Post by: Bruce_F on August 18, 2003, 03:27:45 PM
Two guys were the brainstorm of the operation.
When the scam got exposed, one of men left the country with all the money. Last I heard, he's living in Tel Aviv. (I have no idea why he's never been found)
The other guy, who was left holding the bag, was imprisoned for a few months then released. The Florida courts sentenced the guy to make restitution on the lost money. His wages are being garnished and the state of Florida is dispursing the funds.
Does that sound a little strange?
Well... it is.Today, I got a check from the Florida Dept. of Corrections, Court Ordered Payments Fund. The check is for $5.19 US, with a balance due of $2,384.81.
If my memory serves me correctly, I should see one check per month. That calculates out to 460+ months.
I'm 54 now. If the money continues to roll in at that rate, I'll be 92 years old by the time I get the last check.
Yeah... I'm real happy about that.
oh well...
Post by: Greg Dunn on August 18, 2003, 03:56:32 PM
Post by: ljocampo on August 18, 2003, 09:27:27 PM
Post by: Bruce_F on August 18, 2003, 10:12:48 PM
I still use ebay, but I will not do business with anyone who doesn't sell through PayPal or some other means of protected purchase. I am currently a verified business member of PayPal and I will not sell an item unless the bidder agrees to use those terms.
It may not be totally secure, but it sure beats sending someone a money order that is a good as cash on the receiving end.
Yes, ebay is buyer beware. Doing business on ebay requires good communication and thoughfulness.
Post by: RHPConsult on August 18, 2003, 10:41:33 PM
You'll be OK if you just don't supersize your fries with that Big Mac, every month!
Post by: Bruce_F on August 18, 2003, 11:08:47 PM
No chance... it's got me on a diet!
Post by: ljocampo on August 18, 2003, 11:32:58 PM
Post by: Bill on August 19, 2003, 01:01:59 AM
Post by: ljocampo on August 19, 2003, 03:54:14 AM
Post by: snuffysbluff on August 20, 2003, 08:15:53 AM
QUOTE(Bill @ Aug 19 2003, 1:01 AM)
Jack in box has specials all the time Bruce.
It's been years ('nam era San Diego), but I still wonder just what's in Jack's secret sauce.
...and are the burgers still the size of a beer can bottom?
...and is that georgeous gal named Donna still running the one at Pacific Beach?
...and does S Diego's finest still want to talk to me about that misunderstanding?
Honest, I didn't know she was married.
...and does anyone know what the statute of limitations is on 5 unpaid traffic tickets?
Post by: kelly on August 20, 2003, 08:24:24 AM
Four months worth should buy one share of Apple Stock.
Hi Snuffy. How ya been?
Post by: snuffysbluff on August 21, 2003, 09:54:10 AM
Haven't be able to get out much...in a long stretch of busy again.
I have been following the saga of Mrs Lop.
Later...
Gary B
Post by: Bill on August 21, 2003, 06:36:43 PM
Got a couple spare hours? I talked about ya in a few threads. You find em ... I'm not going to even try.
Post by: Bill on August 21, 2003, 07:11:44 PM
Local supermarket sells money orders.
Employee of this supermarket {somehow} manages to use these money orders to make personal ebay transactions without purchasing them.
Long story short, employee was busted bigtime. <gr>
I couldn't get any details on how long the authorities let the line dangle before they pulled in this guppy but I'm sure there's a whole lot more to the story.
Lets see .. 52 cards in a deck .. don't even think this person kept the jokers!
Post by: RKSJNich on August 22, 2003, 12:19:59 PM
The implication of the story is that they are getting about $500 per month from the criminal and writing 100 individual $5 checks to send out to those defrauded. A quick estimate is that they are losing $2,000 a month to do this, as the cost of processing, issuing, and mailing a check is usually estimated at $25 or so. Maybe in these days of effecient government the state pays less than that, but I'll bet their cost is more than $5.19.
At that rate, the state could make a couple of users whole each month and let the criminal go free.
Post by: Bruce_F on August 22, 2003, 03:54:46 PM
QUOTE
...but I'll bet their cost is more than $5.19.
When I got that check, that's one of the first things I thought.
I received a letter about a month ago, explaining what had transpired in the courts and how they came to the decision of making the guy pay restitution. When I get home from work, I'll get that letter out and post some of what they told me.
It basically comes down to what method would cost the state more. Most likely, it's the tax payers who are footing the bill.
Post by: Bruce_F on August 23, 2003, 02:52:36 PM
From the Florida State Attorney, Katherine Fernandez Rundle
QUOTE
"This would have been a complicated case to prove in the Miami-Dade Courthouse. Since the defendant shows that he has no assets, he would have requested county funds to investigate this case fully to properly prepare his defense. This investigation would included his being permitted to meet each victim to take their deposition. I would also need to be present. That would mean that we would travel all around the country to accomplish this -- multiply these trips by 100 for the currently known victims alone. Then consider the other witnesses, for instance, ebay people, banking and credit people, and others. This process would last for years. If the case went to trial, Miami-Dade would fly in 100 witnesses from around the country to testify. If convicted, Topel could face five years in prison for each grand theft count for which he is convicted."
more...
QUOTE
"At trial, there could be several potential outcomes. First of all, my assessment is that we would probably have won. But, there are many problems with this case that would have been revealed in trial. Topel happens to have a good defense. He has several points to his defense, which he doesn't have to make clear until after I put on my case at trial and then I rest. At that point, he can decide what his defense will be.
Here are some options he has:
Here are some options he has:
- None of the victims can ID him because all transactions were on the computer and he had other employees handling those;
- He was simply in the shipping department and he didn't know there were problems until it was too late;
- When he realized there were problems, he emptied his bank accounts and refunded as much money as possible to the victims and he shipped out all the computers he could find in his inventory;
- Rotem Gat is the really bad actor who knew it was a scam and hid it from Topel and made off with the money.
So... you can see just how complicated the whole thing is.