While there is nothing I can do in particular to force a sale or take action without hearing from both sides, but I can keep an eye out for the type of activity in the future from this poster. I definitely appreciate being looped in so that I know who the 'bad actors' are on our Trade forums. Please always do that. I've been in this situation before myself, and I know how frustrating it can be. Going forward, I would be extremely skeptical about paying up front before you have the actual item in hand to anyone other than the most well-known and trusted brokers.