Fulltilt froze my account with 47 grand in it

[LeapFrog]

If nothing else you would think they would resolve it one way or another to get this thread off of the first page... good job FT!

[Specialwon]

OP: sounds like you got a bit more information and a timescale. If you haven't, you should have done and I'd agree with CS guy that a lawyer's letter before action may at least jog them into committing to those two things if they haven't already, although a lawyer would not be saying anything you couldn't say yourself. I'd be glad to help you draft a suitable letter if you'd like. I definitely think you should get a commitment to pay interest as I said before.

Josem, I'm not going to get into an argument with you off topic. But you clearly have no actual experience of dealing with money laundering regs, or with customs. I'll just say that obtaining a search warrant or worldwide Mareva from your local Court does NOT presuppose sharing any information with the subject of the order. As to the duties of bank employees (and any other professionals for that matter) in this sort of situation, you might want to google the offence of "tipping off" if you're interested, which is certainly extant across the EU, I can't speak for Australia.

I doubt these are very useful parallels to draw in any case.

But, I do think it would be very helpful if someone from Full Tilt would give a PR explanation as to what exactly their policy is in relation to handling customers who are suspected of fraud or any other gaming irregularity. Also, what their duties are in relation to the suspected proceeds of criminal activity, is the money placed on deposit during investigations, if not why not? If there is criminal activity, are the police notified? And so forth. I think it would be beneficial to FT and the community in general to have a bit more transparency about these matters.

I think it would help all of us to know that there is actually a policy and not just a series of random decisions depending on who happens to pick up the file.

FTP Sean, could you help with that? You've made some helpful general statements in the past, but could FT provide some sort of charter or statement of terms so that anyone who does get caught up in this process at least has a clear idea of where it will end and what will happen.

[Gildwulf]

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pokergirl z is a winning high stakes HU LHE player but she's almost definitely not a bot.

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[Gildwulf]

The witchhunt of mid-high hu limit players on full tilt is making me uncomfortable. If poker girl z doesn't get her money back, then I will be pulling the rest of my funds from FT and moving them to stars.

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The witchhunt of mid-high hu limit players on full tilt is making me uncomfortable.

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I agree and we have Crazy Mike to thank. Unfortunately, what were likely good intentions in the beginning have since manifested themselves into outright paranoia. What was once simply an attempt to eliminate bots has turned into a personal vendetta against anyone who won't play Mike or anyone who beats Mike.

BTW Mike, you still haven't answered why you listed Dean as a bot on your site. Care to explain?

[Pyrosis]

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OP: sounds like you got a bit more information and a timescale. If you haven't, you should have done and I'd agree with CS guy that a lawyer's letter before action may at least jog them into committing to those two things if they haven't already, although a lawyer would not be saying anything you couldn't say yourself. I'd be glad to help you draft a suitable letter if you'd like. I definitely think you should get a commitment to pay interest as I said before.

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The intent of a lawyer letter is that it threatens a site with bad publicity. I would guess that a site like Full Tilt Poker that relies so heavily on marketing and PR as a strong part of its business model to not let a poorly handled fraud investigation bring it down. Imagine if this story breaks out into mainstream headline news.

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If there is criminal activity, are the police notified?

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This depends on the jurisdiction and the severity of the case. With big fraudulent cases, usually ones that exceed over $100,000 in fraudulent funds the FBI, Secret Service, Interpol and other international law enforcement agencies have been actively involved working together with the sites and the processors.

[sethypooh21]

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BTW Mike, you still haven't answered why you listed PartyGirl UK as a bot on your site. Care to explain?

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[LateNiteRush]

I am honestly concerned for sillysal. I really hope she at least hears something from FTP. Please keep us updated on this situation, I can only imagine what a nervouse wreck this had made you.

[LateNiteRush]

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BTW Mike, you still haven't answered why you listed PartyGirl UK as a bot on your site. Care to explain?

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What/where is Mike's site?

[Johny Poker]

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If you haven't, you should have done and I'd agree with CS guy that a lawyer's letter before action may at least jog them into committing to those two things if they haven't already, although a lawyer would not be saying anything you couldn't say yourself.

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I think that a letter from a lawyer can have a much stronger affect even if it says the same thing. Why? Well, first it tells FT that you are represented and getting serious, and that a lawyer may actually take action against them. The lawyer can send a series of progessively stronger letters setting timetables. If nothing happens, the lawyer can state that if certain actions do not occur, suit against FTP may be filed in state or federal court. This would really turn up the heat on them, imagine the publicity to FTP and online poker if the mainstream media picked up on this. A letter from you is likely to be disregarded.

Sillysal, if you decide to contact someone, you would want someone in your state which is where any legal action would likely be filed. If you are in one of those states where poker may not be legal, you have a big problem with that line of attack.