Scam Alert: proaudioguy | Read This Before Interacting with Sellers

Discussion in 'Selling / Buying' started by SAiNT, Sep 3, 2024 at 11:01 AM.

  1. SAiNT

    SAiNT Creator Staff Member phonometrograph

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    I really don't know what else to say in addition to previous sticky topics:
    Group Buys and other Member to Member purchases

    Read Before Buying Second Hand Software, Samples, Synths

    now there's another case, this time with proaudioguy.
    while @Talula has been long warning people about his activity and we've actually been watching him for several months, we never had enough evidence that he is in fact scamming people;
    until yesterday, when our long time member @odod reported that he's been scammed, providing a whole video proof about it.
    right after that, member @dudebro777 also reported that he's been scammed by proaudioguy, providing proof.

    the problem is that even when we have some evidence, banning these individuals is not a solution, because they will come back under new identity and continue their business.
    we also cannot prohibit this activity, because then they will take it to PM and spam you, which will make things even less transparent;
    at the same time, we surely cannot and will not regulate this;
    and finally there are cases when a legit member wants to sell his own license and i believe it can be useful to other members.

    so this time i'm taking it publicly, with hopes that members will read it and learn how to identify at least this particular scammer, because like i said above he will definitely come back under new identity and there's not much we can do about it.


    @odod, @dudebro777, please share your experience with the public, excluding ANY personal details (except for the proaudioguy i suppose).


    I also would like our members to use this topic in the future, to report suspicious activity and their interactions with these sellers.
     
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  3. omiac

    omiac Moderator Staff Member

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    Indeed, please do post any and all information you have about this "proaudioguy" thief so that when anyone searches it here or outside the forum, they're redirected to this thread and information.
     
  4. odod

    odod Rock Star

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    It is s a very concerning situation for me especially, It took a while for me to collect the amount of money even though it might be not big to some of you. Actually I have to wait until a month to have the transaction with this bastard, the license was actually real however I was suspecting that he's working together with someone who owned the account. Because few days after the transaction someone requested to reset the password based on the license that i got, and after that I could not login to my account at celemony's website.

    He was trying to convince everyone that he got scammed by someone that made his paypal account closed. And he made me use WISE, and that's where I can see his real name has been scamming for quite sometimes ..

    https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541544&start=345

    His name is Makrem Radhouani and also mentioned in Facebook Audio Plug-In Buy/Sell Marketplace by admin in the dedicated “Shame on You” section, in which verified fraudsters are listed here :
    Code:
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/audiopluginbuysellmarketplace/permalink/1362376320890452
    It's also a good idea to consider implementing additional safeguards in this forum, such as requiring verification or background checks for sellers, or use PAYPAL goods and services only for the transaction. This might not completely eliminate scams, but it could make it more difficult for scammers to operate.

    thanks for your time guys
    BE AWARE .. I hope he and his family burn to HELL!!!
     
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  5. nishyp

    nishyp Member

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    I'm so sorry this has happened to you @odod @dudebro777 and to anyone else who has met the same fate. I had a feeling something was off as soon as there was a refusal to use PayPal as a payment method.

    I have been buying second-hand plugins for the last 4 years or so and managed to only have a few deals go sideways with only time being lost.

    Thankfully I've been protected by playing it safe and hopefully, this information will help others in the future.

    • Try to verify the person you're dealing with is the real deal. Whether that is done by contacting them via social media and checking their account is real and active or hopping on a video call and having a chat face to face.
    • Check their feedback from other buyers/sellers that have dealt with them (also check the people they've dealt with are established too)
    • Check their feedback in multiple marketplaces if possible.
    • Verify ownership of the product you're buying directly with the developer before going ahead with the deal if you're anxious.
    • Use PayPal Goods & Services (this is mandatory for me! It's saved me at least 3 times when someone has tried to scam me!)
    • Account Takeovers are generally sketchy territory and I try to avoid them unless that's the only way to get my hands on something I want/sell something I can't sell and transfer the usual ways. The person I'm dealing with has to be very well-established and trustworthy for me to proceed.
    • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Save yourself the pain and let the "really good deal" go if your gut tells you to.
     
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  6. lucjfar

    lucjfar Noisemaker

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    The only solution is use ONLY paypal with goods& services option, if someone asks to pay with different methods like credit card,PP family and friends or other money transfer solution, don't buy.Paypal actually is the only way to get money back if you have been scammed. I purchase second hand plugins from years now and this way never had an issue. I know it's sad but this is.
     
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  7. SamCH

    SamCH Ultrasonic

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    Shame ! he is from Tunisia !
     
  8. Harish Pamu

    Harish Pamu Producer

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    Ive always found this "proaudioguy" to be extremely fishy. No paypal is the biggest red flag. The worst part was he used to comment on other posts trying to be the messiah, saying that hes saving other people from scammers. Disgusting freak!
     
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  9. Lad Impala

    Lad Impala Rock Star

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    well, not his whole family.. maybe they're being scammed too lol
     
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  10. canbi

    canbi Kapellmeister

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    :facepalm:we want blood
     
  11. Howard62

    Howard62 Noisemaker

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    I took a chance, so it's on me I guess, but he sold me a stolen Output account (now returned to the rightful owner) "proaudioguy" ignored my subsequent messages. I said nothing on here because I noted he seemed to have a lot of support on Audiosex over a Paypal dispute and the person he was in dispute with, had email addresses and passwords posted on Audiosex. I lost the money, thankful it wasn't more, glad he can't do it to anyone else, at least not on here.
     
  12. Auen Fred

    Auen Fred Producer

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    never do business with ppl which not known to be on here a longer time and are on here not only for trading .
    i had my guesses and he did pm me this
    he got me there but in the end when i look at it now ,its a ultimate redflag cause you could say its unlogical but for the most its emotional/emphatic manipulation by the cheapest scammer 1x1 .
     
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  13. MrLyannMusic

    MrLyannMusic Audiosexual

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    fok me, this guy is from the same country as me, i searched his name on facebook and i have a lot of commun friends with the guy!!!

    [​IMG]
     
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  14. Auen Fred

    Auen Fred Producer

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    unless you pay a deepweb hacker , there will be no vengence .
    name says it all .there are million dollar scam army operations on huge scale runnin in these regions and they have to fear for nothing law wise .

    EDIT ok he is it not from these regions but i dont think it change something
     
  15. Sylenth.Will.Fall

    Sylenth.Will.Fall Audiosexual

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    I've always thought it fishy when we see a new piece of software made just recently available, that someone else claims they have it to sell.

    Perhaps @SAiNT there could be a warning/ disclaimer on the sellers page saying something like,

    ' SCAMMERS AND CON ARTISTS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO OPERATE ON THIS SITE. BUYERS PLEASE BE AWARE BEFORE MAKING ANY PURCHASES!"


    Especially new people to this site may not see this page!
     
  16. Toxic Coma

    Toxic Coma Newbie

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    I Absolutely despise those who try and pimp people out of there hard-earned money continuously scamming. It ruins it for everyone which in turn everytime we see software for sale the first thing that comes to mind is.."is it legit? or a scam" I know I do and that sucks because like one said earlier most people are honest when selling 2nd hand. Inevitably bums like this fucks it up for everyone.
     
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  17. dt68

    dt68 Ultrasonic

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    Makrem Radhouani? Aka T.M.K.? He was here with another nickname on dec 2023 and scammed me for a lot of money... I got a lot of proofs of his scams, his phone number and where he lives/lived (France and Tunisia). Both Valhalla and Toontrack said the same thing: he sells software from stoled accounts. He's a true son of a bitch. Without any heart a true shitty man. I had long chats with Olymoon about what to do and he helped me in any way, blocking his account (that he triyed to delete after the scam and so on). I sent all my proofs to France police and now they know him... Trying to contact Tunisian police too. I have videos of him playing bass and other things with various groups. I'd like they knew who really is him...
     
  18. phloopy

    phloopy Audiosexual

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    :wink: @SAiNT

    It is really good that you raise this issue.
    It has become increasingly worrying to see all this traffic of cheap (and sometimes totally unrealistic) audio software offers floating around here without any guarantee of purchase for site members who buy cheap because they can't afford to pay the market price.

    Perhaps this kind of trade should be moderated a bit more?!?!
     
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  19. dt68

    dt68 Ultrasonic

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    It happened i contacted him as proaudioguy for buying something and he proposed me (again) to buy it without paypal. Same situation as before. He knew me, from the nickname, but didn't had any sort of regret to try again to scam me.
     
  20. Lad Impala

    Lad Impala Rock Star

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    Gsus this just keeps getting worse and worse.
    I don't think theres much moderators can do, because this is an audio forum not a marketplace.

    Its really a shame, but i feel like the best we can do right now is watch for ourselves. The good practices posted by @nishyp.
    It's a good community we have here
     
  21. dt68

    dt68 Ultrasonic

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    Yeah... he told me another lie about his debts that let him not breath... He has no shame. He sent me pictures of his studio and some hardware he wanted to sell... they are listed on some online market in France. And there are many videos where he performs in Tunisia and France
     
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