Never thought I would have to do this but ROMULUS has got my money and dropped off the face of the earth. I bought a Tikka rifle that was posted here on the fire and sent the USPS money order via certified mail so I know it was signed for on May 1st.
Tracking Number: 70191640000033115173
Your item was delivered to an individual at the address at 11:40 am on May 1, 2020 in LANCASTER, TX 75146.
Status
Delivered
May 1, 2020 at 11:40 am
Delivered, Left with Individual
LANCASTER, TX 75146
I sent the money order to:
Venetria Hanchett
1431 Glendover CT
Lancaster, TX 75146
Romulas contracted me via email and confirmed that he got the check and ask me if I wanted to purchase any of the other guns he was selling. I looked at the list and replied back that I did not and to just send the one gun that I had purchased.
I ask for a tracking number:
John
Tue, May 5, 1:59 PM (13 days ago)
to Hanchett
do you have a tracking number?
Hanchett
Tue, May 5, 10:30 PM (13 days ago)
to me
Yes i do, i will send it to you when i get home, My apologies,
I again ask for the tracking number
John
May 6, 2020, 1:17 PM (12 days ago)
to Hanchett
Have you had a chance to get the tracking number yet?
Hanchett
May 6, 2020, 2:28 PM (12 days ago)
to me
I drove to Oklahoma to visit my parents, they are really old and i
havent seen them since the whole covid 19 episode, i would be back
home tomorrow, shipped the package on my way leaving town. The papers
is in my wife's car and she is a nurse. She will text it to me
today....Though you should get the package tomorrow, That's what the
FedEx guy said.
I have not heard a word after that email on the 6th. and I have sent an email to him almost every day sense then
Here is the email address that all the communications were sent to and from:
Hanchett
[email protected]Here is the post that I bought the gun from:
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...ag-fluted-stainless-w-brake#Post14824289DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS GUY
Just south of Dallas with a nice house. Must be a big time scammer, they usually live in trailor parks.
Venetria Hanchett
1431 Glendover CT
Lancaster, TX 75146
Every time this comes up four people post they are going to visit and whip the scammers ass and two post they know law enforcement there and will get them involved. Let's see it happen this time!
Sounds like it's a woman........different address too?
https://clustrmaps.com/person/Hanchett-86jh63
Venetria L Hanchett Phone Number
(972) 816-2211
Classic scammer MO to some degree. He joined Feb 2019 but all 133 of his posts were in the last 30 days. Scammers typically do this to build post count to give the illusion of being a longterm member.
I was going to wait and give him or her til the first of the month and then call the cops but screw it, I think I will start the ball rolling today.
Not sure how to proceed with the post office as that is mail fraud as well.
Doesn't look like he's been on since 4/29.
I have sent him PM's here as well as emails almost everyday, Just got off the phone with cop's in Lancaster and they said I needed to talk to the cops here where I live first. I have and they are on the way here now, will keep you posted.
Sucks Sorry you have to deal with this
Hank
Typically in a scam like this, not always, but when the age/location/name of the person doesnt seem right, usually it's a family member using mom or dad's name, sometimes address.
![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/Vvr7TYfX/Screenshot-20200518-095052.png)
Without looking too hard. I simply copy and pasted the exact subject of the original post and found the very same post....from oct of 18. And see the name has been banned from that forum.
Call state parole and that counties probation department
They typically will have these pos on supervision.
sad times
i hate damn crooks
Got a police report and now I am going to call the post office and see how to proceed from here
Good luck in getting this sorted out, but be prepared for the hassles and stay persistent. Happened to me in 2017 when I was living in Texas. Local cops told me I had to go to Iowa first. Iowa cops said it should be handled by Texas..... Post office was zero help. I kept after it, and several people on the Campfire helped. The guy was just arrested about a month ago. No money returned, but they did lock the scumbag up.
Well that sucks.......hope the bastards don't have too big of a head start......
2 bankruptcies, 6 foreclosures, 1 marriages, 9 properties, 7 vehicle registrations
Yall are great, I guess I am too trusting and thought I had checked things out by looking at their post history, and to see if he(she) had any callouts, guess I was wrong and never thought about doing a google search for the description, but I will next time.
Would I like to get my money back, sure, but I will not hold my breath on that one, but would like to see them locked up
Pullit - so sorry to hear that you may have been scammed. I've been scammed a few times, myself, and it sure is infuriating. It sux that these scumbags are out there.
I know this comes too late to help you, but as a tip to others to avoid a scam, one thing that I have found helpful is to ask for an additional photo that is not included in the original add, such as a photo of the bolt face, the muzzle, etc. Since a scammer usually doesn't have the actual item in their possession, they are not able to provide additional photos, and you then know it is a scam.
Also, I always like to call the seller on sales for more expensive items, especially when it is a screaming deal or the listing language is odd. A scammer will rarely take a phone call. No direct telephone conversation results in no deal.
Just a few tips to hopefully reduce the number of these unfortunate incidences.
Don't beat yourself up.... someone that makes that many posts and is a member that long would probably easily fall between the cracks and not raise suspicion.
Sucks to loose out on a good deal on something you want...and it's easy to jump in and impulse buy. I've lost out on a few legitimate deals because I've gotten bad vibes or was doing my homework before committing.
One thing I noticed was the posts were typically short and always in the campfire. Not much about hunting or shooting etc.
https://www.northwestfirearms.com/threads/smith-wesson-617-22lr-10-shot-4-revolver.182631/He was also trying to sell that on here. He posted one of the pics to thepost here and finding that was easy.....same place he stole the other ad from.
And this is why it scares the heck out of me to buy a weapon or anything else online... As bad as I want one of those Kimbers posted....
Saw an add on another two forums about a 376 Steyr Dragoon Scout. Story was he lived in Canada now and would have to import the gun to Canada but would sell it to me and simplify things. His Forum name was Orange with 1 post. I started talking with him by computer and got spooked. I asked him to send me a photograph of the gun with a five dollar bill in front of the gun. He couldn't and I backed off. He later reported the gun as sold but I was never sure of that. I think it was a scam but I didn't lose anything. So be it. Still looking for a Steyr Dragoon Scout in 376 Steyr. Be Well, Rustyzipper.
One consistent seems to be they want to communicate via email rather than PM
pullit, sorry to hear about this.
Karma will serve that bastid's just deserts.
It is turning out to be as hard to get in touch with the post office as it is this SOB
This sucks, and I know how you feel. I've always had good luck here on the fire, but now I'm dealing with a business(not here), who has had my money for 2 weeks and my rifle has not shipped as of yet. The guy acts like he can't be bothered. I asked before I purchased if the gun was in stock and if shipping was immediate. Both answers were yes, but now, here I sit...
Good luck with your headache. I know it sucks.
I was scammed on another site about 5 years ago on a barrel. Don’t expect much help from the post office. I always paid with postal money order as I thought they would help, but it didn’t. I had to wait 60 days with the post office before filing report. I then got my local pd involved and they contacted the pd in a Texas town. My scammer used a identity from a local person and stole the money order from the mail box. Scammer kept wanting to know when money order would arrive, I kept pestering about tracking number.
I never did hear from the post office. My local pd closed the case after about 6 months.
Sorry about your loss
It is turning out to be as hard to get in touch with the post office as it is this SOB
Post office will be no help if you do contact them... looks like she's just another postal worker.
theres a couple more guys with things for sale in classifieds that just joined one has 219 posts all in classifieds with high dollar items.
Post office wants me to pay them more money just to tell me if the USPS money order has been cashed, I see this as just flushing more money down the crapper.
Took over 2 hours for them to tell me just to go to my local post office, but when I called them, they (the local office) said it needed to be handled at the 1-800 number. Just another circle jerk.
I wonder if these dirt bags don't get on forums for awhile and see how the flow goes and then register under a new name and start there scam. I pass on most deals if they have less then 1,000 posts, have been a member less then 3 years and I always get a PM and a name and cell number. If they are not willing to do that then I pass on the deal.
So sorry this is happening to you and I hope you are fully restored and the dirt bag goes to jail.
Post Office has a consumer protection agency. Try them. They ultimately solved my prob, but I had assistance from a postal inspector. Resolution took 2 yrs + and much persistence, letter writing, and receipt gathering.
Best,
Bob
Contact the local postal inspector and ask for assistance. Once you file a report with them you should get some action.
I have said before on this site, I vette everyone.
I sold my two BLR RIFLES to a fellow in Maine, I’m from CT.
We are going to meet in Maine after the lockdown is lifted.
Once he gave me his name and I called I had only one question because I already went deep on investigating him.
Are you the marketing rep or State Trooper?
He’s one of the good guys.
It is a difficult thing in placing your trust in a complete stranger that they are as a "stand up person of their word" as you being the buyer are. It would be really easy as the seller to scam someone because at one point and time during they transaction they have the money and the item of purchase. I have been really really fortunate that so far I have only had good dealings with members here as well as other sites. I hate it for anyone that is taken advantage of due to lacking the testicular fortitude of being taught the valuable lesson we instill in our children early on in life that "you are only good as your word, and if you don't have your word then you have and are nothing" I wish you the best in your endeavor to recoup your money and or the rifle. Just remember that it only takes one bad apple to spoil a barrel but more importantly there are still plenty of upright honorable people out there that their word is worth more than anything, it just takes a little more looking and it is a dying attribute to society as a whole that should be instilled early on in a child and it begins at home. I am grateful to anyone I have dealt with or will deal with in my tenure as a collector and hunter that understands this and feels the same way. If it pisses anyone off or strikes a nerve then it should and they should take a long hard look at their current status and make changes accordingly...…..my 2 cents
Good luck and thank you to all of like minds again
That fugging sucks.
Scumballs get away with this schitt all the time.
I too have been took by a slime bag on an intranot deal. This POS was slick in that he made a bonafide transaction on an item and payed real quick and smooth. Then inquired a few weeks later about multiple items I had. Like an idiot I fell for it hook line sinker, boxed it all up and shipped it. Turdhead went off the radar, phone straight to voicemail.
I ended up finding his wife’s cell number and she picked up. I told her what was going on and miraculously he called with a sob story blah blah blah. Never heard or saw money again. I was able to get his home address and employer but decided to leave it be.
This is a scam. Look over on the Smith & Wesson forum, same name and address.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sale-trade/618710-scammer.html
This bit of fiction in response to your asking for tracking -- "I drove to Oklahoma to visit my parents, they are really old and i
havent seen them since the whole covid 19 episode, i would be back
home tomorrow. shipped the package on my way leaving town. The papers
is in my wife's car and she is a nurse" -- doesn't give much hope that you'll get your due from this guy.
Am wondering how he magically got those papers with tracking info from Oklahoma into his wife's car. I despise liars and thieves...
I take it that this was the .300 wm? I think I was the first to pm this guy and we exchanged some emails before he scared me off . I sent PM's to a few guys who responded on the thread later on and also contacted a mod about it but I guess nothing was done. In hindsight I should have posted something directly in the thread.
I think he is using his wife's name for the payment. He gave me the name Hanchett Venetria for payment. When I googled the name, I got info for Venetria Hanchett living at the same address. His story was that he was selling the gun without her knowledge to raise $. I suppose he just flipped the name around to throw people off??
Here's Venetria:
https://www.mylife.com/venetria-hanchett/e347137842828
Venetria tried to get me on Rokslide. Tikka superlite. Googled her name/address and got a string of bad signs so I backed out. The communication was piss poor and she/he was really set on getting the payment tracking # to be able to sign for it if “anything happens”.
Can't SOMEONE that's close go visit her with a baseball bat.......
I take it that this was the .300 wm? I think I was the first to pm this guy and we exchanged some emails before he scared me off . I sent PM's to a few guys who responded on the thread later on and also contacted a mod about it but I guess nothing was done. In hindsight I should have posted something directly in the thread.
I think he is using his wife's name for the payment. He gave me the name Hanchett Venetria for payment. When I googled the name, I got info for Venetria Hanchett living at the same address. His story was that he was selling the gun without her knowledge to raise $. I suppose he just flipped the name around to throw people off??
His/her story to me was that the rifle kicked to more than she liked and that he was selling this one to get a 243.
I have to admit, I did wonder about wanting a tracking number on the money order.
I too have been took by a slime bag .....n and miraculously he called with a sob story blah blah blah. Never heard or saw money again. I was able to get his home address and employer but decided to leave it be.
Wrong move. You let him move on for another scam another day.
And this is why it scares the heck out of me to buy a weapon or anything else online... As bad as I want one of those Kimbers posted....
It's a fairly simple matter to sort out who's who. Don't buy from someone new you don't know of (at least casually) from the fire. Do a google search of the add (as has been demonstrated on this thread). The longer the poster has been here, with a greater variety of posts, the better. I'd never buy from someone that only posts in the classifieds, and has been around less than a couple years. Also, get a phone number and talk first... it's a pretty straight forward thing to get the measure of someone on the phone.
There are a pile of guys on this forum whose word is their bond.
And this is why it scares the heck out of me to buy a weapon or anything else online... As bad as I want one of those Kimbers posted....
It's a fairly simple matter to sort out who's who. Don't buy from someone new you don't know of (at least casually) from the fire. Do a google search of the add (as has been demonstrated on this thread). The longer the poster has been here, with a greater variety of posts, the better. I'd never buy from someone that only posts in the classifieds, and has been around less than a couple years. Also, get a phone number and talk first... it's a pretty straight forward thing to get the measure of someone on the phone.
There are a pile of guys on this forum who's word is their bond.
+1
You do have to be careful, but, by never buying used-online, you miss out on a ton of great deals and lots of cool old guns. Just do some homework, be smart, and listen to your gut - same as a face-to-face transaction. If someone is honest, they will cooperate with you to show they're an honest seller. Meaning, don't be afraid to ask questions. Maybe ask a more experienced friend for some input before committing to a purchase for your first couple of transactions. I tangled with a couple of bad sellers a few times in the beginning, but I learned the simple tricks of vetting a seller, and I am way ahead by buying almost all my guns used and online.
Just leary of new guys that wanna ship to ffl from non ffl.
Specially if you suggest or insist to them to use a ffl to ship, and then use that ffl holder as your payment proxy to him and offer to pick up all the cost and they hum and haw about all the hassle from that.
That just screams big alarm bells and sirens.
Lots of established guys on here and ways to determine like others have posted.
The email only contact thing is a big alarm.
Vast majority of excellent sellers on here are 100% comfortable with phone conversations and pm.
2 way Commo is a good thing.
Kinda sucks for new sellers that are trying to get established especially when they have great items for sale.
But the scam artist are out their and they are the cause of distrust.
I too have been took by a slime bag .....n and miraculously he called with a sob story blah blah blah. Never heard or saw money again. I was able to get his home address and employer but decided to leave it be.
Wrong move. You let him move on for another scam another day.
People just don't want to get involved, and aren't willing to fight, even when they're the one who got screwed? Sounds like a real pussy cat to me. We need to look out for one another, there's a bunch of sorry sob's in the world.
Hope you get some justice pullit. This stuff just sucks. I've bought probably 12 to 15 firearms from members here. Been lucky so far, but I am getting a little more nervous every time I hear about a deal like this. Wish you luck in this matter and keep us posted on any changes.
Classic scammer MO to some degree. He joined Feb 2019 but all 133 of his posts were in the last 30 days. Scammers typically do this to build post count to give the illusion of being a longterm member.
Someone else posted the above and exactly what I thought. I just went through a similar affair on the SigTalk site. The scammer joined the site three years prior and had over a thousand posts, but when you look at them they were all accumulated within 6 months. He did a PayPal transaction. But PayPal didn’t back up because it was gun related. He had a great price on the item and quick responses. Unfortunately the item never arrived never gave a tracking number. Only thing that saved me was on PayPal I used a Barclays credit card. The computer address was from Nigeria, even though he was using a good address in California. Barclays was able to have PayPal reverse the charges because they should have done a more thorough job of seeing who opens PayPal accounts. Sorry to hear it sucks I know.
One other thing here’s a link to the FBI online complaint form as they do investigate these
https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
Everyone was right on this, the Post office sucks.
I have some experience dealing with this kind of stuff, professionally and personally. Trying to get the Feds involved seldom works as they have such a high dollar value threshold for prosecution that a $700 dollar deal just doesn't interest them. Forget the whole post office/postal money order thing...too few Postal Inspectors and they are too busy doing major cases and/or drug shipments. Determining who has jursidiction is always a PIA too; where did the crime occur? Where you live and mailed the payment or where the dipshit purports to live? Local prosecutors don't like to expend their resources on such questionable cases and local police don't like chasing these cases as they usually have a lot of other casework to do. These dipshits that do this scamming know this.
I've seen some happy endings, but it usually takes involvement from a motivated local police officer at one end or the other. Helps a bunch when the dipshit has some other illegal things going on that the police can jam them up on.
So the best thing is all the preventative steps mentioned here. I've had a lot of very smooth transactions here and on other 'Net forums but I only deal with established people and if I have any concerns I will google things to confirm. Even FB can be telling.
Sorry for your loss, hope you get your money back, but you might want to chalk this up as a big lesson. At least you didn't buy a stolen rifle (fair and square via a FFL from Gun List with all receipts and such), and try to cross the American/Canadian border with it like I did. I damn near spent the night in jail and was soon thereafter standing tall in front of my boss explaining what happened.
The link I posted has a pic and says that she's employed as a nurse. Also says shes unmarried so prob either her or her boyfriend pulling the scam in order to cash the check.
Might want to look her up on the book of faces if you have an account. I'd prob start one over something like this. I'd also try to find out who her employer is and let everyone I could know that shes a scumbag. Maybe the social pressure would get your cash back.
Maybe the social pressure would get your cash back.
It already went up her boyfriend's nose.