Victim Location 60706
Total money lost $284.58
Type of a scam Online Purchase
I had received an email from Scott McDowell of Elevated Solutions LLC inviting me to participate in a pop-up show he was having in Chicago. I paid the $280 vendor fee, and visited the "Concord 55" Building in Chicago and met with the owner to confirm the show was legitimate. Contact with him was suspicious as it was hard to get a hold of him.
On April 16th 2017 I received a text from Scott saying I would be refunded the following morning (Monday April 17th). He had to cancel the show due to "vendor issues". I’m assuming he could not find enough artists to rent the venue. I text back asking if I would be refunded to my card or Paypal. No response. On Monday I gave enough time before texting again asking him to confirm where the money would be refunded to. No response.
On Tuesday I asked again, and left a message explaining I understand processing refunds may take time, etc. however I would like some form of communication. Especially since I was prompt to send my payment, and he seemed to be in a rush to collect it.
I did receive a text days later from a different number saying he submitted a request his "accounting team" for the refund, and is in queue to be refunded this week
I liked on of his pictures on Instagram to hopefully spark a memory to contact me. I was blocked. I liked a post on Facebook for some new shoes he had bought, and found myself to be blocked on there as well. This is my red flag.
I contacted the gallery owner, and she has had a bad experience trying to book with him as well. She mentions that is has been a shady deal as well.
I am monitoring my accounts, and may pursuit a civil lawsuit. I hope others are not scammed by him as well.