I've found the Russian con man details!

[Chris Perkins 228]

Sergev (sorry if I spelt your name wrong),

I've found the original Western Union transfer form from when I sent EUR120.00 to St. Petersburg on the 30th May 2003! This was for the uncleaned Roman coins that I never saw or heard anything about ever again! Details here:

http://www.predecimal.com/ruwarning.php

The name I was told to pay was Oleg Chebotarev.

I'll happily give you more details but I suspect the address I have is no longer current after nearly 5 years!

[scottishmoney 29]

I think you got taken by a "False Dmitry", there is a ruler in Russian history that is called the "False Dmitry" because he was a pretender, it applies to shady characters now.

[Hussulo 6]

Did you ever get your money back from Western Union Chris?

[Chris Perkins 228]

No of course not. The stupid (under trained) women in the Post Office from where I sent it assured me that it was impossible for the Russian to get the money without the transfer number. I went back and told her he had collected the money without the transfer number or knowing the sender name and she simply said she didn't how that was possible and that's as far as it ever got! (my German was very limited back then)

So I contacted WU over email and they at first wanted to know the details bla bla. Then they went quiet and no longer responded to my emails. I thought the customer service from eBay was bad, but this was pretty awful too.

Because of that rubbish service I stopped using WU for 4 years, but now I find I unfortunately have to, as for many people outside Europe it's the only way I can send them money for goods. Now, I make sure I get the goods first.

[Hussulo 6]

Well thats a lesson learned for me too.

I have used Western Union before and I thought their "code number" security sounded good. If the money went missing and you didn't give out the code out, then WU should pay as their teller in Russia has been untrustworthy or even worse in cahoots for a cut of the money.

[Q.E.D. 0]

Sergev (sorry if I spelt your name wrong),

I've found the original Western Union transfer form from when I sent EUR120.00 to St. Petersburg on the 30th May 2003! This was for the uncleaned Roman coins that I never saw or heard anything about ever again! Details here:

http://www.predecimal.com/ruwarning.php

The name I was told to pay was Oleg Chebotarev.

I'll happily give you more details but I suspect the address I have is no longer current after nearly 5 years!

Hi Chris,

you may find this info interesting

http://www.scads.org/scams/holt.htm

I guess the scam was a big one.

[Chris Perkins 228]

They've been busy haven't they!

I was perhaps a bit naive back then (and let down by Western Union assurances). Since then I can usually smell a rat and have often googled names and addresses/emails of potential fraudsters (usually buyers) and found them to be listed on similar name and shame websites.

For high value transactions from new customers I also often ask over email for them to confirm their identity by sending a scan of a passport or similar and calling me. Usually when a buyer calls you it's easy to tell if he's a real collector, and I've yet to have a fraudster call or willingly send ID!

As for sellers, I always say that I need to see the item before I send any money. Not only for my own peace of mind but simply because it's only 100% accurate to value a coin when you have it in the flesh. I can usually persuade people to send me things (to the London address is easier as some people go all funny at the thought of sending something to a potential 'Johnny Foreigner' in Germany, which I think is just as safe as sending within the UK)! The website presence and style seems to re-assure people. And for any potential coin sellers reading this, if the items are high value I can often visit you.