I got scammed by a guy in PA

We all read those things where somebody falls victim to a scam. Well, unfortunately for the first time in my life, I did.

I had a want ad in the June/July issue of Antique Power magazine. This fellow called me in response to that ad. We talked about Coolspring PA power museum, how he was haying with a IH 560, and his 15-30 McCormick project tractor, and how he had 30 head of beef cattle and lived on an inherited farm in Western PA. He also knew Polk's auction in Indiana, and knew enough to have actually been there in the past. Normally I can filter out the scams, as something doesn't 'feel' right. Well this fellow texted me pictures, and talked of experience. He KNEW tractors and equipment - very well (unlike most scammers

He was paid via a Post Office Money Order send with tracking, so I know he received it.

This was a month and a half ago back in July. Few weeks went by and I called only to have found he had blocked my phone number. Then, I did a google street and satellite view of his street address - and the property was nowhere near the description of a farm.

I later found the pictures he had texted me actually were posted here on the archived photo ads 5 to 10 years ago (not him advertising). I suspect he found the images doing a google image search.

I lost $270 to this fellow for a Farmall F-12 manifold and a set of used .090 Deere Pistons. I have filed a complaint with the post office, but I doubt anything will come of it based on what the postal inspector told me.

The scammer is:
William (Bill) Armstrong
2476 Hemlock RD
Commodore, PA 15729
724-467-1174

This is a post to warn others.

Sorry to hear that. I could never do that to someone. I guess it's how we were brought up. I think as we go through life we all get taken now and then. I bought a motorcycle sidecar body, and paid something like 1,200 for it. That was a few years ago. When I got the part it was total junk. At least I have the part I can probably salvage it with a lot of body work. Stan

It is a sad thing about today's society that scamming people is common practice. The law does little to nothing about it. Yet if they find a little bit of drugs on someone they will sure take everything that "druggy" has as their own.

I am at the point where I rarely buy anything directly from people anymore unless it is face to face. People complain about Ebay and how buyers have the power, well at least if you buy something that is bad/wrong/scammed you can get your money back.

I think it has happened to alot of us. I paid a guy fifty bucks for a tool he said he would. Bring over later. I had known him since grade school. He brought the tool over on his way out of town. He just forgot to stop by. That was twenty years ago.

Sad story but I guess it happens all the time ....... AND it has been happening for centuries, not just lately. Now of course a lot of the stuff is through electronic communication but mankind has been screwing one another since the dawn of time. I guess one might say that things never change (despite what Bob Dylan said in 1964).

Nice photos and a good show by the looks of it. What I like even more though is the fact that a couple of youngsters had more fun there than they would have doing almost anything else ..... like turning the clock back a number of decades when kids lived simpler lives.

Truly sorry you got scammed but not everyone is crooked. I needed a jack handle and lug wrench for a pickup and saw one on Ebay. Called the seller with a question and he was sure he had just what I needed, if I would send a check today he would go ahead and ship it. I am pretty trusting so I mailed the check and a few days later the tool kit arrived. However the lug wrench was too big so I called the guy back. He acted surprised but said he had another wrench that he would check for sure on a like pickup before sending. The correct wrench arrived a few days later as promised.

2476 Hemlock RD Commodore, PA does look like a farm. Looks like three residential properties in a large wooded area that is actually quite nice.

The landline number at that address shows as (724) 254-4245 which is actually registered at Blairsville, PA, but with the 'keep your number' ability now it is not un usual for a number in one place to show as another place. Commodore and Blairsville and only 40 miles apart. By the way the number you posted is registered in Pittsburg, PA.

Anyway there are (were) two occupants: Christina Taylor in her 40s and Bradley T Benematti in his 30s.

I bet a lot that your scammer is Brad Menematti since he is currently an inmate in a PA correctional institution. From the PA dept of corrections: "Bradley Benematti is an inmate currently at the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, located in Harrisburg,PA. "

I would phone that institution and report this to them. If he is questioned by a good detective (as I once was) he will fold up like a cheap chair and confess. You will likely still lose money, but at least you will feel better.

Wish I could edit my previous post. here is the scoop on Chriastina "taylor" of Commodore:

From September 9 court dicket in PA:

48-year-old Christina Benematti of Commodore will plead today to five counts each of identity theft, theft, receiving stolen property, and unauthorized device access. She's accused of misusing credit cards stolen from a Homer City man and, with an accomplice, running up $40,000 in charges.

PLEASE report this crime - it will be easy for your local law enforcement to solve since we already have the basics for them.

For someone to do that is just unfathomable to me.

I can see being overtaken by a moment of temptation, not returning a found item, accepting too much change, taking advantage of a situation that may be less than moral or upright.

But to go through the motions to intentionally set someone up, lie, deceive, follow through and feel good about it the next day...

What is going on in the depths of a mind that has that desire?

Sad thing is, the world is full of them.

Sure glad this world is not my home, just passing through!

Good detective work. Its Amazing what you can find on the net. I wonder who's name they're using perhaps her father. Sad what people will do but it's all over. Around here the jail has a revolving door so the crooks dont care. If they do get jail time its 3 hots and a cot.

Oops, posted a reply in the wrong place, should have been in the one where the two 9 year-old boys were at a tractor show. I'll try to find out where it belongs.

1948 Case, you would be a good guy to get to know.

If you paid with a United States Postal Service money order, and he scammed you it is a federal offence as per my friend who works for the USPS.

(quoted from post at 14:25:46 09/08/19) If you paid with a United States Postal Service money order, and he scammed you it is a federal offence as per my friend who works for the USPS.

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Yep, but so are all the check thefts from mailboxes that local law enforcement has to work. Maybe where you are you can get the postal inspectors to work a $300 case, but here it would just go into a file.

Local law enforcement can (should) work up the case correctly and deliver the solved case, ready for someone to interview the suspect and finish the affidavit, to the postal inspector. Kind of like pre-chewing food for those too busy to eat.

Of course nothing will be done by anyone if the OP doesn't report the crime. His/her email is not open (at least modern view says not). Hope he reports it - if prosecuted the perps will get additional time considering their history.

Wife got a call the other day she needed to pay $249.99 for Microsoft maintenance on her laptop of course she has Mac laptop,she played along with them for 10 minutes or so listening to all the things wrong with it when she said she had a mac he quickly hung up.

That keep your number is something that cannot be done. Last Nov. I moved to town 12 mile away from old town. Same telephone company. I could not keep number I had for guessing 40 years. Had to get new number, remember same phone company and I go to same office to pay the bill. If different company would be understandable but same company.

The 'keep your number' thing is for cell phones.

Was the phone number you couldn't keep your land line?

Amen So old and aches and pain i'm ready to go

(quoted from post at 19:46:30 09/08/19) That keep your number is something that cannot be done. Last Nov. I moved to town 12 mile away from old town. Same telephone company. I could not keep number I had for guessing 40 years. Had to get new number, remember same phone company and I go to same office to pay the bill. If different company would be understandable but same company.

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BALONEY! My folks got their landline number ported over to a Verizon wireless device that plugs into the house phone system. It took a few minutes to do at the Verizon store.

Any phone number can be transferred anywhere. It's just a few presses of a computer key, and I would not be surprised if there are Federal laws requiring all carriers be capable of doing so. Anyone who tells you otherwise is clueless or lying.

A google earth reveals a lot of woods in the area . How far do you live from this guy ?

if it were to happen to me I would contact the police and file a police report. they will be able to find out where he cashed the check. might get lucky.

(quoted from post at 05:32:26 09/10/19) if it were to happen to me I would contact the police and file a police report. they will be able to find out where he cashed the check. might get lucky.

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The OP reported it to the postal inspector and since he has the name and location of suspect(s) they should be able to work it. He will not likely get money back but hopefully will feel better if they do not just walk away free.

It amazes me how much work some scammers will do to cheat someone. Imagine if they put all that energy into something honest! I just dont get it!