seegers says...

Just sold an article on Ebay for about 10 Euro. The weird thing is: I tried to sell this one three times already before I went to Taiwan. No one wanted it for even 1 Euro at that time. Oh well, I shall not complain.

Following up the issue I had with Ebay and a former flatmate trying to sell stolen stuff in my name (well, he probably would have tried if I would not have canceled the fake account): While I was away, I received a letter from the district attorney. The charges that I was pressing against my former flatmate were dropped as the resulting ruling would be less significant compared to the other charge that was filed against him.

This is probably the end of the story for me in this case.

Ok, last chapter for now. Friday morning (early morning, still middle-of-the-night for some students) I made my way to the police station to officially file charges against zukkatyp (who used to live two doors next to my room). I think it took almost an hour to sort out the whole story and to write it down. I was telling the officier the story how it happened with my own assumptions who then in turn dictated it to his secretary. Somehow I feel it would have been faster if I had written the report beforehand. Anyways, a new experience. Felt just like going to any administrative office, just without waiting time.

And now I have no idea what will happen next. Wonder if I will get feedback on this issue and if yes when and how that will be. Oh well, time will tell.

In the meantime, I put over the weekend 80 auctions on eBay to get rid of my stuff here. All in all it took a lot of time to put those online and there are still a few things left. But now I better focus again on my next exam. It's mugging time.

This morning I got woken up by a phone call from the police. The stuff that we handed in was forwarded and the guy in charge called to make an appointment for me to lodge my report. He was honestly surprised that I wanted an early appointment, at 8:30am. But for some students that is still in the middle of the night,

And he told me that they secured the LCD projector.

Ok, for today, I have to do some backlogging. Quite some progress has been made.

The theft of the LCD projector from our hall was reported to the police a year ago when it happened and yesterday we went to the police station to update them about our findings and for me to lodge my own report. Well, my first time in a police station and let's say... it was a down to earth experience. Although our address was not being in that departments responsibility, he took in the new information be brought. And - I am sorry to say this - he appeared to be a bit struggling with understanding it all. Oh well, I have to keep in mind that not everyone is as dependant and familiar with computers as I am. So instead of lodging my report, I only got to provide my contact details and someone will get back to me. That did not feel that reassuring.

And one more thing, we looked into the payment details of the phone that we bought over eBay from him to get his contact details. In the money transfer section, he provided some additional details. Those details were apparently specific to one auction (but are instead visible to any auction winner) and there is some talk about a laptop. And a laptop was stolen from the room next to his...

And later then, we finally found the prove. We found the original box that our LCD projector was in and the serial numbers match.

Got it. Got him. We bought something from zukkatyp (sugarguy) and now know his real name. Unless this is another fake account on this name, I have to say that I am very disappointed. He used to live almost next door to me and usually we got along quite well. But he tried to open an eBay account on my name probably to sell the projector. The projector only appeared in the other account when the fake account was closed.

To some degree, I want to believe that it is not him, but that are a lot of coincedences to explain...

Guess what: It is the same projector model on eBay that was stolen from my hall. Guess now we have to buy something else from him to find out who that person is. And if he is still living in this hall or not...

Hmm. Concerned. Although the fake account is blocked, a new auction appeared on the other legitimate account: a LCD projector. And I remember that such was stolen half a year ago in my hall. Wondering if it is the same model. Have to find out.

Got a phonecall from eBay. They blocked the account I was complaining about, so I am safe on that issue and offered me to become registered member for free. That would mean some additional protection, but only until I move to a new address. And that will happen in less than a year for sure (end of my studies is getting closer).

However they were not able to tell me anything about the other apparently legitimate account that is selling stuff. Data privacy laws. Still thinking of buying something from there to check it out.

Then eBay gave me the advice to report this case to the police. As for now, I am considering sending an email to the address that I got from the authorization letter. If he really lives here, I want to give him a chance to explain himself before deciding on further action. What I am concerned about is that I have no clue who that person is and what else he might be trying...

Have reported it to eBay and also asked the community there for their advice.

The only thing that I could find our about that guy was his birthday so far. But I had no luck tracking him in different databases with his email address only. Thinking hard about how to harness the power of the web to identify him.

Maybe I should buy something from the "zukkatyp" person on eBay? That person put their bank account details on eBay, but I only see those in case of winning an auction...