Has this been reported to the police?

Very bad to hear and not just this site it seems (see below from Dave Webster). Beware!!!

Hi Simon, Gareth and Elton

It appears we have a scammer targeting either Maggotdrowning. Talk Angling or Total Fishing’s classifieds wanted adverts.

Basically the scammer is contacting advertisers who are looking for an item of tackle and offering them what they want, asking for payment via bank transfer, and then not posting the gear on.
When you Google the scammer’s details it appears that he has been around for some time pulling the same stunt.

More info here: http://www.maggotdrowning.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=177083

The scammer’s name and email address details:
Matthew Smith
[email protected]

It might be worthwhile posting a warning for your members to read to help prevent him taking anyone else’s money as there are two recent instances I’m now aware of relating to fishing tackle

Regards,

Dave Webster
http://www.maggotdrowning.com

i also have also made a bad mistake to this thief,i have also reported him to the police

Don’t know if anyone is interested but his phone number is given on this ad from Hi-Fi In-Touch. No idea if the number is genuine though.

http://www.hifi-intouch.co.uk/products/1102/1/amplifiers/rogers-panthera.aspx

In case the ad disappears it is as follows

to Contact The Seller
Email User
MattIR021
Email User
[email protected]
Call User
07511154237

cheers happy
will pass this on to fraud squad