Triple Threat Sports HoopChallenge.com, Defrauded Youth Basketball Team, Internet

I am the coach for a boys (11 year olds) traveling basketball team called Midwest Eliete AAU.  Our organization is a registered non-profit and our student athletes do fundraising to come up with the money to allow them to travel and play basketball around the Midwest.  Towards the beginning of June, I began looking for tournaments for my team to play in.  I often use the website, www.infosports.com to find regional tournaments and register for them.  This is where I came across the business(s) in question who were advertising a boys basketball tournament in Crete, IL.  I followed their online links to a website that and registered my team.  While doing this, I noticed that there were several things that struck a wrong cord with me.  For one, there was no way to pay for the tournament online and no instructions about how to do so otherwise.  There was also no listing of a physical address for the company (which I later was given in a phone conversation with one of the employees) and there were no names listed for company contacts. 

The supposed tournament was to take place on June 12.  Another coach in my organization was interested and called (on June 3 I believe) to ask about participating.  He was told that he would have to go out and by a Green Dot refill card and text message or email the number to someone at the company to be assured a spot in the tournament.  He chose, wisely, to not pursue the matter any further.  I however did go and buy the Green Dot refill card and sent the number to someone I would later learn was named Dan whose phone number is 215-397-9852.  I asked for a receipt to be sent to my email address.   Dan never would give me his last name, but I learned from another coach who was also scammed by this individual that Dans last name is supposedly Watts. 

I had not heard from Dan again and so I contacted him via email on June 9 asking for a tournament schedule and my receipt.  I was given neither but was given what would be one of a long string of promises for both items.  He told me I would have both that evening.  Neither came.  I communicated with Dan on both 6/10 and 6/11 each time asking for a schedule and my receipt of payment.  Finally, late in the day on June 11, I called Dan and asked what was going on.  I suspected he was going to cancel the tournament (if there ever was one).  Sure enough he told me that he was having problems with the venue and teams were backing out on him and that it would probably be better if we cancelled.  I expressed my dissatisfaction with being led on and that I never received a receipt for my payment for the entry fee.  At this time, he promised me that he would see to it my refund was mailed out that day. 

Since then, I have yet to receive anything from Dan Watts or any of his companies (more on this later).  When he does respond to me, he claims he sent a check.  Several times, through email and text, he claimed to be checking up on the issue or making sure things were getting done to get me my refund.  Now, he simply tells me it is my responsibility because he sent me a refund and I never received it.  When asked to provide proof that he sent it, he cannotno tracking number, no copy of a check.nothing.  When I explain that all he would need to do was verify with his bank that the check he supposedly sent me has not been cashed, cancel the check and issue another one, he refuses to do so. 

Dan Watts business goes by three names.  They are Triple Threat Sports, HoopChallenge.com and Hype Sports.  The first two have websites that I have listed in the complaint.  There is no website for the later that I can find.  The original listing on www.infosports.com that I initially used to find this supposed tournament has been taken down after that sites administrator found out the trademark claimed by the website and business was invalid. 

In researching  this company, I have found that others have had the same experience with Dan and with his companies.  By reading the reviews on the Triple Threat Sports Facebook page, I was able to make contact with other coaches who had been taken advantage of by Dan.  He has since taken down the reviews portion of his FB page.  

I have saved all pertinent emails and text messages involved in this transaction and have the Green Dot Refill Card number that was given as payment.  I do not expect to get the teams money back, though that would be nice and would allow the boys to play in one more legitimate tournament.