1. Learn
  2. Wholesale & eBay Forum
  3. Supplier Reviews, Complaints and Scams

Well, I've been a complete moron.

I bought 3 Nokia N95 8gb's from these wonderful people, which were supposedly shipped on March 12 but which haven't arrived yet. My email communication with them has not been very pleasant, they keep accusing ME of being a scammer. At one point I got a random email from them saying their google checkout account had been shut down for doing business with me. What?!?!? Funny thing is, my google account is fine, so if I'm the scammer why are THEY being shut down. I didn't get that one.

Is this a deliberate tactic they use? I'm not sure. They always seem to sidestep the issue of where the hell my phones are by accusing me of being a scammer. It's so frustrating and makes the whole thing so hard to deal with I've pretty much given up.

At the start, they made me send them a photocopy of my passport and bank statement before they would accept my order because they were wary of scammers. Because it was such a good deal I complied. I feel like a idiot for doing that now. I hate the fact that they have so much info on me.

They're run by a guy called John Anthony Castro. If you google him you get some interesting results. He's 23 years old, wrote a book about himself, and he's running for mayor in some town in the US. He also seems to have been involved in some dodgy internet scams too, judging from the complaints from very angry people on quite a few forums. Unfortunately only one of those complaints came up when I did a search 4 weeks ago.

I thought Google checkout was a reasonably safe method of paying but there was no tracking on the shipment so I think I'm pretty screwed... to the tune of over $1200USD. That's quite a bit of money for a uni student.

Below is a copy and paste of an email this guy sent to a member of another forum. Not a very nice guy obviously. My advice would be to steer well clear.

START QUOTE ->

RE: TurboSIMs and other solution?

From: John Castro (johnacastro2008@hotmail.com)

Sent: Monday, 17 December 2007 6 AM

John,

Listen motherf*****, I have 11 TurboSIMs because I bought a wholesale bulk a long time ago in order to rip off their technology. I have an International Forwarding Agency with a small $160K a year International Sales Division. And yes, I was urged to run for Mayor of Laredo because I published a book and gained statewide recognition. I have friends on both sides of the aisle all over the Texas Capitol and Congress. I'm the last person you want to insult.

And yes, I decided to make a quick $50K by ripping off TurboSIMs technology and selling it to a firm in Germany that wants to market this product via televison in the United States on CNBC while placing Put Options on AT&T stock to profit from its sink once news of this new GodSIM becomes public. I'm personally in talk with hedge funds across the Northeast. I'm also brokering a deal with Federal Police Minister of Argentina for 20,000 rubber bullet guns and oversee international forwarding operations for several government officials.

So, all I wanted to do was dump these shitty TurboSIMs ASAP because I'm going on a $13K EuroTrip this Holiday Season. And yes, I posted the GodSIM to test the response rate. It was high enough to interest me. I could have just flushed the damn TubroSIMs down the toilet, but I'm a greedy SOB and make a buck where a buck can be made. That's how the rich stay rich. The pathetic part is that I'm only 24 years old and more successful than you can ever even dream of becoming.

<- END QUOTE

sounds like this bloke is given himself a blow job. as to your money if you sent it thru google checkout then why can't you put in a complaint about the transaction, i am sure they would have a record of it and get them to chase up your transaction with this dick head. Google being such a high profile company and they offer safe transactions for buyers, i am sure they would not like there name tarnished. So my advice to you is contact google and tell them your story how this person scammed you for money with fake products and used google for the transaction. Don't leave it to long and don't give up until you have exhausted every possible avenue at your dissposal. Good luck.

cheers

darryl

Maybe you ought to send a copy of that email to the local news station and paper in his home town, and maybe even a copy to the branch office of the FBI...

It doesnt matter what his background is or who he knows. Hes still a criminal if he steals your money.

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

IC3's mission is to serve as a vehicle to receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime. The IC3 gives the victims of cyber crime a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of suspected criminal or civil violations. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at the federal, state, local and international level, IC3 provides a central referral mechanism for complaints involving Internet related crimes. read more >>

Filing a Complaint with IC3

IC3 accepts online Internet crime complaints from either the person who believes they were defrauded or from a third party to the complainant. We can best process your complaint if we receive accurate and complete information from you. Therefore, we request that you provide the following information when filing a complaint:

* Your name

* Your mailing address

* Your telephone number

* The name, address, telephone number, and Web address, if available, of the individual or organization you believe defrauded you.

* Specific details on how, why, and when you believe you were defrauded.

* Any other relevant information you believe is necessary to support your complaint.

Link hidden: Login to view

Im also assuming that your talking about this forums thread here

Link hidden: Login to view

Unfortunately this very heavily looks like a scammer. And its probably not the really

John Anthony Castro

This is one reason why we screen all registered sellers here. And we push that members do not respond to members with out a registered seller star logo under their name.

We get them here too and usually after we shut them out they leave and do not come back.

Also include your complaint to hotmail. And include the hotmail address

johnacastro2008@hotmail.com in your report to Ic3 If this guy is stupid hes using a real ip address to log into his hotmail address.

Also contact google checkout and tell them you have been scammed by a member. They will lock out that account and start their own investigation.

I personally will never deal with a company that does not use their own websites .com as a email address.

At the start, they made me send them a photocopy of my passport and bank statement before they would accept my order because they were wary of scammers.

You also should contact the FBI and ask them if a copy of your passport and bank info can be used for identity theft. I would also immediately close your bank account and get a new one. And do the same with your passport This is no joke. I really mean it.

This is no joke. I really mean it.

I hadn't even thought of that. I feel a bit sick now. I don't think the FBI will give a crap about me since I'm not a US citizen, I will contact the police here in New Zealand and see what they advise. Thanks for the warning Jimmy.

And I think it is the real John Anthony Castro, the writing style fits. If you look at his free ebook about himself (lol) and his emails you can tell they're written by the same little weasel.

Maybe you ought to send a copy of that email to the local news station and paper in his home town, and maybe even a copy to the branch office of the FBI...

Lol, I might just do that. :

sounds like this bloke is given himself a blow job. as to your money if you sent it thru google checkout then why can't you put in a complaint about the transaction, i am sure they would have a record of it and get them to chase up your transaction with this dick head. Google being such a high profile company and they offer safe transactions for buyers, i am sure they would not like there name tarnished. So my advice to you is contact google and tell them your story how this person scammed you for money with fake products and used google for the transaction. Don't leave it to long and don't give up until you have exhausted every possible avenue at your dissposal. Good luck.

cheers

darryl

Thanks for the advice. You're right, it would be stupid to let this go. I'm not going to drop this, that was just frustration talking before. I'll follow this up with Google first and see where that takes me.

Did some digging i could only help you this far, the rest is up to you.

8734 Puerto Belo

Laredo, TX 78045-6220

(956) 727-3344

here is a link if you want to search further into this and track this asshole down.

Link hidden: Login to view

Even though you are out of the country the FBI will investigate any issue of fraud within the Borders of the USA. If a US citizen is Defrauding anyone outside of the country the matter will investigated.

5 days later

This guy is a severe criminal without concern or care for anyone but himself.

Hes probably committing felonies all over the place. So by all means send this info to the police in his town and any contacts you know he has.

I would definitely contact the FBI because he is committing fraud over state lines

and I think maybe even the USPS as they investigate these things as well.

It may not benefit you directly but it will give them more evidence to get this guy. Most of these criminals think they are so smart but in the end they most always end up behind jails or at least running all of the time and end up unhappy after all.

They think they are so good for being such weak people. I mean come-on. Its very weak to break trust and steal. They are the lowest of low pond scum.

i think the FBI would also be interested with him about this little passage of his email to you.

(I am also brokering a deal with Federal Police Minister of Argentina for 20,000 rubber bullet guns and oversee international forwarding operations for several government officials.)

That to me is gun running, i think that;s illegal in most country's.

good luck

darryl

p.s. he could use your passport and bank details to commit fraud and you will be the target of an investergation should one arise.

Thanks guys.

I contacted Google last weekend, and the issue has been forwarded to their mediation department. I'm still waiting for a resolution there. I want to do everything above board and by the book so that I have the best chance of getting my money back. But once that's all over, I'm going to do everything I can to make this guy's life hell.

As everyone has stated you really need to contact the FBI. Unlike most countries, ours (The U.S) is very harsh and efficient at catching fraud even if directed to non-U.S citizens and they will most likely be able to find him with ease even if he is using a false name. Also if this guy isn't complete B.S he may fall under conducting organized crime/ racketeering which is probably one of if not the highest persued crimes for the FBI these days.

As for your problem getting your money back, If you used a chargecard through google charge it back. If not google should have some internal dispute system to recover your funds or at least some of them. I mean even terrible paypal has this service...

Don't give up either, I promise that the more time you put in, the more emails and phone calls you make, the better chance you have of recovering your money or putting this guy in legal trouble

As everyone has stated you really need to contact the FBI. Unlike most countries, ours (The U.S) is very harsh and efficient at catching fraud even if directed to non-U.S citizens and they will most likely be able to find him with ease even if he is using a false name. Also if this guy isn't complete B.S he may fall under conducting organized crime/ racketeering which is probably one of if not the highest persued crimes for the FBI these days.

As for your problem getting your money back, If you used a chargecard through google charge it back. If not google should have some internal dispute system to recover your funds or at least some of them. I mean even terrible paypal has this service...

Don't give up either, I promise that the more time you put in, the more emails and phone calls you make, the better chance you have of recovering your money or putting this guy in legal trouble

Thanks, that was good advice. I have gone ahead and filed an FBI report and spoken to my bank as well. Just waiting to see what, if anything, happens. Despite my follow up emails Google still hasn't gotten back to me : The wheels of justice turn slowly unfortunately.

you have to be on top of all of this, email them everyday, bug the hell out of them until you get some answers. Even google bug them twice as hard, hang in there and don't back down on anything that's not in your favour. Google being a service ( safe ?? ) you should be jumping all over them to make sure they follow it thru to the bitter end.

good luck were all cheering for you.

cheers

darryl

you have to be on top of all of this, email them everyday, bug the hell out of them until you get some answers. Even google bug them twice as hard, hang in there and don't back down on anything that's not in your favour. Google being a service ( safe ?? ) you should be jumping all over them to make sure they follow it thru to the bitter end.

good luck were all cheering for you.

cheers

darryl

Cheers mate. Don't worry I can be incredibly annoying and persistent when I want to be.

19 days later

Just thought I'd update you guys.

I got my money back after I filed an FBI report. I scared them so bad they not only refunded me, but others that they scammed as well. Total amount that they paid back was about $8000... and that's just the people I know about.

Google checkout was absolutely no help in all this. They didn't respond to most of my emails, and when they did I got generic and unhelpful responses. Even after I got the FBI involved they just couldn't give a crap. One thing I learnt is that Google does not care about you, they only care about the $$$$. They're a big multibillion dollar company, they're not interested in your problems.

I can't put into words how much they suck. They don't even have a phone number. And they don't respond to email. So if there's an urgent problem you'll have to use telepathy. My advice: stay the %$#@ away from Google checkout.