Buy $50 Skype credit and that will last you ages even for international calls. There are also various international calling cards/numbers you can use. Chainsaw, if the police want a uk person to speak to to help explain anything then you have my mobile number (it's in my emails) but obviously I have not been defrauded.
When you speak to the police, the important thing to remember is that it's about non delivery of goods paid for and not bitcoin. That will just confuse them. Bitcoin was just the payment method sometimes used but it's really not important to the initial investigation other than as proof of payment.
You should give the payment price in uk sterling equivalent at the time of purchase but obviously you need I say that most payments have been made using online digital currencies. Make things as easy as possible.
I have a PM from my contact with his views/info but he should post here himself if he wants rather than me reposting private messages, especially if he has bank info. He is UK based too.
This is either a long con or someone who got into debts up to his eyeballs. Either way, police involvement is required. Bitcoin is really nothing special here - this is someone who has essentially taken a lot of money and needs to deliver on promises, repay, or face the legal consequences. Whether the money or goods will be reclaimed depends upon if they are still around. Legally speaking, this may be fraud rather than theft but I can't ask lawyer friends until next week.
Chainsaw, don't wait for a lawyer. Speak to the Scottish police. Be calm and to the point. State what you paid and when, that he has disappeared and tracking numbers etc appear to be fake, and that others are in the same situ. State that between you you have personal and bank information about this person from previous dealings.
I spoke online with
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report-a-fraud-including-online-crime today. She suggested I file there, as she implied this was fraud-based.
I will take pretty much all the advice you shared above, ffs. I have a few phone numbers for police contacts now, so I'll try a few of those today after getting the Skype credit and getting off work.
We have at least one physical address for shipment and some bank accounts, so presumably he will be findable.
I'm not too sure how to say this, but uhhh, I'm not sure I'm the best person to be pushing this forward. Right now all I want to do is lie down in a hole somewhere for a few weeks, or spew venom at the world.
Going forward...I'll share everything I did, once it is done. Presumably that will give others a clear path forward, to be able to stack their claims on. I would guess I'll have some contact information or a case number that I can give others via PM once things get moving forward. If I don't reply to a PM and it's been a few days, please re-send, there's a very good chance I'll miss things right now.
I'll post again when I know more. It might be a few days. (I won't be cross-posting or taking any other actions other than those that are absolutely necessary. I try to live a pretty drama free life, and already had two crises on my plate before this one got added. I have neither time nor emotional room for any additional effort other than those absolutely necessary at this point. I would encourage anyone else interested in cross-posting, or getting the word out to do so.)
A huge, huge thanks to everyone that provided me with information up to this point to help move things forward.