Thousands of aggrieved customers
Topseconds: Fraud amounting to millions with watches on Ebay more and more probable
As of December 17th, 2008, it is official: The insolvency proceedings against the company Topseconds GmbH have been initiated. It seems like the suspicions and accusations against Topseconds are confirmed and damage to Ebay customers was done by fraud that amounts to millions. In the framework of the investigation due to suspicions of fraud, the public prosecutor’s office and the police searched several buildings on December 18th, among others a former business residence in Rheinbach. Thousands of Ebay customers are still waiting for the already paid for watches of the company Topseconds GmbH.
What happened?
On December 4th, 2008 the Powerseller „topseconds“, who had been selling trend watches of the brands Dolce & Gabbana and Armani on Ebay was suddenly blocked. As the dealer had stated his delivery times with long 10-12 working days in the small print, it can be assumed that at the time of the ban, approx. 15.000 to 20.000 watches had not yet been delivered. The damage is said to amount to approx. 1.4 million Euros.
During the last two weeks prior to the ban of the account, the company Topseconds had strongly increased the offer quantity on the auction site Ebay. Up to this point in time, the provider was regarded as trustworthy, and the customers were mainly satisfied with the products.
High losses
The company balance of Topseconds GmbH retrievable in the electronic Federal Gazette showed losses in the year 2007. The company had over one million Euros of liabilities and no equity worth mentioning. In addition, the manager / shareholder had allowed himself a larger loan from the company account. The money problems had then apparently driven the managers to the fraudulent mass sales. The beginning of November 2008 there was a change in the management of Topseconds GmbH. The offers on eBay however, still stated the name of the former manager Kurdo Homam-Ghazi – a student in Bonn – until December.
Topseconds made a statement about the blocked second account „gesehen-geboten-gewonnen“ in the safety forum of Ebay Germany. The manager describes the background of the block from his point of view. Ebay had blocked the account because one had not adhered to a term set by Ebay to present bills as proof for authenticity of the watches. Topseconds, however, did not make any concrete statements concerning the delivery of the paid watches. The delivery hoped for by the customers however, will have disintegrated with the insolvency proceedings.
What aggrieved customers should do
The case is especially bitter for the aggrieved customers. Protective measures like the PayPal-buyer protection do not work, because Topseconds had not offered the Ebay-own payment option. The simple buyer protection that is applicable also without PayPal payment was abolished by Ebay. The police investigators nevertheless ask aggrieved customers to contact the local police office and file a lawsuit. The claims are then forwarded to the responsible police in Bonn. As an alternative, customers can also file a lawsuit at the Bonn police online. For urgent cases the police in Bonn installed a hotline under the number 0228 15-7979 that is available daily from 08.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. on weekdays.
Further information:
FILM RTL: http://rtl-now.rtl.de/
"…Ebay-rip-off: Two brothers gain 1.2 million Euros in a scam: 10.000 Ebay-customers were victims of two brothers in the last 14 days, who had sold a total of 25.000 designer watches at a value of 1.2 million Euros under the pseudonym ‘Topseconds’. The company was founded by Kurdo G. and his brother. The police in Bonn are now receiving many lawsuits. "Meanwhile we have received over 50 claims from customers that feel deceived", says Christian Grässler. "Beyond that the hotline we installed is called frequently. The two brothers enticed the customers with unbelievable discounts. They offered the watches for 50 Euros a piece – up to 60 percent cheaper than in stores. For experts, this is a clear warning that something is not right…" (Source and original text: rtl.de)
Insolvency initiation dated December 17th, 2008
"County Court Bonn, file reference: 98 IN 275/08 In the insolvency proceedings concerning the assets of Topseconds GmbH, Broichstraße 79, 53227 Bonn registered in the trade register of the Country Court Bonn under HRB 13374 topseconds GmbH, Broichstraße 79, 53227 Bonn, legally represented by the manager Kawa Homam-Ghazi, Broichstraße 79, 53227 Bonn
Business branch: The import and export and the trade with watches, textiles, electrical devices, construction equipment, furniture and automotive parts were ordered on Dec. 17th,2008, at 10:16 a.m. (§§ 21, 22 InsO):
The attorney Dirk Obermüller, Godesberger Allee 125-127, 53175 Bonn is appointed as preliminary insolvency administrator. Dispositions of the debtor about objects of her assets are only effective with the agreement of the preliminary insolvency administrator (§ 21 sec. 2 No. 2 InsO)."