I recently sold my laptop on eBay for $1500.  I requested PayPal, but
the person indicated that they needed the computer ASAP.  They
over-nighted me a money order and I deposited it in the bank.  The
next day I sent the computer because I thought a money order was the
same as cash.  Two weeks later, my bank informs me that the money
order is fake.  I have done all I can to contact the "buyer," but to no
avail.  Basically, I have been ripped off.  Is there any way I can get
my money back?

Have you filed a complaint with your local police department? Have you
done any investigative work to find out where you sent the laptop? If
it was a P.O. Box or a Mailboxes Etc. have you attempted to subpoena
information on the person who rented it?

/ephraim

Have you checked to see if you are eligible for any compensation from ebay?

In any event, have you asked ebay for advice?

They should have some details of the 'buyer' (for what they are worth).

Ebay has several pages of Discussion Boards... A few that might apply
to your situation are listed here.  You might try posting a question
on the following Message Boards and see if anyone can assist you.


Welcome to the Trust & Safety (SafeHarbor) Answer Center! 
http://answercenter.ebay.com/forum.jsp?forum=2
The place eBay members can ask questions about Trust & Safety
initiatives. These are Member-to-Member Question & Answer boards.
Please feel free to ask advice from other members or help others by
providing answers to their questions.


Welcome to the Seller Central Discussion Board!
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/forum.jsp?forum=143 


Welcome to the Checkout Discussion Board!
http://forums.ebay.com/db1/forum.jsp?forum=6



Best regards,
tlspiegel

Here is an eBay "about me" page that offers great advice on dealing with fraud:

http://members.ebay.com/ws2/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=!turk

Kriswrite

http://members.ebay.com/ws2/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=mioka
Click on links for:

International Web Police 
Interpol International Police 
International Web Police Crime Report 


Another Fraud Report page
http://crs.ebay.com/aw-cgi/ebayisapi.dll?crsstartpage

counterfeit cashier's check & money transfer scams 

http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html

Here is what they recommend:

"for local police help, call the non-emergency police number in your
local phone book.

for governmental assistance, you can contact your local secret service
field office, or call the FTC toll-free at 1-877-FTC-HELP
(1-877-382-4357) or use the complaint form at www.ftc.gov, or call the
Canadian PhoneBusters hotline toll-free at 1-888-495-8501.

other resources include www.ustreas.gov/usss/ (secret service) and
www.fbi.gov (fbi)"

you wont get any help from ebay,Fraud is a serious crime,as stated by
other people, contact the police in your area,the police will get the
money order from the bank and their fraud squad will investigate,but
kiss your money good bye,but you could get your laptop back,just
remember next time I'm sure you will TRUST NO ONE