BUYERS BEWARE of Wilhelm F. Uthe Ripoff Artist

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comicnut · February 9, 2007

His address is in my above post.

The people in Germany I've talked to haven't done anything because they are scared. The three so far said they weren't sure what he'd do.

lhcomics · February 9, 2007

Wow! I just stumbled across this post at work. I can't go into detail now about my dealings with Mr. Uthe but my bad dealings with him go back to 1985. Sad to see he's still ripping off people. I'm busy this weekend but will find some time to tell you guys my story.

CentaurMan · February 9, 2007

Wow! I just stumbled across this post at work. I can't go into detail now about my dealings with Mr. Uthe but my bad dealings with him go back to 1985. Sad to see he's still ripping off people. I'm busy this weekend but will find some time to tell you guys my story.

1985??!?! Good lord. Definitely tell the story when you get a chance!

agro23 · February 9, 2007

On the general topic of scams, here's an oldy but a goody...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280080908930

FourthWorld · February 9, 2007

On the general topic of scams, here's an oldy but a goody...
gotta' love the "classics"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280080908930

lhcomics · February 10, 2007

Is this maybe an ebay account of his? I don't understand any German but his name is in the about me page under ebay id pumbasimba. This really ticks me off that he's still doing this, something needs to be done. I'm working on the tale I have of Mr. Uthe and will post it before the weekend is up. This guy must have went to the Dupcak school of comic selling.

batman_fan · February 10, 2007

I have to take serious issue with this last post. Really, "stick to the US because scams people run on folks in the US are widely distributed around the world", how naive is that, I've been scammed more times from US people then anywhere. But of course most of the transactions I've had come from there. Why do you think the US has the most lawyers per capita in the world??? My very first buy on ebay many years ago was a scam from a US seller. If I would have labeled all US sellers as scammers or thought it safer just not to buy from the US I would have closed off a big part of the market for no reason. Instead I knew it was just one of a few bad apples in the US (just like we have a few here) and that most people dealing in comics in the US are honest collectors just like me.

Additionally Cdn laws are no real different that the US. It's just as easy to sue someone here as the US (although I don't think we've sued any restaurants for dropping a hot pickle from our burger in our lap).

Imagine where things would be today if we let one bad incident from a foreign country taint our views of them. Nobody would travel anywhere (particularily Mexico right now), you would not have foreign imports etc etc.

Lastly, just for the record most parcels I (or other Cdns) send out take 7-10 business days.

Anyways, nuff said.

Read my post, I am not saying scams are not occuring in the US, just that the legal venues are easier. If you have a good understanding of the laws in Canada, good for you, buy from there. If you have had great experience buying from Nigeria, good for you keep doing it. For myself, no way.

nochips · February 10, 2007

He ripped me off twice, yes twice. Once on some golden age books a few years ago, and then a few months back. He claims to have many high grade golden age books and some mile highs and Larson, File copies, etc....

Let's not discuss the books I bought three years ago. It's way in the past and I have prayed that this guy dies in some freakish industrial accident as a result of his dealings. He is evil, plain and simple....

A few months back I bought 2 Archie books (golden age) from his new ebay name. He keeps changing names to outrun the negatives. He sells a bunch of books, paperbacks and such, to get his feedback high, then he starts on comics and all heck breaks loose. He ripps everyone of and he switches names and starts all over.

Once I received the books I knew it was him. His grades are off by 1/4 to 1/2 of the actual grade. I complained via email and he then told me he was the same scoundrel that sold me overgraded books in the past. He remembers I complained then as well. I no longer buy anything from Germany because most everyone who sells old comics either knows this guy or is his partner of some sort. I have multiple negatives on my feedback from this mook and I wish I never met him or his goons. In fact I sold a book to a guy in Germany and he left me negative feedback because I had just left some for Willy boy. The man had not yet recieved the items and he left me a negative. I emailed him and asked him why. He told me I was picking on one of his fellow Germans. I did some research and found out the C/O address I mailed his book to was the same address and C/O person that Willy boy used as a reference before I bought from him a few years back. They are all in it together.

nochips · February 10, 2007

He also used someone here in the states as a reference as well. He gave me a phone number to the guy and I called him. The guy made it sound like Will was all legit. The whole thing was too weird for me so I backed out.

Klause What's his name is his USA croney! I called him for a reference and he told me Willy Boy was OK. He's in on all the scams. A real dirtbag!

nochips · February 10, 2007

I think he actually has the books. I just think

1) they're horribly overgraded

2) he takes forever to send them to you

3) he doesn't communicate (other than possibly to try and sell you more *spoon*)

If I had recognized "aurikabe" as this guy (who I'd had a run-in with years before), I never would've bid. But with the constantly changing eBay handles I didn't notice.

At this point he's pretty much ruined all of Germany for me, as I'm not going to buy a book from there over eBay on the off chance it's him.

Ditto on the Germany thing.

epicurus-migration · February 10, 2007

W.U. is probably the biggest imposter I have ever come across. Was one of his victims 10 years ago, not only in Europe, worldwide......

Ebay is a paradise for him and ebay doesn't care at all ! He has over 100 ebay names (if not 1000). Everytime he is expelled from ebay he returns under a different, false name. Warned ebay numerous times, but their safety system is like swiss cheese.

I think the best legal action is to sue ebay.

Anyone interested in W.U. new ebay names please contact me as I know his habits..........

lhcomics · February 11, 2007

In 1985 I lived in Bakersfield Ca. and saw an ad in the CBG from Wilhelm Uthe with a Detective #38 in VF for sale or trade $1800. I mailed him (not emailed) listing several comics I had that I would be willing to trade. He mailed back with the comics that he wanted which we agreed came to $600 in value. So I would ship the comics along with $1200 cashiers check.

At this time he had mailed his phone number along with a couple of U.S. references who he had had comic dealings with. I called one of the references and they said he was a good person to deal with. (make note to self to check background of references in future dealings) This guy was surely one of his U.S. buddies in on a cut of his scams.

At this point all seems to go well so I phone Wilhelm to go over the details. Yes this is a very expensive U.S. to Germany phone call but if he was at the number given me and we were to speak then deal should probably be OK. Wilhelm spoke fairly decent heavily German accented English and we agreed I would send the comics valued at $600 plus $1250 cashier check. The extra $50 was to cover the cost of his shipping the Det #38 to me. I was to pay shipping of my comics to him.

Comics were shipped with tracking info so I had proof of shipping. I get a letter from Wilhelm stating that he got the comic package but he had miscalculated the postage cost to ship the Det #38 to the states. I just need to send him an additional $160 and the Det #38 would be on its way. I called him and at this point he forgot how to speak English. I now about a week later get a letter entirely in German which I find out is threats if I don’t send the additional money.

I now decide to call the German Consulate in Los Angeles and discuss the issue with them. I make an appointment with them and take all of the letters and info I have to state my case. They get all the info and I wait to see what they can do. Several months go by and during this time they keep in touch with me and seem helpful. In the end they say he went to court/trial and was sentenced to three months in jail. I never received any of my comics or money back.

I had a house fire in 1997 and lost all my information I had on the case. I called the German consulate last Friday after reading this post and asked if they still had any info on the case I had against Wilhelm. I spoke with an individual who said most information is only kept for five years.

I would love to know his ebay ID’s so I could see the comics he’s selling these days.

Well here it is 22 years later and I’m sure Wilhelm is doing quite well with all the rip-off stories in this post along with who knows how many others. He probably will in one way or another read this post and get a good laugh or get a warm fuzzy feeling of the good ole days. Wilhelm you will one day be held accountable for all your actions.

epicurus-migration · February 11, 2007

Sorry to hear you are one of his victims as well. I can assure you many victims can drink Uthes blood by now ! The stories go back up to 30 years ago so you can imagine the amount of damage he has caused ! I think he is now in his late 60-ies.

He not only collects comics but also vintage crime,western, sf, detective fiction, old postcards, dime novels and books in general.

Many people have sued Uthe, often unsuccesful. I know he served jail several times, but it's nothing compared to the damage he has caused.

As stated in the previous messages the internet and especially ebay is a paradise for Uthe. I think we should keep records of all transactions with Uthe: print the winning notification message you get from ebay with Uthes false address, all messages from Uthe, track down Uthes IP address and very important contact ebay safe harbour. Tell them Uthe is active again. They'll respond with their 'case ID message' (always the same auto generated text, not much of a help though). If they have banned Uthe again, print his 'feedback screen' where you can see he is no longer a registered user. If several people do this and Uthe comes back again and again I think there is enough reason to sue ebay and win the case. So print everything related to Uthe. Perhaps US and European victims of Uthe can unite and file a complaint. Single complaints are chanceless. I think I can find a German lawyer willing to help us, but first need sufficient evidence.

OK, now to how to recognise Uthe.

1. ask yourself the question: how many Germans are interested in vintage US comics ? I can count them one one hand.

2. when Uthe registers under a false name he first builds up his reputation by bidding (and even paying) for some cheap items. After a few positive feedbacks he starts selling. Avoid all German sellers with less than 100 positive feedbacks, 99% chance it's Uthe.

3. Look at the letter-type he is using: often bold and large.

4. look at the scans. Most of his backgrounds are black.

His current ebay names are (100% sure): yarecity, mitternachtsloewe

Suspected is: amar 1872

It's only the tip of the iceberg..............

comicnut · February 12, 2007

Okay, so it's time to contact ebay again.

We have some current ebay names now we just need some past ones where he has gotten lots of negatives.

Can you guys please list them, then after a few days I'll contact ebay with all this.

Thanks

comicnut · February 12, 2007

In fact if Esquire could put his two cents in about what can be done it would be greatly appreciated.

lhcomics · February 12, 2007

Just noticed yarecity got two negatives today. I see the pattern of building up feedback with a lot of low $ buying before turning to selling.

lhcomics · February 12, 2007

One of the yarecity negatives calls him by name Wilhelm U. He also just got a neutral. All in German so if someone could translate the feedbacks.

brasseye · February 12, 2007

One of the yarecity negatives calls him by name Wilhelm U. He also just got a neutral. All in German so if someone could translate the feedbacks.

dictionary.com has a translation facility available.

Thegoldenage · February 12, 2007

It was a lot easier to track Wilhelm before ebay began blocking the search engine function for users registered in Germany. Prior to this another collector and I were able to get him suspended several times. Perry Albert (Starwind1 on ebay) was the other collector and he has much more info on this rat.