The MLP Arena
TCB => Trader & Shipping Support => Topic started by: Christahope on January 13, 2018, 08:12:57 PM
-
Hello all! I'm looking to get some advice. I made a sale of a rather pricey pony and I have a bad feeling this is the very well known scammer Brooke Kutik. I'm saying possible scammer in the title, but all signs point to it being her. They sent a message prior to buying asking if I would take a lower amount. I was still asleep, but they went ahead and purchased the pony without waiting for a response. When I printed the postage a little while ago the name didn't set off any alarms nor did the buyer ID. It wasn't until after when I checked the Paypal payment that I noticed the buyer's name there is a Don Kutik located on the east coast of Florida not far from where she was last reported. I'm guessing this could be a play on her old ID Dawn Kutik. The postage I printed out has tracking, but I had also added signature confirmation so it will have to be signed for to get it. The address is confirmed with Paypal as well. As the post offices are closed I haven't actually mailed the pony out yet. My question is, How so do you think I should proceed and do you have any advice? I'll add the ebay ID and the city location if it's agreed that this is indeed Brooke. Thank you all in advance!
-
Hi there! Have you actually recieved the payment? If so, I think tracking and needing a sig to recieve will keep you safe as you will be able to know when it has arrived to them. Not sure if I missed anything else, but at the point all ends are covered, you should be safe to send
-
Could you share the eBay ID? I want to block them immediately, ha ha. A "Don" Kutik in Florida who collects ponies . . . yeah, I do not believe in that many coincidences.
My advice is . . . do not send a pony to this person. Refund them, block them, and relist the pony. She ran sooo many scams, it is just not worth the risk. It is your RIGHT as a seller to refuse a sale in cases like this.
Edit: I did some research and it turns out a buyer can still leave you feedback if you cancel and refund a transaction, so it would be risking a negative. So you would have to decide if it was worth the risk . . . It's up to you. Do keep in mind that if you send her the pony and things go bad, YOU cannot leave HER negative feedback. So unfortunately there is no way to warn other sellers if she tries a scam, other than on boards like this.
If you do send her the pony:
Your biggest risk is if she files a SNAD (Item Significantly Not As Described.) Unfortunately there is really not much you can do to protect yourself from that as a seller. eBay almost always sides with the buyer, even when they don't offer proof. If she files a SNAD, demand that she returns the pony (instead of offering a partial refund, etc.) She wants her money back? Then she gets her money back. But she doesn't get to keep the pony.
If she at any point threatens to neg you (like "if you don't give me a partial refund I will have to give you a negative"), report her to eBay. That is feedback extortion and eBay WILL side with you.
Also ONLY communicate with her through eBay's message system, not through private emails, etc.
-
You could always record yourself sending out the package? By showing the address and tracking info, then toss it in the going out bin. Just an idea but it may help your case if anything happens.
-
Oh geez she's still out there... :( PLEASE keep us updated!
-
I do remember this person. :( Maybe you could call eBay and explain your reasons for being concerned/your options before proceeding with mailing the pony. This way eBay is aware of your concerns from the start in case you are in fact dealing with her. If it would help, you can share some of her past user IDs on ebay which may show that she has received negative feedback on multiple accounts/is no longer registered. I know people have had mixed experiences with calling eBay, but I personally have found them helpful in the times I needed to call. I also think it is very smart that you selected signature confirmation.
I wish you best of luck. I believe I have shopped with you before and you always describe ponies in such detail and provide plenty of clear photos!
-
Oh lord, she's still at it?!
Personally I would not sell to someone with this much of a reputation (even if it hasn't been confirmed that it is her, I agree with LadyM, it's just too close to risk it), but it's up to you. Everyone else has given fantastic advice so I'm not sure I can really add anything else, heh.
-
Ah no not a nice position to be in, I would go with you gut feeling, refund and not post. Ebay is horrid to deal with when things go wrong. I would call them and explain why your cancelling, they will properly credit back your fees in this case.
-
Oh geez she's still out there...
My exact reaction!
-
LadyMoondancer gave some really solid advice there.
If she is still trying to scam people my bet is she will file a 'item not as described' case and return the pony, but possibly switch the pony out with one of hers that is in worse condition. So to eBay it looks like she did everything right and returned the pony, but you know its not really the same pony.
I'd cancel the sale. And run. Or swim far far away.
Then post her eBay ID so we can all block her.
-
Not worth the stress. Was being nosey and found what probable pony you are describing. If this individual is to leave you negative feedback, I believe you have a right to respond to it so you can defend your actions. In fact, I would be straight up with the buyer. Let them know you are sorry if its one heck of a coincidence, but not a chance you are willing to take. Don't Do It!!
-
Thanks everyone for your input! Luckily I can still cancel the shipping label and such. I was going back and forth thinking if she tried something I could easily get law enforcement involved as she isn't far from me. In the end it doesn't seem worth the hassle to go through. Better safe than sorry. I'll let you all know what happens in the end. The username is rainydancer86-3
-
A few years ago she started heavily scamming on etsy and ebay using Paypal chargebacks, and not just ponies. She expanded to dolls and high end items on etsy. Last I heard she scammed a $600+ item from an etsy seller.
Yeah, she’s definitely still around. Thanks for the head’s up! Some things should never be forgotten, and old time scammers like Brooke are top of that list.
-
Thank you for the heads up. I will make sure to block them.
-
I have added to my block list as well. It is especially scary that someone like that is still around and that nobody has managed to do anything to stop them. If it isn't them, then I feel bad for the buyer, but the coincidence is too likely to be a coincidence for me. Better safe than sorry...
-
It is sad that these people can't be stopped. Sad, and disgusting. Last I heard, she was hanging around etsy a lot. As terrible and woefully inadequate as ebay's seller protections are, etsy's are *a lot* worse. It may have changed, but she was taking advantage of etsy's policy that sellers can't block buyers. Maybe the eventually changed it as what I read was from a few years ago, I don't know. I don't sell on etsy, and I'm not as up on their policies as I am with ebay's. But from what I heard, she was particularly active on etsy a couple years ago. Not that she ever abandoned ebay totally, but etsy was a much easier place to scam. I can't remember what her ID was there. Not that it really matters - she changes it every time she gets outed as a scammer.
The take away from this is to be careful if your buyer's address is in Florida. It's not fair to all the good people who live in Florida, but she's been working the Paypal chargeback to the tune of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise for a while now. She's been scamming since...geez as long as I've been in the community(1997). If the girl hasn't been arrested by now, it's just never going to happen.
With the huge turnover of people in the pony community in the last several years, there's a real danger that these old school scammers will be forgotten. I was glad to see this thread, and I hope everyone sees it and learns from it.
Here's some of the things I read about her a while ago:
https://artists-beware.livejournal.com/694571.html
https://scenceable.deviantart.com/journal/WARNING-to-etsy-sellers-do-NOT-sell-to-this-person-391995445
Bonus - that last link has a link to her old Ponyland Police bad traders entry from back in the day.
I'm sure there's more, but it's been a few years and things disappear.
-
I cannot even describe the level of effort that the community has taken to try and stop her... but yeah since at LEAST 1997!!!! :(
You can see many of her ID's on my Bad Trader List but she always makes a new one... this rainydancer86-3 is ID#20. TWENTY!!!!
-
Thanks Christa for the heads up and sharing this ebay ID. We (other eBay/online sellers appreciate it!)!
-
goddessofpeep's links are interesting. The one from Way Back Machine dates back to 2004, where her parents got involved. Apparently that wasn't enough to make her stop.
This is enough to add a dash of paranoia to trading with anyone without ratings, and I'm newer than most to this @___@
-
I am amazed at the effort this woman does to scam people.
I've been reading about her now for the past 2 hours, so many people have been scammed! Just googling her full name so much comes up its insane!
-
I cannot even describe the level of effort that the community has taken to try and stop her... but yeah since at LEAST 1997!!!! :(
You can see many of her ID's on my Bad Trader List but she always makes a new one... this rainydancer86-3 is ID#20. TWENTY!!!!
I guess like some of us collectors keep going for ages, apparently so do some scammers. I can't believe she hasn't been charged and convicted on any of these cases yet, there's so many stories and so many victims. It's great to have heads up that she's still around.
In the old days, things were more basic, but because the community was smaller, references were done by email between people who knew people and when a scammer came out, they were often well monitored, reported on and whatever else. With this one, though, 2004 is even quite late because she was definitely around a long time before that and like goddessofpeep does, I remember her pretty much from the beginning (I came online in 97)
We're not a community of the size of then where knowing everyone you trade with really well is possible, and a lot of people have come and gone, meaning people like her have the opportunity to touch new victims who aren't aware. it's a lot of reading to go through all the scammer information and keep up with it. I wonder if there is a better way to protect our newer members because honestly, writing off the whole of Florida is hardly fair on the people there who aren't this person, and there's nothing to stop her relocating anyway.
-
Update: I was going in to cancel the order when I saw I received a message from them already asking to cancel. :biggrin: I wonder if they check the forums and happened to see this? If it isn't her then I feel bad, but the name and location was way too coincidental. A bit of further info, there are three different names associated with this one transaction alone. One for ebay, one for shipping and another for paypal. I know the site rules say not to post real names, but I have the info saved for future reference. Have also blocked this ID. If it's truly her then I imagine another ID is in the making. As a member of the community (even if I'm very quiet) it is very important to inform everyone and keep each other safe. :)
-
Whoa, thank you very much for keeping us informed! I would have been very skeptical to mail the parcel too and I am glad it worked out so that you did not have to send the pony!
-
Are you allowed to post the city she was in? Not the street address, but the city? :)
-
I have updated my Bad Trader List with the information given to me by Christahope ;)
-
Update: I was going in to cancel the order when I saw I received a message from them already asking to cancel. :biggrin: I wonder if they check the forums and happened to see this? If it isn't her then I feel bad, but the name and location was way too coincidental...
Now that is interesting. I am sure that this person is in fact on the Arena and saw this thread and got nervous and cancelled...
The three different names is a major red flag, along with the other all too coincidental coincidences in this...
I think it's terrible that these people get away with so much without getting caught. And she must be a MLP fan as well, otherwise why not scam more expensive things?
-
Update: I was going in to cancel the order when I saw I received a message from them already asking to cancel. :biggrin: I wonder if they check the forums and happened to see this? If it isn't her then I feel bad, but the name and location was way too coincidental...
Now that is interesting. I am sure that this person is in fact on the Arena and saw this thread and got nervous and cancelled...
The three different names is a major red flag, along with the other all too coincidental coincidences in this...
I think it's terrible that these people get away with so much without getting caught. And she must be a MLP fan as well, otherwise why not scam more expensive things?
Also makes me wonder if she has a friend here on the arena who lurks around to warn her to see if anyone caught on.
Assuming that the admins can block IP addresses.
-
Also makes me wonder if she has a friend here on the arena who lurks around to warn her to see if anyone caught on.
Assuming that the admins can block IP addresses.
Very likely. As much as the admins CAN and DO block by IP, they cannot always weed all the bad ones out :(
-
Wow, I remember her from back in the 90's... can't believe she is still around! Does anyone else think it's a bit sad that a person who is probably at least in their 30's by now is still scamming My Little Pony toys?
-
Also makes me wonder if she has a friend here on the arena who lurks around to warn her to see if anyone caught on.
Assuming that the admins can block IP addresses.
Very likely. As much as the admins CAN and DO block by IP, they cannot always weed all the bad ones out :(
If it meant that this seller doesn't have to deal with the problem then whoever it is has the power to make her cancel auctions...that's not a bad thing. If posts like this mean that someone in that individual's life gets a red flag and starts trying to limit damage then that's better for everyone. It's not perfect, but it's better than a seller getting a really tough ride. So in this case, if that did happen, it's probably for the best.
-
Also makes me wonder if she has a friend here on the arena who lurks around to warn her to see if anyone caught on.
Assuming that the admins can block IP addresses.
Very likely. As much as the admins CAN and DO block by IP, they cannot always weed all the bad ones out :(
If it meant that this seller doesn't have to deal with the problem then whoever it is has the power to make her cancel auctions...that's not a bad thing. If posts like this mean that someone in that individual's life gets a red flag and starts trying to limit damage then that's better for everyone. It's not perfect, but it's better than a seller getting a really tough ride. So in this case, if that did happen, it's probably for the best.
And that's why there is always a silver lining! :) Because we got this info!
-
Also makes me wonder if she has a friend here on the arena who lurks around to warn her to see if anyone caught on.
Assuming that the admins can block IP addresses.
Very likely. As much as the admins CAN and DO block by IP, they cannot always weed all the bad ones out :(
We can and we do block or ban using a variety of different means - however people who scam are sneaky by their very nature and will always use every trick in the book to get past us. I can assure everyone we try our best and we have the very best gatekeeper in the land in our own Stomper...but sometimes people can elude us.
However, its worth remembering the Arena is still one of the major all-gen pony forums in the world - if you collect ponies you are likely to keep coming here to check things out. Just because someone has read this post does not necessarily mean they are a member it can be read without membership.
Are you allowed to post the city she was in? Not the street address, but the city? :)
City is fine...as long as its not a 2 street town and its almost virtually the same as her address. :P
I have added the ebay user to the title to make this more searchable on the forum and the interwebs.
-
I was going to say I've come on here before and not been logged in. I can read all the text, but images are blocked. They may not be a member, but keeping an eye out.
The buyer's location is listed as Delray Beach, FL which is down near West Palm and Boca Raton.
-
I think it was a very good idea for you to notify us of this Christahope. All we can do is keep a record of the latest information and hope that the information we do have will protect the community somewhat.
-
I find it amazing that a person can commit fraud at this level and nothing is done. My question is, has anyone actually TRIED to have charges filed against her?
-
I find it amazing that a person can commit fraud at this level and nothing is done. My question is, has anyone actually TRIED to have charges filed against her?
I was wondering the same thing.