[emilyinaustin]

In the case here where several of us have had similar experiences, we all specifically KNOW who this individual is who is defrauding people. He is still active on the forum. This really bothers me since I am sure he is continuing to defraud other clients and prey upon other start-ups. I don’t think I can revoke payments to him at this point, they were bank transfers.

In my case, this individual has positive LinkedIn reviews and comments from legitimate companies (which I looked into before hiring him), and he is highly regarded as an experienced expert in the field. He is very active on this forum. As this was my first project in cosmetics, I did think his rates were low, but as a start-up, that was a relief. I spoke to two other chemists and selected this one because he was so helpful. I began to trust this person, and for a while he gave me great information. We had a great working relationship. I also started out by only working on one product with him before hiring him to do three additional products - I wanted to make sure I could work with him and he would deliver a good prototype. He delivered one prototype last fall which wasn’t the final version, but a good start. For that product I had paid 100% up front. I then engaged him to made three more prototypes. I agreed to pay 50% upfront and 50% when the prototypes were completed. Unfortunately I trusted him when he said they were going to be mailed in 7-10 days and paid the balance. I never received them - neither the three new prototypes nor the revised first prototype.

That was in January. This person cut off all contact with me in February. I am out $6000 and do not have any formulations. This is not a dispute or misunderstanding of what each party was expecting. This is fraud and theft, and I am pursuing it as such.

People who are trying to protect this individual and his identity here are only complicit in the fraud he is committing. If there were only one of us, that would be one thing. But there are at least three. I would love to hear this person’s side of the story, but since he hasn’t communicated with me in three months, I can’t do anything about that. Since I trusted him, I gave him the benefit of the doubt for a long time thinking he was just busy, overwhelmed or dealing with a personal issue. It took me a while to realize what was actually happening. It is very baffling given his prior references.

I have also tried to resolve this issue privately but have had no success. I have always been professional and courteous to him. I have contacted the FBI and the state consumer protection agency to report the fraud.

By the way, individuals control their LinkedIn page and Facebook pages. They can delete negative comments and feedback, and block people from posting on their pages. So those are not effective ways to truly evaluate a person’s abilities and references.

[emilyinaustin]

Inspire78,

This same thing happened to me and I believe we have both been scammed by the same person. I have not heard from him in 6 weeks and paid the balance for my prototypes in January, at which time he said they would ship in 7-10 days. He even used the same “stomach flu” excuse with me in the beginning of March, but that is the only contact I have had with him since mid-February. He has not returned any emails or calls for six weeks.

Would be great if we could talk. I am getting my attorney involved and am about to report him for fraud and theft.