Computer investigator helping Craigslist scam victim fight back

Amberay Synder put her own safety at risk when she decided to hunt down the scammer who tried to rip her off. It all started when she tried to sell her futon on Craigslist and was contacted by a man who calls himself, "Harvey Goldfarb."

Harvey sent her a check for $2200 that turned out to be fake.


'I was very angry," Amberay said. But instead of getting mad, Amberay tried to get even.

She pretended to befriend the criminal, even agreed to work with him, all while she was gathering information to get him caught.

Her case is being investigated by the Secret Service, an agency inundated with online scams.

But after seeing our story, Colorado computer investigator Charles Tendell offered to help.

"I'm going to find this guy." Tendell says.

Using Amberay's information and his own expertise, Tendell has traced "Harvey's" email to a home in Boca Raton Florida. The computer IP address, however, is connected to an address in Africa. So Tendell put a trace on an email he sent to "Harvey," and as soon he opens it, "we'll have our man," he says.

Tendell says as soon as he tracks Harvey down he'll let us know.

Tendell says if you are scammed by someone online, it's important to save their email address and the header information.

To learn how to do that, visit CTDC Investigative Solutions