I am definitely not trying to let anyone else get hurt here, far from it. I am just hoping to find someone who might have been through this (god forbid) for some guidance. If you are looking to do a hunt I suggest do your due diligence much of this information can be found on the internet.
Scammed by an Alaskan Guide
- Thread starter IDShane
- Start date
Amos Keeto
WKR
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2023
- Messages
- 656
I've been on three sporting trips where the "guide" requested down-payment.
All three were successfully completed.
One trip, we paid a "packer" to get our "camp" into the mountains and back. He did that just fine.
I've always had too little money and too little trust in strangers to be sending an unknown guide (human?) money for services "yet to be rendered"!
The guide and packer were all known to the people who suggested them and had known them for quite sometime.
Oddly, the cost of the guide was only a small portion of the trip.
If you haven't sunk money into airline tickets, bushplane reservations and motel accommodations, you might just have to write it off as a VERY expensive lesson!
This happens year after year after year!
There are unscrupulous people who have no qualms about cashing your $5k check and disappearing or melting onto the backwoods!
Filing suit to reclaim your cost and even getting a settlement in your favor is normally an exercise in futility!
Asking a ne'er-do-well to repay you the $5k he had to cheat you to get his hands on is a loser.
Knew a guy who was supposedly "honest". Took two pals on a guided bear hunt in Idaho. The pals paid him for the hunt and he was supposed to pay the guide.
When the guide died 30 years later, he still had not been paid for the hunt!
Seems "Mr. Honesty" used his pals money to fund HIS portion of the trip rather than pay the guide!
All three were successfully completed.
One trip, we paid a "packer" to get our "camp" into the mountains and back. He did that just fine.
I've always had too little money and too little trust in strangers to be sending an unknown guide (human?) money for services "yet to be rendered"!
The guide and packer were all known to the people who suggested them and had known them for quite sometime.
Oddly, the cost of the guide was only a small portion of the trip.
If you haven't sunk money into airline tickets, bushplane reservations and motel accommodations, you might just have to write it off as a VERY expensive lesson!
This happens year after year after year!
There are unscrupulous people who have no qualms about cashing your $5k check and disappearing or melting onto the backwoods!
Filing suit to reclaim your cost and even getting a settlement in your favor is normally an exercise in futility!
Asking a ne'er-do-well to repay you the $5k he had to cheat you to get his hands on is a loser.
Knew a guy who was supposedly "honest". Took two pals on a guided bear hunt in Idaho. The pals paid him for the hunt and he was supposed to pay the guide.
When the guide died 30 years later, he still had not been paid for the hunt!
Seems "Mr. Honesty" used his pals money to fund HIS portion of the trip rather than pay the guide!
Amos Keeto
WKR
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2023
- Messages
- 656
Sam was a licensed electrician. One of those fly-by-night contractors hired him to wire a log cabin.
He eventually had to file a "labor-lein" against the property to get something for his work.
Every time I talked to Sam he would say he heard from the guy and offer to take 10% off if he would just pay him.
One day I told Sam, "You're doing this all wrong! Instead of telling him you'll take $1500 for your $2000 job, tell him this!"
I'm tired of messing with you! I offered you a deal and you didn't pay!
NOW...the price is $2500 and every time I hear another excuse, the price goes up another $500!
Sam finally got his $2500, but sadly, the smarmy contractor walked off and the actual homeowner had to cough up the price to get the labor-lein off his home.
He eventually had to file a "labor-lein" against the property to get something for his work.
Every time I talked to Sam he would say he heard from the guy and offer to take 10% off if he would just pay him.
One day I told Sam, "You're doing this all wrong! Instead of telling him you'll take $1500 for your $2000 job, tell him this!"
I'm tired of messing with you! I offered you a deal and you didn't pay!
NOW...the price is $2500 and every time I hear another excuse, the price goes up another $500!
Sam finally got his $2500, but sadly, the smarmy contractor walked off and the actual homeowner had to cough up the price to get the labor-lein off his home.
This is why you pay for this kind of stuff with CC. It gives you a possibility of getting some back.
Talking to others and following up on references seem more important these days. Even with buying stuff local, I'd rather go to a big retailer and pay a little more - sux for mom & pop but there is security in a big outfit.
Talking to others and following up on references seem more important these days. Even with buying stuff local, I'd rather go to a big retailer and pay a little more - sux for mom & pop but there is security in a big outfit.
Blockcaver
WKR
Original poster: sounds just like how Tom Shankster used operate in Alaska. Google him for
similar rip-offs that went on for over 20 years. He is dead now but sure was a shady operator.
similar rip-offs that went on for over 20 years. He is dead now but sure was a shady operator.
Axlrod
WKR
So commit a felony and still not recoup any money?? Never be able to own firearms and rack up legal expenses/fines. Brilliant idea!
Bubblehide
WKR
- Joined
- May 13, 2015
- Messages
- 4,285
Common man, if he spends enough time in the big house, he can recoup his money through the 3 hots and a cot
.
It's only a felony if he gets caught.
mtnbiker208
WKR
I had a hunt in 2012 with pioneer outfitters. Terry Overly never showed up. The alaska guides association or board was of little help. Good luck and be prepared for a long fight. the only way i got anything back, was because Terry's consession was in Wrangel st elias preserve. The feds helped me get some money back, the state was of no help.
Reburn
Mayhem Contributor
You are F'ed. You will likely never see your money. If you hold a grudge like me you can toss more good money after bad destroying his probably already train wreck of a life. I personally would, spending the cost again in attorneys to get judgements. But you will have to wait until after your scheduled hunt has passed likely.
SURVEYOR
FNG
I would notify him that I’m filing criminal charges unless I receive a refund
When I have a little trouble collecting which has been 3-4 times in 10 years and thousands of projects. I notify the debtor that I will be filing theft of services charges. Since I rarely work for under $2k / project it’s a pretty stiff charge in the eyes of the law. It usually gets there attention and I collect, especially after the sherrifs department calls to get there side of the story
When I have a little trouble collecting which has been 3-4 times in 10 years and thousands of projects. I notify the debtor that I will be filing theft of services charges. Since I rarely work for under $2k / project it’s a pretty stiff charge in the eyes of the law. It usually gets there attention and I collect, especially after the sherrifs department calls to get there side of the story
journeyman713
WKR
Communication is the key here. You aren't scheduled till 2025, so stay ion contact with him and try to get a sense if things are okay.
Meanwhile, communicate with the Sheriff in his area, if the rumors of the 21 guys are true, those would be felonies, and the Sheriff would know.
I'm not sure you can have the Sherriff put the squeeze on him for you, till 2025 though, nor would you want to, the hunt may still happen, if he's not in jail.
Meanwhile, communicate with the Sheriff in his area, if the rumors of the 21 guys are true, those would be felonies, and the Sheriff would know.
I'm not sure you can have the Sherriff put the squeeze on him for you, till 2025 though, nor would you want to, the hunt may still happen, if he's not in jail.
KenLee
WKR
Yeah I'm sure 22 potential charges vs 21 will make the guy cough up money he doesn't have.
Rotnguns
WKR
Really doesn't look like anything criminal has happened yet, since the hunt has been deferred to 2025. Even if the guide loses his license, he could theoretically make arrangements to transfer the hunt to a different guide service that has a valid license.
Coopsdaddy
WKR
Curious if he used a credit card would that make a difference?
Glory
Lil-Rokslider
That’s the problem with the operations that require full or 1/2 payment far in advance. If things go south people are screwed. I am sure a lot of the operators who do this are living off those advance funds and they are long gone before the hunt takes place.
Good luck.
Way I read your post is you have a hunt scheduled for next year and you are worried you might be screwed?
If this is the case you have nothing. I don't believe you can sue someone nor back out of a contract because you "think" you might be cheated.
If this is the case you have nothing. I don't believe you can sue someone nor back out of a contract because you "think" you might be cheated.
Similar threads
Featured Video
Latest Articles
- Nevada Mule Deer & The Trade-Offs in Wildlife Management
- Spartan SpringBok Bipod Review
- All About Pronghorn & Hunting Big Ones with Chance Marshall
- Bill Vanderheyden Debunks Myths About Long-Distance Accuracy
- What Do Elk Eat? Elk Nutrition, Habitat, and Finding More Elk with Luke Schultz
- Patagonia Nano Air Ultralight Hoody Review
- CWD: Progress and Hope in Wyoming?
- Zeiss Conquest Apia 20-50×65 Spotting Scope Review
- What does 2026 hold for Wyoming’s Mule Deer hunters?
- Mathews ARC Bow Review