If someone is selling you an island ATM, beware!!!

There is someone trying to scam me atm. I can not release details yet.
But if you are trying to buy an island sim from someone with the initials BB, I would NOT send payment.

Whew - mine are MM - so it ain't me, no no no it ain't me babe,

Ahhhh, where is escrow when you need it, eh Merwan?

ROFLOL!

I guess i was way too ahead or behind the times - not sure which.

This is what has happened so far.
On thursday the owner of Fantasy Island (her name still shows up as owner of that island if you want to know who it is) sold me the sim.
I sent her money via Western Union.
I received confirmation that the money was picked up, and she presented ID to do so.
She sent an email to LL authorizing the transfer of the island to me.
I confirmed with LL that the email was received.

I followed up on friday with LL to try and get a timeleine for transfer, they said it would most likely occur on Monday.

Monday I call LL to check on the status, they say that Brandi sent an email over the weekend to cancel the transfer request.
They requested I send them proof of payment, which I did.

Tuesday I speak with a Linden, they tell me that someone else also purchased the island from Brandi. They are trying to contact her. But since all island transfers occur outside of SL, there is not anything they can do. Nor can they tell me who else purchased the island. I beleive they are trying to figure out what they can do.

I am trying to determine who the other purchasor is, as I our combined purchase price should exceed $1700 USD. I want to prosecute this person. I have her RL name and address. I *beleive* this constitues wire fraud which is a felony.

I was wondering if anyone knows the best way to proceed with criminal charges. The person lives in Indiana.

You are so ahead of your time that you seem retro. Sorry that ass tried to scam you, Schwanson.

Just contact the local police department in their home town.

Wire Fraud is a federal offense. I would contact your local police, who should refer you to the FBI. I would start the ciminal process since it is obvious this person has gone out of their way to committ fraud. Also, Western Union is a red flag for people trying to be shady.

FBI won't deal with 1700 USD cases.

Are you an FBI agent? I have worked with the FBI on several occasions and you would be surprised what they will take on. Some cases (Federal) they have to take on, because it is their jurisdiction. Furthermore anything over $300 is a Felony.

At any rate Schwanson's local police can point him in the right direction and work with the out of state police department if need be.

Compile a concise report including all of the particulars, including yours, the seller and LL.

Send it registered mail to the State Attorney Office in Indiana.

http://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/

I vote for PITCHFORKS and TORCHES.

Sorry this happen Schwan, that shiznit sucks.

For not all that great a cost, Linden Lab could release two islands to the two buyers (assuming they both have reasonable evidence that they purchased in good faith) while the issue is pending. They can probably even get a tax write-off for it.

That's really unfortunate Schwanson. Yes, Brandi may well be a scammer, but I also think that Linden Lab should recognize that they accepted and confirmed a transfer order and then rescinded it. I'm not real up on my Uniform Commerce Code, but it seems like there must be something wrong with that (or should be).

Was worth repeating in case someone missed it.

Now THAT is an excellent idea, saves a great deal of headache and potential embarrassment for all.



Edited to spell embarrassment right, is that right?

This bears repeating again. Why exactly would they cancel a transfer request that was already put in without checking with both parties?

Because they aren't responsible for the island transfers the 2 parties involved are.


I really don't want to see LL handing out 2 island in this case. If LL pays for this person fraud, everyone in SL pays, and I don't want to pay for her dishonesty. LL should assist the 2 parties involved in pursing legal action against the alleged offender.

Yeah I guess the rule is that until it's been technically transfered it's not really transfered.

They've probably canceled them before and can't make this a special case.

Well, one. I think the 2nd party got the island.

Also, Schwanson didn't really talk about all the efforts he's made to contact brandi, explain the situation, and ask for his money back.

It's all quite possible that Brandi simply thought she got scammed and that's why she canceled the request.

I've had problems with western union before. Maybe she didn't get her money out of it?

Talking to yourself, blaze?

My point is that you shouldn't be able to say "here, transfer this island to person X", which starts the process, then just cancel with no problem on a whim. That is a bad policy to have, and makes this type of fraud possible.

There is fraud in world everyday due to lack of accountablity on the side of LL. If they step in this time they need to step in everytime. When that poor girl lost all her land in the sim next to mine LL did nothing, I don't think Schwanson deseves better than she got (no offense to Schwanson). It is the same crime, LL either has be to hands off or take a proactive role in protecting the investments of residents.

I thought that the poor girl you mention accidentally parcelled her land incorrectly. I'd say that's a fair bit different from someone accepting payment and then claiming that she didn't. If you're talking about another poor girl (whose heart-wrenching story I'm not familiar with) then please disregard.

Actually no its the same thing. There is no protection for residents in SL. LL claims thats SL is this great place to do business but SL is currently a horrible business enviroment with no protection for residents from fraud, or technical mishaps. When content suddenly becomes free and widely available because of a permissions error, LL offers no support to the content creator. People are defauded in SL everyday and LL doesn't do shit about it.