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AG REILLY SUES WORCESTER WOMAN ACCUSED OF SELLING $750,000 WORTH OF UNDELIVERED COMPUTER EQUIPMENT
The Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General
July 2, 2002
Woman planning to repay customers
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA)
April 24, 2002
By Jim Bodor
Money disappeared into Web addresses
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA)
April 23, 2002
By Jim Bodor
Archive copies of above two articles
eBay tightens rules, members cry foul
Special to ZDNet News
April 18, 2002
eBay is tightening up the rules for its community discussion boards, sparking complaints that the rules are choking off the free flow of information among members.
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA)
March 26, 2002
Section: LOCAL NEWS
Page: B6
Area computer sales scam is alleged
The Better Business Bureau of Central New England is warning consumers to be wary of buying computers on the Internet from unknown companies, including companies in the Worcester area.
The warning comes in the wake of computer shoppers losing thousands of dollars in an online scheme operating in this area, according to a BBB alert issued Friday. The Better Business Bureau of Central New England, with an office in Worcester, has received 31 complaints from all over the United States and Canada against a company operating under several names, including Smith Berkeley Communications LLC and Bulletproof Industries, and their owner, identified as someone named Teresa Smith. The companies are in Boylston, West Boylston and Worcester.
The companies reportedly sell computers online through eBay, an online auction service. When a winning bid is accepted, the bidder is required to send payment by cashier's check or money order through Federal Express. In all 31 instances, the buyer did not receive the computer, contacted the company and was sent a refund check that bounced. The complaints allege losses of $2,000 to $4,000 per person.
The companies have not responded to complaints and have an "unsatisfactory" record with the BBB, according to a BBB alert.
The alert was issued after the BBB spoke with area police departments and determined the problem appears to be growing and losses mounting, according to the warning.
Telephone calls during the past several days to a West Boylston number listed in the telephone book as Smith Berkeley Communications were answered by voice mail. A message was left for "customer service," but it had not been answered by yesterday. The voice mail message also said a directory of company employees could be obtained by pressing 1, but when the number was pressed another message said there was no such extension.
Barbara J. Sinnott, president of the area chapter of the BBB, cautioned consumers considering online purchases to be extremely careful and learn all they can about unknown companies before placing orders.
When considering buying anything on the Internet, the BBB said, consumers should use a credit card that allows 30 days to dispute a charge. If the company only accepts personal checks, cashier's checks or money orders, there is usually no way to get money returned if a problem occurs, according to the bureau.
Consumers should always learn where a company is physically located, what its sales terms are and how to contact it offline.