Complaint Review: Ronald Roncancio aka Brandon Stegman

My son is trying to purchase a laptop computer for his use in college. He located an auction on Yahoo Auctions entitled 'Pavilion zd8230us Notebook New in box' (link here ==> http://auctions.yahoo.com/auction/96534498).

I watched the auction in an attempt to purchase the item at a lower price so that my son could have the laptop available for his use.

On Friday, February 3, 2006, I bid on the auction. Unfortunately, because I specified to bid up to my maximum bid, which happened to be the Buy It Now price for the auction, the auction immediately closed and placed a bid for $500.00 on my behalf.

Not long after the auction closing, I received an invoice from Yahoo Auctions. I received no communication from the seller (Ronald Roncancio) concerning the closing of the auction and winning bid, thus, by policy, I contacted him via email. In my communication, dated February 5, 2006, I specified that the check would be sent the following day. I requested that he notify me when he received the check which was to be sent to his address, as specified above. His response was, as follows:

'Sure I will let you know when I receive and shortly after provide you with tracking info.

Thank You for your purchase.'

The email response was in the name Brandon Stegman. This had me concerned, thus, I contacted him with the following:

'Good Morning.

I'm sorry to say this. Your email indicates that your name is Brandon Stegman, yet the yahoo auction claims that funds are to be transmitted to Ronald Roncancio. Please explain. I just recently had a similar situation with another yahoo auction for a laptop and now have a criminal investigation for internet fraud open. I wish to clear up this issue prior to sending funds. Also, please confirm that you do indeed work/live at the address specified in the auction.'

and

'Please advise with proper shipping name and address.'

To this, the individual responded, still in the name Brandon Stegman, as follows:

'Hello again, We are partners in resale Mr. Stegman handles the shipping and auctions while I handle all payments and customer service. I hope this clears things up for you and can assure you all will be handled in a professional and timely manner. The address you received in the invoice is where we receive all payments and is our permanent working address. Here it is again:


Ronald Roncancio
404 N 17th Ave. # 21
Hollywood, FL. 33020'

With this, I thought I was dealing with a legitimate seller and responded, as follows:

'Thank you Brandon, I appreciate your prompt response. I do hope you understand my concern in the matter. I will immediately disburse payment and look forward to receiving the machine for my son. Thank you again. Toni'

I sent payment of $550.00 in the form of a personal check. The check was received by Ronald Roncancio on Monday, February 13, 2006 per his email below:

'Hello again I just received payment for the auction and thank you. I just need your phone number where my check casher can call you to verify check please. I will ship right after check is verified by you.



Thank You '

Of course, this started to raise red flags. Thus, I responded with my phone number as requested. I was hoping to have the check casher pull my check at the time the phone call was made. Please note, I did not specify the content of this email as it contained my phone number, but will be happy to provide to proper authorities.

February 14, 2006:
As I had not heard from his check cashing authority, I contacted him and asked, as follows:

'Brandon Please advise as to where the call will be coming from. Additionally, please let me know when the laptop will be shipped. Thanks'

Additionally, I sent this request for his phone number

'It seems that now that you have my money, you don't seem to want to respond to my emails. If I do not hear from you shortly, rest assured, I will be forced to contact your local police department concerning this matter. I would like to know your phone number so that I may contact you with regard to this auction and the specified item.

Thank you.'

I began to peruse the newly left feedback from other buyers and became quite concerned, thus sending the following email:

'It appears that you have several disgruntled buyers. I would like your phone number so that we can discuss prior to your cashing this check.'

At this point, I was becoming more concerned and sent the following email requesting that the check not be cashed:

'Your permanent working address does not seem to be listed anywhere. It appears to be an apartment complex. It seems from several others that you may have defrauded them, based on recent feedback. I wish to have your real names and real business address along with phone number. Do not CASH the check until I receive this information.'

February 15, 2006.
Still having no response to my inquiries, I proceeded to ask more questions as follows:

'Do you have the laptop in your possession? ... or has it been shipped?? if shipped, by what means (ie. usps, ups, fed ex)??? Also, provide a tracking number that can be verified. Additionally, it appears you don't even have a bank account and are using a check cashing service according to your last email, which does not settle well. I would like them to take a photocopy of your picture ID for traceability. I do not like the fact that you are eluding traceability. I want the name, address and phone number of this check cashing service so that I may check them out. Based on the recent feedbacks, I'm not feeling comfortable. Additionally, I am aware that you did refund one person's money because he was going to pursue criminal charges. If you had the laptop in hand, why did you refund the money? why did you not just send the laptop to the person via the means specified?

This is not sitting well with me. Will there be a delay in my shipment? or has it been shipped as specified in your last email?'

The individual to whom I referenced has not yet received the refund promised by Ronald Roncancio.

I finally received a response from him which is stated below:

'The laptop will be shipped tomorrow. I did deposit it in my bank account, I was not going to only so we didnt have to wait for it to clear and the check cashing service would have been faster to verify but in the end I did deposit it in my account. There will be no delay in your shipment and I have them in stock. I hope this puts your mind to rest and I would like to finish this transaction smoothly.


Thank You'

Later that day, I received the following:

'Hello I have not defrauded anyone, there was just a delay in some shipments and people were to impatient. I have every intention on sending your shipment to you. My number is 954-394-4304 if you wish to speak to me.


Thank You'

February 17, 2006:
Still not having a tracking number as requested and promised, I wrote the following:

'I have yet to receive a tracking number on this item. Please provide.'

February 20, 2006:
Still having not received a response, I phoned the number provided only to learn that the phone number (allegedly) belongs to a friend of Ronald Roncancio. Ronald Roncancio did not provide his phone number as requested, cashed the check after being asked to not do so, etc. My next email, as follows:

'Funny, but this phone number does not get me to either Ronald or Brandon. I spoke to your friend today and made him aware that you provided his phone number, rather than your own. I will be more than happy to contact the police department in your area and file an internet fraud complaint, not to mention the FBI.

I have asked many times for the tracking number and method of shipment for this laptop. Please provide immediately.

Providing someone elses phone number only adds to the suspicion. If I do not receive this laptop immediately, I will contact the law enforcement persons in your area and file a formal criminal complaint.'

I have been in contact with several other auction winners who also have not received their laptop computer. Several of us are keeping in contact and have (or will) proceed with criminal charges against Ronald Roncancio.

I have filed a formal complaint with the Hollywood Police Department and will proceed with formal complaints to the State and Federal Authorities governing these transactions and crimes.

Ronald Roncancio has not responded to any further requests, nor has he communicated with me via phone. Others in this situation have stated that he is no longer taking their phone calls and will hang up if he learns that the caller is an auction buyer. This morning (February 25, 2006), I finally got a person on the phone number I received from another party. I asked where my laptop computer was and he hung up the phone. For the most part, this phone number is busy. It appears this phone line is his computer line. Other numbers provided by individuals are no longer valid.

Additionally, the apartment complex in which Ronald Roncancio lives is receiving many phone calls from angry people. The check cashing service also has received these same phone inquiries about this individual.

There have been many emails to Ronald Roncancio, most of which no reply has been supplied.

Please HELP bring this criminal to justice.

Toni
Bloomsbury, New Jersey
U.S.A.