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 H.B.M.C. wrote:
(potentially non-existent) lawyers.

Definitely not lawyers - in this email / forum posting you can see him offering his services to someone with an adverse interest to a previous client and revealing client information.

(WEHR was a stock scam, looks like his company was trawling around looking for PI work from defrauded investors)

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:fYKCj4YzslkJ:wehrshareholders.com/viewtopic.php%3Ff%3D4%26t%3D64+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca&client=firefox-a

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Im confused, What is wrong with this guy and his company.

In the past, Mr. Mandelbaum has allegedly been involved with now defunct websites and businesses in which some of their customers claim to have never received the products or services they paid for and in some cases never received a refund either. Those businesses/sites have since closed up shop giving those customers no recourse as to how to get their money back.

While involved with these former businesses, he has allegedly gone by a number of different aliases and claimed many different excuses as to why these customers didn't receive what they were promised, such as family members dying, products lost in the mail, etc.

There are some that claim to have firsthand information linking some of these aliases and former businesses all together and link this all to Mr. Mandelbaum, and if you do some searching on your own (including the links embedded in the original post of this thread) you can come to your own conclusions about who and what you believe.

 yakface wrote:


It is me on the hook. One person. If Dakka gets sued, that means I'm getting sued. If I can't pay, that means a lien on my house.

That is another annoyingly good and understandable point. I am assuming that tomorrow you will have the appropriate insurance coverage in place for libel and defamation.

I've been thinking about what I am about to say for the last few days: would it be possible to go to GW and "inform" them to what has been going on (despite most people not getting product), and possibly have them press charges? I'm sure if someone were to figure out how to contact someone at GW besides customer service, something could possibly come of it...

Also, mods, I would just like to thank you about how you have handled this situation. I have never seen forum mods care about their community this much in the 15 years that I've been using the Internet.

 fullheadofhair wrote:


That is another annoyingly good and understandable point. I am assuming that tomorrow you will have the appropriate insurance coverage in place for libel and defamation.

The Communications Decency Act should have his back: http://www.dmlp.org/section-230

http://www.dmlp.org/legal-guide/immunity-online-publishers-under-communications-decency-act


Not that that prevents a frivolous lawsuit or the costs associated with getting it thrown out.

 yakface wrote:


*snip a lot of sensible words*

Everything you just said makes perfect rational sense, and I don’t find myself disagreeing with any of it. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to me directly (far better than sending me a PM calling me an idiot).

I do have a question though, and this is key to my concern (keeping in mind that I have no dog in this fight – I’ve never had any contact with ResinForge, it’s owner, nor any of the other stores that came before it):

Do you have a problem with people using this website to warn people away from ResinForge? I’m not talking about posting personal information or making threats or anything like that – just people warning people off ResinForge as they would any other potentially bad trader?

baritowned wrote:
I've been thinking about what I am about to say for the last few days: would it be possible to go to GW and "inform" them that he is a known recaster (despite most people not getting product), and possibly have them press charges? I'm sure if someone were to figure out how to contact someone at GW besides customer service, something could possibly come of it...

Also, mods, I would just like to thank you about how you have handled this situation. I have never seen forum mods care about their community this much in the 15 years that I've been using the Internet.

Despite people mentioning recasting, I don't think that there has ever been a complaint of anybody coming forward and stating that they have received a recasted product from him. There has been lots of "how can he maintain profit margins without recasting?" type questions, but nobody that has ever stated that they even suspect that a piece they received was a recast. Which is one of those things that can cross the line from facts into accusations that have no proof.

Saying "he is a known recaster" is one of those things that Yakface is trying to look out for since he may either be on the hook for those statements or at the very least has to spend a lot of personal time and effort fighting them even if there is no real case.

A C&D needs to be signed by a Judge. This is fake.

 d-usa wrote:

baritowned wrote:
I've been thinking about what I am about to say for the last few days: would it be possible to go to GW and "inform" them that he is a known recaster (despite most people not getting product), and possibly have them press charges? I'm sure if someone were to figure out how to contact someone at GW besides customer service, something could possibly come of it...

Also, mods, I would just like to thank you about how you have handled this situation. I have never seen forum mods care about their community this much in the 15 years that I've been using the Internet.

Despite people mentioning recasting, I don't think that there has ever been a complaint of anybody coming forward and stating that they have received a recasted product from him. There has been lots of "how can he maintain profit margins without recasting?" type questions, but nobody that has ever stated that they even suspect that a piece they received was a recast. Which is one of those things that can cross the line from facts into accusations that have no proof.

Saying "he is a known recaster" is one of those things that Yakface is trying to look out for since he may either be on the hook for those statements or at the very least has to spend a lot of personal time and effort fighting them even if there is no real case.

Ah gotcha. I edited my original post, and I believe Yakface shouldn't be on the hook for that. Gotta love this justice system.

Anyway, it would be a good way for GW's legal team to redeem themselves. After the Spots snafu and taking Natfka down, they need something positive.

Dicey wrote:
A C&D needs to be signed by a Judge. This is fake.

False, but going into that would just drag this off-topic.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:

 yakface wrote:


*snip a lot of sensible words*

Everything you just said makes perfect rational sense, and I don’t find myself disagreeing with any of it. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to me directly (far better than sending me a PM calling me an idiot).

I do have a question though, and this is key to my concern (keeping in mind that I have no dog in this fight – I’ve never had any contact with ResinForge, it’s owner, nor any of the other stores that came before it):

Do you have a problem with people using this website to warn people away from ResinForge? I’m not talking about posting personal information or making threats or anything like that – just people warning people off ResinForge as they would any other potentially bad trader?

It depends on why people are being warned. To my knowledge, Resin Forge hasn't had any customer service issues yet that haven't been satisfactorily resolved by the company.

The goal of all of this in the first place (and I'm making assumptions here since I wasn't involved with making the original thread) was to warn people who the owner of a new company was, since that information had not been made public.

The reason that is pertinent information is because customers of other companies that he was allegedly involved with in the past have ended up coming away without the goods and services they paid for and have felt scammed. Some of those former customers claim to have very solid firsthand accounts tying the aliases behind those companies to Mr. Mandelbaum.

But at the end of the day you're still having to trust the claims of people on the internet over the claims of another person or people on the internet. The problem is, once an individual makes the choice as to which 'side' he believes, then before long that information is then referred to as though it is fact, and you start getting people slinging around dangerous terms like 'known scammer' and 'known recaster'.

I think it is entirely possible to simply present the FACTS as they stand as the warning. Then people can choose who they believe themselves and decide who they are comfortable doing business with.

I believe that way the warning can exist just as strong to those who want to listen while never diverting into any territory that could ever be construed as defamation.

baritowned wrote:

Ah gotcha. I edited my original post, and I believe Yakface shouldn't be on the hook for that. Gotta love this justice system.

Anyway, it would be a good way for GW's legal team to redeem themselves. After the Spots snafu and taking Natfka down, they need something positive.

Yeah, I don't think that Yakface wouldn't be able to fight this and put a stop to it.

But I totally understand not wanting to face the giant headache of having to go through the system in dealing with this. Especially since Daniel Mandelbaum send us a letter admitting that he is the owner of Resin Forge in order to shut down a thread where people where thinking he might be the owner of Resin Forge.

Was the original document written in crayon?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 yakface wrote:


I think it is entirely possible to simply present the FACTS as they stand as the warning. Then people can choose who they believe themselves and decide who they are comfortable doing business with.

I believe that way the warning can exist just as strong to those who want to listen while never diverting into any territory that could ever be construed as defamation.

But wasn't the post that served as the "warning to others" the one that was removed?

czakk wrote:

The Communications Decency Act should have his back: http://www.dmlp.org/section-230

http://www.dmlp.org/legal-guide/immunity-online-publishers-under-communications-decency-act


Not that that prevents a frivolous lawsuit or the costs associated with getting it thrown out.

That's really good to see actually, but you hit the nail right on the head.

This really isn't about whether or not the C&D is bogus, or the firm behind it is a complete sham or whether or not Resin Forge would really have the stones to go forward with litigation if I ignored the C&D.

If I truly felt in my heart for a second that me removing that original thread and replacing it with confirmation of Mr. Mandelbaum's involvement in Resin Forge via their own C&D letter was some huge disservice to the miniature gaming community, then I would have hired a lawyer and fought tooth and nail to keep it up.

But the whole point of the original thread was to get the message out that Daniel Mandelbaum was involved with Resin Forge, something completely accomplished by posting their C&D letter. So to me, I see this as a non-issue win.

Because unlike any other former company he was allegedly involved in (that I'm aware of), Mr. Mandelbaum is now 100% officially tied to this company forever. Hopefully that's all the motivation he needs to keep this operation going and pleasing its customers fully for years to come. However, if that turns out not to be the case, then we will have clear record of those involved with running the company to help identify them yet again should they ever choose to start yet another business/site after this one.

 puma713 wrote:
Was the original document written in crayon?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 yakface wrote:


I think it is entirely possible to simply present the FACTS as they stand as the warning. Then people can choose who they believe themselves and decide who they are comfortable doing business with.

I believe that way the warning can exist just as strong to those who want to listen while never diverting into any territory that could ever be construed as defamation.

But wasn't the post that served as the "warning to others" the one that was removed?

Of-course the more we argue about this the more it stays at the top of the discussions. Weird that. But I suppose now it has Mandelbaum's name actually attached to it.

Those owed money by Daniel/Mattew/RSO/etc need to put together some sort of report to the police. It's the only way anything will be done. If the police don't seem much help generally, it could be pursed through claiming mail fraud which I think is taken quite seriously in the US. There's a wealth of evidence to aid in identifying him and ensuring he can be found for contact by relevant bodies. I absolutely think that the incident of harassing someone at work should be rolled into any sort of group claim.

If he isn't tackled through the correct channels, we'll be seeing this again in a few months. If he closes ResinForge he'll start something new in the very near future.

 yakface wrote:


If I truly felt in my heart for a second that me removing that original thread and replacing it with confirmation of Mr. Mandelbaum's involvement in Resin Forge via their own C&D letter was some huge disservice to the miniature gaming community, then I would have hired a lawyer and fought tooth and nail to keep it up.

You see, this is why Dakkadakka is awesome. I am sure you would have had the community behind you.

Is there a general warning against this guy in the Swap shop? Keeping a semi locked article tracking this guy's online actions doesn't seem like a bad idea and (although I have no legal background) might keep the possible C&D letters away?

 Talizvar wrote:
The collection of posts detailing transactions that members made that were not honored is a long way from defaming a company or individual.

A history of companies traced to an individual that did not honor sales on multiple transactions according to members of Dakka I find hard to identify defaming a business.

To warn others of a disagreeable level of "service" is a public service of it's own, so evidence of "malice" is not there.

Some individuals would understandably get a bit excited since it seems they have first hand knowledge of not receiving what was paid for.

With what discomfort this person is getting from their dealings is deserved and is very funny to see them resorting to legal methods to try to smother the outcry.

This deserves a little digging.

Thanks

Excellent and all true. Well written my friend.

Alec

What happened to that 'glasses' chap on the other thread? Will he admit he was wrong now - or that it was the worst disguise ever.

 yakface wrote:


Dakka has no staff. It is not a LLC.

It is me on the hook. One person. If Dakka gets sued, that means I'm getting sued. If I can't pay, that means a lien on my house.

Why in the hell are you NOT incorporated? That is a really, really BAD business decision. Spend the $ 500 a year. You are making enough to do so, so there really is no reason not to be incorporated. You yourself make the case. Why have your personal assets at risk for a few hundred $?

And this whole C&D is a joke. Who the hell cares what some alleged and fishy company in Germany thinks? A C&D isn't a legal document. It is a nasty letter from someone. I once told the law firm that sent me a C&D to go stuff their C&D where the sun doesn't shine and that their client was a fraudulent ass. Never heard from them again.

They have no case. Their C&D is absurd.

Alec

One of the things that I know about Daniel is that he can actually be a pretty talented guy when it comes to models. He has been known to make some pretty dang good conversions and he wouldn't have been able to get so many orders in the past before everything appears to fall apart if he wouldn't have some talent behind him.

My sincere hope is that this is indeed a company ran by 3 people and that the other two are able to keep everything legit and are able to keep Mandelbaum to run it like companies he has been associated with in the past. Maybe, just maybe, some of the members who report that they felt scammed in the past will have reason to report that they no longer feel scammed at some point.

But even if this is the turning point to a new future, I see no reason to not let people know "Hey, Daniel Mandelbaum is involved here, proceed at your own risk." And his C&D sends the message of who is pulling the strings pretty loud and clear.

I still find it interesting that the Resin Forge website has made no notice of "Hi, Daniel Mandelbaum here, part owner. Our lawyers send a C&D to Dakka, problem solved"

I have sympathies for Yakface in avoiding the risk of a lawsuit, which even if frivolous can cause loss in terms of legal fees owed and time wasted.

Under the circumstances it is not improper that he complied with the Cease and Desist. However as a member of the Dakka community I am offended that someone of unsafe reputation accuses this community of being the cause of death threats. Dakka is not that type of community, we don't condone death threats any more than we condone, say, confidence tricksters in the miniatures gaming industry.
Threats to the gaming community need to be exposed for the common good. Those who make genuine death threats need to be actioned upon for the protection of individuals victimised by them. Those who make baseless accusations equally need to be exposed for the protection of community members, who are in danger of being slandered with false evidence of what are very serious crimes potentially warranting custodial sentences. Death threats are no joke, whether real threats or fake reports of ones; so, where is the evidence for them?

If no evidence is forthcoming it is unfair to further conceal any individual making such accusations, and their aliases; as it would be detrimental to forum members to be exposed to such individuals without forewarning. It would also be helpful to the larger community to have a clear understanding of what said individuals might be trying to hide.

In any case, Yakface has done the right thing by keeping us informed of potential threats to our collective reputation by the links in the OP while removing the thread in question.

I have to admit to being a little concerned about the precedent being set here. In the future, what's to prevent any individual or company mentioned on these forums from filing a defamation case over any negative feedback, no matter how well-deserved? Will those cases also result in removed threads?

If no one can give honest opinions or feedback without fear of being squelched by legal threats, I'm afraid there's no point to the forum's existence anymore.

Creeperman wrote:
I have to admit to being a little concerned about the precedent being set here. In the future, what's to prevent any individual or company mentioned on these forums from filing a defamation case over any negative feedback, no matter how well-deserved? Will those cases also result in removed threads?

No defamation case has been made. This was simply a cease and desist with the threat of one, as unlikely as it might have been actually happening.

yakface made the logical move in accepting it, since it proved 100% what the other thread was all about - confirming it was Mandelbaum. Nothing would be served in doing anything else, because it's mission accomplished.

im glad this saga came to a conclusion that proves RSO is without a shadow of a doubt part of RF, no one can argue with it now

 d-usa wrote:
One of the things that I know about Daniel is that he can actually be a pretty talented guy when it comes to models. He has been known to make some pretty dang good conversions and he wouldn't have been able to get so many orders in the past before everything appears to fall apart if he wouldn't have some talent behind him.

My sincere hope is that this is indeed a company ran by 3 people and that the other two are able to keep everything legit and are able to keep Mandelbaum to run it like companies he has been associated with in the past. Maybe, just maybe, some of the members who report that they felt scammed in the past will have reason to report that they no longer feel scammed at some point.

But even if this is the turning point to a new future, I see no reason to not let people know "Hey, Daniel Mandelbaum is involved here, proceed at your own risk." And his C&D sends the message of who is pulling the strings pretty loud and clear.

I still find it interesting that the Resin Forge website has made no notice of "Hi, Daniel Mandelbaum here, part owner. Our lawyers send a C&D to Dakka, problem solved"

Shame his new business partners are so elusive then, if they exist. The last time he had real partners was for the MWC site/blog and they came here to aggressively defend him. Months later there were tears because he'd used them as a means to cheat more people.

If Daniel were to turn over a new leaf, and was genuine in his complaint 'how can I pay anyone back when I you keep stopping my businesses', or words to that effect, why hasn't anyone prior to Resin Forge been paid for their losses? If Daniel has made it up with anyone, they should be encouraged to post. But I doubt anyone has received a dime.

Daniel Mandelbaum is Daniel Mandelbaum.

A victory of sorts.

Time now for the community at large to keep the pressure up and warn people about dealing with this individual.

baritowned wrote:
I've been thinking about what I am about to say for the last few days: would it be possible to go to GW and "inform" them to what has been going on (despite most people not getting product), and possibly have them press charges? I'm sure if someone were to figure out how to contact someone at GW besides customer service, something could possibly come of it...

Also, mods, I would just like to thank you about how you have handled this situation. I have never seen forum mods care about their community this much in the 15 years that I've been using the Internet.

I have already informed them and unfortunately there is not a lot they can do (they are however watching these threads with interest and the very fact that it has been proved that Daniel is involved with Resinforge may go a long way to any decision made by the ever so happy boys in the GW legal office )

Would it be possible for this thread to be stickied for a while, so it remains visible?

IF it helps at all, there is no britcons ltd registered in Germany that I can find

http://www.globalbusinessregister.co.uk/IndexSearch.aspx?company=britcons&country=&x=-639&y=-616

Or

https://www.handelsregister.de/rp_web/welcome.do

If one of our german friends can confirm?