I just have to disagree. I don't want to side track the thread, but I cannot reasonably understand how anyone who went through this experience could not have trading on this forum ruined for them. I would have no way of knowing if a trade I am going to do will be with someone similar to Rihards, or even Rihards himself. He had positive feedback, I asked for a photo of the package before I sent out my items, what is there to do?
Is there a chance of Rihards to redeem himself? No, there isn't. Would you do a trade with him now? For those who said you would, I would want you to put your money where your mouth is, and do a trade with him, right now. Some people have gotten their stuff back, and that is great. it shows that Rihards, at least has some conscious. He has proven himself to be a scumbag by swindling $2500+ worth of merchandise, the only question is how big of one he is. I am not sure what went on, are their head-fi members in Latvia who could help report this incident to local police, is Rihards doing this out of the goodness of his heart? I don't know, but now people are saying that he should be treated with respect and dignity because he has returned 4 out of 13 items he scammed? People are right to jump in and say that he is a scum because duping people out of trades is a scum by definition. You may have a lower standard of what contributes as a scumbag, but a thief, to me, is one.
And to AstroTurf, please read the thread. You know nothing about the situation, and is running to conclusions and making ignorant comments throughout the thread since you joined. Most people got dubbed out of trades, not through paypal. If you don't know what you are talking about, don't say anything.