I posted the original message back at the begining of January. If you guys have some time, I just wanted to update you all on what has happened since then. GOOD NEWS!!
I actually got the gun on Friday!
It was a long and hard battle. First I tried in vain to email this guy, and finally gave up. I finally figured that if he wanted to be an honest man, he had his chance. It had been over a month since he recieved and cash my money order, and he made no attempt to contact me via email, or the return address on the envelope, or money order.
My first action was to contact the USPS mail fraud division via email and fill out their entire form with all the info that I had. The site stated that I would recieve return contact within one or two days. I never heard anything from them again. Suprise, suprise!
Next, I looked up the email address for the Tulare police department. About two weeks later I recieved a return email from the police cheif that I had originally emailed, stating that he had turned the case over to his detective unit. Within two days Detective Frost contacted me on the phone to confirm the information that I gave him before proceeding further. He stated that in California this would not fall under the catigory of a "crime" and I may have to take the guy to court to get anywhere, but he would pay a visit to the address the I shipped the money order to, and see if he couldn't get this issue resolved without involving the courts.
A few days later Officer Frost called me back and told me that he talked to the people that where at the address and they were the parents of the man that I mailed the money order to. Turns out the guy left the country for the Phillipines! The officer stated that he knew the parents and they where not criminals. I told the officer that I was glad to hear that, and was more than happy to just let it all be dismissed as a mistake if they would send me the gun or refund my money. They had never seen the money order, but said that the gun was still at thier son's residence.
The officer emailed the guy in the Phillipines. The presence of a police officer at his parents house must have somehowe made his email start working, because suddenly I started getting emails from the him again. He stated that he repeatedly tried to email me before but never got any responce, and he didn't recieve the FFL licence to mail the gun.
Instead of making an issue of the fact that he could have mailed me a letter, or called me on the phone, or made some effort to contact me in any way before leaving the country with my money, I instead just told him that I would have my FFL mail him another copy of his licence, and he could have his parents mail me the gun. He agreed and I mailed him the FFL. The whole time I forwarded all contact with him to Officer Frost to keep him informed.
A week passed with no contact. I emailed the guy again and asked if he had recieved the FFL, and if his parents had mailed the gun. I got an email the next day from the guy stating that he got a much higher offer for the gun, and he would let me know if the deal fell through he would mail me the gun, if it did sell though he would send me a refund, and that I should just wait until he told me what was going on.
I forwarded this email to Officer Frost and sent the guy an email stating that his business practices where terrible, and he needs to send me the money or the gun today! His responce was "Shut up idiot!" and proceded to tell me that he would do what ever he wanted and I had no control of the situation. I forwarded this email to Officer Frost as well, and told Officer Frost that I would no longer be in contact with this guy, and if I did not recieve the money or the gun within one week I would have take it to the courts. Officer Frost emailed him and stated that he needed to resolve this issue, or face immediate legal action.
One week passed. I have never gone to court for anything and wasn't looking forward to it. I emailed officer Frost and asked if he had recieved any other info. He had not and again repeated his warning to the guy via email. I let another week pass and was planning to contact a lawyer to get the ball rolling on Monday.
Friday came and I got a call from my FFL stating that my gun was in. It was finally over! Why the guy never just told me he was sending it and insted chose to run the risk of getting taken to court, I will never know.
This whole thing started in November when I mail the money order. What a pain. I never would have had any justice if it were not for the efforts of Officer Frost and the Tulare police department, and probably some credit is due to the guy's parents, who are most likely more honest than the son that they raised.
I know, a long story, but I just thought that you guys would like to know, since everyone was so concerned and supportive of my problem. A lesson learned if nothing else, and I consider myself extremely lucky after making a stupid mistake. Thanks for reading!
