It is very unfortunate that i have to write this.
This is a guy that sounded great and exactly what i was looking for. But it looks like i have been taken for a ride.
I approached Ben Shaw about 3 weeks ago. On the 8th i have signed a contract for him to design a GUI, connect it up to the backend APIs and compile it for Win/OSX/Linux and Android. He said his price doubled because of the tight schedule.
He was not anon so i let my guard down and sent him 50% based on his previous work.
Payment sent:
https://blockchain.info/tx/151aedeb1e4a84c33ea7948e8d12bf05e1d2a3132b893e68624ba04b2b3a54afThis was stipulated in the contract:
Product: Design of the GUI / visualization (graphs of prices and so forth) GUI connecting to backend APIs Cross compile the package as a desktop app and to ensure it is ‘grandma friendly’. Compiling for the 3 desktop OS and android.
Timeline: 1st of November or agreed extension by buyer
Compensation: £15k broken up into a 50/50 process
Payment method: BTC address 1GNWvckmkBxDUFQj7ruoKshw9JjuKEn4oh
Included: Maintenance (6 months), setup and support
Commencement date: Following agreement of contract and upon receipt of a deposit.
Description: All specifications mentioned via Skype/email will form as a verbal agreement and thus liable to this contract.
Firstly he sent me the following design after a few days of working on it. I told him for his fee i should be wowed not just a prettier version of the mock ups i provided.
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FZtPHhlq.png&t=665&c=Wh-s2YptHEYDDQ)
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FT0xedCr.png&t=665&c=UH5YbsqaXQ0hYA)
I told him they looked crap, but he said it was just a start.
Then he tried to con me into paying the other 50%
[18/10/17, 8:04:35 pm] Ben Shaw: There is a lot to do, i openly admit that. Whilst it can be done and i'll be needing a lot of late nights i would once again recommend bringing someone like Tom on board to concentrate on the coding aspect of this project and i have said i would be willing to sacrifice 50% of my payment to compensate for this.
[18/10/17, 8:07:12 pm] John Davidson: Not to sound like a dick but that is why we paid a higher price than what we would normally do. We cannot pay the remaining 50% to bring on someone to help get things done without knowing what we are getting in the end.
We are happy if you want to share the current 50% prepayment with Tom and we split the remaining 50% at the end.
[18/10/17, 8:08:00 pm] John Davidson: He was ready to take 25% deposit and with the appreciation of the fiat value of the BTC I sent you, that should only be 15-20%
[18/10/17, 8:08:13 pm] John Davidson: Of what we have paid you
[18/10/17, 8:08:56 pm] John Davidson: So if that is the only way to get it done, I would hope you do what you can to make sure it is. How you go about delivering the GUI as stipulated by the contract is up to you.
[18/10/17, 8:10:02 pm] Ben Shaw: Okay, it was just a suggestion John. I'll be in touch soon!
[18/10/17, 8:10:34 pm] Ben Shaw: I'll make a decision on my own regarding whether or not i bring Tom on board, but would you be okay with this if i do?
[18/10/17, 8:11:00 pm] Ben Shaw: (Using the funds you have already given to me)
Every step of the way, he said he had compiled the code and only thing left was the design. Unless he is some crazy genius he would not have been able to get all the API stuff done without the need of the main dev.
He comes back to me on the 24th with the following:
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fv0OIumh.png&t=665&c=naqKJSgqN1eDgg)
I said at this point i dont give a shit about how it looks, make sure it is compiled, send it to me so QA can be done. He delays and delays.
[30/10/17, 9:55:35 pm] John Davidson: Can you compile a version with the GUI you have shown me?
[30/10/17, 9:55:58 pm] Ben Shaw: I will be doing all of that John, dont fret!
[30/10/17, 9:56:11 pm] John Davidson: Can I get the test version tomorrow to test?
[30/10/17, 9:56:45 pm] Ben Shaw: I'll be passing everything over in good time and when i'm ready John
[30/10/17, 9:57:12 pm] John Davidson: When can I get a compiled alpha to get QA guys to test?
[30/10/17, 9:57:23 pm] Ben Shaw: Before your deadline
[30/10/17, 9:57:31 pm] John Davidson: Ok cool thanks
[30/10/17, 9:57:34 pm] Ben Shaw: our agreed deadline
[30/10/17, 9:57:46 pm] John Davidson: To confirm on the 1st?
[30/10/17, 9:58:03 pm] Ben Shaw: Thats what it says on the contract, yes
![Smiley](https://bitcointalk.org/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
Then on the 1st he sends me a invoice for the remaining 50% without showing me any proof apart from the 2 sets of mockups.
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FFuVbeZQ.png&t=665&c=ltpU9czSyRsOTg)
I told him to send me proof, he said i am trying to scam him by not wanting to pay. I told him to send me video proof of it, i dont want him to send me the code and i will be happy to pay for it if it is working.
I gave him 24 hours to post the video or to refund me 1.7BTC (i was being nice).
This morning, he send me a video of a compiled version of uglydex from
https://forum.supernet.org/t/barterdex-standalone-app-0-3-0-beta/340 pretending as if it were his own.
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FMdJuqXC.png&t=665&c=WBdn3mQBo4YK2g)
Note the easydex GUI in the video he sent me.
Anyway here is the scammer
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2208966.msg22360818#msg22360818Website:
https://www.benshawportfolio.com/I will be taking legal action against this person.