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but were afraid to ask: 
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Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
Well,I wont be needing a car transported from Kansas. Its a scam,he has my $9000.00,and a friend of mine's $16000.00. And according to my sources many many others money also. I really trusted this guy. I have been around for a long time,this guy knew his TRs. My friend is no fool either,knows his stuff, and this guy got him too. The scam ad is on the VTR right now under TR3's for sale. He is C Cooper in Kansas. I am at a loss as what to do. The authorities,sad to say are not to concerned. I have some thoughts,but they are just thoughts right now.
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A good scam !
- Thread starter BOXoROCKS
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Bummer. That's why I wouldn't buy a car long distance or from ebay.
If they used the mail to scam you it is considered mail fraud. Maybe the postal service will help. If they used internet, it may be wire fraud. Problem is finding the authority to deal with it.
Hard to be $25,000 worth of fraud doesn't raise an eyebrow!
If they used the mail to scam you it is considered mail fraud. Maybe the postal service will help. If they used internet, it may be wire fraud. Problem is finding the authority to deal with it.
Hard to be $25,000 worth of fraud doesn't raise an eyebrow!
Thats some of the good part,he doesnt live in Kansas,or any of the other 5 places I have tracked down.His address in K is some elderly womans home who has nothing to do with anything. I tracked him thru sources who I cant say. This guy is all over the map,with accts all over the place.He is continusly on the move.His acct that I wired the cash to is now defunked. Court/Schmort. I left him a note on the VTR.
Alan_Myers
Luke Skywalker
Offline
Hi,
Sorry to hear about the problems you are having.
A couple things that might help...
First thing, if it were me I would want be to try to be totally certain it's fraud, and not something more innocent. For example, I had an eBay seller fail to ship an item and be unresponsive to email for a couple weeks. Thought for sure I was being ripped off. But it turned out he'd been hospitalized with a heart attack or something and he made right on everything as soon as he was back on his feet. If I'd have filed a complaint, I would have felt pretty bad and might have damaged his business on eBay!
Have you used www.411.com to see what you can find out? You can look up C.T. Cooper's phone and address in Garden City, KS on, if you need them (or simply want to confirm info you already have). Also, you can get the names and phone numbers of immediate neighbors who might be able to give you more info, if you haven't been able to contact him directly. That's about the extent of free info to be found there. You can also purchase various more detailed reports online, checking for criminal records or real estate ownership (public record stuff mostly, in this case it appears his residence is an apartment, however... and it looks like Charles' nickname might be "Cook").
Of course, perhaps you have already done lots of detective work and are pretty certain the seller is defrauding you.
In that case, have you contacted the District Attorney's office in Garden City, Kansas? I would think they'd be the most likely authority to act on any form of fraud occuring in their community, at least initially, and might be able to tell you if there are other cases pending or previous invovling that individual.
Also, have you informed VTR, where the ad is appearing? Have you checked with them to find out if he's a member?
Finally, have you emailed Basil here on BCF, to find out if he's a member here?
Hope you get a good resolution quickly!
Edit: Whoops! Looks like you have already responded to some of these points. Still, I hope you find more info, and perhaps that listed party in Kansas is a relative, or it's a previous residence and the neighbors know something about Charles. Looks like he has a freebie Yahoo! email account, too, which may or may not be of any help. Still, you might try contacting Yahoo! too.
Sorry to hear about the problems you are having.
A couple things that might help...
First thing, if it were me I would want be to try to be totally certain it's fraud, and not something more innocent. For example, I had an eBay seller fail to ship an item and be unresponsive to email for a couple weeks. Thought for sure I was being ripped off. But it turned out he'd been hospitalized with a heart attack or something and he made right on everything as soon as he was back on his feet. If I'd have filed a complaint, I would have felt pretty bad and might have damaged his business on eBay!
Have you used www.411.com to see what you can find out? You can look up C.T. Cooper's phone and address in Garden City, KS on, if you need them (or simply want to confirm info you already have). Also, you can get the names and phone numbers of immediate neighbors who might be able to give you more info, if you haven't been able to contact him directly. That's about the extent of free info to be found there. You can also purchase various more detailed reports online, checking for criminal records or real estate ownership (public record stuff mostly, in this case it appears his residence is an apartment, however... and it looks like Charles' nickname might be "Cook").
Of course, perhaps you have already done lots of detective work and are pretty certain the seller is defrauding you.
In that case, have you contacted the District Attorney's office in Garden City, Kansas? I would think they'd be the most likely authority to act on any form of fraud occuring in their community, at least initially, and might be able to tell you if there are other cases pending or previous invovling that individual.
Also, have you informed VTR, where the ad is appearing? Have you checked with them to find out if he's a member?
Finally, have you emailed Basil here on BCF, to find out if he's a member here?
Hope you get a good resolution quickly!
Edit: Whoops! Looks like you have already responded to some of these points. Still, I hope you find more info, and perhaps that listed party in Kansas is a relative, or it's a previous residence and the neighbors know something about Charles. Looks like he has a freebie Yahoo! email account, too, which may or may not be of any help. Still, you might try contacting Yahoo! too.
roofman
Jedi Knight
Offline
There are other scammers out there also, I got scammed for about $400 on parts from a guy named Garth P. in New Jersey a year ago or so. Sent him the money for a " perfect" tr6 front bumper and he sent me rusted dented junk. I was stupid enough to send funds western union. I later posted a complaint on the web and got 20-30 emails from others he ripped off.
I just looked and the tr3 from that guy is still on VTR.
I just looked and the tr3 from that guy is still on VTR.
JamesWilson
Yoda
Offline
Ouch. I'm sorry you've been had.
At the very least get in touch with VTR and have them stop any further advertizing. While they disclaim responsibility for what's advertized they surely can't like it when their service and organization's good will is abused.
At the very least get in touch with VTR and have them stop any further advertizing. While they disclaim responsibility for what's advertized they surely can't like it when their service and organization's good will is abused.
T
Tinster
Guest
Guest
Offline
Really sorry for the news.
Maybe try a sting on the scammer?
I'll bet he pops up again selling this or that.
Keep an eye open and look for his ads. Answer one
and try for a physical contact.
Bring a real beefy friend and length of 1.5" diam.
pipe with you to the meet.
scam the scammer!
Maybe try a sting on the scammer?
I'll bet he pops up again selling this or that.
Keep an eye open and look for his ads. Answer one
and try for a physical contact.
Bring a real beefy friend and length of 1.5" diam.
pipe with you to the meet.
scam the scammer!
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
At the very least get in touch with VTR and have them stop any further advertizing. While they disclaim responsibility for what's advertized they surely can't like it when their service and organization's good will is abused.
[/ QUOTE ]In the past, we (VTR) have done just that: stop further advertising as best we could. Beyond that, there isn't much we can do. VTR provides the free online classified as a service to any and all, whether they are VTR members or not.
An e-mail to <webmaster@vtr.org> can't hurt. And I'm no longer either a National Officer nor am I currently involved with the VTR web site, but as a "charter" member of VTR I'm willing to do whatever I can to help. Feel free to contact me privately if you wish.
At the very least get in touch with VTR and have them stop any further advertizing. While they disclaim responsibility for what's advertized they surely can't like it when their service and organization's good will is abused.
[/ QUOTE ]In the past, we (VTR) have done just that: stop further advertising as best we could. Beyond that, there isn't much we can do. VTR provides the free online classified as a service to any and all, whether they are VTR members or not.
An e-mail to <webmaster@vtr.org> can't hurt. And I'm no longer either a National Officer nor am I currently involved with the VTR web site, but as a "charter" member of VTR I'm willing to do whatever I can to help. Feel free to contact me privately if you wish.
Billspit called my attention to your post under in my topic (see "near perfect TR3) Maybe just a coincidence that the one in the local paper is for $16,000. I just called on the ad. His is a light blue car with black interior that has been worked on by a good local shop. Any of this sound familiar? Sounds like a nice car. I have his phone number and name, etc-- it's not Cooper.
Geo Hahn
Yoda
Offline
What a dirtbag... can't think of a fate terrible enough for this guy.
Unfortunately, 'Charles Cooper' is likely a fictitious name... indeed, I think it is the name of the founder of Cooper race cars (father of John Cooper). Maybe that's his M.O. and his next sale will be as William Lyons or such.
I have cross-posted the info the one of the other Triumph lists since the ad is still live.
Unfortunately, 'Charles Cooper' is likely a fictitious name... indeed, I think it is the name of the founder of Cooper race cars (father of John Cooper). Maybe that's his M.O. and his next sale will be as William Lyons or such.
I have cross-posted the info the one of the other Triumph lists since the ad is still live.
R6MGS
Yoda
Offline
Sorry to hear of your loss....I'll admit about a week ago I almost fell for a similar scam...I swear these scammers are getting better. I'd bid on a car, and was outbid...Few days later seller contacted me saying the winning bidder back out and offered the car to me for my bid. The seller said that to be safe they wanted to deal strictly through Ebay. Shortly after I got a 'purchase confirmation' from 'ebay'....It looked exactly like an official Ebay email...BUT after some thought I decided to call the seller and speak with her first. The number she gave me was unlisted and led to a general answering service....This threw up a red flag for me and I fowarded the 'purchases confirmation' to Ebay's Spoof department and they promptly informed me that the purchase confirmation I was sent was not really from Ebay. When I sent a confronting email for the seller I have had no response.
It's really dangerous to buy anything longdistance. Although it's not enough to completely turn me off...I'll continue to buy/sell on ebay and other sites, just using extreme caution.
At the point your at in this the worst thing you can do is nothing. You've essentially been robbed and need to do whatever is in your power to find justice. being a Canadian I am not sure exactly how to go about this kinda thing in the U.S but some of the above response sound good to me.
It's really dangerous to buy anything longdistance. Although it's not enough to completely turn me off...I'll continue to buy/sell on ebay and other sites, just using extreme caution.
At the point your at in this the worst thing you can do is nothing. You've essentially been robbed and need to do whatever is in your power to find justice. being a Canadian I am not sure exactly how to go about this kinda thing in the U.S but some of the above response sound good to me.
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mcguijo
Jedi Hopeful
Offline
You should be able to file an internet theft report with his "local" police. I'd start with the city where the seller was supposed to live. Paypal offers some safety but does not sound like how things were paid for. Ebay has gone down hill in the last couple of years.
startech47
Jedi Knight
Offline
I was scammed by Reliable Auto shipping in CA. Called out there to file charges and was told I had to start with the VA state police. The VA state police told me to notify VISA even though the money was already in Reliable's hands. VISA credited my account with the $650. The good news the TR3 was in great condition when Reindeer delivered it. Sorry to hear your troubles. Phil
BlakeDischer
Freshman Member
Offline
Good evening everyone,
Thanks to Andy Mace for bringing this matter to my attention. About two weeks ago, I was in communication with an individual who was defrauded by this person. After Mr. Cooper failed to return phone calls, the person defrauded did a search on the internet and found the photographs that Mr. Cooper used in his advertisement on a fellow enthusiast's web page. They were lifted without that person's knowledge. Mr Cooper used ctcoop@yahoo.com the first go round. I banned that email address and deleted his ad. He subsequently re-registered with an email address of ctcoop1027@yahoo.com and placed a second ad. I have now banned that one as well and removed the second ad, but of course there is nothing to prevent Mr. Cooper from registering again using a different Yahoo! address.
Because the VTR Classifieds are open for use by members and non-members alike, please exercise due diligence when entering into a transaction with a long distance seller. If you are a member of VTR, it would be prudent to ask a fellow member to inspect the vehicle before even sending a token good-faith deposit. If not a member of VTR, the Triumph Auto-X list is also a good resource to use in locating a fellow enthusiast who would be willing to inspect a car for you.
Best regards,
Blake Discher
VTR, VP Member Services
Thanks to Andy Mace for bringing this matter to my attention. About two weeks ago, I was in communication with an individual who was defrauded by this person. After Mr. Cooper failed to return phone calls, the person defrauded did a search on the internet and found the photographs that Mr. Cooper used in his advertisement on a fellow enthusiast's web page. They were lifted without that person's knowledge. Mr Cooper used ctcoop@yahoo.com the first go round. I banned that email address and deleted his ad. He subsequently re-registered with an email address of ctcoop1027@yahoo.com and placed a second ad. I have now banned that one as well and removed the second ad, but of course there is nothing to prevent Mr. Cooper from registering again using a different Yahoo! address.
Because the VTR Classifieds are open for use by members and non-members alike, please exercise due diligence when entering into a transaction with a long distance seller. If you are a member of VTR, it would be prudent to ask a fellow member to inspect the vehicle before even sending a token good-faith deposit. If not a member of VTR, the Triumph Auto-X list is also a good resource to use in locating a fellow enthusiast who would be willing to inspect a car for you.
Best regards,
Blake Discher
VTR, VP Member Services
roger_abbott
Jedi Hopeful
Offline
Wire fraud and mail fraud are federal crimes, the punishment for which is quite severe. Do a Google search on wire fraud to educate yourself and then contact the office of the United States District Attorney nearest you. I can't predict what they will do, if anything, but that is a good starting place. State law enforcement agencies usually are of little help.
I might also say that persistence pays. If you don't hear back from the USDA office within a reasonable time, keep calling until you get an answer. If it were my $9,000, I would also be calling my U. S. Representative if the USDA didn't do anything.
I regret your loss, I'm glad it wasn't me, it could have been, and I hope you nail this con artist.
I might also say that persistence pays. If you don't hear back from the USDA office within a reasonable time, keep calling until you get an answer. If it were my $9,000, I would also be calling my U. S. Representative if the USDA didn't do anything.
I regret your loss, I'm glad it wasn't me, it could have been, and I hope you nail this con artist.
