Trying to track down a scammer

Forums › Off topic › Trying to track down a scammer

Multiplefail

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#139079 27-Jan-2014 14:23

Hello

Recently I ordered some goods from a Malaysian website. (mergiastore.com)
I was a little bit wary to start with so I ordered something small and inexpensive, lo and behold the goods are being held in UK customs pay more money blah blah..

Obviously feeling a bit silly now.

I'm attempting to track the origins of some of the emails and the website. (as a matter of principal)

Also this could serve as a warning to others.

Any help would be appreciated. They are using a proxy and hotmail/

Here is some information about the site in question from one of those who is sites.

Domain Name: MERGIASTORE.COM
Registry Domain ID: 1829501125_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.enom.com
Registrar URL: www.enom.com
Creation Date: 2013-10-01 10:02:00Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2014-10-01 10:02:00Z
Registrar: ENOM, INC.
Registrar IANA ID: 48
Registrar Abuse Contact Email: Email Masking Image

@enom.com
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.4252744500
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited
Registry Registrant ID:
Registrant Name: WHOIS AGENT
Registrant Organization: WHOIS PRIVACY PROTECTION SERVICE, INC.
Registrant Street: PO BOX 639
Registrant Street: C/O MERGIASTORE.COM
Registrant City: KIRKLAND
Registrant State/Province: WA
Registrant Postal Code: 98083
Registrant Country: US
Registrant Phone: +1.4252740657
Registrant Phone Ext:
Registrant Fax: +1.4259744730
Registrant Fax Ext:
Registrant Email: Email Masking Image

@WHOISPRIVACYPROTECT.COM
Registry Admin ID:
Admin Name: WHOIS AGENT
Admin Organization: WHOIS PRIVACY PROTECTION SERVICE, INC.
Admin Street: PO BOX 639
Admin Street: C/O MERGIASTORE.COM
Admin City: KIRKLAND
Admin State/Province: WA
Admin Postal Code: 98083
Admin Country: US
Admin Phone: +1.4252740657
Admin Phone Ext:
Admin Fax: +1.4259744730
Admin Fax Ext:
Admin Email: Email Masking Image

@WHOISPRIVACYPROTECT.COM
Registry Tech ID:
Tech Name: WHOIS AGENT
Tech Organization: WHOIS PRIVACY PROTECTION SERVICE, INC.
Tech Street: PO BOX 639
Tech Street: C/O MERGIASTORE.COM
Tech City: KIRKLAND
Tech State/Province: WA
Tech Postal Code: 98083
Tech Country: US
Tech Phone: +1.4252740657
Tech Phone Ext:
Tech Fax: +1.4259744730
Tech Fax Ext:
Tech Email: Email Masking Image

@WHOISPRIVACYPROTECT.COM
Name Server: NS1.MAIN-HOSTING.COM
Name Server: NS2.MAIN-HOSTING.COM
DNSSEC: unSigned
URL of the ICANN WHOIS Data Problem Reporting System: http://wdprs.internic.net/
Last update of WHOIS database: 2013-10-09 14:47:10Z

Information Updated: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 00:25:56 UTC

1 | 2

2102 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 557

#975098 27-Jan-2014 14:28

How did you pay? Reverse your credit card, you could contact there host who no doubt has rules against hosting illegal websites, but no guarantees

Multiplefail

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#975105 27-Jan-2014 14:33

Ah, yes failed to mention that.
It was a Bank TT

SaltyNZ

8866 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9546

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#975135 27-Jan-2014 14:51

Multiplefail: Ah, yes failed to mention that.
It was a Bank TT

Well done for having the good sense to start with something small & cheap when suspicious!

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

LennonNZ

2459 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 411

ID Verified

Trusted

#975142 27-Jan-2014 15:02

You say "behold the goods are being held in UK customs pay more money"

I presume you are in the UK not NZ.

in New Zealand if something is over ~$400 from overseas then we have to pay Tax (15%) + Some Duty. I presume its the same in the UK.

Can you please explain why this is a scam? Any goods send from a overseas company this would happen? even ebay/amazon etc. The website is pretty clear they are in Malaysia.

Or is there something else you are not saying? Did you think they would be send from the UK and thus no Tax to be paid etc? I presume they didn't charge you any Tax when you paid the money for the goods?

Have you got sourced any goods from outside your country before and didn't know about customs charges? Is that their fault?

nakedmolerat

4631 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 874

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#975143 27-Jan-2014 15:02

Multiplefail: Ah, yes failed to mention that.
It was a Bank TT

which bank did you transfer to?

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80655 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41052

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#975149 27-Jan-2014 15:07

LennonNZ: You say "behold the goods are being held in UK customs pay more money"

I presume you are in the UK not NZ.

The OP *IS* in New Zealand. The "good are being held in UK customs pay more money" is the "advance payment scam" - similar to money transfers where they come up with "oh, we need to pay another fee/tax here" and try to get as much money out of you as possible.

It is a scam.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

RunningMan

9186 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4840

#975150 27-Jan-2014 15:09

LennonNZ: I presume you are in the UK not NZ.

OP's profile says NZ.

EDIT: Beaten to it by Mauricio

Multiplefail

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#975158 27-Jan-2014 15:19

No, I am in NZ. The goods were not over $400.00. I believe it is a scam because they have asked me to pay for additional goods that were sent in error from their supplier/shipping company. Pantocrossline.com.
The website looks suspect and has only been in operation for a short time.

LennonNZ

2459 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 411

ID Verified

Trusted

#975160 27-Jan-2014 15:20

freitasm:
LennonNZ: You say "behold the goods are being held in UK customs pay more money"

I presume you are in the UK not NZ.

The OP *IS* in New Zealand. The "good are being held in UK customs pay more money" is the "advance payment scam" - similar to money transfers where they come up with "oh, we need to pay another fee/tax here" and try to get as much money out of you as possible.

It is a scam.

Ah.. yes.. is it a scam..

mattwnz

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4795

#975170 27-Jan-2014 15:23

The sad thing is that their prices don't even seem to be that good, esp taking into account that they don't include gst and duty if imported into NZ. I stick to the trusted websites like amazon if buying from overseas. I have also purchased some expensive things off Ebay, but only from trades with lots of good feedback and have been around for many years. It pays to do your research. Also pay by credit card or paypal, which gives you the opportunity to get your money back.

Multiplefail

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#975171 27-Jan-2014 15:23

CIMB in KL Malaysia.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

Multiplefail

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#975173 27-Jan-2014 15:25

Yes normally I would only deal with trusted / certified etc suppliers.
Have never had a problem, until now.

Multiplefail

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#975174 27-Jan-2014 15:31

So. Yes, it is a scam.

I have thought about using an email tracking program to try and track down a location.

But because they are using a proxy and hotmail it is difficult to get accurate data.

What I am hoping to do is
a: email them and scare a refund out of them
b: send the information I have gathered to authorities in KL.

This has become more about the principal rather than the money.

nakedmolerat

4631 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 874

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#975175 27-Jan-2014 15:33

I had a look at the website, the price is in '$' rather than 'RM' for a malaysian based company.

Multiplefail

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#975178 27-Jan-2014 15:40

Yes their pricing is in US dollars.

I would love to find a trojan to send them

1 | 2