eBay land sellers a "no-show" at court....

eBay land sellers a "no-show" at court-ordered examination... contempt sanctions to be sought....
Carmen Blinn and Kevin Blinn failed to appear Thursday in Truro at a discovery examination ordered recently by two separate Supreme Court Justices. The examination is part of a court case in which Carmen Blinn and her numbered company sued the publisher of SCT and a local real estate broker for defamation involving claims of fraud and deceitful sales practices in Port Clyde land being sold on eBay and in which those defendants have also sued Carmen Blinn and Kevin Blinn for defamation. more...

Reported by novascotiatoday.com 12/07/07

650 acres gone overnight!... U.S. owner claims Barrington, Nova Scotia land stolen from her...

650 acres gone overnight!... U.S. owner claims Barrington, Nova Scotia land stolen from her... In a peculiar twist in an already twisted tale, Lisa Deltorchio of Gloucester Massachusetts claims she and her husband are the rightful owners of more than 680 acres of land which has been for sale on eBay by Carmen & Kevin Blinn, an Antigonish couple enmeshed in at least six law suits regarding their eBay land sales practices in Shelburne, Yarmouth and Victoria Counties. "We have a warranty deed from 1959 when my father-on-law bought it and a warranty deed from 2003 when he gave it to us," insists Mrs. Deltorchio, referring to a large tract of land straddling Port LaTour Road in Port Clyde, Shelburne County....

full story ShelburneCountyToday

Original Property Description

This Post is to remind us all of the property description used in the original eBay sales literature in October 2006.

Nova Scotia Land Sales advertised this piece of land for sale on eBay:

Water View, Ocean View, Nova Scotia Canada Land, 2.3 ac

Paved Rd Front Electricity Phone Cable + High Speed Net

Lot xx - 2.3 acres (approximately 100,000 SQUARE FEET) of beautiful ATLANTIC OCEAN VIEW property resting along the shores of the ATLANTIC OCEAN, in PORT CLYDE, BARRINGTON, NOVA SCOTIA.

The property has excellent panoramic water views of the Atlantic.

The property is 5 minutes from the large town of Barrington, Nova Scotia, Canada !!!!

THIS IS NOT PROPERTY THAT IS IN A REMOTE AREA, THIS IS RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IN A SOUGHT AFTER COMMUNITY THAT OFFERS ALL THE AMENITIES TO BUILD YOUR OCEANVIEW DREAM HOME

Local bridge across the Clyde River only a short walk from the property.
Sandhills Beach (Public)... 2.5 miles of white sand located next to the property
In total there are over 14 White Sandy Beaches within 10 minutes of the property!

The golf at "River Hills" (next door - short walk) is excellent and challenging

The white sand beaches are within walking distance. The 18 Hole Championship Public Golf Course is also within walking distance.

The area is serviced with high speed internet, cable, phone, electricity, and yes, cellular phone service works on the property. This property is Ocean View residential, but commercial activity is permitted

The land is situated perfectly, less than 5 minutes to Barrington, Nova Scotia

This property is in the perfect location for a permanent residence, summer home, or cottage retreat. The property has excellent building sites OFFERING AMAZING OCEAN VIEWS. There are numerous areas excellent for construction

- Motorcross Park within 5 minutes.
- Ocean Marina's within 3 minutes.
- Queen's County Drag Strip only 20 minutes away.
- High Speed Internet on the lot.
- Phone Service on the lot.
- Cable Television on the lot.
- Electricity on the lot.
- Breathtaking Ocean Vista's.
- Lobster Pound (Wharf) for Ocean Fresh Atlantic Lobster from the boat, 4 minutes away.
- Whale watching tours nearby.
- River Fishing on the Property on Judas River.. located at the rear of the development.
- Deep sea Fishing within 4 minutes away (excellent swordfish).
Kayaking and Canoeing on the Development in the Judas River and Clyde River.
- Hiking, Jogging, Scenic Walks along the Canadian Trail on the development.

The property is easy to build on

This 2.3 acre parcel (LOT xx) is ideal for building a home, cottage, or summer getaway

THE PROPERTY RISES ABOVE THE OCEAN AND ELEVATES TO PROVIDE AN UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW, MAKING FOR INCREDIBLE OCEAN VISTAS.

Bridge across the Clyde River, next to the property.
Connecting to the Clyde River, from the back of the development is Judas River, which offers excellent kayaking, canoeing and fishing.

Needless to say, the above land description Does Not describe the land any of us purchased from Carmen Blinn via Kevin Layes/Blinn. ( And now someone say's it's not Blinns land to sell!)

Kevin Blinn and Kevin Layes and Carmen Blinn in Nova Scotia Court

Events are unfolding quickly in the eBay land sales story up in Nova Scotia. A couple of the main characters have been involved in a law suit in Supreme Court in Halifax for the last few weeks seeking $200 million dollars from a group of lawyers that Kevin Blinn/Layes claims cheated him out of a bottled water company. Questions about Kevin Layes' involvement in the land sales and his relationship with Kevin Blinn and Carmen Blinn have been raised.

During the proceedings it appears all sorts of questionable actions in Blinn/Layes' past have come to light. Convictions for fraud, questions about a common law wife, using an assumed identity, ( presently he's involved in 4 or more other lawsuits ) and possibly contradicting himself on the stand.

For me the bottom line seems to be: Kevin Blinn/Layes has been in and out of serious legal trouble for a decade. He is a convicted felon on parole for fraud. The present business venture in which he is involved with Carmen Blinn has resulted in the filing of at least 4 lawsuits. The Spiders are getting caught in their own web.

I wonder if there is anyone out there who would vouch for the character of Kevin Blinn, Carmen Blinn, or Kevin Layes? Step up PLEASE!

NavaScotiaToday.com has been covering this story in Halifax.

A Visit to Nova Scotia Land Sale Property

The following is an account of a recent visit ( Fall '07 ) to the property advertised on eBay as dry, with ocean views, utilities to lots, treed, build able, perfect for vacation home site, close to town, etc., etc., etc.

The full list of promises is seems endless and ALL are misrepresentations made by the sellers.

The seller, Nova Scotia Land Sales, is no longer a member of eBay but continues to peddle land under different names on the internet. -swampthing

Letter & Pictures from the trip:

Hi All,

First, my apologies for taking so long to communicate back after our trip to Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Province is absolutely beautiful and investing here is truly the way to go. I Still Believe..., BUT not on this piece of land.

Our property lies on the corner of Ocean View and Seaview Roads, and I was told it was probably one of the better properties here. We could see the Harbor (Yes, harbor and not ocean view), but it's a speck in the distance. I cannot believe every lot will be able to see this speck water view as it can only be seen from off the Ocean View road and possibly a couple of sites inward.

When you look at the road, it is raised higher up than the land, so my belief is we could throw a similar high driveway on our land, but we would have to find a place to dump, get water and you ain't gonna find cable and electric here!!

It was wonderful to meet the local area natives! You know who you are!! Thanks for your time and we'll be back to meet up with you again.

For the rest of us, I think we should still have an Alumni group get-together and meet once a year. I happen to know a reputable realtor in the area, who really does have some nice waterview properties.

Dead End

Tour Guide

The Land

The Tall Trees

Bog Moss on the Property (yes, it's wet)

A New Propert Owner

A squat view of the Trees and Dry Terrain

Tour Guide Looking at the Water View

Further Down Ocean View Rd.

Public Meeting: Barrington, Nova Scotia

Via email from Nova Scotia

I've heard about the blog site but haven't a clue how to post anything; this is written to show support for Joyce Case Harlow and her attempts to bring about honesty in realty in Shelburne County. As I understand it, she and a reporter friend are fighting a fellow by the name of Kevin Blinn who apparently tried to sell wetland property in Barrington Municipality. She tried to get officials in the county and the province to step in to help stop this activity but no one was willing to step up to the plate.

The land continued to be sold on eBay. Ms. Harlow didn't give in: she continued to use an incredible amount of her own time and resources to search out the truth. She pursued this case along with the equally tenacious reporter. Last week, the reporter apparently discovered that the Blinn fellow may not be a Blinn afterall but rather another person; and this person may be involved in other lawsuits. The bottom line is that these two have accomplished what, perhaps, the officials should have done: seek out the truth
in order to preserve honestly in realty transactions in Shelburne County -- and Nova Scotia. Let's support her and those like her in their efforts to keep our province credible.

Roseway Red via email

CanWest News Service Regarding Kevin J. Layes

Former Royal Bank CEO ordered to appear in lawsuit
CHARLES MANDEL CanWest News Service

The former CEO of the Royal Bank of Canada will appear in Halifax court in October to testify in a lawsuit. A judgment in Nova Scotia Supreme Court last week orders John Cleghorn to act as a witness in a lawsuit a Nova Scotia spring water entrepreneur has been waging since 1996 over a business deal gone sour.

The judgment compelling Cleghorn - the current chairman of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited and an officer of the Order of Canada - to testify is a small victory of sorts for Annapolis Valley businessman, Kevin Layes, who is now representing himself after having gone through three lawyers.

Layes is fighting at least four lawsuits all related to the company he founded in 1994, Sugarloaf Spring Rain Limited.In a pre-trial brief, Layes contends that Cleghorn was present via speaker-phone from Toronto when a $500,000 mortgage and a $190,000 loan for Sugarloaf was approved. Layes alleges that he ultimately became responsible for that money after he was removed from control of his company.

Judge Walter Goodfellow noted that Layes tried once before unsuccessfully to have Cleghorn subpoenaed in 2006, but that the previous judge turned down the request, pointing out a local Royal Bank account manager had more direct knowledge of the case. But Goodfellow said he is persuaded that witnesses are necessary to help resolve the suit. Neither Layes nor Cleghorn could not be reached for comment.

In his amended statement of claim - filed in 2006, 10 years after his first statement of claim - Layes alleges that three Halifax lawyers were in a conflict of interest when they provided him with legal advice during a rancour-filled investment in and subsequent takeover of the firm. He also alleges two of the lawyers were negligent in not removing themselves from the transaction. Layes is seeking general damages, special damages, prejudgment interest, punitive damages and costs from Joseph MacDonald, Peter Bryson and Marcia Brennan.In their statement of defence, the lawyers deny any negligence or misconduct and the trio dispute that they caused Layes any loss in any way. Bruce Outhouse, the defendants' lawyer in Halifax, said he would reserve what he had to say for the upcoming trial in October. "Our view of the allegations is contained in the defence."

In the pre-trial brief, Layes states that within a four-week period he was "completely usurped" of his ownership in the company he began. "I have single-handedly fought this lawsuit for 10 long years, facing every possible hurdle along the way. "I have sacrificed my entire life to have what is mine returned. I have sold my house, my cars, my properties, even my personal belongings. In 2000, I separated and then my wife and I divorced because of my dogged determination to bring MacDonald, Bryson and Brennan to court."None of the allegations from Layes have been proven in court.

Layes' brief outlines how Sugarloaf made a name for itself in August 1994 when coliform bacteria was found in Dartmouth's water supply. A competitor ran into production problems, enabling Sugarloaf to become the main supplier of water to the city during the crisis.Hospitals, hotels and even Tim Hortons used the water. But from that successful beginning, Layes and the company ran into a tangle of troubles, according to the brief.

Layes details how over the next couple of years he became involved with a number of individuals interested in buying into the firm. But once the investors gained control of the company, things fell apart, Layes alleges.According to the brief, Layes alleges that the investors replaced him as company president, that they contacted employees and customers and instructed them to route information to them, and that he was locked out of the business. During that time, Layes was also informed he was solely accountable for the money RBC had approved. Ultimately, Layes underwent bank foreclosure.

The trial begins in early October and is scheduled to last approximately five weeks.

"Would The Real Kevin Please Stand Up" by MadJack via email

"WOULD THE REAL KEVIN PLEASE STAND UP"

One doesn't expect to walk into a soap opera in Shelburne County, at least not this kind; not an every day occurrence around there ; but there they are, smack dab in the middle of land scams, fraud convictions, lies, deceit's, numerous law suits, and dope smoking hippies chasing extra terrestrials as COMMANDER CHI with Chi Media on "you tube" , unbelievable you say !! , stay with me, it gets better.

Someday this will make a great book.

So here we have the Blinns ,a couple of swampland developers scavenging unsuspecting buyers on eBay ( and now have been kicked off ) using false advertising of supposed "Family Lands" left to them (when in actual fact their mostly tax sales) to entice other persons into signing very questionable land contracts for money. Now why would you do that? Well , let's see...... What if you weren't Kevin Blinn let's say.... someone else ; like this guy Kevin Layes who's all over the news, and lets say he was currently in Halifax court suing a large corporation for 200 million plus, and other persons for 5 billion plus, and lets say he started those law suit's in 95/96 but he don't have no money and he don't have a job (nor does the little woman) because he lost the job he had working for a pharmaceutical company , why you ask , well maybe because during the 9 months he was employed with the company he defrauded them of 75k plus and was convicted of that and had to pay it back, no job, big lawsuit looming with a potential pot of gold even a normal man couldn't resist, now what would you do?

Well most people would call it a day because most people can see the light at the end of a tunnel , but not these two, no way, he and the girl friend need money to pull this one off, a lot of money. I wonder where and what the easiest way would be to do that, well ; one way is to sell worthless Nova Scotia land any where from large to small lots, on eBay , a LOT of worthless lots, say 250 plus or so , cheap lots because pretty well everybody can afford cheap, right? $500 us down $250 a month for five years, A court case could take that long ; mightn't it ?

BUT ; and here's the kicker, you can't defraud people while on probation for fraud now can you ? don't think so, not in Nova Scotia !, so what do you do ? I know, you could use another name, and defraud people , who would know ? Daaa.

Very easy to do, just not that smart, but if you were pathological about some things might not matter. If your stupid enough to think you won't get caught, why not? The next curtain goes up at the Supreme Court here in Halifax.

MadJack

As sent to me via email- swampthing.

To Continue this venue seems important

My intention was to let others continue this venue and discuss what is happening with real estate and Internet sales.

It has become clear to me that when "new" buyers purchase land and then feel as if they have been mislead, many resort to doing searches on the Internet to put the missing pieces together.

And herein lies(no pun) the value of a venue like this and the sole reason for keeping it going and updated.

Recently I have been made aware of another buyer of property from Kevin and Carmen Blinn of Nova Scotia who feel that they have purchased land vastly different from the description in the sales literature. (Night and Day is not to far fetched!)

Certainly there are others out there who have not come to realize the situation in which they are involved- and they have land in Nova Scotia, the U.S and likely elsewhere- and have been the victim of land fraud too.

So I hope this blog is useful to others when they start their searches to right injustices.

Post your view, Complain, Disclose the identity of the fraudsters, Explain what you are doing and what you are up against. I know it's helping others.

Nova Scotia Real Estate

From ShelborneCountyToday.com

Ready for some new $1 million eBay land sales in Clyde River?... Looks like the success of Carmen and Kevin Blinn in their eBay land sales operation in Port Clyde has caught the eye of one of thier pals. Seems Long Island-based Peter Chiofolo, who is cited in a recent Supreme Court fraud and defamation suit involving the Blinns for supplying questionable, over-the-top, customer-pleasing "feedback" on the Blinn's web site under a couple of eBay aliases, has bought into the Canadian lands sales dream Chiofolo (aka, autopartsweb, etc) just bought 100+ acres of land off hiway 103 near Goose Lake, just a stone's throw from the Blinn's large piece near the non-existant Judas River. If Chiofolo uses the same sales, pricing, and financing plan as the Blinn's, selling small plots sight unseen to folks from far away, he could see a $933,000 profit from his $17,000 investment. Somewhere, PT Barnum is smiling his devilish grin.

eBay feedback gets revamp

eBay has revamped their feedback system, see below. I guess they ARE aware of problems in eBay Land. Does it go far enough to root out the evil ?

(if you are a eBay member check your e-mail or log on to the site to see the complete notice)

"As you know, eBay's Feedback system is a big part of what makes eBay fun and rewarding for buyers and sellers. We're writing to let you know about some exciting new features coming during the week of April 30--features designed to make Feedback more valuable for buyers and a stronger showcase for your great service record.

Detailed Seller Ratings help you stand out.

In addition to the current positive, negative, or neutral comment, buyers will now be able to rank, on a scale of 1-5, four key aspects of a transaction: accuracy of item description, communication, shipping time, and shipping and handling charges.

After a seller receives 10 of these rankings, the average scores will appear as a series of stars under a new section on the Feedback Profile page titled "Detailed Seller Ratings."

This new feature will provide more transparency to boost shopper confidence--and help your good reputation stand out at a glance.

Also, the item title and price will appear next to each Feedback comment. This will add helpful information for shoppers and encouragement to those in the market for what you sell.

Please take a minute to review all the new features coming soon.
And be sure to check out these tips for building and maintaining your solid Feedback record."

Sincerely,
eBay Trust & Safety Team

Nine lawsuits and counting for eBay land sales pair... Claims of fraud, slander and environmental calamity…

On and On and On!

New Lawsuits filed against Carmen Blinn and Kevin Blinn

New lawsuits have been filed against Carmen Blinn and Kevin Blinn, owner and operators of Nova Scotia Land Sales or Nova Scotia Property Sales. Nova Scotia Land Sales or Nova Scotia Property Sales or nspropertysales operate a eBay land sales site on the popular auction site. As of this writing Nova Scotia Property Sales or nspropertysales is still listing properties on the EBay auction site.

The new lawsuits were filed in Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. Please see ShelburneCountyToday website and follow links to The Bog for updates regarding this matter.

Suits and counter suits have marked the recent history of Nova Scotia Land Sales or Nova Scotia Property Sales and their listings and land sales on the popular eBay auction site. Charges of defamation, slander and misrepresentation have been bandied about. Carmen Blinn has maintained she stands behind her eBay listings and the descriptions included on the auction site and the negetive publicity surrounding her and her company is unfounded.

One thing is for sure, some explaining will need to be done regarding all these claims and it will be done in a public forum. Some people can't wait to hear it all.

What do YOU think?

Yes, Fraud is a BIG PROBLEM

Canadians Need to Strike Back in Fight Against Fraud -- Fraud: Recognize It. Report It. Stop It.




From www.ic.gc.ca
OTTAWA, March 1, 2007 — Canadians need to be more vigilant in the fight against fraud, senior law enforcement and government officials are warning.
"Sophisticated scams are being invented daily. Whether it's Internet or mail fraud, deceptive telemarketing or identity theft, fraud is a serious problem," said Competition Commissioner Sheridan Scott. "It can steal Canadians' money, their identity and even their self-respect. Law enforcement agencies cannot investigate, press charges and prosecute scamsters unless Canadians help us by reporting these crimes."
The Fraud Prevention Forum encourages consumers during Fraud Prevention Month and throughout the year to recognize the signs, report them to the authorities and stop fraud.
"All of us — individuals, businesses and government — share a responsibility to work harder to stop the explosion of identity theft," said Jennifer Stoddart, Privacy Commissioner. "This costly crime claims thousands of victims each year. The theft of someone's identity may be the ultimate invasion of privacy."
Throughout Fraud Prevention Month, Forum members will participate in a number of activities across the country, including Scam Jams, which are anti-fraud events hosted by Better Business Bureaus, and the Second Annual Fraud Prevention Community Shred, a one-day shredding event in 20 cities across Canada on March 31.
"We know Canadians are very concerned about fraud and how they can protect themselves," said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Raf Souccar. "We also know that education just might be our single strongest weapon against fraud. All citizens have a responsibility to educate themselves. This means taking fraud seriously, and learning to recognize fraudulent activity. It also means reporting instances of fraud to the authorities."
Each year, thousands of Canadians fall victim to fraud, which undermines consumer confidence and drains billions of dollars from the economy.
"The damage from economic crimes may extend far beyond the financial loss incurred by the immediate victim. These crimes undermine the financial health of our entire country. When you learn to spot and report counterfeit money, marketing scams, and other forms of fraud, you do more than protect yourself: you foil criminals and help ensure a safe marketplace for all Canadians," said David Dodge, Governor, Bank of Canada.
The Fraud Prevention Forum, which is chaired by the Competition Bureau, is a concerned group of private sector firms, consumer and volunteer groups, and government and law enforcement agencies committed to fighting fraud aimed at consumers and businesses.
If a scam artist contacts you, or if you've been defrauded, call PhoneBusters, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre, at 1-888-495-8501.
For a complete list of Fraud Prevention Forum partners or a list of Tips to Protect Yourself from Fraud, please visit http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/fraud.
For more information, please contact:
Competition BureauMaureen McGrath819-953-8982
RCMP Media Relations613-993-2999
Office of the Privacy CommissionerValerie Lawton613-943-5982
Bank of CanadaAnnie Portelance613-782-8782

eBay Auction Fraud

This article came from AuctionBytes.com a site very well worth your time if you have an interest in the good, the bad and the ugly of eCommerce and eBay. Of course, there is much, much more on this web site to keep you interested. Take a look.

eBay Auction Fraud Spawns Vigilantism Trend
By Ina Steiner AuctionBytes.com October 12, 2002

Vigilante: One who takes or advocates the taking of law enforcement into one's own hands
A new trend has emerged in online auctions: vigilantism. People are banding together to report auction fraud and are coordinating their efforts in contacting law enforcement officials.
Our story begins with Mark, the high bidder on an auction for a Toshiba Protege 2000 laptop computer on eBay. On August 10, 2002, Mark says he sent a cashier's check for $1,485 to eBay seller Tech-Surplus.
By September 1, after corresponding with the seller several times, Mark became concerned that he would never see his computer. He emailed other winning bidders to see if they had received their items from the seller. According to several buyers, it quickly became apparent that something was wrong ? no one had yet received their computers.
Karen Christian replied to Mark that evening and volunteered to create a Web site to publish information about the seller, whom they worried was operating in bad faith. Karen had also purchased a laptop computer from Tech-Surplus on August 15 and had not yet received it.
Karen, with Mark's encouragement, set up a site on GeoCities and later moved it to http://www.techsurplusvictim.com. The job of Vigilante was full-time for Karen as she built the site. Another victim, Cory, set up a mailing list on Yahoo Groups so victims could keep in touch with each other. The list quickly grew to 83 members.
To date, no one who came forward to the "TechSurplusVictim" group has received their computer from the seller, according to Karen. She and Cory received refund checks from the seller in what they believe was an effort to get them to stop their cyber-pursuit of him. The tactic did not work: Karen continues to spend about 5-6 hours a day keeping the Web site up to date, contacting law-enforcement officials, and talking to reporters.
Karen's TechSurplusVictim Web site gives voice to the indignation auction fraud victims feel and the need to take control back from auction fraudsters:
"We are a group of honest citizens who really wanted the laptops we bought and paid for and had expected to be delivered. Numerous auctions have been unilaterally cancelled. The total amount owed both of these groups is about $300,000. We're interested in stopping this kind of behavior as quickly as possible, recovering our money and informing others of the issues surrounding these transactions."
The TSV Cyber Team, as they call themselves, claim that eBay seller Tech-Surplus received money from at least 130 buyers between July 12 and September 4, 2002, and never sent product. While doing research and gathering evidence for their own case, they found another group of victims calling themselves ElectroDepotSucks. They had purchased laptops from eBay seller Electro Depot and also claimed that they paid for laptops and never received them. The two groups banded together and shared information, leading them to conclude that Tech-Surplus and Electro Depot may actually be one person operating in New York City.
Electro Depot victims had also reached out to one another and created their own Web site, http://www.electrodepotsucks.com. John Rowles said he won an eBay auction for a Sony laptop computer from Electro Depot on May 7, sent a check, and never received his laptop. Rowles said he was eventually promised a refund from the seller in exchange for taking down the ElectroDepotSucks site and leaving him alone. "Please reply to this email and confirm that upon receipt of your refund, you will immediately take down the site (within 24 hours) in question and take no further actions like these." Rowles said he got his refund, but only promised to take down the site if every victim was refunded. The site is still up.
Both Electro Depot and Tech-Surplus have been NARUed ("Not A Registered User) on eBay. This is eBay's designation for an account that has been suspended for any reason. Neither seller replied when contacted via email and telephone by AuctionBytes.
The TSV Cyber Team and ElectroDepotSucks groups are two of a growing number of victim groups trying to work together and with law enforcement officials to recover their funds and bring perpetrators to justice. Each group seems to take on its own character as they struggle to get information about what they should do.
Karen Christian takes a very proactive approach, and one gets the feeling she won't quit until she has seen justice done. Another victim's group took a different approach. "I don't really know that any one person was in charge," said Victor Montanez, who purchased a Bose DVD-based home entertainment system from "shakes955" on eBay in February. "We really all seemed to just email each other with new information. I think that it was really a joint effort by everyone to help each other."
"Shakes955" was the eBay user ID belonging to Neil Bansal, who was arrested on May 13, 2002, and charged with one count of 2nd degree Grand Larceny and one count of 1st degree Scheme to Defraud. Victor Montanez and other victims got refunds from Bansal after his arrest. They continue to keep in touch with each other, eager to hear what will happen to the man who caused them so much grief.
Victims feel a great frustration in trying to get answers from auction sites and law enforcement officials. It is, for the most part, a one-way dialog as evidence is collected.
Do victims who band together actually help police efforts? Detective Burns of the New York Police Department Public Information Office said if victims are feeding law enforcement officials helpful information, it's "all well and good." But victims should not try to take actions on their own. According to Burns, victims should always contact their local police department when they think they have been defrauded on an online auction site.
Victims commonly feel extreme frustration that eBay does not have a way to warn other members about bad sellers other than the limited feedback method, where members have a mere 80 characters to sum up their complaints. New sites are popping up where victims can complain about trading partners, make their case, and vent their frustrations.
AuctionBlackList.com allows users to add auction fraudsters to a database. Buyers can search the database to see if sellers have a "record." Another site, eBayersThatSuck.com, encourages people to detail their bad experiences with auction trading partners.
Karen Christian continues to work on the TechSurplusVictims project, and she recently created a new site called LaptopScam.com to provide information about both Tech-Surplus and Electro Depot. A mother, an entrepreneur, a computer expert with a Masters degree; what makes Karen so determined to see the Tech-Surplus case to the end?
"I believe that situations present themselves at various points in our lives, and it is up to each of us to respond when our services are needed," Karen said. "If a person has a God-given skill or talent, it should be used for the betterment of mankind. We each have a social and moral responsibility to help one another, much like the heroes of 9/11."

Comment on NovaScotiaBusinessJournal.com

Clearly something is amiss in Port Clyde, Municipality of Barrington, Nova Scotia. The comments posted here overwhelmingly question, if not outright refute, the claims C. Blinn has made in describing the properties she has sold in Barrington. Her comments about J. Harlow have also met with opposition.

The Building Inspector for the Municipality of Barrington says "they are selling lots that don't exist on street names that don't exist". The folks who have commented have pointed out the apparent misrepresentations between C. Blinns descriptions of everything from the names of towns, their sizes, their distances from other places, the condition of the land sold etc. etc. and their particular knowledge of the area. C. Blinn states "I did not know that Harlow and Gillespie were the people in charge of Shelburne County!".

This comment begs the question of when the elected officials of the Municipality of Barrington will weigh in on this matter. Upon viewing the Municipality of Barrington website it is clear to me that the general populace and the local officials both care for and cherish their home towns and the quality of life it affords them.

Both, I assume, also care deeply about the image the Municipality of Barrington depicts to the world. The growing and far reaching situation of eBay land sales in your municipality by Nova Scotia Land Sales, and possibly other internet companies, needs to be thoroughly researched, immediately, by Council and Committee Members as they have been absent from this situation thus far.

For clearly something is amiss in Port Clyde, Municipality of Barrington, Nova Scotia.

Posted 06/04/2007 at 10:32 pm

Anonymous Says.....

This opinion was sent by Anonymous from California regarding the ongoing Nova Scotia Land Sales eBay lawsuits. The story thus far can be found on the links of this blog. As someone said "the issue has been smoking for some time and now seems to have burst into flames".

Are there other lawsuits against eBay land sellers in other parts of the world that should be included on this blog?

It is, It isn't or It Could Be

Help me with this, will you? Does it make sense that either it is or it isn't when it comes to physical, and therefore concrete objects?

For instance, if one comments that a road exists on a property either it exists or it doesn't exist. Right? I realize we could argue what constitutes a road or even a dirt road, but it still exists or does not. A trail is not a road, a path is not a road. They are paths and trails. If you name the road and draw it on a map of the property and claim location by this thing you named, then you sure as hell mean that there is an identifying object that is visible to the eye, and to the sense of touch if you bend down to feel it. Main St. is Main St. and you can see it and walk on it (maybe) and if you fall down on it you know it. You could say "I fell down on Main St. yesterday". Everyone who is familiar with Main St. would then know where you fell down and might even ask "where on Main St.?". Simple enough.

How then can land sellers claim that there are 4 roads through a development, name them all and when others go to look for them the roads can't be found? Even the town inspector doesn't know anything about them. Anyway, the eBay land seller stands behind the fact that they exist.

Just to be fair, when describing something like the weather one could utilize some personal liberties. If you're aware that someone loves the snow and cold you could say, regarding a certain location, that even though the January average temperature is 20F and the January average snowfall is 12", that it's colder than 20F and snows more than 12" a lot of years in January. By the same token a warm weather person could be told it's warmer than 20F and snows less than 12" a lot of years in January. This is interpreting the facts to appeal to the listener and it's NOT LYING.

It is LYING when you say something exists and it does not exist. It appears that Internet land transactions are ripe with LIES, misrepresentations, and the deliberate act of leaving out crucial information. The electronic venue for land sales should be halted until it can be regulated properly. Are you listening eBay? Are you listening prospective land buyers?

I would enjoy hearing from those buyers and sellers who see no wrongs in the current system as it exists. The old saying caveat emptor just doesn't seem to fit.

Old-fashioned land scams going high-tech in Canada? (NS Today: March 28, 2007

Complaints & Reporting

This info is from THE BOG, visit the site for information regarding Nova Scotia eBay land sales. (Other complaint and reporting information is requested for ALL jurisdictions. You leave it, I'll post it.)


Fraud Alerts: If you think you might have been the victim of fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, coercion or undue influence in a eBay land purchase in Nova Scotia (or anywhere else in Canada), you should immediately file a complaint, spelling out the details of the (alleged) fraud (see a sample here), and send it to the authorities and agencies below.
This serves several purposes:
=it puts your complaint on record with authorities and, if there are several complaintants, the agencies will see a definite pattern
=if the alleged fraudsters are aware of your complaints to authorities, you may get some relief from them
=it shows due diligence if and when you may be forced to take legal action
=it could give other victims the support needed for them to take action
=once you have reported the issue to authorities, news reporters are able to report on the fact that you have made a complaint and can report on the substance of the complaint.

VICTIMS SHOULD TAKE ACTION SOONER THAN LATER

eBay fraud complaint form: Probably a good idea, but action by them less likely than being hit buy a comet. Also, time limit is 90 days from close. Many property buyers do not find out about problems until they visit the property.

PhoneBusters National Call Centre (PNCC): It collects consumer complaint information through its 1-888-495-8501 toll-free number. Fax number: 1 (888) 654-9426 e-mail info@phonebusters.com phonebusters@efni.com

Though designed to prosecute key individuals in Canada involved in telemarketing fraud under the Criminal Code of Canada (including) facilitating prosecution by United States agencies through extradition, and by Industry Canada under the Competition Act.) you should be on record with them. Reporting Economic Crime On-Line.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has developed a central web-based crime reporting center entitled RECOL. The objective is to offer citizens a single point of entry, via the phone, fax or Internet, to lodge a complaint concerning any frauds, traditional or Internet based, and have it directed quickly and efficiently to the respective law enforcement or investigative agency for action.
RCMP's Security Fraud Information Centre - e-mail Scam Contact
RCMP (the Mounties are our local police). The RCMP should know if you feel that any type of fraud may have occurred in any land sale in Shelburne County. Sgt Barry McLellan 902-875-2490
Competition Bureau of Industry Canada: e-mail 1-800-348-5358
Strike back against fraud news release

Nova Scotia Land Fiasco

The Nova Scotia Business Journal site published an article recently regarding eBay land sales. Interesting stuff. What do you think?

Link to article at left.

eBay Feedback System

It appears the eBay Feedback System has major flaws when it comes to buyers/sellers (in particular buyers) wanting to change the feedback score they have left. As I understand it, once feedback is left for a completed transaction the +, 0, - score is permanent and only an additional comment can be recorded.

This system "might" work for small items one receives in the mail and can inspect in hand but for many items, and especially land, the system is virtually useless. Issues arise past 90 days that could have a major impact on the original feedback. If land is described, pictured, and advertised in a certain condition, location and with certain amenities, including being buildable and in a "subdivision with services and roads", and the declarations are not found to exist upon inspection of property the eBay feedback needs to be changed to reflect these facts. Even smaller items could be found to be not as promised months after receipt. Let me not forget about honest sellers who experience all kinds of bs from moronic buyers long after the original sale for no sane reason. They can't change their feedback either.

The eBay feedback system prides itself on being able to discern good eBayers from bad eBayers. This is not true. The system is extremely limited and even misleading.

Example: A buyer responds to a eBay listing for property for sale and the listing describes in detail where the land is located and it's proximity to other attractions, the view it provides, services to the property, how the land elevates to provide panoramic views, attractiveness in being located in desirable and sought after area, and easy to build on. The buyer purchases the property and visits a few months later to find nothing in the sales literature is accurate, and most is outright incorrect.
The seller has a 99% feedback score with 100 feebacks. (Seems like a good eBayer with that score.) Meanwhile, countless dissatisfied and outraged buyers cannot change the feedback they left other than to add a new comment. Although innocent until proven guilty, eBay continues to provide a venue for the seller to list additional properties after eBay fraud was notified of problems with the seller and, criminal lawsuits in public courts are filed with the same list of deceptions. Could eBay put a "hold" on the seller until an investigation is completed so their members are protected somewhat from a scam? What does eBay fraud do anyway? The stamp guys have been operating for a long time selling duplicate and copied stamps.

From my point of view, although eBay "just " provides a medium for buyers/sellers they charge a fee for this. They created a rating system to highlight good members and expose bad ones. They call their participants "members " and have a fraud department. Why have all of this??

eBay seems to perpetuate fraud by creating half measures to ensure their members transactions are consistent with the high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade.

But that's just how I see it.

eBay land sellers to prove themselves

WOW, Finally an accused eBay land seller will have to explain them self and answer to a lawsuit filed in Nova Scotia regarding questionable land claims, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation and negligence . I can't wait to hear this.

A story can be found on ShelburneCountyToday web site or by clicking the link included on this blog. The land sales company is known as Nova Scotia Land Sales and operates through the eBay auction market and eBay store of the same name.

Everyone with iffy land in Texas, Florida, Arizona, Oklahoma etc. should tune in.

Wild West

We've been hearing that there's a new day dawning on the interent because of the success of eBay and other auction sites, but it's not such a pretty sight, when it comes to the lawless practices by some on the internet.

Just a cursory review this morning showed no fewer than 13 "Guides" on the eBay site alone describing various scams and ripoffs, from Florida to Texas to Oaklahoma. (see http://search.reviews.ebay.com/Land-Scams_Land_W0QQucatZ15841QQuqtZg)

In researching a story to be published next week about eBay online land sales, I spoke to disgruntled buyers of land in Nova Scotia, Canada, who live in New York, Virginia, Florida, Georgia and elsewhere. Some are are trying to get their money back after having found the true meaning of caveat emptor and some have even hired big-city lawyers and have filed suit in superior court.

From a selfish point of view, I'd be very interested in what other stories people in the USA and Canada have to offer and what they think can be done to stem the growing tide of real estate nightmares.

Nova News

Broken Dreams and Lost Money

Boy, oh boy, can some folks paint a picture of paradise. And describe it too!. Sometimes they even have nice photos of the place. Places like Texas, Arizona, Florida and Nova Scotia have been victimized. I'm sure other locations as well.

Wet lands described as good building lots with ocean views - except in reality it might be protected from development and the only water close by is under your feet and in your shoes.

Desert lands described as lush, and safe and crime free, and ready to be lived on- except there is no access and no chance for utilities. And no one around for miles to commit a crime.

How about being sold on the idea of the properties being part of a development with services and roads. Well, not a road in sight on the property and services have not arrived and the development plan may not even have been registered or approved or legal.

Even the local populations, when asked, find the land unattractive for ownership. These nice folks call many of these properties "garbage land", or say things like: "I want to meet the person who looks at this (land) and thinks it's beautiful".

Well by grossly misrepresenting many of these lands, sellers (many of whom just bought, and have never been to the properties they describe) are able to play on the sentiments of honest buyers with dreams and plans for the future.

There are countless people with broken dreams, damaged self-esteem and lighter wallets. All the while the misrepresentation of property goes on and on. Properties sell to unsuspecting buyers and dreams are shattered.

The world is more connected today than ever before and buyers are able to purchase property half a continent away with the click of a mouse button. Honest sellers can "show" their properties to an audience inaccessible to them a few years ago. If all works well the buyers get what they expected and agreed to and the land broker or real estate agent has made a sale to persons they may have never come in contact with.

Having said that, there are those who hide behind the distance between buyers and properties, hide behind inaccurate descriptions of the condition, location, and specifications of the properties they offer for sale. The same issue of connectivity that allows honest property sellers to make honest property sales, allows questionable sellers the ability to make misrepresented property sales, and to this point in time, seemingly outside the reach of the law, the interest of elected officials, or the policies of large electronic marketplaces.

What a damn shame.