Ebay seller Sofmap.hk aka princess.velvet is a SCAMMER.

WilalvesBR · Mar 18, 2008

Hi,

Did anybody here won any of these AES auctions on ebay?

Import Neo Geo AES Cartridge - Stakes Winner 2 JP

Import Neo Geo AES - Kizuna Encounter Super Tag Battle

Import Neo Geo AES Home Cartridge - Breakers JP

Import Neo Geo AES - Rage of the Dragons JP

Import Neo Geo AES Home Cartridge - Waku Waku 7 JP

Import Neo Geo AES - Ninja Master's

NEW SEALED Import Neo Geo AES King of Fighters 98

Import Neo Geo AES King of Fighters Set 94 to 2003

Import Neo Geo AES Home Cartridge Samurai Spirits IV 4

Import Neo Geo AES Samurai Spirit 3 JP

IMPORT NEO GEO AES HOME SYSTEM WITH 2 GAMES

New Import Neo Geo AES Mahjong Mah Jong Controller RARE

Did you receive your game/item and everything was ok?

Reason for asking:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Entire-Collecti...temZ320215014093QQcategoryZ4315QQcmdZViewItem

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...userid=rirififi222&ftab=FeedbackLeftForOthers

"Saisissez I bought him 45 games aes (breakers, metal slug X,3,2...) for 3100 dollars and he send to me a game playstation at 30 dollars and don't answer anymore to me and to paypal he says that there was no problem and in his feedback he says that there was a mistake, as if he is going to resend me but it is not true. he is a fucking lyer, I talk about my lawyer I am gonna make him mad until i get my money back.
Warning I think that you may not pay him
Be careful he is a lyer.

- rirififi222"

kitkit.com · Mar 19, 2008

If this softmap.hk person has scammed someone that you know/you are a victim of crime, do not hesitate to contact the Hong Kong Police Department.
Be sure to include all supporting documents and your phone number/contact infor.

http://www.police.gov.hk/hkp-home/english/enquiry/index.htm#contactus

# Providing Crime Information:
# By Mail to Police Station:

e-mail: crimeinformation@police.gov.hk
(General Crime and Cyber Crime)

madman · Mar 19, 2008

Wow, I hope you get that worked out. How could he mistake a $30 Playstation game for 45 AES games and 2 systems? Good luck!

WilalvesBR · Mar 19, 2008

madman said:
Wow, I hope you get that worked out. How could he mistake a $30 Playstation game for 45 AES games and 2 systems? Good luck!

That wasn't with me but with the ebay member rirififi222.

I won two of his auctions but did not pay him yet.

He made his feedback "private" right after receive the negative feedback from rirififi222.

Also before those rare AES auctions he never used "private listing of bidders".

I'm trying to negotiate a local pickup with him in Hong Kong but the seller seems to not be interested on doing this.

The seller address on ebay is not available (it says only default), i asked for a mobile phone number so i can talk to him but he didn't replied.

Something just does not feel right about this seller.

kitkit.com · Mar 19, 2008

WilalvesBR said:
Something just does not feel right about this seller.

If you don't feel comfortable, then I would suggest you not to pay him. I would rather take a strike from Ebay than taking a risk of being ripped off.

tony starks · Mar 19, 2008

That is so true. Go with your gut feeling on this one. I had a feeling that Softmap.hk was a scammer. His auctions seemed very fishy for some reason, call it instinct.

Fish_Monger · Mar 19, 2008

I bought Art of Fighting 3 from softmap.hk and haven't received it yet. They waited a week to verify payment and then sent me tracking info. I noticed that their feedback was set to private and asked them why. They haven't responded. Also, my tracking number is saying that it's expired. Softmap.hk are saying that it could take 11-14 business days to receive my game.

Not sure what I'm going to do yet. However, PayPal protects buyers from this kind of fraud.....

I thought that it seemed fishy that he had so many RARE games for sale at once. About a week after winning the auction, I emailed them and asked them if the game was a conversion. I did get a reply from them saying that it was authentic.

I'll post updates as I receive them.

**edit**
I just ran my tracking number again (for the 5th time) and it actually came back up that my item left Hong Kong on the 14th. Maybe these people are legit. However, I just sent a huge threatening letter to them about my transaction....LOL. Oh well.

Fish_Monger · Mar 19, 2008

My question is this: Why would a seller with their enormous feedback all of a sudden turn into a scammer? Maybe sofmap.hk isn't scamming anyone..........I hope.

WilalvesBR · Mar 20, 2008

Words from sofmap.hk

Dear wilalvesbr,

Thanks for the work, but my forwarder will not use HK postal for EMS based on his contract, he is changing $69.99 flat on me, maybe more to Brazil, just to let you know. You don't have to agree the fee since it is unexpectable, I couldn't agree more too. But in order to do EMS, he must be involved, so no choice here and you should keep the rate in mind before you bid, it is at least $69.99 he charges. I wish I can have the pics for you, but I am sorry, I need to get my forwarder involve too since I am currently in disability. He only helps me on each friday night, so I don't think we can make it. The game is in good shape, can't find visible scratches, teh manual is in very good shape too. Here is the fact why I can't do EMS myself, HK postal will come collect all my regsiered package, but for EMS, I need a forwarder involved since my left hand side of my body is currently disable. The forwarder will deposit the package to any EMS center he has contract and it is impossible for me to do that now. I have some more neo geo games coming at the end of March since my husband brought out huge collection neo geo in Japan. Maybe next time I can assist you better. Again, if you want, just go with register airmail, other EMS at the price he charges. Thanks for info too.

- sofmap.hk

Here's what i propose to the seller (got no answer yet):

I talked to my friend in HK, payment can be made without the need to wait for a paypal solution. My friend can do a local pickup or meet with your forwarder at some place in HK, there's no need to wait anymore because he can pay you and take the games!

Can you provide any mobile phone number so he can talk to you? If you prefer he can call you on (xxx)xxxxxxxx phone number that is registered on Ebay.

I know you're currently in disability but your forwarder can do it for you on fridays right?

Two days has passed and i got no answer yet.

wheelaa · Mar 20, 2008

Fish_Monger said:
My question is this: Why would a seller with their enormous feedback all of a sudden turn into a scammer? Maybe sofmap.hk isn't scamming anyone..........I hope.

I hope so too..but its a classic MO I'm afraid.

Member for just over a year..build up some feedback..sell a shit load of pricey stuff in a very short space of time..grab the cash and disappear.

And its been done by HK Neo sellers before..HK CYwong, Chun Wong, whatever that fat shit eyed cunt was called.

This could be jumping the gun but if I'd bought anything from that seller recently I'd now be very worried and taking all necessary steps to get my cash back.

Fish_Monger · Mar 20, 2008

Either way, I definitely have something from HK on it's way to me. The tracking info states it left there on 3/14/08.

wheelaa · Mar 20, 2008

Well again I'll say I hope he's legit and you get your game!

But a tracking number isn't the be all and end all. Until it says its headed to your destination I'd be wary.

What sites have you checked it on? I've not bought anything from HK for ages but (iirc) last time I did, a tracking number on the HK site would only say when the item had left, not where it was heading. (Unlike the say the UK site which says country, state, even area sometimes)

I was given a tracking number by an HK seller once, saw the item had left by using the HK site, felt happy. No item 2 weeks later, no record on the UK site of the item number. I checked a few other sites and lo and behold the parcel had been delivered to the US. The seller had given me another tracking no and nabbed my cash! (Credit Card though so I didn't lose out fortunately) Its another preferred method by HK scammers in my experience, I know a few people who have been stung like this.

I'm not trying to shit you up lol, but something to bear in mind.

Fish_Monger · Mar 21, 2008

IT'S A SCAM. I JUST RECEIVED MY "ART OF FIGHTING 3" AES CART. IT WAS ACTUALLY JUST A MAGAZINE AND IT WAS LABELED ON THE OUTSIDE PACKAGE AS ART OF FIGHTING 3. I'M FILING WITH EBAY, PAYPAL, AMEX, AND HONG KONG POLICE CYBER CRIME DIVISION.

Fish_Monger · Mar 21, 2008

kitkit.com said:
If this softmap.hk person has scammed someone that you know/you are a victim of crime, do not hesitate to contact the Hong Kong Police Department.
Be sure to include all supporting documents and your phone number/contact infor.

http://www.police.gov.hk/hkp-home/english/enquiry/index.htm#contactus

# Providing Crime Information:
# By Mail to Police Station:

e-mail: crimeinformation@police.gov.hk
(General Crime and Cyber Crime)

That email address isn't valid. Here's what it came back:

This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.

Delivery to the following recipients failed permanently:

* crimeinformation@police.gov.hk

I just tried crimepre@police.gov.hk so we'll see if that works.

**edit**
Well, that address didn't work either. So much for Hong Kong.

WilalvesBR · Mar 21, 2008

So it's confirmed, those were very suspicious auctions and thanks god i didn't send payment to that scammer.

Hope you will recover your money.

Regards.

WilalvesBR

kitkit.com · Mar 22, 2008

Fish_Monger said:
That email address isn't valid. Here's what it came back:

This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.

Delivery to the following recipients failed permanently:

* crimeinformation@police.gov.hk

I just tried crimepre@police.gov.hk so we'll see if that works.

**edit**
Well, that address didn't work either. So much for Hong Kong.

Fish, I will try to help you and the ebay guy who got scammed $3,500. I sent you a PM.

TimKunming · Mar 22, 2008

Sorry to hear about your trouble with this guy.

I bought a game from him in November of last year on ebay and received it fine, and as advertised. Now I consider myself lucky!

Here's his address as was listed on the package he sent me:

Harvey Tam
3/F 33 Austin Road
KLN Hong Kong

Hope this helps a bit.

kitkit.com · Mar 22, 2008

Guess what? Based on the information provided by member TimKunming, there might be a connection between Hong Kong Ebay Seller "etrade168" and "softmap.hk"

See this auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Puyo-Puyopuyo-D...1497497QQihZ014QQcategoryZ62053QQcmdZViewItem

At the bottom of the auction under "Seller's payment instructions":

For Money order and cashier check, please mail to Harvey Tam 2241 East Cameron Ave West Covina CA 91791 USA . For Money transfer please send to: Tam, Hau Wu 3/F 33 Austin Road Kowloon Hong Kong

The address matches the one provided by TimKunming.

TimKunming, can you confirm that you did not mix up etrade168 and softmap.hk? What is your Ebay ID TimKunming?

TimKunming · Mar 22, 2008

I can confirm 100% the user name for that address is softmap.hk...my ebay user is yunnanexportco in case you need to check up on it.

It does look like they're the same people...now this is getting REALLY interesting!

EDIT: I'm double-checking my records...although it seems almost certain that this was the address given to me...can anyone else who has dealt with softmap.hk provide some sort of address or contact information so that I may compare it to my records?

Fish_Monger · Mar 22, 2008

Here's what my "AOF 3 AES" package had on it. Keep in mind this was really just a piece of crap comic book instead of my game! ! !

Karina Mok
Pok Tai House, Pok Hong Estate
Shatin, N.T.
Hong Kong

Willis_vdv · Mar 22, 2008

yeah this sofmap.hk is no good, i was going to buy a jap metal slug x cart off her/him three months ago and i was asking a few questions about the cart prior and they didnt really answer the questions, plus wouldnt let me pay with a hong kong bank account i had(only paypal to cover their ass) so i decided to just leave it. Hope all you who lost money get this sorted out.

kitkit.com · Mar 23, 2008

Fish_Monger said:
Here's what my "AOF 3 AES" package had on it. Keep in mind this was really just a piece of crap comic book instead of my game! ! !

Karina Mok
Pok Tai House, Pok Hong Estate
Shatin, N.T.
Hong Kong

That place (government public house unit) exists in Hong Kong but the address is incomplete. It should read:

Karina Mok
Room xxxx,
Pok Tai House, Pok Hong Estate
Shatin, N.T.
Hong Kong

I saw the pictures of the package received by Fish. It was a Chinese comic book which worth $2.50 USD!

If there is more victims of sofmap.hk, please come forward and post here/under the Feedback forum:

http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180001

I will provide the victim(s) a solution against sofmap.hk

Fish_Monger · Apr 1, 2008

the guy who bought the 45 AES games and paid over $3500 is getting the shaft from Paypal. they closed the case on him and told him too bad.

Battlesmurf · Apr 1, 2008

someone needs to get in touch with whoever lives at the west covina address.

Fish_Monger · Apr 1, 2008

Paypal refunded my $220.50 from this scammer! Yay!

I'll never buy another thing from Hong Kong again. doh! :annoyed:

Ebay seller Sofmap.hk aka princess.velvet is a SCAMMER.

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