Be on alert...aliases of a man caught scamming and preying on bonsai folk

[Cadillactaste]

This man has been contacting ones via PM,emails and such. He is a scam artist...if you happen to be a woman...he goes further to say inappropriate things to make one feel quite uncomfortable...as well as having a story to make one feel sorry for him...or...offering to trade...or sell. To telling tales about being robbed to him or family members in the hospital. I just ask ones to be careful...stay on your toes...if something makes you uncomfortable or doesn't sit well...bring it to to B-Nut's attention...or someone else for that matter to just bounce it off for advice. This man even got phone numbers and harassed ones from that angle. The list of what is unfolding is such an unbelievable domino effect it's mind boggling. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up...he may change to another alias...but, we now know what to look for...and won't fall into his scams as easily. Facebook has been sent many notifications on this matter...but as it has just unfolded...it might be awhile before it's addressed. But he's taken this off Facebook as well as more is coming out. So those in the bonsai community be warned... Again...look for new aliases following similar traits...stay safe by being alert!

Another detail was brought out on another board I'm not affiliated with...but, also had doings with this scammer...his phone number matches the number he's giving out on other aliases and he owes a few folk money...as well as trees.
His user name on eBay is "metaljacket71"." One on eBay also had the privilege if you call it that to have crossed paths with his stories as well.
(Photo complied by Neli also a member here. Her amazing skills as this unfolded finding out more and more information in this matter was just simply amazing!)

 

[M. Frary]

Give him my address and invite him over. Problem solved.
The Godzilla avatar is not about my favorite monster only. It also represents my personality. People like this get to see this side of me.

 

[armetisius]

Thanks for the heads up

 

[Cadillactaste]

Thanks for the heads up

Your welcome...I think it pays to just know the ploys he uses...so ones might better protect themselves. So less are victimized.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Give him my address and invite him over. Problem solved.
The Godzilla avatar is not about my favorite monster only. It also represents my personality. People like this get to see this side of me.

I'm sure you would have many willing to assist you on that line of thought. I never grasp the entirety of it...I thought he was preying/stalking the ladies. Never did I expect what came out once the dust settled.

 

[M. Frary]

I'm sure you would have many willing to assist you on that line of thought. I never grasp the entirety of it...I thought he was preying/stalking the ladies. Never did I expect what came out once the dust settled.

In this day and age people think that they can do just about anything. Especially with these computers and internet. I like criminals you can see and get your hands on.

 

[M. Frary]

I'm a people person too.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

It's a really bad habit to get into - scamming people on the Internet. Bonsai people are usually nice, but I read a story about a guy who was scamming people on auto parts. Some of his Internet friends showed up at his house one day and he was not happy. Then someone in the know got the law involved. And not just the law - the LAW with capital letters. In addition to the Police, they contacted his place of employment, his insurance company, his bank, and by the time they were done he was PLEADING people on the Internet to stop.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I will be willing to assist you, Mike.

John

 

[edprocoat]

Ok, so whats the scam? Was he somehow getting people to send him stuff without his paying for it? Was he asking for money to help his loved ones in the hospital ? I do not get it, whats the scoop !

ed

 

[milehigh_7]

He has a few angles that he runs depending on the person. One thing he will do is to try to make people feel sorry for him with stories of injuries or illness. Other angles he will run is to suggest a trade and he will never reciprocate. He also badgers people for what he is after at all times of the day and night.

But as we saw with the fella in Carlsbad there are ways to locate him. ;-)

 

[sorce]

If our actual communities were as strong as this one........

 

[bonsaiBlake]

This kind of stuff just pisses me off to no end. When I was at daybreak last weekend Donna showed me a circle on some weed barrier where a tree that had been stolen once sat. They also stole her bonsai tweezers, greenhouse thermometer and a variety of other things. I started seeing red very fast. I try to keep my anger under wraps as much as possible, especially online. At the same time the coiled up rattlesnake tattooed on my left forearm don't mean nothing.

Theres enough of us bonsai weirdos on here. lets find this scamming prick(digitally of course, though I am partial to Mr. Frary's approach, and show people who want to scam bonsaiers whats up. Maybe introduce his little texting thumbs to my knob cutters.

 

[michaelj]

He wouldn't be hard to find. He's exchanged numbers and addresses with a bunch of people he allegedly scammed or harassed.

 

[milehigh_7]

What's that they say in 'Fargo'? "Feet first I reckon".

 

[Eric Group]

Sometimes I think MOST of the people selling Bonsair elated a tuff on Ebay are trying to "prey on Bonsai people". It seems a tiny little cutting/ seedling more than DOUBLES in cost when people try to list is as a "bonsai or pre- bonsai". The same small shears that normally go for $15-20 are proved at $50-100 when called "bonsai shears"... I know the good sellers who have actually taken steps to develop good, low branching, Trunk movement, nebari... The people who out int he WORK to give you better stock, should get a better price for their material... After working as lo as I have to try to develop my own trees from seedlings and cuttings, I know how much work that takes! I know there are motors that are of a higher quality and demand a higher price accordingly, but I rarely buy anything on Ebay other than pumice and stuff because it gets hard to identify what is a scam and who is smelling real quality stuff sometimes.

 

[KennedyMarx]

I saw all this drama on the Facebook bonsai groups. It's a bit ridiculous. If someone tells you something unbelievable, chances are, it's not true. That goes for sob stories, tall tales, etc. I'm not saying people deserved to get scammed by this guy, but use your head everyone.

 

[milehigh_7]

This is about a guy that has not only tried financial scams but has sexually harassed female members of our community. It goes beyond "tall tales" or anything of that nature.

 

[Cadillactaste]

This is about a guy that has not only tried financial scams but has sexually harassed female members of our community. It goes beyond "tall tales" or anything of that nature.

I agree...NO FEMALE signed up for that!

 

[KennedyMarx]

I agree...NO FEMALE signed up for that!

Agreed. I would advise anyone in that situation to block the person.

There was talk of the guy brunt mentally ill, but know one really knows.