Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Crowdfunding Fraudsters: smARtMAKER, Dimitri Albino and Harold Timmis



Over 2 years after smARtMAKER's dramatic entrance into the open source hardware community via the trademark infringement issue with Arduino founder Massimo Banzi - Makers are still screaming "Where ?!#@#%#^^ are my kits?!!!"


Answer: Rebranded and being sold in Albino's family eBay shop - Over 2500 kits already!


After successfully funding his 1st Kickstarter scampaign, Dimitri Albino made his way over to Indiegogo where with the assistance of Harold Timmis, 16000+ Backers - Students, teachers, nonprofits and makers were targeted by smARtMAKER.

An Indiegogo Trusted partner, 8 total direct campaigns there are additional campaigns executed under other company names and not included in this total) across 2 platforms  - Never delivered.


Harold Timmis has proved to be as inept as previously thought and actively stringing backers along by the nose while Indiegogo does nothing.

While backers scream and vent in the comments section, and trolls misdirect the equivalent of screaming into your pillow - no one hears you; few if any have taken action.

Time to cut bait and take action - but getting backers moving in the same direction is about as effective as trying to herd cats... You could let Dimitri keep raping OSH or you can take 5 minutes to file with the FTC.

I verified with the FTC, they do not care what platform the purchase took place on, just that it happened on the internet.  Here are the rules

FTC - SELLING ON THE INTERNET
Prompt Delivery Rules - "By law, you must have a reasonable basis for stating that a product can be shipped within a certain time. If your advertising doesn't clearly and prominently state the shipment period, you must have a reasonable basis for believing that you can ship within 30 days.
If you can't ship within the promised time (or within 30 days if you made no promise), you must notify the customer of the delay, provide a revised shipment date and explain his right to cancel and get a full and prompt refund.
For definite delays of up to 30 days, you may treat the customer's silence as agreeing to the delay.
But for longer or indefinite delays - and second and subsequent delays - you must get the customer's written, electronic or verbal consent to the delay.
If the customer doesn't give you his okay, you must promptly refund all the money the customer paid you without being asked by the customer.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. 

The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.