This is the cost of this blog post

Yes your eyes do not deceive you. This blog post costs Php 20,000!!!

This actually is a super duper delayed post. Well, of course, I am a bit hesitant to share this boo-boo of mine. But I really want you guys to learn from my 1st experience.

Know more of the Php 20,000 cost after the jump…

The Un-Wais Ebay story

As I mentioned in my post, I was seriously considering getting my own laptop. I was in that mindset vulnerable to wais buys. It was that lazy Sunday that I was working on my blogs that I came across this ad on eBay. I have been buying on eBay since 2006. I actually bought my cellphone on eBay and I’ve also had experiences shopping with online sellers, so I had no qualms about making an online purchase. I knew it was safe. Until SHE and HE came into my life….

The seller’s eBay ID was kimberlygo32 and she was selling her pre-loved Macbook aluminum for only Php 39,000! (So the picture there shows all the bids already in which the price jacked up to Php 45,300)

I super got excited! I really wanted a Macbook because I really am getting serious with my Internet Marketing ventures. So that Sunday afternoon, I was just so restless. I had a good feeling about it.

I actually even texted 2 of my Internet Marketing Classmates “M” and “G” about it. “G” was super excited too, while “M” had a different take on it and advised me to take caution (which I obviously didn’t listen to. Hehehe!). So really, the adrenalin rush took a hold of me.

This girl alias Kimberly Go (kimberlygo100@yahoo.com.ph) was the seller. She emailed me the details of the item including some pictures, IDs, warranty number and bank account number. She practically covered all bases. Or so I thought.

I then got in touch with her “father” alias Raymond Ramos Go, who was apparently helping her out sell the Macbook. Though, in fairness to me, I requested that I make a downpayment first instead of paying in full. Tat was I guess one logical thing I did. Hehehe. So instead of paying the full Php 40,000, I paid him (which I deposited to his BDO account) only Php 20,000.

The next day (twas a Monday), the first thing I did was to withdraw money from my Savings account and then immediately deposited it to his account. When the transaction was done, I texted the seller to inform him of the transaction to which he replied to. I called him and he wasn’t picking up. The next day, he even asked me if I received the item. But then never heard from him ever again. Unfortunately, because I was using a PC, the pictures of the exact text messages were corrupted. Damn PCs. I was supposed to post them here. Darn.

What did I feel?

Surprisingly I did not stomp and pull my hair in frustration with myself because of the mistake I made. I did not even feel anger towards the scammer. Imagine, I practically gave away Php 20,000 to some guy. I literally just laughed it off. Seriously. I just knew I needed to do something about it for my peace of mind and also for all other people who are into the whole e-commerce thing.

Wais the next thing to do when you know you’ve been scammed???

Online buyers MUST protect themselves:

1. No to impulse buys

Think, think, think before clicking on the buy button. Or maybe get a second or even a third opinion. Or yes, a fourth and a fifth and a sixth. If your sense says that it doesn’t feel right, it isn’t. But I did feel so right so what the heck! Hehehehehe!

2. Background check on sellers

Definitely a MUST! I know there are a whole lot of good guys on the Internet too. But on the safe side since there are dark forces on the Internet, better transact with a trusted seller. Maybe one that friends and family already do business with. Or for eBay sellers, make sure their rating is really really really good. Like a gazillion star ratings or so.

This was my waterloo. Napagunahan ng excitement e. Hehehe. Ms. Kimberly Go was a NEW eBay seller and only had 1-star rating for a puny item…a book. Sinabi ko ngang naunahan ng excitement talaga. Hehehe.

3. Do not be fooled by IDs, warranties, pictures

I must admit, I was fooled by the show of the pictures and the actual identification card. I am sharing with you the ID and the business permit shared to me by the “seller”

Alias Raymond Ramos Go

Business Permit kuno...

At least I was able to save some proof. Well, I still have the original email here with the “warranty”. I even checked the warranty and the unit was existing and accurate with the declared time it was bought.

Email with Apple Care warranty W8847ENS1AQ

4. Last but not the very least, COMPLAIN!

I did complain to Banco de Oro (BDO). This was the seller’s bank. I am also a BDO client. I just knew I had to help BDO protect themselves from people like him who used their accounts for shady activities.

I was blessed because of 2 things: the account was a real account (not just the cash card that could not be traced) PLUS another victim complained about the same guy as well. Actually, it was 2 more victims who deposited double and triple the amounts I did. Victim B (with Victim A being myself) lost Php 40,000, while Victim C lost Php 60,000.

And so I prepared an incident report along with a copy of all the images (email, text messages, pictures of the unit, screenshots of the ads, etc) and documents (deposit slip, fax messages, etc) which were submitted to the Head of Security and Investigation of BDO. Now, I know that his bank account is already under close observation and “frozen” (if that is the correct term) and everyone will be warned about his eBay activity before anybody can deposit in his account.

As of press date, the investigation of this person has been elevated up to the highest level of the NBI. I know that he will be caught soon. Which reminds me, I have to follow up on the status of the case.

Vendors (like Banks and Telecommunications companies) MUST protect themselves also through a simple process: Stricter Identification requirements.

Do they even know if this Mr. Raymond Ramos Go is a real person or just an alias to cover up for the shady things he does? This is for a bank that requires 2 IDs upon application. Maybe for prepaid SIMs, telco companies should also require some identification for tracking purposes?

WHEW!

That was a long post. It took me months to process everything and open this for public display. Hehehehe! I really just want everyone to learn from my experience.

After everything that has happened, I am actually still VERY CONFIDENT that I will be able to get my money back. Maybe double or even triple or quadruple the amount that I lost! Hehehehe! Good things come to those who fight for their rights

Have you experienced being scammed too? In these desperate times, people are getting more and more creative in their scams…Hehehehe

Live Wais-ly (and definitely learn from me!),

Juana B. Wais

P.S. Just an update, yes I already have my OWN Macbook. Like I always said I will