Replying to OK NS, Who wants to have fun with a class A scammer?
Here's the deal guys.
The party in question will be referred to as John so none of you over eager little ones ruin the plan early. I KNOW THIS IS A LONG READ - but I thought it was necessary to get you guys the full story. Let's do this right shall we?
I was hired about a month ago to do foreclosure cleanouts, landscaping, repairs and winterization by John. John originally lived in the area, we met once, he gave me a fake name (which I only found out recently) and introduced me to another crew (who I believe were also just being scammed) before hiring me and heading back to his home in CA. He seemed like a really good dude. Wouldn't stop talking about wanting to take care of me properly, paying me extra for jobs well done, christmas bonus', the whole 9 yards. I began working for john, I completed 5 full properties that accumulated to about 2200 in expenses and payroll before sending him my first bill after 2 weeks. This is rugged, dirty and totally demeaning work. You would be amazed at what messes people live in and how much work it takes to get their old abandoned homes to look sale-able.
He communicated that the check was in the mail, while I did another half weeks work. I then realized I had never given him my address. I immediately realized something was up, I contacted him and he tried to play it cool, got my address, but I immediately stopped doing all work and told him I would not be working until the check showed up at my door. By this time my expenses were up around 3500, where they stand today. As of late last week the check never came, he stopped responding to me completely, and I am without a paddle.
And then some progress. After a good bit of digging I finally found a lead towards the end of one of his emails to me where he forgot to delete some information he gets from the foreclosure/prop management company for which he has a contract to do business. I found his business' formal name (though he was also operating with a fake personal name with this company) and enough info to track down his companies registration in california. The company was legally disolved over a year ago, but I found his lawyers name and contact info and this guys address (assuming that it is current).
I was able to use this information to find the business page he created on facebook, and through a process of elimination found his facebook profile under his real name. I am sure this is him.
So I have the following
- Guys Name, Facebook Profile, Address if current, access to his entire friends list, a few photos
- Lawyers Name, Business Info Etc (looks legit)
- Business Facebook Page (being operated illegally given it was dissolved over a year ago and it is clear they are still doing business, probably not paying taxes) and access to all of the "friends" of the business
After contacting the company he has this contract for, and reading reviews of their business practices online, I have very little hope that they will do anything to help me. They are a very large company with very few people trying to do anything but push the paper they are assigned to push and are notorious themselves for late an no payments. He is not an employee of theirs but a subcontractor and I don't know that the proof I hold is even legit enough to make them do something if they ever offer to help. It doesn't look like they will, but I'm waiting until then.
So NS, this is where you come in.
I would like to fuck with this guy appropriately whilst minimizing any legal risk on my own part, but let the ideas fly. I do think given some suggestions from you guys we can fuck with this guy at least enough for a good laugh, hopefully enough to get him to pay me because he is afraid of what I can do to his online life.
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