I don't know if this is the right area for this so Mods please feel free to move it.
Thought you should all be made aware of a scam which is becoming more common, I unfortunately fell foul and have only today found out about it.
A recent review on this forum recommended "the Big Tarp" available from Jed at True North which I quite fancied if the price was right. I used the link on the review and enquired about cost. Jed was away at the time although I did not know this, and recieving no reply I looked on the net and found a "True North Pursuits" site providing camping equipment. Believing this to be the same site as Jed's I called the number (a mobile number) and spoke to someone and asked if this was the same company selling the "big Tarp"which was recently reviewed on BCUK and got the answer yes. I duly sent off my order and a cheque for just over £70 for the tarp + P & P and waited for it to arrive, this was around the 15 August. I was in no hurry so hearing nothing I was'nt overly worried, in fact being quite relaxed about it, especialy after seeing the recomendation on here thought all would be well. Until I recieved a message from Jed asking about if I had placed an order. Small bell started ringing in my head which I dismissed, replied to ask if there was a problem with the order to find he had recieved none. A bit of defective detective work later I found my cheque had been cashed, no goods supplied and traders disappeared.
I had been scammed by what is known as Ghost Traders, they set up a bogus website using cut and paste sections from genuine traders sites, set up business accounts under the bogus trading coy name, then after recieving a few thousand quidworth of orders they close the account emptying it first, close the website, then start the process again using a different setup maybe furniture, or tools and they do this on and on making them almost impossible to track down. I have left this in the hands of the bank but they say there is little chance of catching up with them.
The hard thing is I can't really afford to lose that amount of money, and I should have listened to my inner scam early warning system, now I feel a complete idiot, and this is no more than I deserve for being so stupid and naive.
May I make it clear that True North and Jed are not involved in any way shape or form in this scam, far from it Jed made a very generous offer to supply the tarp and wait till I saved the money up to pay which is very kind and considerate of him but as it may take some time to do that, I declined cos I believe it would be unfair on him to have to wait because of my stupidity and some little toerags thievery. Jed if you read this once again thank you. So be aware out there please do not make the same mistake that I did, There Be Monsters.
Thought you should all be made aware of a scam which is becoming more common, I unfortunately fell foul and have only today found out about it.
A recent review on this forum recommended "the Big Tarp" available from Jed at True North which I quite fancied if the price was right. I used the link on the review and enquired about cost. Jed was away at the time although I did not know this, and recieving no reply I looked on the net and found a "True North Pursuits" site providing camping equipment. Believing this to be the same site as Jed's I called the number (a mobile number) and spoke to someone and asked if this was the same company selling the "big Tarp"which was recently reviewed on BCUK and got the answer yes. I duly sent off my order and a cheque for just over £70 for the tarp + P & P and waited for it to arrive, this was around the 15 August. I was in no hurry so hearing nothing I was'nt overly worried, in fact being quite relaxed about it, especialy after seeing the recomendation on here thought all would be well. Until I recieved a message from Jed asking about if I had placed an order. Small bell started ringing in my head which I dismissed, replied to ask if there was a problem with the order to find he had recieved none. A bit of defective detective work later I found my cheque had been cashed, no goods supplied and traders disappeared.
I had been scammed by what is known as Ghost Traders, they set up a bogus website using cut and paste sections from genuine traders sites, set up business accounts under the bogus trading coy name, then after recieving a few thousand quidworth of orders they close the account emptying it first, close the website, then start the process again using a different setup maybe furniture, or tools and they do this on and on making them almost impossible to track down. I have left this in the hands of the bank but they say there is little chance of catching up with them.
The hard thing is I can't really afford to lose that amount of money, and I should have listened to my inner scam early warning system, now I feel a complete idiot, and this is no more than I deserve for being so stupid and naive.
May I make it clear that True North and Jed are not involved in any way shape or form in this scam, far from it Jed made a very generous offer to supply the tarp and wait till I saved the money up to pay which is very kind and considerate of him but as it may take some time to do that, I declined cos I believe it would be unfair on him to have to wait because of my stupidity and some little toerags thievery. Jed if you read this once again thank you. So be aware out there please do not make the same mistake that I did, There Be Monsters.
