Stalker

[galahadestates]

I’m a very active eBay seller/buyer with a 100% feedback score for many years.  A couple years back a seller sold me turned out to be fake reproduction Star Wars weapons. Which were well over $300.  I was able to get the refund from eBay, however, the seller has been sending me very stalking and now starting to border on racist/prejudiced Letters in the mail a couple times a year.  I blocked the seller on eBay a long time ago after the harassing emails, now I can’t find their name to report them. As I’m pretty sure whatever they’re doing is likely even something the authorities would look into, but I have no way to contact anybody at Ebay on the phone and I have looked for over 100 hours over the years trying to find one.   

 

 i’m at the point where I am fearful for my children and my family that this lunatic is going to show up. This is been going on for at least two years.    The last two letters I received were today, and then January.  Hopefully I can keep this at an arms length and it’s just a crazy guy sending emails, but I notice myself looking over my shoulder. Every time I walk into my home, and I fear for my children doing so when they are walking in themselves. What do I do?

[lacemaker3]

@house*of*paws,  I don't think that an innocent victim would continue harassing someone for years either. Even if they were innocent of deliberate deception or attempted fraud with that transaction, they are not innocent of harassment. Either way, this activity is very disturbing.

@albertabrightalberta,  you really went the extra mile to help the OP. Thanks for that. I looked for a cached copy page without luck, but you pulled out all the stops.

[albertabrightalberta]

the OP should have info for the PD including name, address and phone.

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@1786davycrockett wrote:

@stainlessenginecovers 

"There is NO threat made or implied; just stating they are 'waiting' for you to pay up."

The typewritten letter to the OP reads:

"I still think about you and the $382.00 you owe me."

There is an implied threat in the "I still think of you" portion of the sentence.

And sending the OP a second letter seals the case.

And the OP further stated that this transaction occurred "a couple years back."

How many years would you allow these unjustified "dunning" letters continue if it were you on the receiving end?

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@1786davycrockett I know EXACTLY what the letters read and even though I would 'suspect' something personally-  but 'implies' only goes as far as you can throw the 'suspect'. 

It would go nowhere. 

Don't hate on the messenger- I'm just telling you what most ANY Police Dept. would tell you when you 'tried' to get a ??? What, Restraining order?? An arrest?? Never gonna happen.

[lacemaker3]

All that is needed here is for the local PD to let the harasser know that they are aware of his harassing activity. That will scare most offenders who are not actively psychotic into mending their ways and toeing the line.

Yes, that can definitely happen if OP files a report with the local PD, with the supporting evidence that they now have available.

It's disgusting that people are supporting the harasser with posts that suggest taking action would be fruitless or a waste of time. Why are you supporting the harasser? There is no excuse for that.

FYI @stainlessenginecovers. Stop it.

[kitschy*loot]

@galahadestates I am really shocked over a few of the replies you have received. Clearly if someone continues to use your address to send you anything after a purchase; that alone is a problem... and sending those types of messages are beyond a problem, and for anyone to imply it's not threatening is strange to me.

There was a reply saying the seller could have been a former victim of a scam carried out by someone else and that is also strange to me, because what does that have to do with harassing a former buyer? If eBay allowed you to keep the item after a refund that also has nothing to do with anything... 

I didn't see any replies mentioning this but if a seller had told me happy Kwanzaa I wouldn't just be able to shrug my shoulders and carry on about my day... unless you have communicated with the seller that you celebrate Kwanzaa how would they know if you celebrate or not? It is clear they have assumed you are black based on your name or other personal information, or they have been on social media accounts with a photo you may have, and I guess all black people celebrate Kwanzaa in their mind... or it's just a way for them to let you know they think you are black and want to put a seemingly innocent greeting... when it's really an implied threat that your race means something to them.

[albertabrightalberta]

@galahadestates 

Whether the seller's threat (or implied threats) are credible or not isn't the point. 

That a seller from 2019 (4 years ago!!) is sending multple snail mail letters to a previous buyer is (at best) odd and (at worse) worrisome and (at worst) dangerous and threatening.

Clearly this worries the OP enough for him to come here for advice. To contact both his own police department as well as the seller's police departments and file reports will get the actions on record should the former seller's activities or threats escalate. 

Good luck @galahadestates .

[galahadestates]

First of all, I would like to thank everyone!  What a wonderful community we have here on eBay.   I have received all of the replies and I cannot thank you all enough!  

I have received the clients name, and address privately from some of private messages.  There is another Christmas card I originally got, and am still trying to locate.  It said something about how Santa loves everyone, and then written inside was “but Jesus hates you”, or something to that effect.  I kept it somewhere but it honestly made me chuckle because I figured it was a joke, but then the repetition has made it much less entertaining.    I don’t believe they looked me up on Facebook, and if they did there would be a low probability of me celebrating kwanza, so that comment was likely a bigoted comment trying to offend me, which it did not, but bothers me that people like that exist.   When I looked her/him/they on social media, it could be possible the person is going through some changes personally and my not no how to focus their emotions acceptably.    
I will be taking the majority’s advice, and contacting their local authorities, for awareness and peace of mind.   What they choose to do with that information is up to them.  Thank you, again, everyone.  I am so very appreciative for all of the feedback and responses

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@lacemaker3 wrote:

All that is needed here is for the local PD to let the harasser know that they are aware of his harassing activity. That will scare most offenders who are not actively psychotic into mending their ways and toeing the line.

Yes, that can definitely happen if OP files a report with the local PD, with the supporting evidence that they now have available.

It's disgusting that people are supporting the harasser with posts that suggest taking action would be fruitless or a waste of time. Why are you supporting the harasser? There is no excuse for that.

FYI @stainlessenginecovers. Stop it.

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@lacemaker3 I'm not supporting anyone. I'm stating a fact. Don't hate on the messenger. 

[stuff4divas]

@galahadestates   purchase history goes back 3 years

[bctk5292]

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@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

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@galahadestates wrote:

I don’t have a name, nor do I even have an address or town, only that it’s postmarked in the city of Baltimore. 

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There is NO threat made or implied; just stating they are 'waiting' for you to pay up.

NOBODY will do ANYTHING with this. It's NOT stalking to 'mail' someone a 'letter' stating 'I'm waiting for my $$'. 

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An unsigned, anonymous letter or card @stainlessenginecovers is most definitely a threat. You're wrong, and pleading messenger is not a pass.

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@bctk5292 wrote:

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@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

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@galahadestates wrote:

I don’t have a name, nor do I even have an address or town, only that it’s postmarked in the city of Baltimore. 

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There is NO threat made or implied; just stating they are 'waiting' for you to pay up.

NOBODY will do ANYTHING with this. It's NOT stalking to 'mail' someone a 'letter' stating 'I'm waiting for my $$'. 

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An unsigned, anonymous letter or card @stainlessenginecovers is most definitely a threat. You're wrong, and pleading messenger is not a pass.

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@bctk5292 

I'm not asking for a pass...or your approval.

Just because people don't understand the law doesn't make my comment wrong. 

[1786davycrockett]

@stainlessenginecovers 

Okay -- how about this, then?

2022 Maryland Statutes
Criminal Law
Title 3 - Other Crimes Against the Person
Subtitle 8 - Stalking and Harassment
Section 3-803 - Harassment

Universal Citation: MD. Criminal Law Code § 3-803 (2022)

    (a)    A person may not follow another in or about a public place or maliciously engage in a course of conduct that alarms or seriously annoys the other:

        (1)    with the intent to harass, alarm, or annoy the other;

        (2)    after receiving a reasonable warning or request to stop by or on behalf of the other; and

        (3)    without a legal purpose.

    (b)    This section does not apply to a peaceable activity intended to express a political view or provide information to others.

    (c)    A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to:

        (1)    for a first offense, imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $500 or both; and

        (2)    for a second or subsequent offense, imprisonment not exceeding 180 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.

[ise710]

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@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

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@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

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@lacemaker3 wrote:

FYI @stainlessenginecovers. Stop it.

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Don't hate on the messenger. 

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You're wrong, and pleading messenger is not a pass. 

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I'm not asking for a pass...or your approval. 

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But it seems like you did, @stainlessenginecovers.