Purchasing items from a website in China via Western Union -- Scammed?

California-
Hello,
I was hoping I could get some help from someone in regards to purchasing from a website and not receiving an item.
In December, I purchased an iPad from highbargin.com. I was concerned but I researched a safer way to send the money via Western Union, so I did.

Here is the transaction:
Transaction: Make Payment
Status: Payment Sent
Recipient: YingJie Kang
Date/Time: 12/16/2010 at 11:24:30 AM
Delivery method: Electronic Transfer
Sent On: 12/21/2010
To Recipient: USD 339.00
To Custom House*: USD 411.00

*Western Union is proud to present our online foreign exchange services powered by Custom House. Western Union acquired Custom House, a foreign exchange and international payments company, in 2009 and owns and operates Custom House along with its products and services under the Western Union name.
***
I have repeatedly emailed and phoned highbargain.com and have not received any recent responses. I called Western Union and they said they had no contact with highbargain.com.
So, here I sit out $411...never received the product nor a refund.
Is there any recourse to return my money from either highbargain.com or Western Union?
Thank you,
Suzanne

[AFFA]

I wish to inform you that you may contact Western Union fraud department. In this regard you can file a complaint with Western Union. If Western Union does not resolve your problem you can file a complaint with IC3. In this regard as online scam has been done therefore IC3 will investigate matter and take necessary action. In your complaint you may mention necessary details to identify party to whom money was send.

AFF

[howardthegreat]

My name is Howard Blake. I have a business at the Out Door Swap meet. I have been struggling in the United States and have been supplementing my income. It has been difficult. This is the third transaction I have made with this Merchant his name is:

FIRST NAME: YINGZHEN
LAST NAME: HU
COUNTRY: CHINA
PROVINCE: FUJIAN
CITY: PUTIAN
POST CODE:351100

I was selling jerseys online on Craigslist. He approached me. I sent him money on October 31, 2011 and he sent my Jerseys. I sent him money on November 18, 2011 he sent my order. This time I wanted to make sure he had the Jerseys in Stock. He kind of said he had the Jerseys than made me change them in the past two orders. So I wanted to make sure. He sent me the Pictures of each jersey and said he had them. I sent $247.00 through Western Union. He received the money than emailed me saying he didn't have Five out of 14 Jerseys. I was really upset and let him know that I was upset. He ignored me. After I emailed Several other Merchants telling them that he is ignoring me and kept my money they must have told him. He sent me a EMS Tracking Number. I than found out it was fake. So I emailed him again. He said that he had to send my order through DHL. He than never sent me the DHL number. I again started looking for someone who knows him. I found a guy through info@jersey-shoebox.com 原邮件信息 -----
发件人：Valblakemagnets@aol.com
收件人：info@jersey-shoebox.com
邮件发送时间：2011-09-14 00:33:32
主题：Re: 9.13stock list

He said that he knew Yingzhen and that he wasn't going to send my Jerseys. He told me this today. The guy has a website so maybe you can translate and report him too the Factory.
http://www.99888trade.com/index.asp His name is Chris but he had me send money too YingZhen Hu. I need someone too help me. The orders are for people with Christmas Order. Please let me know if you can help me. On the website there are phone numbers but they are in Chineese. I do not know how too call from here.

Howard Blake
(702) 327-2428

[allenhen]

Dear sir.
Why you leave my contact on the website.

Did i do something wrong.

By the why, you take our sample and never order from us. You have tell us you have order for us after you receive the sample. You also ignoring me.



Allen

[dgjameson]

try to check first with the authoroties in china.

[bcurtis65]

I'm waiting for a delivery from china as well. the website is www.wholeslaejerseyss.com. Pay attention to the spelling. I sent $140 western union to Liping Zhuang, Fujian China 351100. I paid for my first order with cc and was short 1 jersey. She said she would send it along with my next order. I placed another order paying through Western Union 10 days ago and im having trouble getting shipping info. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[clickaftab]

BE WARE OF SCAMMERS......TRADE BY US

We are providing Buying Agent Services in China and Pakistan. Safe and sound from all frauds.

Contact:
clickaftab@yahoo.com
barrongarments@gmail.com
Skype: clickaftab
Mobile: 0092 6362124
Websites:
www.facebook.com/onlinedukan
www.barron.com.pk

[max]

Dont pay western union to someone you cant trust. Its that simple.

[rragamfn]

I paid for items purchase from www.rushbuyin.com and thru western union I sent the agent $425, then received email stating I needed to pay additional taxes of $215.i expressed Ito the company that I've invoice from customs was incorrect and they changes the customs information document while I waited on a web chat. That was my first clue! Which I did NOT send. I requested a refund which they refused. I informed rush yin I had sent the taxes funds directly to the customs agency in Beijing china and I have not heard a word from anyone. Daily I request the statues on my products and the response is they are no longer responsible for the status. So now what? Another SCAM FROM CHINA.

[Grace]

Firstly sorry to hear that as a Chinese here.
As a legal consultant and business advisor based in China includes Hongkong. I can tell that happened a lot to foreigners who didn't do enough research on the company/person before payment.

We have expereinces to get the money or goods back by the Chinese way.
Please contact me at gracedcx(at) gmail(.)com