While tis true, firefox has a couple of "server location" applets that show the location of the current page you're viewing.
There are quite a few that are hosted in the US but as soon as you hit the order entry will change to another country location.
Pretty neat tool to see where you're redirected to.

quote:

Originally posted by SHEEPSHEAD BAY:

quote:

CC companies are in business to make money. Seems to me they don't do that by ratting out their customers. What would they have to gain by doing this?

I don't know what they personally have to gain but it appears some time back.
In Hong Kong a company was doing just that.
Whether intentional or not many received fines and letters.
I guess they do not safe guard your info as well as they say.
That and the fact that the government owns at least in part many of the banks.
Makes one tend to wonder.

That whole request for information letter nevered seemed right to me. I mean, we have a right against self-incrimination. It seems to me that if you talked to a lawyer they could send a letter pleding the 5th and resquest a hearing maybe things would be different.
I know customs assumes if you bring CCs through the airport, but what did OFAC really have? They don't have the actual cigars, the letters were sent years later. All they have is credit card charges that may or may not be CCs. No CC retailer charges your card as "X's Cuban cigars", they charge it under a company name that sells lots of this usually. I've think I've read about people for getting out of embargo related charges. I mean, they have very little evidence and what they do have is speculative.

If they can fine you without actually proving you guilty in a court of law, that's just absurd.

quote:

If they can fine you without actually proving you guilty in a court of law, that's just absurd.

Its a Civil matter not a Criminal one therefor the rules are different.
The cost of hiring legal representation is often many times more than the fine.
From what i have been made to understand going in without a lawyer is a sure conviction.
Many knuckle under and pay.
Its hard to dispute it when they have all the records.
Like trying to beat a ticket in traffic court most plea down and pay a fine.
I guess this was no different.
The facts remain those people personal information was comprised.

quote:

Originally posted by SHEEPSHEAD BAY:

quote:

CC companies are in business to make money. Seems to me they don't do that by ratting out their customers. What would they have to gain by doing this?

I don't know what they personally have to gain but it appears some time back.
In Hong Kong a company was doing just that.
Whether intentional or not many received fines and letters.
I guess they do not safe guard your info as well as they say.

It's quite irresponsible of you to pass on speculation such as this as fact.

The fact is that no one that I am aware of is sure what the source of information that OFAC used to send out its letters was.

Some speculated that it was the vendor.

Some speculated that it was the credit card processing company -- WorldBank -- that had posted that it has a policy of cooperating with US Homeland Security.

Some speculated that it was one credit card company or another.

Here's a fact (admittedly via hearsay). A guy from Cigar Weekly posted that he did a box split purchase from the vendor. One guy placed the order using his credit card, but he had the shipment sent to the other guy's address. The OFAC letter went to the address to which the order was shipped. This is consistent with other reliable reports provided to me that the OFAC letters all went to the shipping address, if different from the billing address. This strongly suggests that neither the credit card company nor the processing bank was the source of the information that OFAC got.

Wow this happend to me today as well. I had to call them to process the transaction. Well they actually called me. First time for me to.

quote:

Here's a fact (admittedly via hearsay).

Oh that indeed is priceless!
You are going to base your assumptions on hear say!
And I'm irresponsible!
What are you a Shill?
The point was be careful is all.
I was giving members the heads up.
You sound more and more like the vendor in question with every word.

So that leaves two options of where OFAC got the information, the vendor or the usps. Guess which one I'd guess??

Or the email provider, as the order confirmations contained addresses. IT companies have all been complicit with the US government for some time post 9-11. Carte blanche in many cases.

quote:

Originally posted by SHEEPSHEAD BAY:

quote:

Here's a fact (admittedly via hearsay).

Oh that indeed is priceless!
You are going to base your assumptions on hear say!
And I'm irresponsible!
What are you a Shill?
The point was be careful is all.
I was giving members the heads up.
You sound more and more like the vendor in question with every word.

Actually, you have completely misinterpreted Van's point. Read his post again. The last part speculates that it WAS the vendor who provided the information. He states that it wasn't the credit card company or the processing bank who provided the information. Who does that leave? I'll spell it out....the vendor.

I know Van personally and he is definitely NOT a vendor or affiliated with the vendor in question in ANY way. In my opinion, you owe him an apology.

Apologize to him?
He called me irresponsible!
If you take the time to go back and read the thread never mind i will do it for you here it is!

Originally posted by SHEEPSHEAD BAY



I don't know what they personally have to gain but it appears some time back.
In Hong Kong a company was doing just that.
Whether intentional or not many received fines and letters.
I guess they do not safe guard your info as well as they say.

What has he said that i did not already say.
You will never change Peacemaker always stirring the pot.
You are the one here that now owes the apology.
Yeah i will hold my breath for that one!

good job sheepshead now go get your f-en shinebox.

Hey Brooklyn!
I thought you said your were alright spider?

" Business bad? F*ck you, pay me. Oh, you had a fire? F*ck you, pay me. Place got hit by lightning huh? F*ck you, pay me."

Guys, Could it possibly be that the info was obtained from no one other than the actual package itself that got confiscated? Especially since the letter goes to the shipping address?

OK, Sheep, I believe we both misinterpreted Van's post. I admit that I did. However, I still feel it was wrong for you to insinuate that he was the vendor or affiliated with the vendor in some way. That is not something to throw around lightly, especially in this kind of situation. As I said, I know Van personally....just saw him last weekend....and what you insinuated couldn't be farther from the truth and was uncalled for.

quote:

Originally posted by The Peacemaker:
OK, Sheep, I believe we both misinterpreted Van's post. I admit that I did. However, I still feel it was wrong for you to insinuate that he was the vendor or affiliated with the vendor in some way. That is not something to throw around lightly, especially in this kind of situation. As I said, I know Van personally....just saw him last weekend....and what you insinuated couldn't be farther from the truth and was uncalled for.

While said Peacemaker and thanks for not resorting to personal attacks. It happens to often on Internet forums...try doing that at a B&M. As others have said your posts are thoughtful and well articulated. My respects sir. From a Canadian who doesn't worry about no stinking letter.

quote:

Originally posted by Baldyisme:
From a Canadian who doesn't worry about no stinking letter.

Just frikin customs charges.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Cohen:

quote:

Originally posted by Baldyisme:
From a Canadian who doesn't worry about no stinking letter.

Just frikin customs charges.

Yeah your right...we're in the same boat as our American brothers. Knew I should have taken up pot smoking instead of cigars. Much easier and cheaper to get an illegal product than a legal product. Go figure.

quote:

The fact is that no one that I am aware of is sure what the source of information that OFAC used to send out its letters was.

Sorry Vanity Everyone knows the records were compromised by World Pay.I was told that by Ravi himself. I still continue to purchase from him the money i save is worth the risk.That version you tell is quite a story.

quote:

As I said, I know Van personally....just saw him last weekend....and what you insinuated couldn't be farther from the truth and was uncalled for.

And calling someone irresponsible when they were just trying to look out for other members of this forum was un called for as well. You flung your accusations as did your friend without even reading the post. Now its no secret that we dislike each other me and you.
So i understand it coming from you. But he did it as well of course i thought he was a Shill anyone would have.
Now i know that he is your friend that explains it all.
From what i just read in the post above this looks like his story was B/S as well.
How's that saying go?
"Birds of a feather flock together"