[SFDXA] Recent Equipment sale Scam,QTH.COM, UPS, FEDEX and PayPal

[Norm Alexander]

First let me say that QTH.COM, USP, FEDEX and PAYPAL were simply the vehicles used to carry out a somewhat elaborate  defrauding scheme.

I have been following the saga of a couple of hams (and there are more (10)involved) who just recently purchased Ham equipment items listed on QTH.COM (there may have been other adv. also), the sellers call was legitimate, but likely compromised, or just usurped by the perpretraiter.  The items were paid for via PayPal, shipped via UPS or FEDEX, tracking numbers sent to the buyers.  Then while in transiet from CA to midwest and East coast destinations a recall was issued from the seller, a note to the buyer that labels had been misapplied and items were being returned for correction.   Apparently UPS did intercepted the boxes and returned them to the sender following his instructions.  

The return address was a UPS Store, relatively close to the original sending store. However the manager of the receiving store said the boxes were empty (10 boxes in all).  The Senders address was bogus and the PayPal account that funds were sent to was cleaned out.  The Paypal part of the story probably is the most concerning.  The perp in this case may have hacked a legimate hams account or set one up with a legitamate call and then transferred the funds received out as they came in.  

All of the organizations involved I believe are cooperating in trying to track down the culprit.  The Feds may participate as it involves, email fraud (wire?), Mail fraud, and it involve interstate transactions.  This guy obviously knew his way around the 'Ham World' selling items like SB-220's, and how UPS and FEDEX work (it is possible they did not get paid either).

I think that what is of interest is PayPals role in this - items were not delivered, therefore you ask them for your money back.  But in this case those monies sent are already gone - is PayPal liable? I think so, but what is their "fine print say?"  Better check it out, and know your seller.


Norm W4QN