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Bad Guy United Morphs - Nick Runde

C

ClarkT

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I need some help from someone in the Des Moines Iowa area.

I got scammed on a trade. I feel stupid as could be. My end was that I was shipping a puma female, a fire female, and a mojave female in trade for 1.1 blackheads.

Long story short, he never shipped. The address I shipped to was 9195 Diamondhead Drive, Dexter Iowa, 50070.

Within an hour of my snakes arriving at their destination, he texted me a picture of the box. It had been smashed like crazy. He claims that all three pythons are dead, and that his neighbor's kids did it -- that he has it on camera. When asked to send me pics of the dead snakes, he never did so. I don't have a smart phone, so I don't know how I would copy/paste the texts to this post.

When calling his number, 515.777.9216, he never answered, but said he was at dinner with his family. He then claimed that he'd send the snakes out the following day (today, 4-2-14). Texted and said he was on his way to drop them off, but now won't text back and give a tracking number. He won't answer a phone call or text.

As soon as he claimed the snakes were dead, I figured I had been scammed. So much for ever trading again. I've traded many times before, but I guess I've lucked out in the past. What a bummer.

Any breeders in the Dexter, Iowa area willing to help out? I called the county sherriff's office, hoping that I could file some sort of report, and that they'd check the address out. They say they won't get involved in a civil dispute. Basically, I'm screwed.

Needless to say, his name is most likely not Nick Runde. His phone message says "Hey, this is Dakota...", in some teenage kid's voice. Man, I'm a dummy.
 
And idea to start:
Call/email animal control, the local shelters, the local newspaper, the local reptile groups, and tell them that this person said the neighbor's kids beat those snakes to death, (provide his texts to back your claim, and pictures of the box) and you think there ought to be cruelty charges.
Even if he is totally lying, if your efforts lead to some questions, he may have to deal with a number of people he'd rather not, including any neighbors who have children.
 
Anything you can post, texts, emails and the like will help you here. A google search of the address comes up with this on Mantis,. Would that be the phone#?


Marin, James A Responsible Par
9195 Diamondhead Drive
Dexter, IA 50070 - View Map
Phone: (515) 523-2407
 

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Funny, the email he provided is his "brother's" email, [email protected]

By some miracle, I hope he actually sent snakes today, and that I'm wrong in jumping the gun... He never answers a phone call, and won't return texts anymore, though... If you had dead snakes show up, wouldn't you be more than willing to send a pic of them together?

Thanks for your help. If nothing shows up tomorrow, animal control will definitely be contacted.
 
So I've emailed the email and gotten some replies from Dakota Runde, who says he's Nick's son...

To get the conversation, read bottom to top...

"I go 2 his house every day and he uses my phone and ipod, and the snakes r in his freezer cuz he didnt know if u wanted them shipped ir not, i was there when he got ur package, and idk if he told u but we have kids beatin it on tape

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 2, 2014, at 10:03 PM, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> He said he was on the way to ship them. Did they not ship? If not, where are they? Police custody? What's the tracking number? Why would he/you tell me that this is his brother's email, and not his son? Things aren't really adding up.
> Why did he have your phone? Why won't you just send a pic of the 'dead' snakes?
> -Clark
>
> > On April 2, 2014 at 10:58 PM Dakota Leto <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >
> > I know for a fact tht they are dead, hewas winin about it when he came 2 my house, and we don't live together. And yes he does have black heads he also has like a oiebald a spider a banana a bunch of shit hah, i may b able to help u out, i know how it feels to get fucked. I can try to send u the blackheads
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > > On Apr 2, 2014, at 9:54 PM, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > >
> > > Can you send me a pic of the dead snakes he got yesterday? At least confirm they are dead?
> > >
> > > > On April 2, 2014 at 10:44 PM Dakota Leto <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > He got arrestedd today becuz he went to his x wives house and tried to get his dog nd his stuff back nd he got arrested
> > > >
> > > > Sent from my iPhone
> > > >
> > > > > On Apr 2, 2014, at 9:41 PM, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Why is he not replying to me at all?
> > > > >
> > > > > > On April 2, 2014 at 10:34 PM Dakota Leto <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Who are you? Are you the guy that traded those snakes with my dad?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Sent from my iPhone
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > On Apr 2, 2014, at 9:33 PM, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Hey, what gives? Why won't you provide me pics of the "dead" snakes? Do I need to call animal control? Why no answer to my texts?
> > > > > > > Did you send the blackheads? Do you have any blackheads? Did you just rip me off and kill one of my snakes to do so?
> > > > > > > What's going on?
> > > > > > > -Clark"
 
Seems too convenient... I didn't expect to get any answer from the email at all..
Messaging the mother about this "arrest" seems like an idea...
I really do hope I'm wrong, but it just doesn't feel right...
 
I highly doubt your snakes are deceased, I think he's scamming u. It's very fishy that he would not send you pictures of the dead snakes. Even if what he's saying is true and the neighbor's kids did kill them...he is still legally responsible to send you what you are owed. He needs to sue the neighbors and make thing right with you.
 
Agreed.

I see on Dakota's FB page that his dad is listed as Nick Leto, not Nick Runde.

The next couple emails:

"I dnt have any money and idk how to ship anything but a letter really, and yeahi can send pics of the kids

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 2, 2014, at 10:14 PM, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Yes, he said you have it on tape. Could you send a pic of one of the frames of it happening? Can you just send me the blackheads? It just seems like I'm getting scammed. Where are the blackheads now?"
 
I would ask for the names of the neighbors. Also ask him if he filled a police report against the neighbors for destruction of property and animal abuse. Pics of the kids? Why not pics of the dead snakes? My guess is because there are no dead snakes.
 
But... everything else nonwithstanding, even if it WERE all true, you fulfilled your end of the bargain.

You shipped your animals with the good faith they'd be accepted upon delivery. If the driver dumped the box on his step, and some neighbor kids got into it (why would he film them but not stop them?) that's NOT YOUR FAULT. Even if those snakes ended up dead, he still owes you the two blackheads.
 
Here's the only pic of a dead snake that he sent me. It's the mojave female baby that I had sent him.



Here's the smashed box in the background, and a bloody snake bag...



I have asked at least 10 times for pics of the dead puma and dead fire females. No dice.. Would someone really kill the lowest valued snake in the shipment just to scam someone?
 
Note, he sent the pic of the dead snake shortly after first notifying me that they were all dead. But never has he sent a pic of all 3.
 
I have asked at least 10 times for pics of the dead puma and dead fire females. No dice.. Would someone really kill the lowest valued snake in the shipment just to scam someone
Click to expand...
Yes there are people that would stoop to that level but I'm not saying that is the case here. It really doesn't matter if they are dead, he still owes you blackheads. But out of curosity I want to see pics of the other two dead snakes because my gut feeling says something is up.
 
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