I just purchased a powerbook from some guy who posted that he had 8 15” G4 Powerbooks on Craigslist. Craigslist seems like a bunch of honest people, and the price he offered was like half of retail. He sent me pictures of them in the boxes and such… seems legit enough!

http://www.apple-computers.us/

They asked for a “wire transfer” from my bank for payment, to keep prices low on thier end. Fair enough, I suppose. I did email them and asked why not a credit card, and the guy called me back saying it’s to keep the prices low. So it’s all paid, I did it during lunch.

But r0s just found these links:
adam.rosi-kessel.org/weblog/the_man/apple-computers-us-is-a-scam.html /> www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13333834~mode=flat~days=9999 /> Saying that they are a scam.

The original post at chicago.craigslist.org/sys/78093789.html seems to have been removed by Craigslist staff. I emailed them to ask why they removed it and mentioned that I purchased a Powerbook via that post. What do they know that I don’t? No word from “Craig” if he recieved my payments yet. Here is the original post, just for safe keeping:

Apple Powerbook G4 15” 1.67GHz / 512MB / 80GB / Superdrive $1100
Friday, 10 June 2005 11:18:04
Boxed ,never opened units for sale ! Legitimate and warranted . Apple care!

this is in or around Chicago

no—it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

78093789

One of the photos here that he sent me. Click here for the rest.
——————————UPDATE:
June 14th, 2005 3:34

As I expected, a full work day has gone by without hearing from him. I emailed around 11am asking for a status to no avail. I’ve gone proactive now and emailed both my bank and the receiving bank (Citizen’s bank of Flint, Michigan) telling my story. I also had r0s email them asking for thier phone number in hopes he gets a reply, so I know for sure, sure sure that they are ignoring my email. I was hoping they’d give a working number to him for me to call. Doubt it will happen, though. Wonder what to do next. Call the banks if I don’t hear back, I suppose.
———————————————UPDATE June 14th 5:41pm

Just got off the phone with my bank. They said once the amount is posted to my account (right now the amnt is taken from my balance but not “posted” yet) I can go through the bank dispute procedure where they’ll go through an investigation on the charge. So Mr. Apple-Computers has until tomorrow it looks like to come through with some information to appease me, or dispute res
olution it is.
———————————————UPDATE June 15th 7:56am

Well I just called “Craig” at Apple-Computers.us. I was expecting the beeps that I got every other time I called, but this time was different. Different types of beeps, clicks, hisses. And then… “Hello, This is Craig how may I help you?” in a heavy accented distorted tone. He kept saying “Hello?” He couldn’t hear me. He was obviously through some voip connection that was transferred a few times to wherever he is. He said (what is sounded like anyway) that it was raining and he couldn’t get to FedEx yet, and he forgot to get back to me yesterday. I asked point blank if I would get shipping information by this evening and he said yes. So we’ll see.
———————————————UPDATE June 15th 8:48am

r0s emailed “Craig” yesterday asking about credit card payment and purchasing a Powerbook. He finally got back to him with this explanation on price:

From: Apple Computers Sales [mailto:admin@apple-computers.us]
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 7:56 AM
To: Eros
Subject: Re: [SPAM] powerbook 15”
Hello,

Credit Card purchase will highly raise the price due to the tax situation
and it would be about $1945, you will have to pay with a bank transfer under
our corporate account to get it for a price of $1100.

Regards,

Craig
———————————————UPDATE June 16th 10:18am

I can’t get ahold of the fucker. I’m trying to call but just get repeated busy signals. r0s gets “all circuits are busy.” I’m going to tell him i’m cancelling the order. Whatever that means. I’ll email him if I can’t get in touch by 11am today.
———————————————UPDATE June 16th 11:10am

And here’s that email:

Craig,

I’ve yet to hear from you on shipping status regarding my Powerbook. I
would like a confirmed tracking number today or I will have to request to
have this order canceled.

Please contact me today via email or phone at xxx.xxx.xxxx by 3pm US
Central time to update this status with me.

Thank you,
Gabe Kangas
———————————————UPDATE June 16th 3:36pm

I have all my paperwork to turn into the bank’s dispute resolution department on Monday. Should I go to the police as well? I know they won’t care. I did finally get through to his phone, I got his voicemail. I left a message. Anyway, here’s the final email closing the deal.

Craig,

I would at this point like to cancel the order for the 15” Powerbook I
have placed. I have yet to recieve any proof that you have, or intend to,
ship the product I have purchased from you and I would like to end our
deal here.

I have left you a voicemail and attempted to reach you via phone multiple
times today to no avail.

Please contact me at xxx.xxx.xxxx or email me to discuss this further.

Thank you,
Gabe Kangas
———————————————UPDATE June 16th 6:12pm

I just called him from my cell (a number he hasn’t recieved a call from before) and he picked up. He said that I should had recieved the tracking number already, it’s been shipped. He asked me to spell my email address over the phone (he’s recieved many, many emails from me.. even today) and he said he’d send it again.. right now. So let’s wait and see.
———————————————UPDATE June 16th 9:13pm

I have yet to receive a tracking number, even after you said you would
send it again over the phone this evening.
If this shipment does show up, understand that I will refuse the
delivery and have it sent back to you as this order is voided. As the
payment was made via wire transfer, how would you like to refund the
money? Please let me know what your standard procedure for returning
items and refunds are.

Awaiting your reply,
Gabe
———————————————UPDATE June 20th 12:40pm

Howdy all! I’m back to Illinois after my trip to Michigan, and no email from Mr. Craig, even though he promised to send me one last Thursday. I was in a rush this morning so I left all my paperwork I put together for the dispute at home, but that’s ok. The longer I wait the longer it shows I waited for my purchase. As of today it’s one week since I paid for it, that’s not very long. But long enough when you know you’ve been scammed. I’ll send another email today, and print it out to show I waited through the weekend. I’ll add it to my paperwork and send it/drop it off tomorrow for the bank.

I just called Craig and he hung up on me after I said who I was. I called back right away and it went right into voicemail. How nice.

Emailed him:

Craig,

I called you twice today, and you hung up on me both times. I’m still
awaiting your reply on how you would like to return the funds on this
order.

Gabe Kangas
———————————————UPDATE June 21st 8:20am

OK all, take this with a grain of salt. I recieved an email from Craig at Apple-Computers.us only after he somehow found out about this web site. He’s playing that he’s the good guy, and i’m being a bad guy knowing i’d post the email up here for the world to see. So read, but don’t fall for it. 1) Tax issues from shipping from Michigan to Illinois? Give me a break. 2) Give me a tracking number and all this would be over. Simple solution. Do it and i’ll post on this web site that all is good and i’m awaiting the Powerbook. Here’s the email.

Dear Gabe,

I’ve seen your comments regarding me, and i understand your concern,
anyways i know that its been delayed because of some tax problem with
FedEx… It is being resolved and i will send you a refund tomorrow,
but as its already on your state border i can’t recall the package
so i would need you to ship it back if possible after you getting
a refund. It’s up to you to keep spreading those rumours but that
would be shame after you finally get both a refund and a PB, i am
not a part of some stupid scam and not looking for troubles, i was
just not feeling comfortable telling you on all of the delays.

Regards,

Craig

So I sent him a reply:

Craig,

If you could just supply me with the FedEx tracking number all would be settled. I’m not aware of any issues with taxes shipping from the state of Michigan to Illinois, so excuse me if it is hard to believe that as a reason. I don’t expect the laptop to be delivered yet, as you promised 5-7 day shipping. However, a tracking number was promised by you, and expected by me long ago.

How will you be planning on refunding the money, as the original purchase was via wire?

Thank you for your response,
Gabe Kangas
———————————————UPDATE June 21st 10:30am

Well, he must had been frustrated with my email because he requested my wire info for him to send me the money back. Awful trusting if this laptop is really on the way to refund the money and have a powerbook coming to my door, huh? I’m not sure what damage he can do with my account/routing numbers for my bank, but I gave it to him so he could wire the money back to me.

From: “Apple Computers Sales”
Date: Tue, June 21, 2005 8:30 am
To: “Gabe Kangas”

Please provide your account details for a Wire transfer.

Craig
———————-
UPDATE: June 27th, 2005 8:05am

Well all, i’m back, and i’m alive. Been a rough bunch of days. Check out this post for more details there. As much as I wanted to do more dirty work with Mr. Powerbook, I didn’t for a while. However, saturday I started to feel better so I went to the bank to fill out a conflict resolution form and make a stop at the police station. I filled out a police report there. Now I have to get the police report info back to the bank, but I forgot the report number at home. Oh well. I’ll call them tonight to add to my file.

I havn’t heard from Mr. powerbook, nor have I expected to. I havn’t emailed him since I gave him my account info for a refund. I’m keeping an eye on my account in case any withdrawls happen that I didn’t do. Due to the response on this post most people think that with an account # and route anyone can print up checks.. so I guess you can. It’s a new scam to me… but now i’m aware and going to be quite cautious. So all I can do now is wait for the bank and police to do thier jobs. Hopefuly the bank will come though with helping me out so I get my money back. I still really want a powerbook :(
———————-
UPDATE: June 27th, 2005 10:18am

My bank called and said they could do nothing to help me. They referred me to fbi.gov, as if that would somehow solve my problems. They also told me they are going to close my account. I didn’t fight that, as it’s what I should do anyway. They’ll snail mail me my new account information. This may be the end of my journey. All I can hope is I get a pay increase with my new job assignment coming up and I can purchase a laptop sooner than later. I’m determined to get a powerbook.
———————-
UPDATE: June 27th, 2005 11:45am

The police detective called. They said to file a complaint with Michigan since he can’t get to Flint.

We’re famous: forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=1543988&postcount=35 /> ———————-
UPDATE: June 27th, 2005 3:05pm

I got in touch with the provider that hosts both apple-computers.us and apple-deals.us. He seems like a good guy who is willing to look into it. I sent him a list of links (including this page) to take a look at where he can get a look at multiple people’s insight into apple-computers.us. He mentioned that he has recieved no complaints in the past about that client, but i’m not really surprised. I think it’s a pretty new scam, or he would had been shut down already. I’m really hoping he can be of help here.

When I get home i’m contacting the FBI. Time to move on up. Hi “Craig”.

Here’s my list of URLs I sent his host, for reference:
www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13333834~mode=flat~days=9999 /> www.sleekmac.com/portal/printview.php?t=38&start=0 /> adam.rosi-kessel.org/weblog/the_man/apple-computers-us-is-a-scam.html /> www.the-cabin.com/journal/real-ity/i-just-purchased-a-powerbook-online/ /> forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=128260 /> ———————-
UPDATE: June 28th, 2005 2:35pm

I took a little look on Craigslist.org today to see if Mr. Scammer is still posting… he is. So I made my own post at chicago.craigslist.org/sys/81435545.html saying if anyone has been scammed by him to contact me.

On another note I spent some time with the bank today, they’re willing to “try” to retract the wire transfer. The guy at the branch I did it from has to call my bank HQ, and the manager isn’t in today… so it will have to wait until tomorrow. I’m sure trying :
———————-
UPDATE: July 12th, 2005 5:2pm

I give up. The banks won’t work with me. The police closed the case. And the FBI ignored me. I learned my lesson, and I hope you learned it with me. Nothing more I can do now. Sorry for the lack of updates, but i’ve had nothing to say.
The people over at www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13333834~mode=flat~days=9999 seem to think this whole thing is a big joke and that I never really sent any money to a scammer. I wish that were true. So much has been going on lately with my personal life I just don’t have time to fight this asshole as much as I’d like to. I did everything I could at first, but my steam is gone. Too much is going on right now in order to have the time to fight my bank any longer. They arn’t returning my phone calls, so what can I do.
How’s that for an anticlimatic ending?
No powerbook for me.