www.colombianpossibilites.com (WARNING)

miamimike says on Aug 18, 2006, 20:11:

Hard to understand why you would front this much money to start with.It appears to be a good old fashioned Trampa(scam). Good Luck

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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Wastelandlive says on Aug 18, 2006, 22:20:

Not to be harsh "anonimo" But the whole "a fool and his money" aphorism applies here.

What the hell were you thinking wiring money to Colombia for such vague, unconfirmable services?

You should have another read of the website and note one of the least sophisticated techniques of the con-artist: gaining your trust by warning you against other "swindlers."

"Most Colombians believe that American or European travelers are well to do people, having lots of extra income to spend around. We know different, we know that the majority are middle income or retired folks trying to stretch their money as much as possible."

Wasteland

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. says on Aug 19, 2006, 00:14:

Guys.. When doing this kind of things, ask for the "do your job first and then I pay you" deal!, when the job has been done, you will handle the money to them, hand by hand. If they say it will cost you $100us and you have to pay in advance, then you will say....I will give you US200 but I will pay you when you get the information and not before. It is time for you to start thinking like a Colombian, remember...DO NOT GIVE PAPAYA.

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tomtom33 says on Aug 19, 2006, 02:46:

Mas Last summer she contacted me via PBH. She claimed that she could get my Rentista VISA renewed. I was at wits end because of the incorrect advice given by the Chicago Deputy Consul. I stupidly sent her money. Never got the renewal. And never got a promised refund.

Fortunately through my God-awfully expensive law firm in Bogota, I did get the renewal. Colombian bureaucrats(the Deputy Consul) seem to enjoy fucking the Gringo.

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redway says on Aug 19, 2006, 14:39:

I was going to send this Marta woman $500 or 1/2 of the payment. I DIDN'T. My gut feeling-even though I would love to find an old, long lost friend, told me "RIP-OFF". God. Glad I didn't. THEY ARE IN BOGOTA.

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Gomezman5 says on Aug 19, 2006, 15:22:

Anonimo....... Now that several people told you just what you wanted to hear.....that you were foolish for sending your money and that you were scammed....(sarcasm added), allow me to offer a little advise that might be a bit more helpfull.

If this entitily is located hear in the U S, it will be very easy for a law enforcement entitiy to catch the responsible parties that are comitting this kind of fraud. I believe you have two goals, first, and foremost, you would like to recover what you paid out. That may or may not be possible. If this person has assets, law enforcement (both state and federal agencies) can work to obtain these funds for you. Secondly, assuming that you will not recover the money you lost, you would like to see these people put out of business and prosecuted. If they are in the US, they will be.

Most importantly, and this works to your benefit,these people will continue their scam until they are eventually caught. Rare is the day do people do things like this without greed setting in thereby causing them to continue their operation which for the most part is carried out easily, with little risk of detection. In fact, the more they do it, the more profitable it is for them, the LESS likely they are to give it a second thought about "quiting while they are ahead."

What you need to do is contact the FBI, and the chief legal officer of the state your are in, which is ussually the Attorney General's office. Some states have special government units set up to combat internet fraud. They will refer you to these entities to they extent that they exist. I can assure you with %11o certaintly, these people have scammed in places beyond PBH.

You should also know, that should this operation be based out of the US, the federal government, by agreement has mechanisms for apprehending these people even if the operation is not being conducted in the US. Act now......while you still might be able to recover all or part of what you have lost.

Good Luck

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bufalo says on Aug 19, 2006, 22:59:

That sucks major. I actually thought about going into this type of business here in colombia. One of the several reason I didn't is because I wasn't sure if there is much need, and the other is that I thought colombiapossibilities was legit and good, so why compete against something that works that well. I saw a posting just recently where someone was looking for someone else here. I don't remember who suggested the site, but I thinkit was one of the usual, reputable posters.......

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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redway says on Aug 19, 2006, 23:25:

Bufalo if you start that business... I want to find a friend of mine.

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anonimo says on Aug 20, 2006, 03:53:

First of all.. I did not send money to Colombia… it was wired to the Citibank account listed below in California.. and the website was registered in the US. She almost sounded professional when she did the sales job on me.

Secondly, although I would like my money back, I do not expect to get it back. It is not a big deal, only $364US (1/2 of what she had quoted). I just thought I should post a thread on this site before she scams anyone else on here, as she said she is trying to get more business from PBH

I think it would be great if she was shut down. I don’t think I can report it to the FBI, as I am in Canada.


Domain name: colombianpossibilities.com

Registrant Contact:
Colombian Possibilities
Marta Ramirez (machona at yahoo.com)
+1.5402881323
Fax: +1.5402881323
124 Saint Roberts Dr.
Stanford, VA 22556
US

Administrative Contact:
Colombian Possibilities
Marta Ramirez (machona at yahoo.com)
+1.5402881323
Fax: +1.5402881323
124 Saint Roberts Dr.
Stanford, VA 22556
US

Technical Contact:
Colombian Possibilities
Marta Ramirez (machona at yahoo.com)
+1.5402881323
Fax: +1.5402881323
124 Saint Roberts Dr.
Stanford, VA 22556
US




Marta Ramirez to me approx Feb 3, 2006

Hi ******,
Thank you for writing. Well I could not give you a set cost as I
cannot know for certain what her search would involve. However I can
tell you that our searches run in the $1000 dollar figure and they
usually take up to 6 months. I could agree to give you a discount and
make it a set figure we both can agree on.
There are ways to search for folks and although you have few details
about her we have many contacts and folks who help us along the way.
We have access to national databases that often are very successful in
giving us the right information. We pay for all information we receive
even if it takes us nowhere. We have been doing this for several
years, have a great track record and can provide you with references
to our work from past or current clients.
Her old address and cell number can lead us to current information.
I assume that you have tried to call that number and it is no longer
working or belongs to someone else, but through our databases we can
find if she was the one who took out the service, which would mean
that the cell phone company with have her ID number (like US social
security number), with that we are certain she would turn up in
Bogota. That number is needed for any kind of transactions for her or
her kid(s).
Please email me at info at colombianpossibilities.com
so we can discuss this
further or you can call me in Bogota at 6690420 or my cell 316-221-2280
Thank you
Marta

----------------------------------------------

On 2/5/06, Marta Ramirez wrote:
Hi ******,
What I can do is give you a discount since we are trying to get more
customers from Poorbuthappy. Let's say we do a search for $700 all
together with half up front and the rest in 2 installments. Let me know
if this is acceptable to you.
Thanks
Marta

------------------------------------------------------

Marta Ramirez to me Feb 7, 2006

Hi ******,
Sorry for the late response, I had to go out of town for a couple of
days. Yes that payment structure is ok with me, I actually have a US
bank account with Citibank. So you can either do a teller deposit at any
Citibank branch or you can do a wire transfer into my account, this wire
has an $18 dollar fee so please make sure to add that to the payments.
My account information is:
Account holder: Marta Ramirez
Checking account with Citibank (US account)
Account number 40018810412
Routing Number 321171184
My address in the States is:
2040 Harrington Avenue
Oakland, CA 94601
The address of the branch the account was opened:
Citibank
2000 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
Please let me know when you will be making the first deposit so I can
look out for it and strat right away. Also you need to send me an email
with any and all information (old and new) you have on her, including
some pictures of her and her family.
Thanks for your trust and I look forward to working to give you happy
results.
Marta

--------------------------------------

Marta Ramirez to me Feb 13, 2006

Hi *****,
I did receive the transfer, thank you. We have started the case and I
will keep you updated as we move forward.

Tnanks
Marta
--------------------------------------------------
Marta Ramirez to me Feb 21, 2006

******,
My apologies, I meant Cartagena. We found a connection in Medellin just
a few days ago and I was talking to him this morning when I emailed you.
My bad!
Marta


---------------------------------------------------
Marta Ramirez to me March 6, 2006

Hi Dwayne,
I have 3 folks working at it right now, one in Medellin trying to find
folks who knew her through *****. Also in Manizales asking around where
she lived. And one in Bogota, this might be a long shot but we
wanted to
ask around places like ***** with her picture to see if she is working
along the same lines. We have not had luck yet, but that does not
mean
we won't.
We are trying also through the National Registry to get a hit on her
name and that way obtain a cedula number.
I will keep you posted.
Thanks
Marta

--------------------------------------------------

Marta Ramirez to me March 13, 2006

Hi ******,
We got some information as to a possible address in Bogota but she does
not live there, and they don't know her. So we are checking other
possible venues. We just had national elections and so the people I use
at the National Registry cannot help us with info right now, I have to
wait probably another week or so. What we are hoping to do is run her
name to get a list of all the women with the same identical name and
start a process of elimination. It will take a while but we will get her
for you.
I will keep you posted.
Thanks
Marta

----------------------------------

Marta Ramirez to me May 3, 2006 (The last time I heard from her)

Hi ******,
I am actually out of town on a case at the moment but will return this
coming Friday. I will be having a staff meeting with all investigators
on Saturday and will get updates on all the cases. I will be emailing
you on Sunday or MOnday at the latest.
Thanks
Marta

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redway says on Aug 20, 2006, 08:50:

DonGringo You're right. But here's the problem... How do you find someone who will even do the first part?

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Michael B says on Aug 20, 2006, 15:25:

Gomezman5 vs DonGringo I don't know either of you, so don't take this as a personal attack or flame, however I think that DG has a much more realistic view of the 'way things really are'.

Lesson 1: The cops don't need YOU...and they expect the same.
Lesson 2: Money talks.
Lesson 3: People who don't want to be found (particulary by an ex boyfriend) usually won't be found. People who don't mind being found are usually pretty easy to find.
Lesson 4: DG raises an excellent point---if the detective gives you the information and your long ago girlie friend replies to your contacting her with a totaly indecent suggestion, you still gonna pay the detective?

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redway says on Aug 20, 2006, 16:54:

Question Michael B I'm not following the "girlie friend's" response with the "totally indecent suggestion". What does that mean? Both Gomezman5 and DonGringo are correct about this issue. The person searching isn't a detective, in my experience, but a private investigator. The fact of "up front" money is a reality in this sort of search. Common sense. The problem with Colombian Possibilities, Michael B, is that they are rip-offs. They don't come back with any info. Where's the beef? They have no doubt done this to alot of people. I think there is a police agency that would love to shut them down, i.e. take their web page down and try to get money back for their victims. Most people, who have paid for a search, are going to stick to the agreement if they see good faith on the part of the investigator. Even if the response from the person who is being located is not what you were hoping for.

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Michael B says on Aug 20, 2006, 17:27:

Response, Redway Totaly indecient suggestion: Why don't you go commit a lewd act. (Look a DG's post and substitute another word for 'piss' yourself)

Private detective, private investigator, what's the difference? Maybe when some states issuse the license they use one term and the state next to them uses the other. I don't know anything about Colombian Possibilites (except what I read here and I just looked at their web site a few minutes ago) but it would not suprize me at all to learn that they are not licensed as investigators (nor detectives) in either Colombia nor the United States. Licensed or not, rip off or not, I agree that up front money should be paid to get the work started and the balance paid when the job is complete......but the client should pay for the complete job even if they don't like the out come, and DG was (correctly) pointing out that if the client doesn't like the outcome (i.e the girl say 'OK, you found me, now leave me the **** alone'), WHY whould the client pay the balance?

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David in Idaho says on Aug 20, 2006, 17:47:

of course he should pay The detective/investigator (detectigator!) or how about the private eye needs some guarantee, since I bet many spurned lovers would skip on payment. Awfully lame of them. I hope it's not the mafia they hire to find someone.

If you paid your mechanic to fix up your car, and then you crashed it and totalled it before you paid the bill, would you still pay it?

If you pay for a vacation on a credit card, and then have a terrible time with bad weather, crappy food, and diarrhea, do you tear up the bill when it comes?

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redway says on Aug 20, 2006, 17:51:

David in Idaho Good reply.

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David in Idaho says on Aug 20, 2006, 18:11:

Gracias redway Here's another one ...

If you hire a hot colombian hooker and she's a worse lay than your frigid old gringa ex-wife, do you still pay?

Purely rhetorical; I've never hired a private eye or private parts.

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redway says on Aug 20, 2006, 18:55:

LOL Of course and you say gracias mi amor.

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David in Idaho says on Aug 20, 2006, 19:05:

Isn't that Italian? In Spanish it is just "Mi Amor" and yes, I could say that to you, but what would my currambera think? I think I'll play it safe and say ...

Gracias mi amigo.

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redway says on Aug 20, 2006, 19:07:

Amiga honey amiga redway is a place in california. I was being non-gender like George Sand. I was being stealth. i'm a woman, in other words.

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David in Idaho says on Aug 20, 2006, 19:15:

sorry amiga No kidding? I was born in Hollywood, grew up in San Diego, and went to school at Davis. Now I'm happy to have discovered Idaho and Colombia - two places I'd rather be than CA. But, if I'm not mistaken, Redway is a charming little town on 101 up in Humboldt County, near the incredible northern coast, and famous for it's high quality "produce." If forced to return to that state, I think I'd become your new neighbor.

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redway says on Aug 20, 2006, 19:28:

Ah an initiated fellow-DavidinIdaho I live in Garberville, 2 miles from Redway. Email me if you are forced to return or if you return under your own volition. I like it here and Colombia, too. I went to Berkeley. Yeah-I guess we have a rep.-here in Humboldt.

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David in Idaho says on Aug 20, 2006, 21:30:

well earned rep! Fellow UC alumnus - nice to make your acquaintance. My brother went to Berekely, but me, I'm an Aggie! But before you make any cow jokes, I studied English (BA) and Linguistics (MA), not animal husbandry.

I know Garberville - great place. And I am always impressed with the quality. Here in Idaho, we grow great potatoes, as even Colombians know, but you've got us beat where it counts.

Sure, I'd definitely look you up next time I am in good ol' Humboldt County. It is always a plus to know a local! Less chance of getting shot at, if nothing else!

What is your connection with Colombia?

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miamimike says on Aug 20, 2006, 22:31:

$750 is NOT out Of Line,,,, Maybe too cheap if the Investigator is really Legit! I had reason to conduct a similiar Search in Guadalajara, Mexico some 15 years ago and it was a lot more then that,$750. In the end I did not go thru with it but it was thru a very reputable Attorney and for a first class investigation WITH RESULTS it was in the neighborhood of $4K-$5K. Under $2K and you receive virtually Nothing I was told by someone who I consider extremely reputable. If you know someone in the Government with GOOD Access to Records(numero de social ect)this is what you can expect for what you paid, maybe $750. The "Good Stuff" is considerably more $$ as it cost $$$ to loosen the lips as

they say. When you stated you lost $$$ I was thinking $3K-$6K.
Again I am surprised at the $750 figure,,,,Don't forget, while it cost Good money to find someone, it also cost money to Get LOST, not everyone has the financial means to accomplish it. Ever hear of a Pobrecito getting lost(unless someone whacked him/her in revenge and tossed his body in the Bay)and remaining alive?? Probably not, it cost good money and real good connections to get lost and remain
that way,,,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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redway says on Aug 20, 2006, 23:05:

David in Idaho Aggies are good.

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