Web site owners, anywone, stay away from this scam artist - Paul Retain, he's real name is - Choi Paul Ham - paulretain@gmail.com. We found him via Craigslit ad that we are looking for someone to help us with SEO. This guy sent us the following e-mail:
----email start----
Hello,
My name is PAUL and I am a Digital Marketer. I have over 15 years of experience which range over a wide range of industries. My blueprint is simple; Engage and Retain. My plan of attack is; execute and cross the finish line.
I have looked at your eCommerce sites and I am confident I can deliver results higher than expected.
I am looking to work with a client that has set goals to be on top of their industry.
If that is you, please call me. 703 850 4500
Thank You.
----email end----
We called him and asked to come to our office in Vienna, VA for interview. He came and told us story how he promoted some type of hair products and how he got "screwed" by he's partner who made millions. He also told us that he is almost a millionare, working on building marketing platforms for dentists and some kind of Las Vegas enterteniment portals. We agreed to give him a chance to help us build web sites and promote our weight loss product. He asked to be paid $1000 per month to start and when sites will start selling - commisions from each sale. He also signed agreement with us that if he fails, he will give us money back. We agreed and wrote him $1000 check. What surprised us, he went and cashed this check (did not deposit to he's bank accont). Also this guy does not have a car. Someone else drives him. Anyway half through the month, Paul frends me on the facebook and day after I got a call from my personal trainer who is also my friend saying that someone out of her friends is looking for this guy Paul. Turned out to be that this guy Paul scammed not only us, but apperantly friend of my personal trainer. He also did same thing, promised to build web site, took money and dissapeared. After month went buy this guy Paul called me and said that he needs office space, that he got all the hookups and tried to talk me in to doing some other publishing business with him. He only needed $5,000 more and office space. I listened and declined. Also I asked him how's our project going. He said that he no longer interested in working on my sites (after he wasted more than a month) and that he will return money. When I asked when, he said 2 weeks. About 3 weeks later I asked him where is the money and he said that he will return money shortly and that he is working on some kind of big project and he is about to make it big. I simply told him that we will be filing with collection agency on which he replied "OK" and dissapeared. Collection procedures started, he does not pick up the phone. Stay away from this Craigs list scam artist posing as professional and looking for ways to scam money out of businesses.
10 Updates & Rebuttals
Zhorakiev
Gaithersburg,Maryland,
Scam..
#11Author of original report
Tue, September 10, 2013
So Paul, first of all, you signed contract with my company where you promised to return $1000. I am not sure why you did not read the contract. Also you did not put any effort in work at all. My business is not dying at all my friend. When you came, we were not making as much as we need. We found full time employees who do a lot of work for us and in result we trippled our income since you decided to scam $1000 from us. So you are growing, but for some reason you cannot return $1000. What did you do with it? You spent it? What do you mean by "I will return when I have it"????
Are you aware that collection agency is after you? Do you know that 60 days after process started, collection agency will report (or already did) this to your credit bureau and we can get this discharged from our income??? I mean are you aware of all the consiquences? You playing wiht fire. You can go to jail. This is enough evidence to prove what you are doing is a scam. I am not the only one. You have plenty of court records as well as Tony is another victim who did not go to court yet. Return money and stop this nonsense.
Tony
Maryland,Where Does it say refund in the contract?
#11Consumer Comment
Tue, September 10, 2013
Trying looking at the text message we exchanged, which I've posted, where you said you WILL refund my money. Also,notice you lied several times saying you had indeed sent me my refund and you did not.. Again, why are you using several fake last names?
Zhorakiev
Gaithersburg,Maryland,
Multiple Felonies, just as I suspected
#11Author of original report
Tue, September 10, 2013
After learning that her phone number is pre paid, I suspected there is more to that story. Sure enough I went to Allen County (she is from Fort Wayne, IN) criminal records database - public records and found her "real resume" which included multiple convictions, felonies and bunch of misdomenors and currently 6 felony charges pending, incuding theft and forgery. Just as I suspected... It looks like she is wanted on these charges and there is active warrant for her arrest. I am calling Fort Wayne Sheriff office to let them know about my encounter with this "content writer"...
By the way, it takes no genious to find that data: http://mycase.in.gov/search.aspx - select "defendant" and type her name.
Paul
Virginia,Scam?
#11REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, September 10, 2013
If you have a right to a full refund, where does it state on the contract you wrote?
I told you verbally I have no problem giving you a refund if I did not hit a target goal within a given time period. To me, it didnt matter the reason I could not hit that goal, I would still honor my word. In this case, I chose not to continue for specific reasons. Moreover, there is no specific date required for the refund technically.
I still do not understand where the scam part is coming from? I can prove all work done towards this effort. Work was done. I think you are lucky that I would refund you for services done.
All this is doing is showing real character on both sides.
Tony
Maryland,Bottom Line
#11Consumer Comment
Tue, September 10, 2013
I called the number attached to the address Paul gave me and it was to a body shop. His real name is Paul Choi, but goes by at least two fake last names. First it was Paul Retain and now it's Paul Engager. He offered to refund my money, but would always say he didn't have it right now. Fast forward 4 months later, he changed his number and his last name. Also, i posted the texts messages between paul and I. Several times he said he sent the money when he never did.
BOTTOM LINE: Ripoffreport has two different reports of Paul's Scam. He doesn't use his real last name and has used two fake last names. He changes his phone number often as well. Is this the person you want to do business with?
DO NOT GIVE HIM ANY MONEY UPFRONT!
Zhorakiev
Gaithersburg,Maryland,
Still we are missing $1000 refund
#11Author of original report
Tue, September 10, 2013
If there is no scam, why Paul is not returning $1000 he promised to return and why Paul is hiding from collection agency..
Paul
Virginia,RE: Lies Character
#11REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, September 10, 2013
The contract states non disclosure of SEO (search engine optimization). I explained in my response why I was hesitant to deliver online traffic to your conversion methods.
I await the lawsuit because I know for a fact you have twisted the truth and facts.
You mention scam but what is the scam here?
There are two people which I engaged through Craigslist during the same period of time that have wrote reports on this website. (which by the way if you Google this website the owner is in hiding... I wonder why) Its silly I even have to spend time to write this response. The other person falls in the same category as this gentlemen. They can not accept the fact that their business model is unrealistic and they seek marketing for it.
In the end....
Zhorakiev
Gaithersburg,Maryland,
Lies
#11Author of original report
Thu, August 29, 2013
First of all Paul signed non disclosure and confidentiality agreement and tried to disclose our business model here which he was not supposed to do. He also did not understand our business model which is convincing people to buy our non prescription product instead of phentermine. We filed with collection agency and they were not able eto even find Paul. Next well go and sue Paul. Our business is back in track without Paul... Apperantly we were not the only victims of Paul's scams. Paul has few more complaints in court as well.
Paul
Virginia,Craigslist Gems
#11REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, August 21, 2013
The way this report was submitted makes it seem as if no work was done. The facts are a strategic plan was developed and discussed, then executing that exact plan begun. During this time I did pick up another client who is a personal trainer and for slightly different reasons terminated that as well. The two common factor between these past clients are, I found them on the free side of craigslist. I learned my lesson here. I have worked with many Dental Offices in the VA MD DC area and have the highest reputation. I am not going to let two businesses that have issues of their own ruin my name.
Zhorakiev
Gaithersburg,Maryland,
I spelled he's name wrong, it's Choi Paul Han
#11Author of original report
Thu, August 08, 2013
Choi Paul Han or Paul Han Choi..l