Beware modular511!

Hi everyone, I'm here to tell you to beware of the user modular511. I was the buyer of his debug/beta version of GTA San Andreas. I intentionally kept the transaction private because I saw a lot of interest from other forum members in the thread and I didn't really want to be harassed to release the game, however ASSEMbler should be able to confirm that modular and I agreed to a sale via PM.

Here is a timeline of what happened:
08-Feb-09-Feb: modular and I communicated via PM and agreed on a price of 625USD (400 for the game, 200 more for the xbox it would come on, and 25 for shipping).
09-Feb: I paid modular 625USD via PayPal.
09-Feb: modular assured me that it would be shipped on Monday (11-Feb).
11-Feb: I asked modular if he had a tracking number and he informed me that he was "not even in the same state as it lol" and that he asked his "cousin to do so upon leaving".
16-Feb: modular PMed me to say that "it has been shipped as of a few days ago". I still did not receive a tracking number.
20-Feb: I PMed modular to tell him that I still hadn't received the XBOX and ask once again for a tracking number. I received a prompt response saying that he was still away and would call home "tomorrow" and find out what was going on.
25-Feb: After having not received any information on his supposed call home I told him that I could not afford to wait any longer and that I had opened a dispute on PayPal, but that I had not escalated it to a claim and did not plan to as long as he was cooperative.
01-Mar: After further correspondence modular says "it was shipped out on like the 14th [of Feb] supposedly" and that he will make the drive home to see what is going on.
06-Mar: modular informs me that his "brother is apparently sick" and shipped the package out "several days ago". Notice that now it's his brother instead of cousin... And I still have no tracking number.
11-Mar: I received an email from PayPal informing me that my dispute was closed because I had been issued a refund. I had not escalated to a claim so I can only assume that modular agreed to the refund. I logged into PayPal to see that the refund had not actually occurred but that it was scheduled for 13-Mar.
13-Mar: I received another email from PayPal stating that there was a "delay in my eCheck payment". Apparently there were insufficient funds in his account to cover the refund, so I still had no money and no XBOX.
13-Mar: After realizing that he had likely intentionally drained his bank account in order to avoid paying the refund I sent this: "According to paypal you issued me a refund but your bank declined the withdrawal (so I don't have my money). What the hell is going on?" I then promptly received the following reply: "That would probably be because their is no money in the account and it is now negative the amount." Despite me sending another message I have not heard any more from him.
20-Mar: Paypal, apparently having realized what is going on, reversed my original transactions (I split the payment into 300 from credit and 325 from my bank via ACH). I already have the money from the credit transaction back and I'm assuming/hoping that the ACH transaction will be back soon.

So there you have it. Beware modular511. I really am disappointed about the GTA beta because, based on his pictures, I firmly believe that he did have something new on his hands. I just never got it...

Here are some more details associated with modular that I obtained via PayPal:
Name: Dustin Holden (modular511)
Comany Name: DEVHOLDEN LLC
Company Website: devholden.com
PayPal email: payment@devholden.com
PayPal phone: 612-568-3649

 

Thanks for the heads up. I hate scammers like that :\

EDIT: Or just general idiots, like him.

 

Once again, like I said in the thread that I posted, GTA build Screenshot is lacking. So I walk away from this deal.

Hope this is sorted soon as possible for you Poryhack.

 

Yea it is lacking. I could have easily made one of those, I did that with GTAV, Jet Grind Radio, and Sonic Adventure 2. Plus I don't think I would pay for software, maybe trading would be better with password protection. Thanks though for that info!

 

This is absolutely unbelievable. He is also using the forum name LoveGHz on here and many other places. I bought a debug kit from him that i never received and the refund could not be given back. Same paypal address and everything.

This is the last i've heard from him.

DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY TO payment@devholden.com !!!

 

How recently was this AlexRMC92? My understanding is that if you're careful it's almost impossible to NOT get your money back from PayPal. That's why PayPal (and credit cards) are so frequently plagued with chargeback scams: it's much easier to commit fraud as a buyer than a seller.

EDIT: Of course, just because you have your money back doesn't mean that the money came from him. With him draining/closing his bank account I imagine PayPal would have to foot the bill. I just hope that they catch up with him at some point.

 

this was a few weeks ago, i already called paypal and had them escalate the case. They should be shutting down his account after they see that hes done it a couple of times.

Also, found some interesting info

devholden llc is located in Georgia and owned by dustin holden.

hes known as LoveMHz, LoveGHz, and now modular511 on the internet.

his business address is as follows (according to Georgia records)

Devholden Llc
376 Peachtree Dr.
White, GA 30184

although it may not exist anymore, who knows.

 

If your refund was issued before any kind of complaint was lodged on PayPal your process may be different from mine, but for me the refund failed once, PayPal waited a while, tried again, failed again, and then "reversed" the transaction (which is apparently different from a refund). Where the money materialized from I don't know but I do have part of it back and I'm expecting the other part soon. I'd say that bodes well for you even if you haven't gotten the money yet.

LLC look-up is interesting... For what it's worth (probably nothing) his contact phone number on PayPal is a Minneapolis, MN number. I don't know if it's valid and I don't really care to call it.

Here is the address you gave seen from google street view; it appears to be residential.

 

What a douche, I hope thing gets resolved.

 

Yep, Borman was right that this would happen. :/

 

Sorry to hear this happened to you! It was actually interesting to read about the GTA San Andreas debug version; shame it didn't materialise.

 

As I asking to modular511 for more information and screenshot as which it is been ignored and made my final decision not to buy it and look like LoveGHz trying his best to get me to buy it and helping to back up along with modular511

then...

LoveMHz replied and ask to LoveGHz "why don't you buy it ?"

what the hell!?!

 

Sounds like he was using a fake account as a shill to try to hook you in by generating false interest in the item making it seem genuine/more appealing. It's one of the oldest tricks in the book, con artists the world over have been using that tactic ever since humans realised they were capable of fucking each other over.

The guy sounds like a scumbag, glad this info has seen the light. Though there's nothing to stop these people from creating more accounts, you just have to be as careful as you possibly can when trading online.