Lying in the middle of a business transaction is fraud. One time is one time too many.
Continually lying in the middle and after a business transaction is even worse, but irrelevant, given that the initial fraud is enough to show inability to deal in a fair and honest manner.
Fraud for what gain?
Doesn't matter.
Fraud doesn't require that the fraudster is smart enough to actually gain something. It only requires that he commit the fraud and that the fraud be committed against someone and that someone winds up without exactly what he bargained for in the deal. He may have plotted some personal gain, he may have assumed he was going to make something that no one else can see. The bottom line is, he made a deal, and in order to alter that deal he lied to alter the terms, making the fraud crystal clear.
He could have been honest and maintained some type of ethical business behavior, but he didn't. He chose the dark path of deception.
There are plenty of stupid criminals and low-IQ fraudsters out there.
They don't have to be smart about it or good at it to get punished for it.
A penny or a pound, it matters not when terpitude is on parade.
For me there is the difference between the PL and the HOS. If his plan was never to rip someone off then how can that not play a part?
Did 4comix get his book at the terms agreed upon?
Why didn't he?
Which is why he should remain on the PL until he makes restitution.
it's physically impossible as the book has been sold to another buyer via eBay ??