Animal Kingdom/Safwat abdel naiem- LEGITIMATE BUSINESS?

I frequently buy and sell on many internet forums, and I received an offer from this "company" who got my e-mail address of one of the websites a few months ago. I believe they are an importer/exporter of reptiles and exotic mammals and only wholesale to legitimate businesses. I am interested in some of the animals they have for sale, however, I am hesitant to buy from them without further information. I would like to know if anyone in this forum has ever done business or attempted to do business with Safwat or anyone else from Animal Kingdom. Their contact information is as follows-

Name: Safwat abdel naiem
Tel/Fax: 202-798-6355
E-mail: [email protected]

Any information will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Jennifer Webb
(Jungle Gems)

This is just a guess, as I have never heard of them.

I would BET they are a bs scam, if nothing else based on the email address. I dont think very many legitimate business use a hotmail account, atleast none that I can think of that I would trust.

I may be way off on this, but its always been my belief a business running on a hotmail account is a scam waiting to happen. I personally skip right over them.

Just my OPINION.

I, too, found that odd.

Not that there aren't a few great businesses out there still using hotmail as their means to communicate via e-mail, most site-owners are now going to E-mail provided by their Domain Name Host. I use Network Solutions as my Domain Name Host and their e-mail for a 2.00 extra monthly payment. Privacy is totally worth the little money you spend. Keep the comments coming... I'd like to know if Animal Kingdom has any credibility whatsoever as they certainly seem impressive if they are being truthful.

Thanks!

Jennifer Webb

Did they send you a long email about how they are from Africa and will be sending someone to your home for the animals?

I get one of these a week for each of the animals I see (from gerbils to chipmunks). I fully believe it's a scam, if that is the nature of the email they sent you......

First off ordering from an export in another country is not the same as ordering from a wholesaler here in the US. Jennifer, whether this guy is legitimate or not are you familiar with and know all the laws pertaining to importation? I have said this countless times before to people that see the prices and think it is a great deal. If you are not familiar with the paperwork, requirements, and cost involved with importation feel free to e-mail me and I will let you know.

e-mail fees

I'm NOT vouching for anybody, but it is quite common in egypt for small companies to have a hotmail or yahoo account.
Just imagine that you have to multiply the fees for your webserver times 6.30 (1 USD = 6.30 EGP) .
Again, I don't know anything about the guy. just stating a fact.
c ya
amin

I would say it is a Nigerian scam. What was the email like that they sent you? That is usually the tell all.

It's definatly not nigerian. I made a google search and he has an egyptian address, phone and mobile phone number.

Interesting.
I guess it will take the body of the email to show us if it is real or not.

The body of the e-mail...

...hope this helps.

Dear sir,
here is our pric list . we hope this season can do business to gether . we
wait your soon order .
Hope to hear from you
again.
Best regards
Safwat abdel naiem
'' Price list of reptiles ''
Animal kingdom TEL & FAX + 2027986355 ?Mob 010-6489795

Scientific Name Common Name Unit Price$
Cyrtopodion scaber Rough skinned Geeko 1.00
Bunopus tuberculatus Blanford's Geeko 1.00
Hemidactylus flavivridis Coeteau Geeko 1.25
Hemidactylus t .turcicus Turkish Geeko 0.80
Btyodactylys h.hasselquesti Fan footed Geeko 1.00
Stenobactylus petrii Petrie's Geeko 1.00
Stenobactylu s.sthenodactylu Elegant Geeko 0.90
Tarentola a.annularis Egyptian Geeko 1.00
Tarentola m.mauritanica Moorish Geeko 0.95
Trobiocolotes steudneri Steudner's Geeko 0.75
Trobiocolotes nattereri Natterer's Geeko 0.75
Trobiocolotes t.tripolitanus Tripoli Geeko 0.80
Agama a.spinosa Gray's Agama 4.00
Trapelus mutapilis Changeable Agama 1.25
Trapelus savignyi Savigny's Agama 1.50
Psaudotrapelus sinaitus Sinai Agama 1.25
Laudakia stellio Starred Agama 2.50
Trapelus Pallida Pale Agama 1.75
Uromastyx aegyptius Egyptian Dabb Lizard
Uromastyx ocellatus ocellaus Eyed Dabb Lizard
Uromastyx ocellatus ornatus Ornate Dabb Lizard
Acanthodactylus boskianus Bosc's Lizard 1.00
Acanthodactylus arabicus Arbic Lizard 1.00
Acanthodactylus pardilis Egyptian Leopard Lizard 1.00
Acanthodactylus scutellatus Nidua Lizard 0.90
Acanthodactylus Longipes Long Footed Lizard 0.90
Eremias bervirostris Arabian Lizard 0.80
Mesalina g.guttulata Small spotted Lizard 0.95
Eremias mucronata Anseda Lizard 0.90
Mesalina rubropunctata Red spotted Lizard 1.25
Latastia l.longicaudata Long tailed Lizard 1.00
Mesalina Pasteuri Sahara Lizard 1.00
Ophisops elegans Menetries's Lizard 3.00
Ablepharua kitabeli Hungarian Skink 2.00
Chalcidies o.ocellatus Eyed Skink 0.75
Sphenobs sepsoiidies Audouin's Sand Skink 0.90
Eumeces schneideri Gold Skink 3.00
Mabuya q.quinquetaniata Bean Skink 1.00
Mabuya vittatus Bridled Skink 1.50

Scincus s.scincus Sand Fish
Chamaeleo chamaeleo European Chamaeleon
Chamaeleo africanus African Chamaeleon
Chamaeleo musae Sinai Chamaeleon
Typhlops vermicuaris Greek Blind Snake 3.00
Leptotphlops cairi Cairo Earth Snake 3.00
Leptotphlops macrorhnchus Beaked thread Snake 4.00
Eryx c.colubrinus Theban Sand boa
Eryx j.jaculus Javelin Sand boa
Coluber elegantisimus Legant Snake 5.00
Coluber florulentus Flowered Snake 5.00
Coluber ravergieri Raverg Snake 4.00
Coluber r.rhodorhachis Jan's Desert Racer 5.00
Coluber rogersi Roger's Snake 5.00
Coluber Sinai Sinai Banded Snake 5.00
Dasypltis scaber Egg eating Snake 25.00
Lytorhynchus diadema Diademed Sand Snake 5.00
Macroprotodon cucullaatus Mediterranean hooded Snake 4.00
Malpolon moilonsis Moila Snake 4.00
Malpolon monspessulana Montpelier Snake 4.00
Natrix tesselata Dieed Water Snake 3.75
Psammophis s.schokri Sehokari Sand Snake 4.00
Psammophis s.aegyptius Saharan Sand Snake 5.00
Psammophis s.sibilans African Beauty Snake 5.00
Spalerosophis Diademe Clifford's Snake 5.00
Telescopus dhara obtusus Egyptian Cat Snake 7.00
Naja h.haie Egyptian Cobra 25.00
Naja n.nigricollis Spitting Cobra 35.00
Walterinnesia aegyptio Inne's Cobra 75.00
Atractaspis engaddensis Palestinian Mole Viper
Cerastes cerastes Horned Viper 10.00
Cerastes vipera Lesser Cerastes Viper 5.00
Echis carinatus Saw Scaled Viper 14.00
Echis coloratus Burton's Horned Viper 16.00
Pseudocerastes persicus fieldi Fieeld's Horned Viper 73.00
Crocodylus niloticus Nile Crocodile
Testudo kleinmanni Egyptian Tortois
Testudo greaca Greaca Tortois

'' Price list of mammals & inscts & amphibian ''

Animal kingdom TEL & FAX + 2027986355 ?Mob 010-6489795

Scientific name '' mammals'' Common Name Unit Price$
Hemiechinus auritus aegyptius Long Eared Hedgehog 5.00
Hemiechinus auritus libycus Desert Hedgehog 7.00
Paraeachinusa aethiopicus Ethiopian Hedgehog 9.00
Paraeachinusa deserti deserti South Sinai Hedgehog 6.00
Lepus capensis sinaiticus Sinai Hare 50.00
Lepus capensis aegyptius Cape Hare 50.00
Gerbillusp floweri Anderson's Gerbil 5.00
Gerbillusp pyramidum Greater Gerbil 4.00
Gerbillusp gedeedus Bayoudi 5.00
Gerbillusp aegyptius Pallid Gerbil 5.00
Dipodillus cambestris batrisi Large North African Dipodil 5.00
Dipodillus amoenus Charming Dipodil 5.00
Dipodillus simony kaiseri Simon's Dipodil 5.00
Sekeetamys c.makrami Bushy Tailed Dipodil 20.00
Rattus norvegicus Norway Rat 5.00
Mus muscuhus aegyptia House Mouse 5.00
Suncus Morinus House Shrew 15.00
Acomys r.russatus Gold Spiny Mouse 6.00
Crocidura Flavescens Giant Shrew 15.00
Crocidura Nana Dwarf Shrew 10.00
Acomys c.cahirinus Spiny Mouse 4.00
Acomys russatus aegyptia Spiny Egytian 3.00
Nesokia indica cuilla Shotrt Tailed Bandicoot Rat 40.00
Eliomys quercinus melanurus Golden Dor Mouse 20.00
Alactaga tetradctyla Four Toed Jerboa 12.00
Jaculus o.orientalis Greater Egyptian Jerboa 8.00
Jaculus j.schluteri Schluteri Jerboa 7.00
Jaculus j.flavillus Flavillus Jerboa 7.00
Jaculus j. Jaculus Lesser Egyptian Jerboa 6.00
Vulpes Vulpes Red Fox
Vulpes zerda Fennec Fox
Poecilictes l.lipyca Libyan Striped Weasel 20.00


Seientifie Name Common Name Unit Price$
Tadarida Aegyptian Tailed Bat 5 .00
Otonycteris Hemprichii Eared Bat 5.00
Procavia cabensis syriaca Hyrax (coney) 60.00
Rousettus a.agyptiacus Egyptian Fruit Bat 5.00
Rhinonoma m.microphyllum Tailed Bat 6.00
Nycterist thebaica Faced Bat 5.00
Rhinolophusc. Cliyosus Shoe Bat 5.00
Rhinolophusc hipposideros Horse Shoe Bat 6.00
Asellia t.trident Nosed Trident Bat 5.00
Pipistrellus aegyptis Egyptian Pipistrelle 6.00
Taphozous .aegyptiaca Tailed Bat 5.00
Plecotus austriacus Eared Bat 5.00
Barpastella barbastellus Barbastella Bat 6.00
Nycticeius schlieffenii Nycticeius Bat 6.00
" amphibian " ȑ㇆·› Unit price $
Seientific Name Common Name
Hyla savignyi abrown Tree Frog 2.50
Bufo r.rejularis Egyptian Square- Marked Toad 0.75
Bufo v.viridis Green Toad 0.95
Ptuchadena m.mascareniensis Mascarene Frog 0.75
Rana ridibunda Lake Frog 0.95
" inscts "͔¬éʉ Unit price $
Seientific Name Common Name
Leiurus quinquestriatus 1.25
Buthus leptochyluds 1.50
Buthus occitanus 1.25
Androctonus amoreuxi 1.50
Androctonus australis 1.50
Androctonus picolor 2.00
Androctonus crasicauda 2.25
Scorpio maurus 1.50
Scarabidae " big " 1.00
Scarabidae " small " 0.75
Galeodes spider 1.50
Centipedes 1.00
Solifugae spider 1.25
Nindicrorio 1.00
Peetles spp 0.50
millipedes 1.00
Praying mantis 0.75



Thanks,

Jennifer Webb
(Jungle Gems)

PS- To the person who inquired about my experience with importing/exporting... I have none, however, I DID go to this board to get information about these guys and was hoping that someone could tell me what "Animal Kingdom" is all about. I was not, and still am not sure sure how they do business... if they import the animals themselves and THEN sell them (a la Zoological Imports 2000 which IS a great company and I have purchased from them many times) or if they are based out of another country, which it appears they are. First I wanted to find out if Animal Kingdom is even legitimate and then go from there. I appreciate your offer for help and will definitely be taking you up on that in the future.

Just imagine that you have to multiply the fees for your webserver times 6.30 (1 USD = 6.30 EGP) .

Click to expand...

So... You're saying due to the exchange rate/value of the dollar, it is more expensive?

It is hard to tell but I got a similar list from a place called Animalscare and then a man named George Smith. The spellings were vey similar or should I say mis-spellings.
I'd say forget it. It may not be your typical scam where they respond to an ad you have up but it may still be a scam. My two recent scammers contacted me saying they had seen my website and wanted more info on my company and wanted to work together.
Nowdays it just isn't worth it. You can always try stringing them along to see what they say and let us know though!

Usually if an exporter does not offer you a pricelist or in his first email a list of animals mand prices including FOB is legit, ususally they have no problem telling you who they have sold to in the us with an email of those customers so you can verify, they want money and want you to feel secure in dealing with them, usually these exporters are good people, if they require full upfront costs, it now alm ost thenorm for new customers as they have been screwed by US here in the U.S.A., i know people who will get a shipment and say 50% dead, to cover their shipping costs, or say all together animals were bad to get another shipment, nowadays it is in good interest for these people to send the best animals to get fully paid, just look for hints of it being a scam, ihave only recieved scam emails from nigeria and indonesia, as well as the U.K
I have never recieved scams from egypt, tanzania, ghana, togo, benin, democratic republic of congo, nigeria. botswana, zimbabwe, uganda, or ivory coast, but just be careful.......as good exporters are just the same, they are careful....

i missed page two and just read it, that is alegit exporter, they have a tenency from egypt to send vast quanitities of the cheap stuff and not what you ordered.........just be careful....i ordered once 50 egyptian toads in an order and got bits and pieces of the other stuff an to make up for the balance they sent 1200 egyptian toads instead,

Something stands out

The ornate and egytian uromastyx

I may very well be mistaken, but isnt the importations of theese species from the WILD pretty much "shut down"

I know every season we get in batches of "captive bred european ornates and egytians". But that just stands out to me.

I still vote for, SCAM, unless someone comes allong and says they have used them in the past, with success.

I have gotten the email too.....

I have gotten that email too. I have also talked on msn messenger with safwat. He appears to be a good guy. But you really dont know. He offered to send me some pictures of all the animals he carries. I also asked him for references, some of his american customers. I wont name the people who order from him, but I have seen them sell the animals he has. I think he might be ok to deal with. I'm going to be getting my import liscence soon and may deal with him also. He now has a website, http://www.geocities.com/safwatkingdom/1.html. I'll let you all in a little story, safwat had some problems with guy in FL. This guy placed a $3000 order and never paid safwat back. Safwat left messages on his phone and fax. But he still will not pay safwat. Safwat asked me if I knew someone here in the US that he could contact to try and get his money back. He asked for the fax of the egyptian embassy here in Washington D. C. Because of all my help I gave him. When and if he gets his money back he will send me a free shipment of animals. He also wanted me to be his american distributer of egyptian animals. I doubt I will do that. But if I get this "free" shipment I will let you all know! Keep in mind we do have a world that hates americans, and you never know. Could possibly be terrorism or a scam. I doubt that, but just be wise! Let me know if anyone has a positive transaction with him I also have gotten his list of animals. He has good prices etc. William H.

GPM(Misc Reptiles Source)
EMAIL: [email protected] or [email protected]
WEBSITE: http://hometown.aol.com/greenpine17/gpm.html
Google.com keyword greenpinemuseum

the uromastyx dont have to be cb from certain countries, from others they do,
there is just no quota to really know what they are able to send and have to get special permission and why they are exporting etc......
doesnt mean they cant send them.

animals

I don't know if the mammals on his list interested you but I know that many cannot be imported to the US such as bats and hedgehogs............