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Remember FriendlyPay?
Months back, Mark conducted an interview with Timothy Thomas and James Holland. It was suppose to be a digital currency established in 2003 and had great track records with businesses on the low fees as well as their unique escrow function which allows consumers and merchants to transact with greater peace of mind.
In August 2007, Friendlypay suddenly disappears, with an excuse when the site was still up on an administration change with a downtime of 2 to 4 weeks, but we never seen anything since from them.
Timothy Thomas and James Holland vanished into thin air without further explanation on what’s going on in Friendlypay, seemingly convincing that they have absconded with their customers money.
There was a investment program that I remember mentioned on Jude’s nobsHYIP blog that deals with Friendlypay because of its escrow system and because it’s a real estate form of program, the amounts that they deal with must be some substantial amount. PPRei was the name, and the site still exists. I’ve tried contacting Rupert, who runs the firm, but there was no response.
The Little Investigation Work
The funny and weird thing about this payment processor is that we don’t get a huge response from the users asking where they went and people seeking help from the authorities. Usual googling of any scams will get you into a discussion board on what’s going on and how are the victims dealing with it. As for FriendlyPay’s case, try googling ‘Friendlypay’, ‘Timothy Thomas’ and ‘James Holland’ all in different combinations, all you can find are the interviews done by Mark with them, some forum discussions which back dates very long time ago discussing on the potential upsides of Friendlypay and nothing else.
There’s even slim chance that ‘Timothy Thomas’ and ‘James Holland’ doesn’t exist in the first place; the names are too common for you to search. A search in Wayback Machine also tells you that the site was created in December 03, and if you try to hit the contact us page, no address information were written at all. The only 3 emails were provided as contacts are friendlypay, members and payments AT friendlypay.net
Can They Hide?
Chances of them getting away is really slim. I’m seeking some advices from the current few working payment processors on the relevant departments to report to, but at the same time, since I’m not a victim, I would like to extend anyone to leave me a comment of your contacts and I would have the relevant details displayed here on this blog.
There’re too many traces, and even if they changed the details now, the traces will still be there; unless they are really that clean of a scammer. Let me give you examples: The web services they have engaged all over the years, Government pressures on the registrar to release more information, merchant accounts that they have established with E-gold, E-bullion, Pecunix, and even the desynfunct Intgold, 1mDc. FriendlyPay was also once a GDCA member, don’t they require some sort of verification?
If you are a victim, feel free to leave a message and lets see what we can do to combat such fraud.
I just came across this thread and tot I would at least put my name on record. I spoke to Timothy Thomas (alias???) several times even after the end of July about my outstanding transfer of nearly $2000.00. But then he didn’t answer emails or Yahoo IM’s and vanished. I did make many successful transfers to egold and got sucked it for sure.
It’s a mystery how many active users does FP does have since there’s not much commotion at all at the time of its demise.
No one else is affected apart from Greg and Josh?
I’m surprised they are still in this country. So, I guess Timothy Thomas was an ‘alias’ name ?
Josh, please let us know if they emerge again as a new LTD company in Edmonton or where ever.
Are there any Canadians who would pursue this through a small claims court?
I had a small number of emails to and from the debt collector. These excerpts where of some interest –
“We can help. It looks as though FriendlyPay is having some issues based on their web site announcement.
They are located just outside of Edmonton where we are located. ”
“It’s going to be trouble though. FriendlyPay is re-organizing and will likely re-emerge as a new LTD company.”
“If the company is LTD and out of business, your claim will die. If the new company purchased the shares of the old one, then we may have a chance.”
Did the debt collector manage to find out anything?
I’d reckon not much. They seem to be REALLY quiet.
I sought the services of a debt collector (prioritycredit.ca) over an amount less than $US1500 – if a few more were to do the same? …
I wonder if the silence on the internet extends to other media. How effective might a ‘Reward for Information Regarding FriendlyPay.net’ ad be in a BC newspaper?
I was a member of FP and had money in the process of being exchanged to e-gold. Of course this transfer never happened so I am out a good sum of money. I sent a letter to their address in Vernon, BC but was returned because FP left without a forwarding address. I heard Rupert of PPREI is honoring losses ? Please, how do I get in contact with PPREI ?
Greg did you actually contact any authorities for this scam?
Using ones own Bank account was a convenient method of deposit and withdrawl. I know TD Bank dropped them as an option near the end.
Did they not do exchanges out to Canadian banks? Follow the money trail. Perhaps they had a registered Canadian bank account too.
Ah, then you wouldn’t be hooked ye see. Maybe it’s a part of their exit strategy.
It seems really quiet and scary to think about no one else reporting.
Thanks for dropping by Greg, anyone else?
Yes, I am choked! I have at least $1000.00 owed to me. Why do these unscrupulous individuals give us something to hang onto i.e. management change happening and will advise when new site is ready. Why not be honest with people and say, “Thanks sucker’s we are ripping you off and there is nothing you can do about it”.