Let me begin with a personal feeling, if I can call it such.
Since I have been using the Internet I have been appalled by the number of 'Bad Trader' messages that are openly bandied about on collecting forums. From the beginning, I have been against these open, public accusations, often without proof and even more often because someone did not get exactly what they were hoping for.
For a number of years I have openly written on such threads that it is bad practice to do this unless one is absolutely sure and has proof. I do not mean that because Mr. Smith did not send me stamps in return he is a bad trader...this is absurd. But this is what is often written and it is appalling.***
The above is a personal feeling and is connected to the story below.
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I awoke on the morning of Saturday November 14th to read a new thread on the forum here, started by a 'robbillows', asking for help because his 10 year-old son was interested in Stamps and he didn't know how to help him. Many here replied with offers of help and many offered to send stamps, quite willingly. This a great forum and it would be expected of all of us to help younger collectors. Even to send stamps to get them started.
I had a problem with the original message however and for a full 10 minutes it preyed on my mind. It did not seem 'Kosher', if I am allowed to use that term ! First, the poster was new so I guess I was a little surprised at so many offers of stamps after only one post. Then I asked myself what I would do if my child wanted to collect stamps. Going to an Internet forum would not have been first on the list. I had a feeling that the poster knew quite a bit about stamps, knew that many collectors on forums would jump at the chance to offer stamps...why he didn't even have to ask ! And he knew that too. Yes I was suspicious, but it was not in keeping with my overall feelings of giving everyone the benefit of the doubt until 100% certain.
This morning, over three weeks later, my suspicions have been confirmed. I feel very satisfied but also a little relieved !
On that Saturday in November, I posted an ordinary message here to try to kerb the flow of offers, something about having 50 posts before trading. Then I checked the net and I was aghast to see that 'robbillows' had posted the same message [copied and pasted] on many forums at the same time.
The chase was on.
I informed a number of admins on those forums, including Bobby, and those with Stamp offers were hidden. Those with only messages of help were not answered by 'robillows' which made me even more suspicious.
At this point, nothing was public.[Just how I like it....see first part of this post!].
Then someone posted on another forum about the deleted thread and thereafter ran an online investigation into this possible stamp scam.
I was apprehensive at first especially after my name was mentioned but I helped where I could and in the end it was worth the huge effort.
It was quickly determined that a seller on a NZ Philatelic auction going by the name of Billows also had a son by the same name, Leon, as 'robbillows'. This son was 18 years of age. But there was no proof of address,email etc until this morning. I am now awaiting comments from him and will keep the members informed.
If anyone is interested in reading about this go to;
http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopi...f=10&t=15594Londonbus1
***Many so-called 'bad trades' come about because the trader does not know how to trade. The most important step in a trade is build a rapport with the contact. This is the FIRST and MOST IMPORTANT step of any trade. I include in this someone like 'robbillows'. Look before you leap.
Posted 12/08/2009 02:14 am
