Scammed by aka Alex Merg

[steve5946]

Prowriterteam here.

Here's what happened.

So, Alex Merg contacted me to work on a project via TG. All went well for a while since March until after submiting the 4th batch of 100 articles of which he paid 50% upfront. With a balance of $2500 remaining.

I submitted the work on 14th of May of which he's been online to see. But since then, he didn't reply any of my messages and have even went ahead to block me on Telegram.

Edit: Nektajoon is a different person from Alex Merg.

Scammer profile: Joonscam: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=3547748
https://t.me/roii99s

Amount Scammed: $2500
Payment Method: BTC/USDT
Proof of work submitted: : To be added shortly
PM/Chat Logs: To be added shortly
Additional Notes: Telegram: @roii99s

[logfiles]

I submitted the work on 14th of May of which he's been online to see. But since then, he didn't reply any of my messages and have even went ahead to block me on Telegram.

Why did you ignore the existing scam accusations at that time?

I noticed another user have complained on the same issue here before. Therefore, I say aka Netkajoon /Alex Merg is a scammer here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5448658.0

The other user claims that payment was made to him. He afterward edited the OP of the scam accusation that he got back his money, though he didn't provide any proof to back up his claim

Proof of work submitted: : To be added shortly

Can you please provide this necessary information?
Especially the links of the spreadsheets in question.

[steve5946]

I submitted the work on 14th of May of which he's been online to see. But since then, he didn't reply any of my messages and have even went ahead to block me on Telegram.

Why did you ignore the existing scam accusations at that time?

I noticed another user have complained on the same issue here before. Therefore, I say aka Netkajoon /Alex Merg is a scammer here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5448658.0

The other user claims that payment was made to him. He afterward edited the OP of the scam accusation that he got back his money, though he didn't provide any proof to back up his claim

Proof of work submitted: : To be added shortly

Can you please provide this necessary information?
Especially the links of the spreadsheets in question.

There was no reason to worry about scam issues before because he often pays 50% initial and 50% after. But this time around, he just zoomed off after receiving the work.

Posting the spreadsheet here is a bad idea, especially when anyone here can access it and use the articles. I hope you understand why I won't paste link to the spreadsheet here.

[acroman08]

There was no reason to worry about scam issues before because he often pays 50% initial and 50% after. But this time around, he just zoomed off after receiving the work.

should have used an escrow on the get-go to make sure you get paid for the work you've done especially if the payment is more than one thousand dollars. this is why being cautious and making sure you get what you owed is important. the forum has members that offer escrow services, you can hire them next time when you accept a job from other members here in the forum

sorry for your loss.

[steve5946]

There was no reason to worry about scam issues before because he often pays 50% initial and 50% after. But this time around, he just zoomed off after receiving the work.

should have used an escrow on the get-go to make sure you get paid for the work you've done especially if the payment is more than one thousand dollars. this is why being cautious and making sure you get what you owed is important. the forum has members that offer escrow services, you can hire them next time when you accept a job from other members here in the forum

sorry for your loss.

Lesson learnt the hard way.

[Aanuoluwatofunmi]

The common things you will discover from those filing a report on scam accusation from what they have experienced is in this kind of format or categories whereby you discover that:

1. The accuser is someone or a user on newbies account
2. The xcammer involved is already having a tag feedback on his profile
3. Someone who is not a reputable member of the forum and does not have long stay

Everytime we come across this kind of accusations and check the person involved, we would have seen alot of things already at stake to why they had something in common from the start.

[steve5946]

The common things you will discover from those filing a report on scam accusation from what they have experienced is in this kind of format or categories whereby you discover that:

1. The accuser is someone or a user on newbies account
2. The xcammer involved is already having a tag feedback on his profile
3. Someone who is not a reputable member of the forum and does not have long stay

Everytime we come across this kind of accusations and check the person involved, we would have seen alot of things already at stake to why they had something in common from the start.

I have been here since 2017, even though I don't post often. Those people with trust scores and merits do scam too. So, I'm not a newbie.

I don't know why people here are overwork with trust score or merit account. I agree it's my fault for not making use of escrow.

Anyway, I'll ask people that I've worked with to vouch for me.

[albon]

I have been here since 2017, even though I don't post often. Those people with trust scores and merits do scam too. So, I'm not a newbie.

I don't know why people here are overwork with trust score or merit account.

Anyway, I'll ask people that I've worked with to vouch for me.

1- I agree with what you said, but the rate of being defrauded by a newbie member who has recently created his account is much higher than an old member who has a lot of trust scores and Merits he got from his successful dealings and valuable posts.

2- People want to get merits to upgrade their account to a higher rank in the forum, and as for the trust rating, they want it to gain a good reputation.

I agree it's my fault for not making use of escrow.

Yes, the escrow service is the surest solution for you; this will protect you from the methods and deceptions of scammers; you can choose the trusted member here with the lowest escrow fees.

BTW, A question came to my head: Could you tell me a little bit about who is the CEO of your prowriterteam.com? Is this his real picture and his real name?

[steve5946]

I have been here since 2017, even though I don't post often. Those people with trust scores and merits do scam too. So, I'm not a newbie.

I don't know why people here are overwork with trust score or merit account.

Anyway, I'll ask people that I've worked with to vouch for me.

1- I agree with what you said, but the rate of being defrauded by a newbie member who has recently created his account is much higher than an old member who has a lot of trust scores and Merits he got from his successful dealings and valuable posts.

2- People want to get merits to upgrade their account to a higher rank in the forum, and as for the trust rating, they want it to gain a good reputation.

I agree it's my fault for not making use of escrow.

Yes, the escrow service is the surest solution for you; this will protect you from the methods and deceptions of scammers; you can choose the trusted member here with the lowest escrow fees.

BTW, A question came to my head: Could you tell me a little bit about who is the CEO of your prowriterteam.com? Is this his real picture and his real name?

It's my fault for not using escrow but the deed has been done. I have learnt my lesson.

That's from the WordPress theme I guess, site is still under development.

[PX-Z]

So he still have a balance to pay you for your work, right? Did you submitted all the work you have made to him already? Maybe its too late but you can just remove your works on the spreadsheet or remove him to access the sheet.
But ye, just like the others said escrow is a must, although the user is assuring since he made payment upfront but that's it, lesson learned. Sorry for the loss.

[steve5946]

So he still have a balance to pay you for your work, right? Did you submitted all the work you have made to him already? Maybe its too late but you can just remove your works on the spreadsheet or remove him to access the sheet.
But ye, just like the others said escrow is a must, although the user is assuring since he made payment upfront but that's it, lesson learned. Sorry for the loss.

Yes, normally. After completing a job. I share to him all the documents archived together as a zip. During the working process, he will also have access to the spreadsheet. I tried deleting the zip files after 2 weeks of him being silent but he has already read my messages after a day of submitting the files.

So, It's not an option anymore.

[joniboini]

Yes, normally. After completing a job. I share to him all the documents archived together as a zip. During the working process, he will also have access to the spreadsheet. I tried deleting the zip files after 2 weeks of him being silent but he has already read my messages after a day of submitting the files.

He seems to have deleted all of his posts, not to mention he never go online on this forum again. The previous scam accuser claim that Joon contacted him and said that his Bitcointalk account is hacked, I guess you can try to contact the accuser and see if he can provide a contact link with Joon. Alternatively, you can make a flag against him, although the chance for him to respond is probably low since he kinda abandoned his business here. Hard to tell which story is true at this point.

Other than using escrow, you can probably change the way your deal works. For example, submitting 10 articles, getting paid $100, rinse and repeat instead of getting paid upfront, and then submitting all articles. Anyway, good luck with your future jobs.

[steve5946]

Yes, normally. After completing a job. I share to him all the documents archived together as a zip. During the working process, he will also have access to the spreadsheet. I tried deleting the zip files after 2 weeks of him being silent but he has already read my messages after a day of submitting the files.

He seems to have deleted all of his posts, not to mention he never go online on this forum again. The previous scam accuser claim that Joon contacted him and said that his Bitcointalk account is hacked, I guess you can try to contact the accuser and see if he can provide a contact link with Joon. Alternatively, you can make a flag against him, although the chance for him to respond is probably low since he kinda abandoned his business here. Hard to tell which story is true at this point.

Other than using escrow, you can probably change the way your deal works. For example, submitting 10 articles, getting paid $100, rinse and repeat instead of getting paid upfront, and then submitting all articles. Anyway, good luck with your future jobs.

New update: it seems the previous accuser Joonscam is Alex Merg and Nektajoon is probably his partner or someone that works for him.


Edit: Nektajoon is a different person from Alex Merg.


Edit: Nektajoon is a different person from Alex Merg.


First batch of articles (1st batch was fully paid by him) which was translated to Japanese I think and posted here: https://note.com/ledgerwallet




Alex Merg have finally deleted all the chats between me and him.



[moderator's note: consecutive posts merged]

[Newchanka]

Hello, I had a similar experience but do not quite believe he is a scammer. I thought he may have lost access to his phone. Here is a post I made about the incident. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5475590.0

Also have you come across the user Jesse Cooper on Telegram? They contacted me with a scam accusation against Alex though I seriously doubt it.

[steve5946]

Hello, I had a similar experience but do not quite believe he is a scammer. I thought he may have lost access to his phone. Here is a post I made about the incident. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5475590.0

Also have you come across the user Jesse Cooper on Telegram? They contacted me with a scam accusation against Alex though I seriously doubt it.

He's a scammer

[steve5946]

Update.

So Alex Merg the scammer changed his TG to John B.

[logfiles]

<...>

Hi steve5946, thanks for the update, but my suggestion is you learn you to adjust image size so that they can make the post easily readable without one having to scroll a lot just to read a few text lines

Use the adjusted image links that I have included the codes to edit your reply

Code:

[img width=300]https://www.talkimg.com/images/2023/12/20/I2Qd5.jpeg[/img]
[img width=300]https://www.talkimg.com/images/2023/12/20/I2ZkI.jpeg[/img]
[img width=300]https://www.talkimg.com/images/2023/12/20/I2ngd.jpeg[/img]

[steve5946]

Use the adjusted image links that I have included the codes to edit your reply

Done. Thanks for teaching me this. Very useful.