This is to report fraudulent auction for pro audio gear as part of a Ponzi scheme run by FennyFendon aka WonderWall Music aka speakeasy_antiques aka Janice
Janice (may not even be her real name) runs a version of the classic Ponzi scheme on eBay whereby she lists pro audio gear for auction/sale that does not exist, takes immediate payment for the gear, and then delays shipment with a variety of tactics - usually saying that she is selling the gear for a friend with a studio, that she or her studio friend is sick or in the hospital, or that she travels for work and cannot get to the studio for another week or two. Lately she has included text in her auction to the effect of that shipping takes her 1-2 weeks, enough time to dupe a new sucker to pay back the previous.
She gets away with the scheme for the following reasons:
1. During the time period during which she delays shipping the fictitious item or refunding any monies paid, she manages to list more fake pro audio gear for sale and get new money in to pay back the first.
2. She also sells (legitimately it seems) ceramic cookie jars on eBay which she does actually deliver and then she earns positive feedback allowing her to keep her eBay account in good standing an attain a 'power user' rating which requires at least 98% positive feedback which she earns from the cookie jars.
3. After swindling a new buyer on the pro audio gear to pay back the old buyer, she blackmails the original buyer into not leaving negative feedback and also into 'dissolving' the transaction with eBay by saying this is the only way they will get their money back.
4. She counts on duping enough people into doing this that eventually there will be one or two here or there that won't threaten her enough and she'll get to keep their money.
5. She keeps the pro audio auction private so you cannot see anyone who bids and thereby alert them to the scam, and lately she has been listing them as 'Buy It Now' only. She also keeps her feedback rating private so that you can only see the numbers and not the comments, but again the numbers look good for the reasons above.
So how to combat this scammer:
1. Do not bid or buy on her pro audio auctions
2. If you have been defrauded by her (even if you had your money returned) LEAVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK. Use the opposite trick on her - basically say you'll dissolve the transaction AFTER you get your money back, and when you do, leave her negative feedback and report her to eBay.
THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO ALERT OTHER PEOPLE TO HER TACTICS as when they try and look up her feedback they'll see a ton of recent negative feedback and simply not buy any more pro audio gear. She keeps her feedback private but even so, the negative rating number will still appear and eBay staff will read your comments.
PLEASE POST YOUR EXPERIENCES HERE that you've had with this fraudster!
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