THANKS OBAMA I KNOW YOU DID THIS FOR ME

In September of 2006 I bought an iPod Nano off of eBay. The Nano arrived, but it was clearly a used/refurbished Nano, when the description said that it was a new one. I returned it to the seller the next day, and requested my money back.  I contacted the seller a bunch of times.... 

Hi Shawn,

I sent you a package over a week ago containing the iPod nano that I was returning (item #110016999930).  Could you please confirm receipt, and let me know when you've sent a return check?  I included a self-address stamped envelope for your convenience.  Thanks!!

Jim
aka bluelinetrain

But the dude didn't give me my money back.  I reported him through eBay, and got some of my money back through there, but because I could tell that he was ripping off a bunch of people, I also reported him through the United States Postal Inspection Service.

A few months later (December of 2006), I got an email from someone with the Postal Inspection Service:

Mr. Campbell,

I am in receipt of your complaint to the Postal Inspection Service
regarding you purchase of an Ipod Nano through ebay.

Please return email me a convenient time and telephone number where I
can reach you and discuss your complaint in detail.

I will be needing a copy of your cancelled check.

Mike E.
Fraud Analyst
Postal Inspection Service
Cincinnati Field Office

 

 

I contacted Mike, and gave him the info that he needed to pursue the eBay miscreant.  In March of 2007, I got an email from the Postal Inspection Service:

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.

United States Postal Inspection Service
USPIS - Cincinnati Field Office
895 Central Ave, Ste 400
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone:  (555) 555-1212
Fax:  (555) 555-1212
Email:  ADDRESS@uspis.gov

3/6/2007

James Campbell
MAH ADDRESS IS SEKRIT
Chicago, IL

CASE# 0XXX-16XXXXX1-MF(2)

Dear James Campbell:


The United States Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting the nation's mail system from criminal misuse.  Pursuant to federal law, victims are entitled to certain rights which include notification of the status of the investigation.  You have been identified as a possible victim of an alleged federal crime. . . .

 

Even then, I kind of thought, "Holy crap, they are actually pursuing this?"  It was an iPod off of eBay. 

But that was the last I heard of all of this.  Until today.  Which is when I opened my mailbox and found a small brown envelope from the Office of the Clerk, United States District Court.

I figured that I had better open it.

Inside was nothing but a check (Yeay!) A check from the United States Treasury (What? . . .  Did I forget to cash my check from when I did jury duty on my birthday??).  At the top of the check, it says, "06 18 10 US VS SHAWN K MONTGOMERY."  (OOOooohhh... eBay??? . . . .  YEAYY!!!)

The check is for $69.58. 

I'm not all-the-way sure, but (combined with the money from eBay), I think I have all of my money back now.  Wooo!

US GOVERNMENT, YOU ROCK SO BAD!!!