Unfortunately one of the people offering items for sale on our board is a thief.
We have been contacted by two people who bought and paid for things and did not receive them, and when the person was contacted, (many, many emails) promises for refund of money was made but didn’t happen. I attempted to help, but I received the same promises without action.
We have Banned him from this board, and suggest if you are one of the people who he scammed, contact the Sheriffs’s Department in Appleton, Wisconsin and file a claim for theft.
Then, since this was done via the US Post Office, call your local Post Office and ask to file a claim with their Inspector. It then becomes a Federal Offense.
The person is Troy Stoeger, his name on the board was Slamming Salmon.
(I have also posted this on the Things For Sale board)
[This message has been edited by LadyFisher (edited 20 September 2005).]
LadyFisher, I used to work for the USPS. Please believe me when I tell you that I NEVER met a postal inspector that did’t love their job. If the information that you have is accurate and sombeody uses it to file a complaint, then the culprit is looking at time in a Federal penitentiary. I think that quite a few of the postal inpectors in the U.S. take each case of mail fraud that they work as a personal affront.
I just sent a last email to the gentleman in question requesting a final resolution to the problem, or I will find it necessary to follow up with the postal inspector and his local law enforcement people. This whole mess started with a cashier’s check sent on 6/3/05 and I am still waiting. I would have been much happier to donate to the victims of Katrina than to the vacation fund of a former FAOL member. It takes the fun out of bargian hunting.
Chris,
I’m no attorney, but if papaloff sent that check to another State, isn’t that “interstate commerce” & wouldn’t that involve Federal law in some way?
If NOTHING else, I know many of our members here also frequent other boards & word of folks like this does manage to get out.
As Chris Chin alluded to, “what goes around, comes around.”
Mike
As the son of a former asst postmaster they take VERY much offense to this and even a $20.00 bill will get attention.Don’t take no for an answer from postal or local states atturney (sp) thats their JOB. Most would love to aid in this. Just unclip the leash and say sickum.
Note that “taking it to the federal level” should be as easy as speaking to the acting postmaster at your local post office. If they don’t help out, then contact a regional center or their e-mail address and let them know that the locals didn’t help. Trust me, there is somebody at the USPS who would to et involved. [url=http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/:83701]http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/[/url:83701]
Good Luck,
Ed
I just heard from the guy in question, wanting to make things right. I also have the phone number of the local postal inspector in hand. Decisions, decisions, etc. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone be accountable for their actions and behave in an honorable fashion! Thanks to LadyFisher for starting this thread and for FAOL making this an issue. In 28 years of flyfishing, I have rarely meet a dishonest person involved with the sport. FAOL, keep up the good work.
Troy aka Slammin Salmon doesn’t have a very good track record of ‘making things good’ - I suggest if you wish to try to work with him again, set a deadline date. If it isn’t done by then, use the phone number.
I guess it just burns my butt when thiefs think they can get away with it.
Often, … an unscrupulous person will go for small amounts ($) thinking the victim will think it’s not worthwhile to do something (wrong!).
Sure, … I’ll do my own “civil servant” bashing now and again (when it’s documentable), … but I’ve done work with the folks at the US Postal Inspection Service … They are very good.
I have always tried to give people the benefit of dought but in this case.yea I’d give him a finality date and it would be SHORT VERY SHORT. That way when you(and I think you will)end up at the postal inspector you can Honestly say I tried and tried and tried.It only adds creedance to you and fuel for them.
Then cut his butt up and go shark fishing.
Here mister shark we have fresh slamming salmon for dinner!!!
I have every one of the more than 50 emails sent regarding the fly rods in this deal. Slammion Salmon has until 9/28 to follow through with a check in my hands or it’s off to the postal inspector with all of the emails(especially the ones that claimed that first the rods and then the refund check were mailed) along with a copy of the cashier’s check. This has changed my whole opinion of purchasing over the internet. I learned a lot and will be much smarter about it next time!
“If you fool me once, shame on you. If you fool me twice, shame on me”.
Papaloff
i’ve been to the police here and he promised to pay thejn several excusses. I had the police contact him again. He promised to pay and claimed that he had mailed me a check for the amount for the items “lost in the mail”. I have turned all the information to the postal inspectors. I contact the police in Applleton and was told to go to my local police and file a claim. So far I’m still out a rod and money.
As some of you already know, I reported the same guy on a reel I bought just a few months ago. I eventually had to inform LF of the problem. I also had to explain to the guy that although I live in Alabama, I travel to Wisconsin twice a year on business. I assured him that I had both the capacity, and will if need be, to come to Appleton, WI and personally retrieve either my reel or my money. I also assured him that it was he who would regrettably bare the brunt of the resulting personal inconvenience. I am happy to say that fortunately due to the pressure applied by LF he eventually sent the reel. Although by that time, I was admittedly looking somewhat forward to meeting him and seeing the Appleton country side.
Thanks to you guys, I now know that if anything like that ever happened again (and I doubt if it will) I should just simply report it to the postmaster or cops. I really did not think of that at the time.
You know there is an old saying that goes, ?What goes around comes around?. In the Bible it is referred to as sowing and reaping. It just might be harvest time for Mr. Troy!
For all that were wondering, Troy did come up with an initial payment of 25% of the total due. I still have everything ready to head to the Postal Inspector, if the rest is not paid in a reasonable amount of time. As I said to him, It’s a start, but I hope he will finnish the right way.