Anyone know if www.centralescrowinc.com is a fraud?

[Kirst]

Hi there.

I was just wondering if anyone knows anything about http://www.centralescrowinc.com?

I purchased a laptop about 2 and 1/2 wks ago now and it still hasn't arrived. I tried emailing them to see if they'd heard from the seller and received no reply.
I'm starting to get worried... I hadn't even realised there were fake escrow sites out there - talk about naive!!!
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer
Kirst

[peg]

Saddly, I think you have fallen into the same trap as so many of us have. I do believe that http://centralescrowinc.com IS a fraud and should be avoided.

First (as usual) I look at the whois....

registrar: DOMAINDISCOVER
whois: whois.domaindiscover.com
referrer: http://www.domaindiscover.com
Nameservers:
NS1.IPOWERWEB.NET
NS1.IPOWERDNS.COM
status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
expires: 16-jun-2006


Registrar Data:

This WHOIS database is provided for information purposes only. We do
not guarantee the accuracy of this data. The following uses of this
system are expressly prohibited: (1) use of this system for unlawful
purposes; (2) use of this system to collect information used in the
mass transmission of unsolicited commercial messages in any medium;
(3) use of high volume, automated, electronic processes against this
database. By submitting this query, you agree to abide by this
policy.

Registrant:
Karen Hewitt
12886 St. John
Pilot Point, TX 76258
US

Domain Name: CENTRALESCROWINC.COM

Administrative Contact, Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
Karen Hewitt
12886 St. John
Pilot Point, TX 76258
US
(940)686-9447
karen@mikmails.com

Domain created on 16-Jun-2005 <-- Created just about a month ago
Domain expires on 16-Jun-2007
Last updated on 16-Jun-2005

Domain servers in listed order:

NS1.IPOWERDNS.COM
NS1.IPOWERWEB.NET

So the site was created just about a month ago..

I suspect that if you call Karen Hewitt (the registrant) at (940)686-9447, she will know NOTHING about this site. She was probably just the one to have her name picked out of http://anywho.com or the phone book.

Next the graphical layout is very similar to those at http://escrow-fraud.pgardner.net/images/sites/Layout4/ (and this is where I have added the image of central escrow inc as wel ) .

Then I looked at the about us page. I searched for "is an independent escrow company based in Los Angeles, United States.." and I got a hit.... For a shut down escrow website (probably a fraud). Thanks to GOOGLE though, they cache the pages and you can see (somewhat) the layout... check it out at ttp://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:7xS ... outus.html

Next if I do a google search for centralescrowinc http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=& ... tnG=Search I get NOTHING. Kind of odd for a company trying to do business. However in about 2 days... They will hit the search engines accept they will show up as a FRAUD (from this site and potentially others like it)

I suspect that you paid for the laptop by Western Union... Unfortunately that is the WORST way to pay. Western Union is for sending money to people you know and trust. Unfortunately, TRUST is at the heart of the issue if you need to use an Escrow service.

If, by chance, you have paid by credit card... then you can file a complaint with your credit card issuer. You can (and should) file a complaint with your local law enforcement and the IFCC as well. Again, it won't help you much but the statistics (as they continue to rise) may help law makers pass laws that could help reduce or stop this type of crime.

Good luck, please let us know how you make out.

Paul

[Kirst]

Thanks for your help. I had a bad feeling after it being so long since I paid.
For some reason I hadn't actually realised there were fake escrow sites and that's why I didn't research them before I sent the money (and yes.. by western union - even worse!). I didn't even think twice about it because I would never have imagined anything could go wrong using a 3rd party.
I was just wondering though, this may sound silly but I'll ask neway: are the seller and the escrow company both in on the fraud together? Like do they contact them knowing that they are fraudulent.. kind of like a partnership?
Thanks again for ur help, it's greatly appreciated.
Kirst

[Kirst]

Just one other thing I noticed (not sure of it's relevance) but thought i'd mention it anyway.
The email address for the person that supposedly registered the site is karen@mikmails.com and the sellers email address was erica@mikmails.com

[peg]

Generally speaking the Seller (or buyer in some cases) and the Escrow company are not only in on the operation.... they are typically the SAME PERSON. (The fewer people involved, the harder to get caught, and the less people to share the profits with.)

I know how you feel about a 3rd party being safe... That is how I got caught too ( see http://escrow-fraud.pgardner.net/ for my story.) However I DID do the research (so I thought). I did a google search, and found nothing negative. Infact I found nothing at all. The site was professional looking enough, and it seemed like the safe thing to do. After all, that's what an escrow service is for... Right?

Anyway, I found out the hard way, that NO NEWS (or hits on google) is NOT Good News! If they are legit, they will likely have been in the search engines (in a positive way) and you can investigate them.

As far as the registration information on the WHOIS, I have no doubt that the email addresses (in the WHOIS) are valid, but I don't believe that they point to the actual registrant. Typically they will pick a name out of some online directory that most people won't likely check, however, they may try the email (because it doesn't cost them anything, and it's relatively quick) so that email probably goes back to the scammers.

[Kirst]

Thanks for that explanation. You have been really helpful.
Your website is great, it's just a shame most ppl don't find it till they are already the victims of fraud!!! I'm so annoyed, It's gonna take me a long time to get over this loss....
Thanks again for all the time u've taken to help myself and many others.
Kirst

[sdev]

Hi Kirst!
We know how you feel after lost the money... I was defrauded too by an escrow site.
The only thing you can (and must!) now is: learn.
You lost money, ok, but I think nobody will fraud you again after this experience... and me too!

- NEVER PAY THROUGH WESTERN UNION ! -

Bye

Sdev

[Kirst]

They had it on ebay originally and so I asked them a question bout postage. That's how it got started