Detective Seeking Flan Info by lexigeek

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Detective Seeking Flan Info

POSTED BY: LEXIGEEK
UPDATED: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 10:06
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VIEWED: 7282
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Monday, December 18, 2006 12:40 PM

I have been contacted by Bon Stewart, a detective with the Ashland, Ore. Police Department. He is looking into the Flanvention cancellation as a possible criminal matter. Det. Stewart is trying to compile a list of everyone who lost money to Booster Events. I told him I'm not comfortable providing other people's names, but that I would ask around on his behalf.

If you would like to provide your information to him, his e-mail address (which he has allowed me to share) is bon@ashland.or.us.

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Monday, December 18, 2006 12:56 PM

DIETCOKE

Have you called the police department to see if he is legit? If he is, you should post this on the OB and any other boards you know.

NY/NJ/CT Browncoats: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/firefly_nyc

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Monday, December 18, 2006 1:02 PM

LEXIGEEK

Quote:
Originally posted by dietcoke:
Have you called the police department to see if he is legit? If he is, you should post this on the OB and any other boards you know.

NY/NJ/CT Browncoats: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/firefly_nyc

Yeah, I verified he's legit. (See http://www.ashland.or.us/StaffDirectory.asp).

I've x-posted on the OB, Flanvention Helpline and the Backup Bash board.

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Monday, December 18, 2006 1:25 PM

EMBERS

huge thanks to lexigeek for getting this contact information out to everyone...
I hope it IS getting to everyone
has anyone posted it to the Booster forum?
er...is the Booster board still up?

visit: http://weekinwhedon.org/wiw/

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Monday, December 18, 2006 3:48 PM

STOWEAWAY

BUMP

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 5:01 AM

SHINYTRINKET

Thanks, Lexigeek, I'll send info. immediately!

*************************************************
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1. Never bypass a bathroom
2. Never waste an erection
3. Never trust a fart
http://www.myspace.com/claudiathecatlady >^..^<
"How The BE Grinch Tried To Steal Flan!" http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=14461

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 5:07 AM

ASARIAN

Quote:
Originally posted by ShinyTrinket:

Thanks, Lexigeek, I'll send info. immediately!

Just because the email address appears legit, don't necessarily mean the caller is. Just sayin', is all.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 5:37 AM

LEXIGEEK

Quote:
Originally posted by asarian:
Just because the email address appears legit, don't necessarily mean the caller is. Just sayin', is all.

Agreed, but I've actually been speaking with Det. Stewart for about a week now, and based on his questions, I have no doubt that he is who he says he is.

--
Shiny Firefly & Serenity-inspired shirts at www.blackmarketbeagles.com

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 6:02 AM

ASARIAN

Quote:
Originally posted by lexigeek:

Quote:
Originally posted by asarian:

Just because the email address appears legit, don't necessarily mean the caller is. Just sayin', is all.

Agreed, but I've actually been speaking with Det. Stewart for about a week now, and based on his questions, I have no doubt that he is who he says he is.

Yeah. I just don't want some con-artist taking advantage of us fans yet again, collecting credit card/paypal info and such, only to find out that it's happened again.

If I were you, I'd call the Ore. Police Department yourself, and specifically ask for him. Only way to be sure.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 6:06 AM

FLATTOP

Quote:
Originally posted by lexigeek:
I have been contacted by Bon Stewart, a detective with the Ashland, Ore. Police Department. He is looking into the Flanvention cancellation as a possible criminal matter. Det. Stewart is trying to compile a list of everyone who lost money to Booster Events. I told him I'm not comfortable providing other people's names, but that I would ask around on his behalf.

If you would like to provide your information to him, his e-mail address (which he has allowed me to share) is bon@ashland.or.us.

Paraphrase of Original post by Asarian:
Just because the email address looks legit doesn't mean he is...

True Dat! And so I started to dig.
The web address is active, and appears legit. So I copied down some information from there (Addresses, zip codes, phone #'s).

Google Earth finds Ashland Oregon easily enough.
The (541) area code is Oregon (according to 6 different web sources ('course they could all reference the same (potentially corrupt) primary source)
All (thus far limited) attempts to look up the Ashland Police come back with the same address and telco number:
(541) 482-5211
So I called directory assistance (541) 555-1212, and requested the Ashland, Oregon Police Department non-emergency number.
(541) 482-5211

If that isn't the correct phone number for the Ashland Police department, someone is going to a lot of trouble to set up a scam.

Of course none of this ensures the email address given is legit.
So I called the Ashland Police number (541) 482-5211 and asked for Detective Stewart. I was transferred by a friendly dispatcher to Detective Stewart's voice mail where I left my contact information and requested a call back.
So far I have NOT confirmed the email address. Detective Stewart does however appear to exist, and also appears to work for the Ashland, Oregon Police Department.

Theoretically 500, maybe 750 people (including vendors) were harmed by the cancellation of FLAN II. I don't see there being a sufficient return on investment for this to be a scam. Unless it's a bogus email address.

I'll post more if/when I hear back from Detective Stewart.

So now the big question is:
Do you trust me?

Do your own research. Follow the steps above. I didn't list many websites I used so that you could use your own. The broader your search base, the less likely it is to be single sourced, therefore the harder to corrupt.
The person initiating contact has the control.

LexiGeek - Good on ya' for not disclosing anyone else's contact information!

And I wasn't even supposed to be at FLAN II, I just like computer/communications security paranoia.

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 6:59 AM

EMBERS

I just hope that Booster Entertainment ends up getting as thoroughally investigated as Detective Stewarts appears to be ... getting...

I really hope that most Flan2 ticketholders respond, others we will never find out if fraud was intended, or we should believe that it was just stupidity.

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 7:34 AM

MAL4PREZ

Whether it was stupidity or fraud, the fact that BE is still selling tickets for future events is what gets me. I don't think they're crooks, but they are completely incompetent. Heads firmly up a$$es and not able to see the signs of their own impending doom, nor recognize the magnitude of what they've done. I don't care about criminal charges, but BE needs to be shut down for everyone's good, including their own.

BTW, this isn't the first I've heard of the fine detective. I've already contacted him and filed a report with my bank to get my money back.

-----------------------------------------------
I'm the president. I don't need to listen.

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 7:50 AM

THEONETRUEBIX

Last I heard, the ability to "checkout" in their online store was disabled, so I don't think they ARE still selling tickets for future events at the moment.

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 8:01 AM

MAL4PREZ

Quote:
Originally posted by theonetruebix:
Last I heard, the ability to "checkout" in their online store was disabled, so I don't think they ARE still selling tickets for future events at the moment.

Interesting... I didn't go that far. That's good to hear though!

-----------------------------------------------
I'm the president. I don't need to listen.

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 8:23 AM

CEDRIC

Well, I responded to the detective's call. BE still owes us for our sizable travel allowance, not that I expect I'll ever see that money.

So if you manage to get money back from your credit card company, and want to donate to the Bedlam Bards' travel fund, drop me a line. Just a few bucks from everyone who attended would be a big help. :-)

Once again, thanks, all you Browncoats who did contribute to the travel fund at the Browncoat Backup Bash. And a huge thanks to the CalCoats who saved Christmas for everyone! You are heroes!

Cedric

"Some things stay with you, 'til the day you die."
On the Drift: Music Inspired by Firefly and Serenity, now on sale at
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bedlambards/from/celtic

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 9:20 AM

DECKROID

** **

This is the beat that makes ya shake yo rump
That makes your booty go Ba-Bump, Ba-Bump
It's that beat that make ya bump ya bump...

Bump ya bump
Bump ya Bump

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 9:37 AM

FOLLOWMAL

I'm going to watch this thread and if I see that the info re: the Detective is correct and there is no way a scam is being perpetrated, I'll BSC post this as far and wide across the 'Verse as we can get it to go. For my part, I think it's legit, but I want to be sure before I have it posted on all the forums and the yahoo groups the BSC can reach.

Thanks to Embers for getting my attention about this when I've been busy recovering from the awesome weekend we had!!

Go to www.goodworkspresents.org to find out how to honor the Captain!

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 10:06 AM

EMBERS

well I sent an e-mail giving my name and address and total dollar amount paid to Booster,
and I got an e-mail back saying that he would be following up with the precise information he needs later...
I'm expecting that credit card receipt information would be wanted in document form (ie mailed in)
and probably an affidavit form filled out....

I definitely think the detective is the real thing,
I know that at least one person at BE Victims met with him in person (they live in Oregon and filed their complaint at the Ashland Police Dept) and of course Lexigeek confirms that he spoke with the detective on the phone.

I really feel that an investigation is the only way to settle my belief that they knew exactly what they were doing when they spent my money on other things....

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