[Mauser720]

Aaron, Mark, and Ed -

You will not usually get much help from the police or the Post Office. But every state has a consumer fraud office that will investigate complaints. The toll free number for this office in Florida is 1-866-966-7226. They will not promise you anything, except that if you file a complaint with them, they will investigate it. You will have to fill out a form, which they can mail to you, or if you can download and read a pdf file on your computer, you can just download it and print it off. Everything that has been said above applies, in the sense that you will have to put together a case file that will "stand on its own." By this, I mean that anyone picking up your case file will be able to read it and understand exactly what you are complaining about, and exactly when each alleged incident happened. For example, go back into your cell phone records, and determine when this individual originally contacted you. Include your copy of the money order or the canceled check that you sent to him. Include a copy of your cover letter that you used to forward the money to him. Somewhere in the case file, you need to show the times that you have contacted him, and exactly what he has told you each time. Somewhere in your case file, mention that you think this is especially serious, since it involves a handgun. (this may help to get their attention) You should always send everything by certified mail, with a return receipt requested. If you didn't do that with this money, that can't be helped now, but from here on out, just ensure you send everything by certified mail with a return receipt requested. So send the fraud complaint form, and copies of all your docrumentation (including that part of your cell phone records that shows when he called you, etc.) to the office in Florida by certified mail with a return receipt requested. You will get back a generic letter from them and they will assign an investigator to look into the case. It can take a long time to put together a good case file, and it can take a long time for you to actually get resolution, but since it is a lot of money, it is worth the effort. The state attorney general's office is usually too busy to pursue "small" cases like this. But the investigator can "put the fear of God" into the criminal and they may scare him enough that you will get your money back anyway. I have done exactly what I am recommending you do, and it does work.

Ron