Jeffrey Tomasik Book Rental Scam Exposed

Hamburg man Jeffrey Tomasik, 31, is facing federal charges after allegedly running a nationwide used textbook scam that raked in tens of thousands through deception and digital aliases. Arrested on a criminal complaint charging him with mail and wire fraud, Tomasik now faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth R. Moellering, Tomasik rented textbooks from multiple companies, then sold them—primarily on eBay—without returning them when rental periods ended. Instead of honoring his contracts, he vanished, ignoring collection notices and using at least 20 online accounts and email addresses to mask his identity and continue the fraud.

The scheme escalated when Tomasik entered a deal with two victims in California. After receiving a $50,000 down payment via PayPal for used textbooks, he shipped only a single book. He then deleted his bank information from the PayPal account, blocking the victims from reversing the transaction or recovering their money.

Tomasik made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer in Buffalo, N.Y. He was released on his own recognizance, but under strict conditions as the case moves forward. Federal prosecutors are building their case with evidence gathered from digital footprints, transaction records, and rental agreements.

The investigation was led by the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Boston Division Inspector in Charge Shelly A. Binkowski. Authorities say the use of mail and electronic transfers to execute the fraud triggered federal jurisdiction and the serious charges now filed.

The criminal complaint against Jeffrey Tomasik, 31, of Hamburg, NY, is an accusation. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.