On 1st August, I asked Bradimira Silv SRL (Mr. Florin Chitez) of Romania, through the Alibaba.com site to give me a price on the Thermomix TM31 machines that he was selling to send to Australia. He ended up giving me a price of 2,500 Euros for 10 machines, and I went to my Bank on 5/8 and sent the money T/T to Dante International Cargo Express, Raiffeisen Bank, 6721 Szeged Felso Tisza Part, Number 10 Hungary (I thought that was the head office for Dante International) as I presumed they were the Shipping Company.
I was told by Bradimira Silv (by email) that they were to be picked up by the shipping company on Monday 8/8 and I would have them in a few days. I then got a tracking number from Straight Freight in Romania and when I tried to check it out, I had to email Bradimira Silv to advise that I could not get into it. He emailed back saying that the shipping company was right with the details and try again, so I did. I got through and it said that "Your package is on moving". If you put the tracking number in now, it still comes up exactly the same information.
I first paid AU$3,549.66 (2,500 euros) on 5/8 and then had to pay another AU$2,907.25 (2,000 euros) on 12/8, as when they checked the tracking number, they told me they discovered that the wrong order had been shipped to me. I ordered 10 Thermomix TM31s and they sent 25, so we came to an agreement that I pay another 2,000 euros because they were on their way to Australia and I did not want to stop the shipment and wait longer, as I knew I would be able to give some away and sell the rest. I had to send that amount to Straight Freight's bank: Banca Comerciala Romana S. A Bucharest, A/C No: RO62RNCB0264023776510004, Bank Branch: RNCB, Swift Code: RNCBROBUXXX, Romania. Within another 2 days, they said the order was in Sydney, so I rang Customs there and told them I was expecting the goods. I was advised that nothing was there and nothing had arrived in Australia for me and it would take longer than what I was told, at least 10 days. The customs officer told me that if it was coming by air freight, it would cost at least $4,500.00 for freight. He told me that in his opinion I had been scammed.
I sent more emails back to Straight Freight and Bradimira Silv on 18/8, but have not had anything from them to now. The emails to Straight Freight came back undeliverable, unknown address, even though I sent them prior and they received them.
I have been in contact with the Romanian Consulate and Embassy in: Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney in Australia and also the Australian Embassy in Romania. The Aust. Embassy in Romania did ring Bradimira Silv (which is a genuine company), but they said they did not know of Mr. Florin Alin Chitez or Rotaru Marian. It appears to me that they are only using Bradimira Silv as a front to be able to scam people.
Bradimira Silv is still advertising on the Alibaba.com site as a Gold Supplier and Verified and Authenticated. I rang Alibaba headquarters in China last week and today to try and get some help to sort this out, but so far not got very far. I do not want others going through what I have gone through - these scammers (I am quite certain now that they are scammers) must be stopped immediately.
I have been down to the Police in Melbourne, but they will not take a statement so that I can pass it on to the Australian Federal Police for them to pass it on to Interpol. I rang the Police in Romania who put me on to their Immigration Department so they could understand. The Immigration person told me to get the Australian Police to contact the Police over there and they will then be able to do something. They do not go through the public. I did not get anywhere with the Australian Federal Police (I went into the city to see them), they told me to go to the ACCC. I rang them and they said they could not help.
I do have all the emails and documents relating to everything. There is approx. 57 pages.
I do hope you can help me somehow.
Thanking you,
Elizabeth (Liz Pretty)
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