|
 |
|
Message from the Global Law Enforcement Operations Team:
Hello! and welcome to the Global Law Enforcement Operations Police Blotter. Most Community members have not heard much about what eBay does behind the scenes to pursue, apprehend and prosecute fraudsters on ebay.com and paypal.com. The purpose of the Police Blotter is to share information with the Community about our efforts with law enforcement around the world. As you know, eBay Inc. is committed to creating a safe, well lit marketplace. When people break our policies, violate consumer trust and the law of the land, eBay and PayPal work with law enforcement agencies around the world to apprehend and prosecute fraudsters. For that reason, eBay created the Global Law Enforcement Operations team.
The cases below do not reflect all of our success stories. The cases have been chosen to provide you with examples of various cases where we have assisted law enforcement in convicting a fraudster. Please visit us again as we will update the Police Blotter every 6 weeks.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Four Arrested on Drug Charges
|
|
|
|
A Drug Enforcement Agency investigation, in cooperation with eBay, resulted in the discovery of Barry Brinker’s purchase of methamphetamine and other drug-related precursors over the internet. Review of Brinker’s buying history gave investigators the cause they needed to obtain a search warrant for his known addresses. An execution of search warrants resulted in the arrests of Brinker and three accomplices, the seizure of a meth lab, and the discovery of three indoor marijuana growers. Also seized were $272,000 in cash, five properties, three vehicles and 16 firearms. He has been indicted on charges of possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, manufacturing controlled substances, possession of controlled substances and possessing equipment needed to manufacture drugs. Brinker also faces an additional charge of possessing firearms for drug trafficking. Brinker is being charged along with his accomplices: Ronald Brinker, 54, of Easton; Linda Brinker, 58, of Saylorsburg; and Karl Truszkowski, 46, of Kresgeville. Ronald Brinker, Linda Brinker and Truszkowski are all free and are being supervised under pre-trial conditions. Barry Brinker is still being detained.
|
|
|
|
CVS Pharmacy Employee Convicted of Theft
|
|
|
|
Cesar Enrique Collazos was convicted of stealing CVS merchandise and selling it on eBay. Mr. Collazos was a shift manager at CVS Pharmacy in Jamaica Plain, MA for eight years. He had access to a stock room, where merchandise was kept before it was put on the floor. Some of the items he allegedly stole were stamps and One Touch Ultra Glucose Test Strips. Loss prevention officers at CVS told police of an ongoing investigation of Collazos for allegedly stealing CVS merchandise and selling it on eBay. Collazos was arrested, charged, and convicted of three counts of larceny in a building and one count of larceny under $250. He was sentenced to 30 months incarceration. The eBay/PayPal Fraud Investigation Team assisted the Norfolk County, MA District Attorney’s Office in the case by providing eBay records in September of 2008. |
|
|
|
|
Two arrested on ID Theft Charges
|
|
|
|
Billy Morris Britt, 36, of Seattle, and Gabriel K. Jang, 37, of Renton, were arrested on charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in November of 2008. The suspects are accused of using stolen credit cards to buy computers and other electronic equipment which was then sold for millions of dollars on eBay. They and others stole hundreds of credit cards from gymnasium lockers in Washington and Oregon, created nearly instant fake identification in their cars, and then purchased expensive electronics equipment with those stolen cards within hours of the theft. This equipment was then sold on eBay. A financial investigation showed that $2 million from the sale of electronic goods had passed through a PayPal account used by Jang since 2004, and another $1.3 million into a checking account traced to Jang. eBay and PayPal investigators assisted the United States Secret Service in Seattle on an ongoing basis for over a year prior to the arrest.
|
|
|
|
UK Man Convicted in Counterfeit Scam |
|
|
|
Davut Turk, living in the UK, raked in tens of thousands of dollars selling expensive jewelry and ornaments on eBay over the past two years. Although described as silver, the products were actually made of brass. Turk’s lucrative scam, which netted him approximately $70,000, was exposed when a customer complaint led to raids on his home and a nearby storage locker. Mr. Turk was recently convicted of 30 offences relating to trade descriptions and the use of counterfeit hallmarks. Officers found more than 200 pounds of fake silver items, ranging from rings and necklaces to candelabras and salt and pepper shakers. Turk was ordered to pay close to $10,000 in court fees and fines. eBay and PayPal investigators assisted law enforcement in an ongoing basis over the course of several months. They were able to assist investigators trace the funds received for this scam as Mr. Turk used PayPal to accept payment from his victims.
|
|
|
|
Safety
Tip of the Month
:
The federal government and the technology industry have teamed up to create OnGuardOnline.gov, a new site to help you guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information. We hope members of the eBay community will help fight fraud by using the tips at OnGuardOnline.gov and sharing them with family, friends, and colleagues.
|
|
|
|
Must use Buy It Now and PayPal.
