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- Jan 11, 2006
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Fellow Woodturners,
This information is to make you aware of a SCAM involving the sale of Manzanita Burl wood offered on the internet. THIS IS NO JOKE as I have been deceived into an act of deception of sending a personal check for $581.00 to: Elaine Means; EJ Burl & Co, 37103 Siskiyou St., Burney, CA 96013 USA.
Here is how I was approached. You receive an e-mail solicitation via the internet, offering a 25% discount on three sizes of Manzanita turning burls. The solicitation is timed so that the order must be placed within a short time. In my case, the solicitation was dated Sun, Sept 25, 2005 and to receive the discount, I had to respond by the end of September.
Four separate pictures of the Manzanita burl wood is attached to the e-mail as well as a couple of small pictures showing a finished product of a turn bowl and vase/urn.
After an exchange via e-mail as to pricing and wood sizes, I received a response that EJ Burl & Co (manzaqnitaburwood@hotmail.com) would like to be paid through Paypal. I wanted to pay by Credit Card, but she indicated that she was not authorized to accept credit cards at this time. and I (Quote" If you would rather send me a check, please make it out to Elaine Means, and send it to 37103 Siskiyou St. Burney, Ca 96013. Order is ready to ship. I found some beautiful burls to send you." (end quote). Approximately, 30 days later, I inquired via another internet e-mail (jackburl96001@yahoo.com) about my shipment. NO RESPONSE, NONE WHATSOEVER. After numerous e-mails and phone calls to (530) 335-4279 (now disconnected), I finally reach an older man who said this was not a scam and that there was a mix up in shipping due to an elderly person trying to help them out.
Thirty days elapsed and still nothing other than receiving a notice from Paypal canceling an invoice which made no sense. Long story short....I have yet to receive a response or the shipment and here it is the first of February, 2006. For this reason, I am attempting to alert as many wood turners as possible about this situation so that they are not bilked out of any money. Please be sure to share this story with your fellow wood turners.
I am pursuing the reporting of this incident to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (www.IFCCFBI.Gov) and the local authorities in Shasta County. Should anyone experience a similar problem with this business or people, they should proceed to report the incident as well. Perhaps, we can put a stop to these people taking advantage of other woodturners.
Wilfred (Bill) Murray
E-mail: billmurray@rochelle.net
UPDATE: 2/3/6 LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE LOCATED ELAINA MEANS WHO WAS RECENTLY RELEASED FROM JAIL AND IS ON PROBATION. SHE HAS TALKED TO ME DIRECTLY IN THE PRESENCE OF AN OFFICER, REASSURING ME THAT MY ORDER WILL BE SHIPPED WITHIN THE NEXT 7 TO 10 DAYS. THE OFFICER SAID TO CONTACT HIM WITHIN THAT PERIOD SHOULD I NOT RECEIVE THE MERCHANDISE.
This information is to make you aware of a SCAM involving the sale of Manzanita Burl wood offered on the internet. THIS IS NO JOKE as I have been deceived into an act of deception of sending a personal check for $581.00 to: Elaine Means; EJ Burl & Co, 37103 Siskiyou St., Burney, CA 96013 USA.
Here is how I was approached. You receive an e-mail solicitation via the internet, offering a 25% discount on three sizes of Manzanita turning burls. The solicitation is timed so that the order must be placed within a short time. In my case, the solicitation was dated Sun, Sept 25, 2005 and to receive the discount, I had to respond by the end of September.
Four separate pictures of the Manzanita burl wood is attached to the e-mail as well as a couple of small pictures showing a finished product of a turn bowl and vase/urn.
After an exchange via e-mail as to pricing and wood sizes, I received a response that EJ Burl & Co (manzaqnitaburwood@hotmail.com) would like to be paid through Paypal. I wanted to pay by Credit Card, but she indicated that she was not authorized to accept credit cards at this time. and I (Quote" If you would rather send me a check, please make it out to Elaine Means, and send it to 37103 Siskiyou St. Burney, Ca 96013. Order is ready to ship. I found some beautiful burls to send you." (end quote). Approximately, 30 days later, I inquired via another internet e-mail (jackburl96001@yahoo.com) about my shipment. NO RESPONSE, NONE WHATSOEVER. After numerous e-mails and phone calls to (530) 335-4279 (now disconnected), I finally reach an older man who said this was not a scam and that there was a mix up in shipping due to an elderly person trying to help them out.
Thirty days elapsed and still nothing other than receiving a notice from Paypal canceling an invoice which made no sense. Long story short....I have yet to receive a response or the shipment and here it is the first of February, 2006. For this reason, I am attempting to alert as many wood turners as possible about this situation so that they are not bilked out of any money. Please be sure to share this story with your fellow wood turners.
I am pursuing the reporting of this incident to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (www.IFCCFBI.Gov) and the local authorities in Shasta County. Should anyone experience a similar problem with this business or people, they should proceed to report the incident as well. Perhaps, we can put a stop to these people taking advantage of other woodturners.
Wilfred (Bill) Murray
E-mail: billmurray@rochelle.net
UPDATE: 2/3/6 LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE LOCATED ELAINA MEANS WHO WAS RECENTLY RELEASED FROM JAIL AND IS ON PROBATION. SHE HAS TALKED TO ME DIRECTLY IN THE PRESENCE OF AN OFFICER, REASSURING ME THAT MY ORDER WILL BE SHIPPED WITHIN THE NEXT 7 TO 10 DAYS. THE OFFICER SAID TO CONTACT HIM WITHIN THAT PERIOD SHOULD I NOT RECEIVE THE MERCHANDISE.