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 Replies: 13 / Views: 3,363 |
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New Member
United States
2 Posts |
Has anyone had issue with an online coin dealer GFO Antiquities (dba GFO Coins and GFOcoins), see http://www.gfocoins.com?I purchased a coin from them, paid by check, they took my money, and then they never shipped it. They don't take credit cards, my mistake. They were great up to the point were they gave me a tracking number. The shipping status never changed from USPS waiting for the package. Once I told them this, they 100% stopped responding. Can't call them as they have no phone number listed, only by email. I did some checking on reviews and it seems others have had the same problem. I'll consider my several hundred dollar mistake as a hard learning experience. Heads-up to all who might be considering purchasing from them. I suggest receiving the goods first before you pay, or better just shop elsewhere. Edited by ssmithdd6
01/13/2018 11:05 am
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
94367 Posts |
Never heard of them, but thanks for the tip.  to the CCF! |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Also never heard of them.
How did you pay? PayPal would refund you. Credit cards would refund you.
Check or money order is a reportable mail fraud if sent by mail.
Are you sure your money has been "cashed" regardless of the type?
Don't give up yet. Let us know the particulars and we may be able to help.
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Moderator
United States
164376 Posts |
to the Community!
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New Member
 United States
2 Posts |
Thanks for the replies. Was mainly wanting to get the word out. Paid by check sent through the mail; check was cashed. One of my many mistakes. They don't take credit cards. In my desire to get the coin I wanted, I overlooked/ignored several red flags. Also informed all the consumer protection agencies I could find again mainly to get the word out so others don't fall to the same consumer fraud. The Lessons Learned (Most are common sense, but it's good to be reminded): 1. If your gut instinct says something seems wrong, go with that. 2. Stay away from companies that do not take credit cards. 3. Stay away from companies that do not list a phone number. If they do, call it to confirm it's valid and you can get to a live person during business hours. 4. Pay by credit card or Paypal (methods that have buyer protection) and not by cash, check, money order, or other cash equivalent form. 5. If you purchase on ebay, be certain to review both the past and more importantly current ebay seller's feedback. Look for recent trends with any issues. 6. If you are dealing with a new ebay seller, review their user ID history to see if it has changed recently or several times. In general, an ebay user will change its user ID to cancel out its negative feedback history. This step is often overlooked by many.Note that I think ebay does a good job of protecting buyers, but following steps 5&6 will help to avoid an unpleasant transaction. Edited by ssmithdd6
01/15/2018 02:28 am
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Valued Member
United States
379 Posts |
hello
is there any reason you can't file a police report under Fraud? in California it is considered grand theft (felony) if the value was over $400.00 have you threatened them with filing a police report? you do NOT have to accept you lost your money. fight!
How can they NOT have a phone number? I looked up that website and they APPEAR to have a physical location in the Los Angeles area. Have you tried googling that address. I once caught a guy like that who said he was in the "Mexican food industry", when I googled the address it came back to a taco bell store (apparently he worked behind the counter).
Let us know if you tried:
1. filing a police report
2. emailed them and threatened to file a police report
3. googling their address
don't drop this!
mike
mike
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Valued Member
United States
379 Posts |
Edited by 4504
01/25/2018 12:54 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3184 Posts |
go after them!! Don't let crooks get away with this.
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Valued Member
United States
379 Posts |
I called that number and spoke with the operator for the management people. I gave out no details regarding your issue other than to say I was trying to get ahold of GFO antiques, who gives on their website their address and space number, and I was wondering if there was such a space number or business going by GFO Antiques located there. The operator said he would have an agent return my call. I do not know if you have resolved the issue, if the rental agent returns my call I will only inquire about if there is a GFO Antiques located at that address (that GFO antiques gave on their website as that being their address)...
GFO Antiques, 8549 Wilshire Blvd, #180, Beverly Hills, CA. rental agent's answering service is 323.238.2929
I will go no further until you give an update on your situation. As far as any information I have given out to their operator, it is only if there is a GFO Antiques located at a space number #180 there and my phone number for the rental agent to return my call. I will not explain to the rental agent or go any further into it with anyone other than what have already written unless I hear from you first.
btw, what was the coin and how much did you pay for it and what is the present status of the tracking number?
mike
Edited by 4504
01/25/2018 1:01 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3829 Posts |
You may want to contact the attorney general for your state or the state that the seller is operating out of to report them.
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Valued Member
United States
379 Posts |
the thing is that it has been 10 days since the new member reported the issue to this site before I noticed and did my buttinski thing. he could have received the coin by now, or something else had happened, or the situation is still unresolved. until we hear an update, if any, from him it is best to hear from him on what has happened, or not happened since his last post... mike
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Pillar of the Community
United States
655 Posts |
That's annoying, Mike. You did so much to try to help and the OP just disappeared. He spent so much effort warning us and talking about fraud on ebay, which didn't even seem related. I've never dealt with GFO Antiques but I do dealings with two other dealers and I use checks with them. It's just for them to avoid the 3% CC charges. So, that doesn't have to be a sign of fraud. As well, they might take a few weeks to ship to be 100% sure the check cleared. BTW, if the OP sent a check to GFO and they received it, they clearly must've been at that address until at least that time last month. |
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Forum Dad
United States
23754 Posts |
Quote:
BTW, if the OP sent a check to GFO and they received it, they clearly must've been at that address until at least that time last month. Not necessarily, the PO will forward first class mail for a year.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1952 Posts |
Quick research... The street address is simply a mail drop -- that (along with the minimal payment methods) would raise a red flag with me.
GFO has one long fraud-based review on Yelp now, one star, posted one day before the OP (but apparently not the same person). That's obviously not soon enough for the OP to have known about it, but it's clear that their coin will not be delivered.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 3,363 |
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Posted 01/13/2018 5:11 pm
