I got scammed on craigslist bought a ps3 controller and its not working. what are my options?

i have his email, cell phone # and name from the email. and his post on craigslist. i called him already and emailed him and still no repliesI got scammed on craigslist bought a ps3 controller and its not working. what are my options?
You can sidestep would-be scammers by following these common-sense rules:





DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - follow this one simple rule and you will avoid 99% of the scam attempts on craigslist.


NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.


FAKE CASHIER CHECKS %26amp; MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON, and BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later.


CRAIGSLIST IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTION, and does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer ';buyer protection'; or ';seller certification';


NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION (bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)


AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL ';GUARANTEE'; YOUR TRANSACTION.


Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts?





FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)


FTC online complaint form (http://www.ftc.gov)


Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501


Internet Fraud Complaint Center (http://www.ic3.gov)


Software Piracy (http://www.siia.net/piracy/report.asp)


Non-emergency number for your local police department.


If you suspect that an item posted for sale on craigslist may be part of a scam, please email the details to ';abuse@craigslist.org';. Be sure to include the URL (or eight-digit post ID number) in your message.





Recognizing scams





Most scams involve one or more of the following:





inquiry from someone far away, often in another country


Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a ';guarantee';


inability or refusal to meet face-to-face before consumating transaction


Examples of Scams





1. Someone claims that craigslist will guarantee a transaction, certify a buyer/seller, OR claims that craigslist will handle or provide protection for a payment.





These claims are fraudulent, as craigslist does not have any role in any transaction.


Scammer will often send an official looking email that appears to come from craigslist, offering a guarantee, certifying a seller, providing payment services -- all such emails are fakes!


2. distant person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier's check





you receive an email (examples below) offering to buy your item, or rent your apartment, sight unseen.


cashier's check is offered for your sale item, as a deposit for an apartment, or for just about anything else of value.


value of cashier's check often far exceeds your item - scammer offers to ';trust'; you, and asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service


banks will often cash these fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR, including criminal prosecution in some cases!


scam often involves a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc)


3. Someone requests wire service payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:





Scam ';bait'; items include apartments, laptops, plasma TVs, cell phones, tickets - but could be almost anything


Often claim that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money - this is FALSE, once you've wired money, it is GONE.


Common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Spain, Italy, Netherlands - but could be anywhere


Apartment listing may be local, but landlord/owner is ';travelling'; or ';relocating'; and needs you to wire money to them abroad


Deal often seems too good to be true, price is too low, rent is below market, etc


4. distant person offers to send you a money order and then have you wire money:





this is ALWAYS a scam, in our experience - the cashier's check is FAKE


sometimes accompanies an offer of merchandise, sometimes not


scammer often asks for your name, address, etc for printing on the fake check


deal often seems too good to be true


5. distant seller suggests use of an online escrow service.





most online escrow sites are FRAUDULENT, operated by scammers


for more info, do a google search on ';fake escrow'; or ';escrow fraud';


6. distant seller asks for a partial payment upfront, after which he will ship goods





he says he trusts you with the partial payment


he may say he has already shipped the goods


deal often sounds too good to be true


7. foreign company offers you a job receiving payments from customers, then wiring funds





foreign company may claim it is unable to receive payments from its customers directly


you are typically offered a percentage of payments received


this kind of ';position'; may be posted as a job, or offered to you via email