Beware of this guy! Johnny Z
 

I wanted to post a heads up to anyone buying/selling on CL. Beware of a man named Johnny Z/John Zakhariah (phone # ends in 2007). If you hear from this guy please avoid.

Long story short, I sold a camera to this man and it was a disaster. To keep it brief I've left out several details, PM me if you'd like more information.

• When I met him I sat down with the guy for 45 min showing him how to use the camera and set it up for him. When he was comfortable with everything he decided to buy it.

• Next day he complained the camera wasn't charging (I demonstrated the camera charging when I met him so I knew it worked) and wanted his $$ back. I declined since I showed him a working camera the day before (who knows what happened in the last 24 hours?). When I did this he threatened to sue me, post my information online, and go to my workplace.

• After he messaged/called me continuously I decided that I had to involve the police in case this escalated even more. The officer on the case told me there's already a file on him for doing this to other people.

After this I googled his name/# and this guy is trouble. He's known for scamming, harassing, and has even been sued by someone for defamation.

Lesson Learned, I'll google everyone's # before meeting :speechless: Not to scare anyone away, In 7+ years dealing on CL this is the most extreme issue I've had.

A few links:
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/7782882007
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/3103593220
Scammers Beware!: John Zachariah and SuperModelsUSA.com
Defending Your Reputation Online: Tools for Dealing with Attacks - Insights - MLT

block number.
take a nap.
profit.

yup, there are floating scum out there in CL that pull this shit

i use my dirty email (my email that gets signed up for spam) for CL and I pretty much insist on communicating strictly by email because it is relayed by CL

if i'm selling some random cheap stuff, sure i'll give my number for meet ups. But if I'm selling something big (imo over $100)...i'd never give out my phone number. If you can't communicate by email, another buyer can.

^ I take it the other way. If you can't communicate with a legitimate contact, then what are you afraid of/hiding?

I'm offering a legitimate product, and when buying I do my research. If there aren't phone numbers and real address' involved I will probably stay away.

anyone else thought about the johnny z arcade when they first read the title


:pokerface:


:awwyeah:


the arcade memories... the driving games SwiftRage :lawl:

to each their own there
but like i said, if it doesn't work for one buyer, it'll work for another. I'm not a retailer, I don't need to sell anything right away.

After my xbox fiasco a few years back i realized it was too much of a hassle and you're giving too much power to the other guy by giving him your number and/or home/work address.

That old Johnny Zee's space has now turned into some autoplan broker office.

Not sure what my kids would think if I tell them their pops used to blow tons of quarters in this place. Then again, they probably wouldn't have the slightest clue what an arcade machine is. :pokerface:

Was it a canon camera?

Same, if I don't have a phone # I generally don't meet.

Go Pro

A quick google search shows that this guy probably has a lot of interesting stories to tell!

more like the other way around, others have interesting stories about him to tell!

His # is all over the internet, feel free to give him a call :D Let me know if you guys hit it off!

I have a junk email address and I also have call block on my cell phone. Set it I only answer calls with their ID. Most of the time if the call is spam I just hung up and block that number. My phone is also on slient 99% of the time so it doesn't matter if you call at 4am in the morning I won't hear it. I also register my phone bill with my English name while others stuff I use my Chinese name so good luck trying to local me.

^ Don't use your lifeline on Mr.Happysilp

Well what is he trying to pull here? Did he switch the cameras/batteries?

That or... he bought it, couldn't figure out how to use it (even after i sat with him for 45 min and told him where to find the manual online). Then thought he could scare me into a refund.

He wasn't very technical and I had to show him how to power the camera on/off several times.

Chances are he has the same camera, but broken (either his own or he bought one). Then he buys yours and ask for a refund, intending to give you his broken one and sell your working one.

:suspicious:

i'm not a camera guy at all...like.at.all.

but isn't it just a power on/off switch? the manufacturer would want a simple on/off switch for the masses no?

I do tech support and I regularly deal with people who can't find the power button on their iPhone, even though they've been using it for months, if not longer.

Don't overestimate the stupidity of the masses. Every time I've thought I've hit bottom, I end up dealing with someone dumber.

Yes and no. Tech its not intuitive for everyone. There's a big enough market that Best Buy charges $40 to pair a smartwatch to your phone :D

http://i64.tinypic.com/35d2pte.jpg

You can make an entire thread on the dumb things people call into tech support for their devices!

+1 or for that matter people doesn't know what a power cable/power cord looks like......

+1. If you won't call me, even from a blocked number and have a conversation on the phone, you're sketchy to me.

I'm a grown adult and the majority of people I encounter on Craigslist are idiots. I'd rather repeat everything I've already listed on my original post over the phone in a 5 minute conversation than reply email by email, individual and trivial questions.

In all fairness the GoPro power button is kinda sketchy for someone who isn't used to tech lol

When i contact sellers on CL, i always leave my cell #. It never ceases to amaze me when they ignore my # and just reply via email. :yuno: