Theft in SL

I ve paid someone money in exchange of a service but when she got the money she dissapeared and doesnt want to do for what i have paid her.
When i try to contact her she tells me that she doenst want to give me my money back.
So i ve paid for something i ve never got!

I just wanted to know where i can go to to fill in a complaint. I have the impression that in SL theft is allowed because nobody can help me.

thx

Dare we ask what sort of "service"?

Broccoli

This is a legitimate reason to use the Abuse Report system, which you can use from within the client.

So i think you should file an Abuse Report.

Also, learn your lesson and in the future pay a deposit before the work is done and then the rest after it has been finished, or all after it has been finished but then its a risk for them as to whether or not you'll pay up.

Sorry, but this is a lesson for you. Don't ever pay in full for anything in advance. Some people you can trust, but others....

It's been my experience that LL won't take any action on commercial disputes relating to trade. The take a "hands-off" position reguarding such things. Granted, this opens the door widely to such disputes; but, given that LL has doesn't want to be a governing force in SL, and doesn't allow anyone else to either, SL will always be a haven for scam artists.

You've also got to take into account the amount, as frustrating as any amount might be.

If it's a couple of hundred L$, it's less than the price of a burger.

If it's a couple of hundred real dollars... then yes that sucks. But what precautions did you take?

Whenever I deal with custom items, I always tell them I pay 50% deposit and the rest on completion.

Broccoli

I do Contracting Work frequently (Building, Terraforming) and i never ask for or accept money Until the Job is Completed. If it's a build, then it's set to Buy, and the new owner gets it as soon as they pay for it. as for terraforming, I do it on trust, and i've not been Ripped off yet.

Angel.

for some services payment in full in advance is necessary.

thx for the info! guess i m gonna have to learn to live with it

How much did you lose if you dont mind me asking?

I gave away 100L in this thread here:

/327/5e/203089/2.html

and the winner said to give it to a newbie and you seem new so ill give it to you when i receive my stipend.

Its only $100L but better than nothing i guess.

I do translations. I never ask for money ahead of time. I have been amazed at how many people just send me money before I can deliver their translated documents. Having said that, I am fully aware that by asking for payment upon delivery, I'm taking a risk. To date, I have never had anyone not pay. Some even give me more than my quoted price. There are lots of honest people out there.

Sorry Davy, but it seems a bit weird that she flat out refuses... would there be more to this story by any chance?

Sounds like a good use of it.

SL does pick and choose which disputes they want to resolve.

Take for instance the island resold to several people. The original buyer got their island and it left the others with nothing.

OH, LL did confiscate the other island that was not advertised for sale by the alleged crook but the others are left with dealing with the law.

so LL does help resolve issues, only when it fits their criteria I guess.

I'm glad you agree!!

That sucks. I am curious to what kind of sevice this was. In my line of work, this happens frequently and I tell people, friends, potiental clients, etc... that should you require my type of services, make sure that the "servicer" is from a reputable house. That way, there is more than one responsible party.

I am sorry that you lost money, I suppose lesson learned.

Theft (well, techicaly the act in question is fraud) is rare in SL. It happens, yes, but not at all often.

I always do business COD, both becasue theft really is rare and becasue it seems to sit better with my customers.

i ve lost 3500L$
I feel so stupid!

That really sucks. This sounds like a good business opertunity for someone willing to do the work involved. Create an escrow account, whereas, monies could be paid into escrow in lieu of services, and once the service is completed, the money could then be forwarded to the service provider. It's a 2 way street, if one withholds payment for a service, and then refuses to pay after the service is rendered, then, the service provider could loose out as well. Alot of people dont like building, scripting, making clothes, etc. and complain of not having something to do... how about starting up this escrow service?

I'm also curious as to what the goods or services were supposed to be. Hopefully it's something more mundane than what some of us are likely imagining.

Then who watches the escrow agent? =^.^=

You always end up having to give the money to someone.

But, it's mostly a moot point, as theft looks to be unusual.

Don't...

A whole wack load of us lost USD$1850 each due to LL waiting 7+ Days to tell us that we we're all scammed on a land transfer. That is the biggest scam. Selling islands to many people at once. Because LL is so slow, you can get the money out of PayPay and people like me can get nothing back.

Well, we used to use trusted people as escrow agents when doing land deals in TSO.

It does work.

coco

That's not my point.
When anyone first starts accepting money for any service (including escrow) is an unknown factor, and without some enforced contract system it's all a matter of taking the same risk.

What you can do also is put her in your picks and let people know she is a thief and to not trust her.

LOL!