Please see the entry
"Sharebuyers.com ripoff, took my money and didn't hear back!!! Alburquerque New Mexico"
He wrote:
"While searching for Sony Vaio Laptop on eBay, I came across an auction fropm Sharebuyers saying I could buy the laptop dorectly from them for $824.95 USD including shipping. I contacted them about the deal and was replied by Antonio Bonds, who offered an additional $100 off if I sent the money thru Western Union. He said the laptop would be shipped within 24 hours of payment and he would email me the tracking number. ... I visited Western Union and sent the money. He replied asking me for my full name and my shipping address. After that, I did not hear back again. I sent numberopus emails and left messages and my phone number on their voicemail. 5 days later still no response!!! I've been ripped-off!!!"
My story is very similar, I visited the same eBay auction and after contacting them, I received an email response from Sharebuyers. I became suspicious when I tried MapQuest and was not able to locate the address given in the email, and using an internet White Pages telephone lookup service, I could not locate a phone number for "Tony Bonds" at the stated address. Finally, I decided to try a google search for the contact email he left, sales@sharebuyers.com and was directed to this website. Looking over the other listings about Sharebuyers at this website, I can now see that the address he gave me was a mix of different addresses posted here. I have not sent in any money and so I have been spared from yet another probable rip-off by the Shares.Com oprganization. I wonder if the fact that they sent me the email, which I include below, already constitutes postal fraud, as it appears to be a fraudulant solicitation for money with no intent to provide the stated services by actually shipping the product?
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From: "Breakthru Computers"
To: jstein@math.csusb.edu
Subject: RE: PCG-GRT240G
Date: Mon, 09 Feb 2004 07:30:43 +0000
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From: "Breakthru Computers"
To: jstein@math.csusb.edu
Subject: RE: PCG-GRT240G
Date: Mon, 09 Feb 2004 07:30:43 +0000
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This is a factory sealed unit. This unit comes with a full Sony one year factory warranty. I have included purchasing information below.
You may purchase this unit easily thru Western Union.
Here's how:
-You will receive your laptop in 2 to 4 days, with express next day shipping.
-Shipping is included in price.
-Send funds to Tony Bonds, 4226 Flagler St.., Albuquerque, NM, 87109, United States.
-Western Union accepts Cash, Visa, and Mastercard
I will discount the laptop by $100 to 724.95 if you choose this method to cover your Western Union fees...actually SAVING you 40 to 50 dollars off of the final price.
As always, if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us anytime at
sales@sharebuyers.com for a prompt reply.
Thanks,
Tony Bonds
Breakthru Computers
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From: "Breakthru Computers"
To: jstein@math.csusb.edu
Subject: RE: PCG-GRT240G
Date: Mon, 09 Feb 2004 07:30:43 +0000
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Message-ID:
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 09 Feb 2004 07:30:44.0189 (UTC) FILETIME=[A0A600D0:01C3EEDE]
This is a factory sealed unit. This unit comes with a full Sony one year factory warranty. I have included purchasing information below.
You may purchase this unit easily thru Western Union.
Here's how:
-You will receive your laptop in 2 to 4 days, with express next day shipping.
-Shipping is included in price.
-Send funds to Tony Bonds, 4226 Flagler St.., Albuquerque, NM, 87109, United States.
-Western Union accepts Cash, Visa, and Mastercard
I will discount the laptop by $100 to 724.95 if you choose this method to cover your Western Union fees...actually SAVING you 40 to 50 dollars off of the final price.
As always, if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us anytime at
sales@sharebuyers.com for a prompt reply.
Thanks,
Tony Bonds
Breakthru Computers
>From: Joel Stein
>To: breakthrucomp@hotmail.com
>CC: Joel Stein
>Subject: PCG-GRT240G
>Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 13:11:48 -0800 (PST)
>
>Dear breakthrucomp@hotmail.com,
>
>In your ebay listing
>
>Sony VAIO PCG-GRT240G 2.66P4 w/TV Tuner
>Item number: 3458782358
>
>you mention there ae other units available
> >
>E-mail us at breakthrucomp@hotmail.com for information on how to instantly
>purchase this unit now for 824.95 with express two day shipping.
>
>Please let me know the details.
>
>Thanks,
>
>:) joel
>aka 1234abcd
>
>Joel Stein
>5500 University Parkway
>San Bernardino, CA 92407
>
>jstein@csusb.edu
>9098805411
>
------------------------------------------
Finally, here is the eBay listing that was used to solicit bids and ultimately emails that would be used to generate return email solicitations by Sharebuyers.com asking for funds for computer purchases that they knew were fraudulent, in that they had no intention of sending anything at all.
-------------------------------------------
Sony VAIO PCG-GRT240G 2.66P4 w/TV Tuner
Item number: 3458782358
The SonyVAIO PCG-GRT240G notebook is your transportable TV entertainment center. Record your favorite TV programs and watch them on a richer, brighter and sharper screen. Burn and play back CDs and DVDs. Manage your digital images simply and conveniently. A powerful 2.66GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, and bundled Adobe and Screenblast software provide unlimited audio, still image, and video editing capabilities. It is your supreme multimedia center.
Model
PCG-GRT240G
Processor
IntelPentium4 processor 2.66GHz1
Cache Memory
512 KB integrated on-die level 2
Front Side BUS Speed
533MHz
Standard RAM
512 MB DDR SDRAM (256x2), maximum 1024 MB
Hard Drive
60 GB hard drive
LCD
15.0XGA (1024x768) with XBRITE technology
Optical Drive
Internal removable DVD+-RW / CD-RW drive11
(CD-R write 16x; CD-RW write 8x; DVD-ROM read 5x; CD-ROM read 24x;DVD-R/-RW write 1x; DVD+R/+RW write 2x)
Hot-Swappable Multi-Bay For DVD+-RW / CD-RW drive or optional second battery
Optional Floppy Disk Drive
External 1.44 MB, 3.5" USB floppy drive (PCGA-UFD5)
Video & Graphics
NVIDIAGeForce 420 Go
32MB video DDR SGRAM
Giga Pocket Realtime MPEG2 Encoder with TV tuner
Ethernet
10BASE-T/100BASE-TX Ethernet with RJ-45 interface
Modem
Integrated V.92/V.90 modem
Integrated WIRELESS LAN
IEEE 802.11b/802.11g, Bus/Interface: mini PCI, Radio Frequency band: 2.4GHz (ISM band)
Memory Stick
PRO Media Slot
Pointing Device / Keyboard
Electro-static touch pad QWERTY 86 keys with 3mm stroke and 19mm pitch Magnify button
Estimated Battery Life
Lithium-Ion battery supports dual battery operation, 1.0-1.5 hours with one battery, 2.0-3.0 hours with optional second battery
PC Card Slots
1 type I/type II card with CardBus support
Audio
BUILT-IN STEREO SPEAKERS; monaural mini-jack microphone
Other Interfaces
AV in (mini-jack), S video in, Mini Jack in (VHF/UHF), RJ-11, modem jack, i.LINK (IEEE 1394) interface3, 3 USB 2.0, AV, out (mini-jack) 9, RJ-45 Ethernet, Memory Stick media slot, VGA output, parallel, headphone (stereo), monaural mini-jack, microphone
Optional Port Replicator (PCGA-PRGT1)
DC in, 2 USB, RJ-45 Ethernet, VGA output, P/S?2 keyboard, and mouse, serial, parallel, S-video out, Line-in (RCA pin), Line-out (RCA pin), Video out (RCA pin), Optical out
Power Requirements
135 watts maximum +10% (19.5V / AC100-240V Energy Star(SM) compliant
Advanced power management - APM-ACPI compatible
Specification Software
MicrosoftWindowsXP Home Edition
Sony Giga PocketPersonal Video Recorder
Sony Click to DVD?
Sony DVgatePlus
InterVideoWinDVD4 for VAIOPC
Sony SonicStagewith MP3 encoder
Sony SonicStageMastering Studio
ScreenblastACID?
ScreenblastSoundforge
AdobePhotoshopElements
Sony PictureGear Studio?
VAIO Mediasoftware
MicrosoftMSN87 and America OnlineInternet services7
MicrosoftAge of Empires214
Virus, Tools, and Support Software: SymantecNorton Internet Security2003Trial7, VAIO Support Agent
E-mail us at breakthrucomp@hotmail.com for information on how to instantly purchase this unit now for 824.95 with express two day shipping.
Joel
san bernardino, California
U.S.A.