'jonnyboy' alias Craig, alias John McCulley, alias fill in whatever name you like....

[BlueRoses]

......... and now also alias JIM BROWN

I have never raised a complaint on a forum before but the events of the past few weeks have caused me to now

Many of you will have read the thread warning of jonnyboy/Craig Ford/Noahs Ark Couriers and now add.........Jim Brown.

BUYER BEWARE – Noah’s Ark Couriers/Jonnyboy/Craig Ford

Let me explain. I put a wanted ad on another forum for a female pastel Royal python. I know they are very hard to come by, but I really wanted an older snake not a hatchling, and I thought in time someone might have one for sale. I had saved up over time for 'the right snake'
Imagine my delight when I received an email in response from Jim Brown in Middlesbrough. I asked for photos which I got, and weight which I got, and breeder details which I also got. I was told the snake was a late '07. The photos looked very nice and emails flowed for several days while I decided whether to buy. I made arrangements to pay via paypal and also sent an amount for the snake to be couriered to me. I gave a whole list of suitable dates for delivery and a date was set. Then it was changed to another day. Then Jim Brown said he was still trying to find a courier and ones I had suggested were ' too expensive ' he said. I sent 2 or 3 suggestions. Next thing I heard was ' Great news, I have found a courier and its really cheap!' A date was arranged. The day before, Jim Brown emailed me saying the courier had stopped business. I think this was true as I saw a thread about it. Glad too because the snake was going to be delivered by motorbike!!! :-(

(At this point can I just say that during this time everything turned upside down for me when my husband suddenly and unexpectedly, was admitted to hospital and passed away. This was a couple of weeks after I had sent Jim Brown £340. I am only mentioning this because I was totally in shock, and obviously in a whirlwind of emotions and had to let him know as he might have arranged delivery on the day of my husband's funeral.) It could also be a reason why I didnt immediately 'smell a rat.' I had other things on my mind. He seemed sympathetic.
More days passed and finally another courier was arranged. Then this one fell through. At last a date was fixed and it was Friday 22nd May, 3 days after the funeral. The day passed.... no snake. I sent an email to 'Jim' early evening asking when the snake had been collected. The reply was that it hadnt yet. I asked him to ring me when it left him. Later he rang me ( number unidentified ) saying the courier wasnt coming and he had also stayed in all day but that he was trying to get it sorted. I knew who the courier was ( prefer not to state) and rang them. I was told 'I was not on the run list' They would however deliver the following Monday if that was ok. I said it was. Next day I had another call from a different person, but same courier saying, 'I have bad news for you.... do you know who this seller is? Had I read the thread on RFUK about jonnyboy?' I had, but not in anyway associated him with my sale as my seller was called Jim Brown and lived in another town. I had his address and tel. number. It was false! The courier has provided me with his real name, real address and it is not the one he gave me. It was a Newcastle address! I can provide evidence of this. I was also provided with a copy of an email sent to the courier as follows

'Can I please book this delivery in

If the lady asks, could you please say that my name is Jim and I'm from Middlesbrough.

I don't know if you've read those posts lately but I have had a load of crap off people not wanting me to sell snakes to make a profit. Hence I am selling under a different name to keep the peace!

I know it sounds a bit dodgy but it's all legit!'

(He then supplied his real address and signed off) ....

Jonny/Jim '



It would appear the courier does not want to be associated with him now that his reputation goes before him, and that he was deceiving me.

I challenged him with this, that he had given me a false name, false address, false phone number.... and what else was false??? I said I had been deceived, and due to this deception I did not feel obligated to him and asked for a full refund as I would not have bought from him had I known who he was. At first he said no, then when I persisted he said well ok but I will have to sell the snake first to give you your money. And you might guess that is where I am now. I send emails, strong emails, but reasonable ones. Now he has stopped responding.
He has my snake... and he has my money £340

[Darlo_Gal]

I'm so so sorry to hear your another of his victims, sadly I don't think any of us have ever got any closure with him, it really me off people like him taking peoples money he needs to be stopped.

[loobylou211]

Sincere condolences to u at this sad time
........and with regards to ur sale.....I think court action might be the only way to stop this idiot trading........ have u looked into this as u have his true identity and correspondence from the courier....??

[t-bo]

Please, no public threats of violence... even if this guy is an asshole. Lets keep it civil so the thread stays open and as many people as possible are warned of this guy.

Blueroses sorry to hear of your loss, I hope this jonny has at least one grain of decency and does the right thing... but I dont hold out much hope

[olivine]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss; please accept my condolences. I really don't know what to say, other than thank you for taking the time to post this warning when you obviously have so much to cope with right now. I really do hope that you get a satisfactory resolution to this situation, however unlikely that may appear from this man's past actions. I don't believe in karma, but I do hope that this gets what is coming to him.

With all best wishes

[Pliskens_Chains]

how awful that this person has done this to you.


my sincere condolonces on your recent bereavement. im so very sorry for your loss.

[grannykins]

Really sorry to hear of your loss. As regards your money, isnt there some kind of thing with paypal where you can get your money back if this kind of thing happens? I'm sure I've heard somewhere that there is, though I dont know exactly what you do.

[Pincers n Paws]

If its money sent as a gift then i dont think its covered via paypals refund policy.

Can i ask, is the snake you ordered actually in existence? Read a thread on him selling snakes that didnt fit the description.
If so then is there no way of getting it to you via users of the forum?
I know some people from tyneside are going to the Doncaster show end of june, can anyone pick this up for the op? I would certainly be more than happy to collect in Doncaster and take it to her address.

Come on peeps, lets try help this lady out, seems she has had a very rough time lately, im sure we can come up with something!

[Barry.M]

The guy is not likely to allow people to know his home address for collection.

[midori]

Oh, blueroses, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I know it's probably a bit silly, because I don't know you, but I am in tears sat here typing this. This Jonnyboy or whatever he calls himself is the absolute scum of the earth if he knows what has happened to you, and is still messing you around. What is wrong with people?!

Thankyou so much for taking the time to warn people of yet another alias of this scammer, despite your own personal difficulties. I hope you can get the matter resolved.