eBay Fraud warning: seller/crook: W.

Todd Maruk [soapwithcamel] 6692 Sussex

Avenue #207 Burnaby BC V5H3C9 604-438-1243 f355@shaw.ca auction 5104069074
bank-to-bank (Canada Trust 0926-7134346) wire transfer of $802US only bogus
(underweight) object shipped eBay Fraud Protection claim #234462 awarded

Sgt. Begg Burnaby RCMP 6355 Deer Lake Avenue Burnaby BC V5G 2J2 Canada

cc: RCMP Headquarters 657 W 37 Ave Vancouver BC V5Z 1K6

01 August 2004

CRIME REPORT: -- file number 2004-42547

On June 28, 2004 I bank-to-bank wired $802US (documented) to a "W. Todd

Maruk" in payment for an Ebay auction item (laptop computer: 5104069074)
that was not delivered. I have filed fraud complaints with IFCC,
SquareTrade, Phonebusters, Recol, USPS, Ebay and my local Portland police
(case #0465574; Officer Castlio and Dect. John Kueckler of the Fraud
Section 503-823-0400) who have urged me to contact you and press criminal
charges.

The criminal's stated address is 6692 Sussex Ave., #207 Burnaby BC V5H3H6
(or, possibly 6230 Dew Ave., Burnaby V5H3C9). Phone is 604-438-1243 (and/or
416-532-7391). Email: f355@shaw.ca

His identity could be checked by contacting his bank: TD Canada Trust, 4630
Kingsway, Burnaby BC V5H4L9 Account #0926-7134346 (604-654-3935)

(I have called your department a few times and left unanswered messages.) I
would appreciate a reply in writing but may be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx or
Thank-you for your attention to this matter.

Brad Brace

---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2004 12:14:06

-0700 (PDT) From: { brad brace } To: Ryan BACICA Subject: Re: Your eBay
Fraud Complaint

Constable Ryan Bacica Royal Canadian Mounted Police Burnaby Detachment

(Team 4 / District 3) 6355 Deer Lake Avenue Burnaby, BC V5G2J2

Ph: (604) 294-7922 Fax: (604) 294-7807 Voice Mail: (604) 294-7755 Box# 5054

Email: Ryan.Bacica@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Constable Bacica,

Thanks very much for this reply. My phone number is (still) xxx-xxx-xxxx.
This has all been a very exasperating and stressful experience. This week I
received several taunting emails from Mr Maruk insisting that I drop all
charges. He has also threatened me.

I am surprised to hear that a "Mr W Todd Maruk" really exists! I'm somewhat
relieved to hear that he isn't entirely anonymous with Russian mafia gang
connections, as was suggested at one point. (When I first called Burnaby
RCMP I was told that there was no record of his identity (and that his
address was merely a big apartment complex -- I discovered an apt number
later from another eBayer -- and that his phone number either didn't exist
or was merely a messaging number.)) It was also suggested to me that
opening a bank account with fake ID was very common, and this was probably
the case here. When I repeatedly relayed this information to eBay and Mr
Maruk while attempting to receive my computer, there was never a response
to this allegation.

For over 30 days I attempted to reconcile what was unavoidably seen to be

an obvious, admitted, blatant fraud. I gave him every benefit of the doubt
and tried every approach: perhaps he had mailed the wrong package(?), etc.
I paid for the services of a SquareTrade mediator ($20) in additional to
unanswered phonecalls and sending many messages to eBay and Mr Maruk
(screen-name: soapwithcamel). His "I no longer give a shit" message
(appended) was frightening and caused me to ask my banker for additional
safeguards on my account (Sydney Labadie, BofA, 503-275-2252).

Other eBayers to whom he tried to also sell this same computer, have
expressed their mistrust/suspicion. Later, his other 'big ticket' eBay
auctions (other computers and servers) seemed very suspect as well and I
alerted eBay. (Their fraud fax number for law enforcement agencies is:
408-967-9915 or stopfraud@ebay.com)

He insisted on a bank-to-bank wire of $802US (W Todd Maruk account number

0926-7134346 Burnaby TD Canada Trust) which I sent on 6/28/04 (Bank of
America Transaction Ref: 2004062800027956) at an additional cost of $45.

My winning bid (auction 5104069074) for the Computer (G3 Pismo 500 DVD
Airport 768mbRam 40GB hard-drive) + three good batteries + charger +
software/original cds + two power supplies + screen protector, was $770 +
$32 shipping = $802, which I paid (documented). (I have sent a pdf file of
auction description/pictures/prices separately.)

I received only one very underweight, bogus shipment of only an old laptop
lid/screen from Mr Maruk via Expedited USA, Canada Post on 2004/07/10 (Item
number CX052327025CA). I still have the signed package: postage was only
$13.72, weight only 1.614 kg. The return address he used was "6230 Dow (or
Dew) Ave., Burnaby, BC V5H3C9" (Just the one or two batteries alone - or
very easily the computer itself - would have weighed much more than his
package.)

When I filed a Fraud Alert and then a Buyer Protection Claim (30+ days
after auction-end as required), with eBay I was required to fax (which I
did on 28 Jul 2004), proof of payment, signed claimform, and "appraisal or
proof of authenticity based on an independent authenticator's physical
inspection." This authentication was provided by a Mac computer specialist
store: (Ross Phelps/Stacey Calkins, Portland Mac Store, 10115 SW Nimbus
Suite 100, Tigard OR 97223 503-620-3550 on 7/28/04). They state: "has
minimal value - if any at all; it is only a top case with no components
whatsoever." I'm awaiting a reply from "Duke," Claims Adjuster, Fraud
Protection Program, eBay (234462 P9101719). The most that I can recover is
$175.

Portland Police Officer Caslio (case #0465574; (503-823-0400)) also viewed

the package and content at my home on 15 June 2004. I have also spoken with
Dectective Kueckler of the Portland Fraud Division (503-823-0758) about
this matter.

I have also filed fraud complaints with the Vancouver RCMP, recol, USPS,
Phonebusters, WebPolice, Crimestoppers, IFCC, and TD Canada Trust Bank.
When he _did finally respond, Mr Maruk also repeatedly refused to return my
money. His "customs issue" is a last-ditch, desperate, dishonest
obfuscation. Because Mr Maruk kept changing his and the item's stated
geographic location (as well as his name and phone number) in his eBay
profile (Vancouver, USA; Vancouver, Canada; Vancouver/USA Los Angeles;
Toronto) I initially suggested that he should be responsible for any duty
that might be levied (if in fact, any _is on used electronics between
private parties...) if the computer was coming from Canada. I suggested
that he could classify the package as a gift. He stated that he would do
this and he offered to pay later for half of any duty charged. None was.

Total monetary loss: $867US + phone-calls/faxes.

Please keep me informed and confirm receipt of this message.

- Brad Brace

--

appended threatening message:

--

From: f355@shaw.ca Date: Mon Jul 12, 2004 7:36:46 AM US/Pacific To: { brad
brace } Subject: war Received: from [192.168.1.100]
(S010600045ad81baa.vc.shawcable.net [24.87.196.133]) by l-daemon (iPlanet
Messaging Server 5.2 HotFix 1.18 (built Jul 28 2003)) with ESMTP id
<0I0Q0013JTXBRF@l-daemon> for bbrace@dslnorthwest.net; Mon, 12 Jul 2004
08:36:47 -0600(MDT) Message-Id:

... I would have been happy to figure out what is going on in that stupid
brain of yours, but you have pissed me off and I no longer give a shit.
Since you seem intent on going to war, lets go! This is going to be lots of
fun because everything you do to me I will do back to you twice as hard and
I will just keep sticking my boot further up your ass. Bring it on bitch!

--