Internet Fraud Casebook

Chapter 38. Failure To Deliver

TODD J. DAVIS

Norfolk Keen decided to turn his life around by starting his own business. Keen was a single man in his early thirties with short, cropped hair and was a little overweight. He had the appearance of having lived a hard life; he had a few scars on his face and looked at least 10 years older than he really was. When Keen decided to start fresh, the Internet was booming and he had heard stories about other people who made a fortune on the Web. He decided the best option for starting his own business was to open an online retail store; he wouldn't have to maintain normal retail hours and he would be his own boss. Keen lived in an area known for electronics and he envisioned himself employing his extensive knowledge in this field to develop a commercial enterprise. Keen had a high-school GED and grew up working in electronics retail stores and manufacturing plants, but he did not keep jobs for very long. He also tinkered with electronics throughout his life and saw the potential for his new endeavor to grow with his knowledge and passion.

Keen had a difficult past and was in and out of the criminal justice system for various drug-related charges and other offenses. He thought his new business would provide him the stability and focus to beat his addictions and to bring in a steady income. He planned on dedicating the time he used to occupy with drugs to making his new business successful. He bought a computer, rented a small storage room in the ...