Tran seems to have invested in a few automated programs. The four postings I listed above were removed by him within 5-10 minutes of my flagging them, then reposted within 30 minutes. It really feels like "whack the mole." I feel like I'm supporting a nonprofit --- Tran's NONprofitby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/fod/3138776800.htmlby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3138682367.htmlby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3134132203.html http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3138457180.htmlby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3138254478.htmlby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I kinda like that metaphor. Fits.by Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3138159617.htmlby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3134130930.htmlby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tran removed the post above within about 2 minutes of my listing it here. I believe that way he can repost sooner, rather be stalled by a "flagged" period. This must be his only "occupation" and sole support. I noticed the LA postings have dropped off. Excellent.by Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3136786270.htmlby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Several state and federal agencies are involved in this problem. It requires a concerted effort to bring someone like Tran down while closing the loopholes that created his opportunity. Anyone who has participated in a bureacracy might appreciate the complexity of this undertaking. Think of Al Capone. What we are doing here is important. Its the right thing to do. A letter or email toby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3136266600.htmlby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3136006948.htmlby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The Rangers are now manning the campground kiosks the majority of the time (instead of Camp Host Volunteers) to carry out camper check-ins and identification. As of May, when campers attempted to check in with scalped reservations LE was notified, who in turned "interviewed" the camper and then the campers were allowed to utilize the reservation after paying an additional 20.00 per dby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3133790064.htmlby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3134127222.htmlby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks, The energy and persistance of this forum is pretty amazing. This link is a wealth of information (i.e., history) about this problem. It also is a gauge of of the forums success. It would appear be that Tran is the only real scalper left standing. This must be his bread and butter. His profession.by Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3134130930.htmlby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3133870898.htmlby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
There is not a lot of "verification" that can be shared in this open forum. Tran is "acquiring" valid reservations and is changing the names to his "buyers" on Craigslist There is an interdepartmental estimate that Tran has pocketed, over the past two reservation periods, $40,000 to $60.000. Tax evasion is a consideration. I talked a camper in a 40 foot Prevostby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
There is an ongoing investigation into Tran/Tanners scalping by the Justice Department. It's a tough go since there's no "law" about scalping per se, only NPS reg's. This guy is a scalping with an interfacing program, there is no doubt. I suggest you read this article. http://www.npr.org/2011/07/07/137496875/yosemite-cracks-down-on-campsite-scalpers The NPS is aware of who haby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hitech, This is the email I attempted to send Active, and my take on the "gross" scalping situation occurring on Craigslist. I have a grave concern about the technical integrity of Reserve America's reservation system as it is applied to campground reservations for Yosemite Valley Campgrounds. The current system is obviously flawed. I submit, below, a posting copied from Craigslisby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Attempted to send Active an Email, received this: From: Mail Delivery Subsystem <[email protected]> Subject: Delivery Status Notification (Failure) Date: July 11, 2012 12:21:10 PM CDT Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently: Outdoors@activenetworby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Reference my post above Active Network is a Canadian company with corporate "headquarters" in San Diego. The Reserve America office (subsidiary of Active) is in Sacramento. I suspect the most effective approach is to start at the top with emails and correspondance complaining about the rampant hacking of their system by hackers (aka Tran/Tanner). A snowballing email campaign woby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You might be right about that. Reserve America and/or Active Works is the reservation contractor. It resembles credit card companies as management is unapproachable, unresponsive to this situation. Why would they? They have most of the country (national, state, county and KOA) tied up in reservation services. They have a set long term government contract with National Parks. No gain forby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I sent the email below as a response to one of Tran/Tanners Craigslist Yosemite Campsite ads. Below that (no subject) is his response. His attitude and plan are pretty clear, eh. FYI _______________________________________ SubJect: Yosemite camping 6/28/12 Reply ▼ To hd6tt-3107787862@sale.&by Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
eeek, I appreciate the work you do here and I'm really glad to see you're gaining support/help. I check Craigslist daily -- SF/LA- and flag what I find for Tran/Tanner/ whoever. I post a copy of the recent official policy change, which the dipstick/scalper flags within the hour. If everyone (hopefully in growing numbers) continues to flag this thief, he will end up holding reservations pastby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I was amazed at the forum participants who actually supported Tran/Tanners scalping. A simple look at his ads clarifies that he has developed a "supermarket" of sites and he is attemptingt to destroy the very mission of National Parks; to provide affordable, equitable access to all. To all! Not just to the elite opportunist who has money BUT a lack of morale's. He is ROBBING theby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I would say the scalping problem deserves it's own forum because it is THAT important. The scalpers we are talking about are operating a sophisticated program that undermines the goal of the national park system. Please read Tran's listing. It's a supermarket of sites. He's robbing the system, systematically! The goal is make camping available to all, not just the well heeled opportunist withby Blue Moon - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion