesn't understand the questions well enough to give the right answer or if his language fails him and he doesn't get the English right in his answer (if that makes sense and incredibly English is my first language ).

If it wasn't LL I would say that it would be ok but since it is and we know just how consistent they aren't I wonder if there's something he needs to do to get this resolved.

LL just jealous that his product and service is much more reliable than there own.

Therefore they take out the competition

If you are going to do business in SL then you should be very aware of the money laundering implications of transactions of any size, because LL are.

Pep (US and the UK laws are draconian on anyone who, even unknowingly, is complicit - which is why LL jump on potential infractions.)

well, that's a completely unhelpful response. Apart from bumping the thread it served absolutely no useful purpose.

It may not have been laundered money in the traditional sense, it could be the lindens bought by the person who bought the items was a stolen credit card. LL aren't saying atm.

You're correct. Being aware of improper uses of Lindens and of counterfeit Lindens does not help the seller. Even if a seller suspects the Lindens received are counterfeit, there's nothing he or she can do to prevent LL's suspension.

I told you the legislation was draconian didn't I?

Pep (I would presume that we are not talking about the sale of a L$100 flowerpot; big money transfers will *always* attract LL attention, and they work on the basis of "shoot first, ask questions after" *every* time.)

On the contrary, this is a high-profile current issue in the real world (try googling "money mules" and if this thread brings LL's attitude (documented numerous times in these very forums) to the attention of even one person who might otherwise get stuffed because they are sufficiently naive to believe in money for nothing, then it has been very helpful.

Pep (I am interested in the concept of "traditional" money laundering; could I subscribe to your newsletter?)

ohh yes, big money here. The most expensive thing he sells is priced at 1500L and his most popular is priced at 1000L

I think you've got completely the wrong end of the stick here. Whether it be deliberate or not.

and pep, try actually reading the original post and the questions asked and you may see why I think your responses here are completely unhelpful.

I have no idea whether this would work, but perhaps you could write a phone request for him, asking to get an email address to which he could correspond with the aid of his translator, in lieu of a Spanish language contact he could call.

It must be fairly rare.

Through the course of putting $L toward land tier for a number of years now I've easily put $L 100 million through Des; maybe closer to twice that. I never added it up.

That's a lot of risk when it comes to other people's fraudulent transactions. All I can say is that a) I've got really decent people renting or b) just really lucky so far, or both.

If you initially posted details of the potentially dubious transaction or transactions then you might attract more sympathy, assuming that is what you are looking for on your "friend's" behalf.

I have reread the OP and I see nothing in it that would make me want to change my comments. LL can do whatever they want, and when it comes to protecting themselves from accusations of money laundering they don't hang around, as has been noted multiple times on this forum.

Pep (I knew someone who waited four months for something like this to get resolved - and it was *her* credit card details got stolen, she was premium, American, English-speaking and persistent in pursuing action; tell your "friend" not to hold his/her breath.)

I'll bet LL have put a pattern-matching search application in to look at transaction histories, and you have a lot of consistent transactions, which is likely to protect you from having the spotlight turned on you.

Pep (which would make you the ideal money mule, actually.)

It seems to be occurring less often now.

Well it would be noticed, I think.

"Hai can I rent 200 regions from u and rent them out agin 2 others"

I might sense something fishy... grin

Unless of course people were willing to lie, steal, cheat and defraud merely for the pleasure of renting a small parcel on my estate. I would like to think so, but there's the remote possibility it's not quite that satisfying.

Lighten up. He is not the first in these forums to offer commentary that is related to the OP but not actually answering the questions. While his comments may not offer any help in this situation, they might still offer insight to someone reading the thread.

more likely you've got decent people with a stake in sl.

This guy sells a combat system which I'll lay bets is what the little darling bought although I gather LL wont tell him which sale it was that triggered this. Being deeply suspicious it's probably some kiddy not smart enough to rip content but smart enough to steal a credit card number and go on a spending spree.

Who knows though? It looks like this is going to be a wait and see. Hopefully not four months though for his sake.

The truth often doesn't sound helpful. But it's still better to have a firm grasp on reality.

Pep was just pointing out (and even being civil about it) that your friend has the sharp end of a nasty stick, and one that is due to RL laws.

Or a competitor, framing him. That's a rough crowd he's running in there.

What sums of money are involved?

I ask because a couple of years ago, before I was old enough in SL to know better, I bought -- in good faith -- about £25 worth of $L from a website and found myself suspended a few hours later because the $L were apparently the proceeds of some fraud.

I just opened a special support ticket explaining exactly what had happened and my account was re-instated later that day, minus the dodgy $L (not the end of the world, since I was able to get the cash back via PayPal). But when I checked -- where I could -- with people to whom I'd paid the money, it was news to them that there was any problem with it.

It may be that, in my case, the amounts involved were too small for LL to be too bothered or it may be that they've tightened up considerably. I don't know how it is in the USA, but EU money laundering "due diligence" checks don't kick in for small transactions http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/mlr/your-role/resposibilities.htm.

Unfortunately while an investigation is going on there is no other way to stop the bad stuff continuing other than to freeze it all, until it's made clear who did what to whom, when, where, and why.

I don't see it as punishing the innocent, although it certainly can't feel comfortable on the bad end of that. Hopefully it will all be cleared up soon and your friend will be back in the game.

Both are true.

Newertheless, he's still an elitest asshole who has nothing helpful to add.

Like she said, he is not the first.

Freezing the account pending a further look isn't really the big problem. The big problem is taking more than a week to resolve anything, without a word to the person who's account as been suspended. That is inept and unprofessional.