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05-05-2004, 05:56 PM #1Eternal Member
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Have you ever just gone off on a customer?
Well, I just did. I'm not particularly proud of it, as one should always maintain professionalism and decorum, but I gotta tell you, I feel much better.
OK, I'm using the word "customer" loosely. Yesterday some scumbag ordered $370 worth of product. He tried 5 different credit cards. All different names, addresses, card numbers. He finally got the last one to squeeze through. I managed to reach 2 of the cardholders by phone, both confirming that their cards were in fact being used fraudulently. One of them, poor guy, was devastated, as the scumbag had apparently run up over $1800 on his card since the day prior. He was almost in tears. I felt so bad for him.
So 1/2 an hour ago, I received an email from the scumbag asking why he hasn't received his link yet to download his product. He was almost ornary. Really pissed me off. So I lost it, and replied with anger and venting rather than with a "proper" reply:
Why don't you try to be HONEST in business rather than trying to CHEAT and STEAL from businesses. You are a rotten THIEF. Do you really think I would not have noticed that you tried 4 STOLEN credit cards before you finally managed to get one to go through? You are a leech on society, and you represent everything that is wrong on the Internet. You lousy crook. Go away. Develop some basic ethics and stop preying on others.
You want a link? I'll give you a link.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
Try reading that a couple of times before you conduct any more business on the Internet. I know it will be difficult for you, but try paying the 11 bucks for the book with your OWN money this time around. It'll be a small step in the right direction.
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05-05-2004, 06:00 PM #2Web Hosting Master
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He was scum, not a customer
I wouldn't feel bad at all!
That being said, I have a hard time picturing you loosing your temper for some reason Vito heh heh
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05-05-2004, 06:08 PM #3Web Hosting Master
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Scammers should die....
No offense meant.Dating Revolution Method - Book on how to meet and attract women
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05-05-2004, 06:11 PM #4Web Hosting Master
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You're completely in the right on this one vito. Scammers are scammers, not customers.
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05-05-2004, 06:37 PM #5Web Hosting Master
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I'd be curious about what domain name / web site he wanted the demos for.
Might be worth keeping an eye out for that domain.SiteSouth
Atlanta, GA and Las Vegas, NV. Colocation
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05-05-2004, 06:45 PM #6Eternal Member
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Nah, no luck there. I wish he was that stupid that he would reveal his identity. You can bet your bottom dollar that if I had known that, I would've been happy to expose him in this thread.
He did not submit a logo for branding, and he used an @mail.com email account. When doing an IP Whois on him, I saw that he was in Egypt. That's all I have.
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05-05-2004, 07:51 PM #7Web Hosting Master
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What demo products did he order?
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05-05-2004, 07:54 PM #8Eternal Member
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OK, I'll bite, Aaron. What diiference would that make?
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05-05-2004, 07:59 PM #9THE Web Hosting Master
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Only people I've gone off on are people who demanded refunds after cancelling or who were WAY behind on payments and giving me reasons for not paying. You know, the typical, well, I didn't actually use the service. Those I'm normally even very calm about until they start bringing in all this talk about contacting the BBB, the state AG, etc., etc. It just gets ridiculous sometimes. I still never yell at them, as it's all email, and I never straight out call them an idiot, I just suggest that they're an idiot :-)
Only other ones were credit card fraud customers, but IMHO, they deserve it. I hate it when I do my normal verification calls and the person on the other end doesn't know what I'm calling them about and we figure out it was CC fraud. The person normally gets upset at me, but I understand where they're coming from, and then it turns out that I'm not happy either since I wasted the time on the call and don't really have that new customer I thought I had.Last edited by KarlZimmer; 05-05-2004 at 08:02 PM.
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05-05-2004, 08:05 PM #10Eternal Member
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Karl, you're saying that when you contact the real cardholder, they get upset with you? Why on earth would they do that? If anything, you're helping them by giving them a heads up that their cc is being used illegally. In every circumstance that I contacted a cardholder about fraudulent use of their card, they have always thanked me profusely for taking the time to notify them.
Some people confuse me...
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05-05-2004, 08:22 PM #11Retired Moderator
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I feel u r right 100% in giving that "client" a dressing down. Eygpt IP does not mean he is from Egypt, most likely he hacked into one of the accounts there. I have "genuine" clients, who refuse to pay, then called up and scold my support asking why we stopped the services. Keep insisting that we enabled it back but keep quiet when it comes to payment. Have also those who cant get their programmers or designers and want us to chip in for free. I mean if it is basic scripts etc, still ok , but a junk of customised scripts or design without source codes, and doing that for free. Also some called asking us to go to their offices to repair their computers because they subscribe to our US$50 a year hosting. Some "potential" clients just want to come for lectures on what is web hosting. Some come with notebooks asking that it be repaired......these are part and parcel of web hosting. And I think Vito shouldnt feel guilty. Try to maintain "Clients are always right" is best but sometimes, this is not the case.
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05-05-2004, 08:27 PM #12Eternal Member
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Is it possible for him to forge his IP? I'm asking because my shopping cart script (and credit card processor) both show an IP that I trace back to Egypt.
In fact, since I'm not sure how to interpret the results, I'll ask here. The Whois not only shows Egypt, but it shows an actual name and address. Who would that be? Is it just the name of the person/company through whom the block of IPs runs?
In other words, will the name in the IP Whois results give me a clue as to the identity of this turkey?
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05-05-2004, 09:03 PM #13Web Hosting Master
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I hate fraudsters.
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05-05-2004, 09:19 PM #14Web Hosting Master
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Well, something like that passed me once, like 1 month ago more or less...
Someguy ordened 9 Dedicated Servers yep nine. All the orders seemed OK but the IP was a proxy...
He tried all day to rip me off, and until today he wasn't able to (I'm still standing )
He used Credit cards from UK, US, even one from India lol...
I'm just waiting for a more advanced system to track fraud... I was taking a look @ FraudGuardian.com but I dunno
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05-05-2004, 10:10 PM #15Web Hosting Master
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Originally Posted by vito
Great one, vito. I don't think you should feel bad about this at all. As you said, the guy wasn't even a customer, just a fraudster. Plus, you made me laugh. That's gotta count for something.
P.S. One of my clients loves the Mosquito Magnet, too, and wrote an article about it for his website. I thought of you when I read it!Last edited by ericabiz; 05-05-2004 at 10:12 PM.
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05-05-2004, 10:12 PM #16Web Hosting Master
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Originally posted by vito In other words, will the name in the IP Whois results give me a clue as to the identity of this turkey?
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05-05-2004, 10:17 PM #17Eternal Member
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Originally posted by Simpli-Erica
One of my clients loves the Mosquito Magnet, too, and wrote an article about it for his website. I thought of you when I read it!
VitoLast edited by vito; 05-05-2004 at 10:17 PM.
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05-05-2004, 10:57 PM #18THE Web Hosting Master
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Correct, that's how it should happen, but it's often a "How did you get my card!" type of response. It normally turns out fine, with a thank you, etc., but when I break the news the reaction is often quite interesting.
Originally posted by vito
Karl, you're saying that when you contact the real cardholder, they get upset with you? Why on earth would they do that? If anything, you're helping them by giving them a heads up that their cc is being used illegally. In every circumstance that I contacted a cardholder about fraudulent use of their card, they have always thanked me profusely for taking the time to notify them.
Some people confuse me...
VitoKarl Zimmerman - Founder & CEO of Steadfast
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05-05-2004, 11:10 PM #19Web Hosting Master
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It seems to me you went easy on the guy. There is nothing worse than a thief. You should have done worse. I hope you *69 and sent the cops on him. We require a Credit Card Authorization form now that we have signed and returned with a photocopy of the Credit Card and card holders ID. Otherwise we would sign up one thief every day.
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05-05-2004, 11:13 PM #20Eternal Member
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No, I never spoke with him on the phone. It was by email.
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05-05-2004, 11:29 PM #21Web Hosting Evangelist
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Vito - you did the right thing contacting the cardholders.
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05-05-2004, 11:54 PM #22WHT Addict
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Originally posted by HiVelocity
We require a Credit Card Authorization form now that we have signed and returned with a photocopy of the Credit Card and card holders ID.
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05-05-2004, 11:59 PM #23Web Hosting Master
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Guy was trying to commit fraud. What you did is ok in my book.
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05-06-2004, 12:19 AM #24Web Hosting Master
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Many fraudsters operating from usa, uk etc hack in to far east/middle eastern countries and use other people's computers just so they cant be traced back to their route. It has become even easier nowdays even a novice hacker can get one of those ''spy programs'' and use other peoples computers, changing or masking another countries IP is no more rocket science so this has made it easier for scammers/fraudsters to use other peoples computers and play their dirty games. Just beware
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05-06-2004, 12:53 PM #25Web Hosting Master
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Vito, fraudsters like that scum are always frustrating. I wouldn't consider them a customer and would probably have something equally unpleasant to say to them - because I would be angry they are trying to defraud the legitimate cardholder and because I would be angry they are trying to use our service without paying themselves for it.
For "real" customers, frustrations can arise, but it always pays to keep your cool.Matthew Russell | Namecheap
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