Another joker from West Africa: nice try buddy!

I'm not sure when these guys will learn or if anyone actually ever falls for these morons. Personally, I'm getting tired of getting responses from wanted ads I put up, getting excited about it for a brief while, only to find out its one of these scammers...anyway, check it out and enjoy!

So this is the ad I put up on a classifieds:

Wanted: Yangtze mamushis
Looking for Gloydius blomhoffi siniticus. I am mainly looking for a couple males. I would much rather them to be captive bred or born, but will consider LTC specimens.

Thank you,

Chris
_____________________________________________

Now his response, which seemed kind of harmless, but I did get somewhat alerted by the way he wrote "Gloydius blomhoffi siniticus couple males captive bred", but just figured oh well, lets see what else he has to say....


----- Original Message -----

From: Kimbi

To: [email protected]

Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2005 2:53 PM

Subject: Gloydius blomhoffi siniticus couple males captive bred


Hello

I wish to know if you still need the Gloydius blomhoffi siniticus couple males captive bred . Because I have them here for sale and I will give any to you if you promise me you will take adequate care of it.

Happy New Year

Kimbi
_________________________________________

My reponse:

From: Chris-RHQ [mailto: [email protected]]
To: [email protected]
Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2006 20:12:36 -0500
Subject: Re: Gloydius blomhoffi siniticus couple males captive bred

Hi Kimbi,

yes, I am still looking for 2 males, however I need the siniticus subspecies.

There are lots of ussuriensis kicking around these days, but I've had a tough time finding siniticus...

They will get the best of care, they are actually for a very special project...

Let me know,

Thank you,

Chris
__________________________________________________

And now the idiot exposes himself:

Hello,
Thanks for the mail.Here is a pic of the Gloydius blomhoffi siniticus couple males captive bred .I will give you the two for $1500 including shipping and vet certificates.Iam located in Cameroon.Shipping to your destination shall be done using Jet-A-Petshipping Lines which will take a maximum of 72hours to reach you and will be deliver to you at your door.
If your are o.k, please get to us as soon as possible .We accept payment through international money transfer(western union) , money gram or money line.

We hope to establish a very good and friendly business relationship with you and that you help promote our business in your country after you receive these Gloydius blomhoffi siniticus couple males captive bred .


Kind Regards
___________________________________________

And heres where I finish him:

Hi Kimbi,

I've been in the reptile business for over 20 years. Do you actually think I'd be stupid enough to send $1500 to a lowlife scammer like you?

The snakes are actually worth $50 each if you actually even know what they are. I get responses to my ads from morons like you every once in a while. Have fun in "Cameroon" and you should find a different hobby, because you aren't any good at this one.

Kind Regards

Chris
_________________________________

I used to entertain myself a lot more with these guys, but now they are just getting very annoying

TO EVERYONE:

Be very careful and aware of garbage like this if you aren't already are. This kind of stuff is not needed in our hobby.

Here is his e-mail for now: [email protected] ....something to watch out for....

Chris Riedinger

People do fall for this type of thing quite often, if they didn't these guys would stop trying.....sad really.

Idiot

What an absolut idiot glad u noticed that thnx
Reptilian man

Great...

Guess I can stop awaiting a response to this:

Hello
I wish to know if you still need the Adult Female Pastel Contorix because I have it here for sale and will give it you if you promise me you will take adequate care of it.
Happy New Year
Kimbi


I wonder if they want $750 for a copperhead too.

Well if you think about it, its not a bad deal, how about if he is legit? I know of a breeder in Cameroon as a matter of fact.
Two snakes shipped, cleared, broker payment, FREIGHT from Cameroon, cost of transit papers, crate charge, fuel surcharges, and paperwork fees for both his fish and wildlife, and ours, should amount to close to 1500.00 , hell maybe he is making 100.00 bucks on the snakes...........ever think of it like that, the way to verify is ask for pictures.....and if he is to have them cleared, etc....and delivered to your door and say your not in a port of entry, then hell, its a bargain......the snakes dont even factor in!
But there is one breeder in cameroon who exports cb and wc animals, that he catches himself or breeds, and there is supposed to be another.......

Also, broker fee PLUS him arranging you get them at your door(which is illegal, but in Cameroon they might not know that, they dont only breed venomous) is about 250.00 bucks in itself
fish and wildlife- 55.00, overtime is more
frieght-about 650-750 aprox
crate- 35.00 (almost standard overseas cost)
paperwork on his end about 50-100 bucks
snakes-100.00? 150.00? even if they are 50.00 here....then you should be able to find them easily...
just throwing options up............some of these guys are legit, not all, but some, you just have to know who is who.....best way is ask for animal on newpaper that you can see the date

".....best way is ask for animal on newpaper that you can see the date"

That is an excellent idea...had never thought of it !
greg

Its pretty useful when an exporter says they have something "hot" and want to get deposit for it, like albino savannahs, albino niles, albino boas, etc......youask them to take a pic of it in a newspaper, with the date , and you will see who is just wanting money to start up another "regular" shipment, or who has the good stuff

That does sound like a reasonable idea. I could maybe see them having a Chinese snake in Africa (Don't ask me why. Like China's really that much closer to West Africa than we are.) But I wonder how common it would be for them to have a North American Southern Copperhead. Could be the next clue as to whether they're legit or not. Doesn't really concern me now though cause I'm not gonna do business with someone that far away. Way too much litigation and extra money. Just an idea in case anyone's looking for more evidence.

Well there are phoneys and legit people in every corner of the world breeding animals. Hell, I just helped pack an export to MOZAMBIQUE....in it was 500 water dragons, 50 +mountain horn lizards, banana frogs, tokays, and other stuff....like pacmans, corns, kings,,,,,
now who would want that in mozambique in those numbers? A exporter looking to expand, may not have good business sense, but to him it is, lol.
Mike

Thanks for his e-mail addy

Lets see if he responds to my request for some rare lizards Uwangi fallinoffi....bet he has them if I'm willing to pay the price.

Just ask for proof......I am not saying the guy in question is legit( I havent heard of him) but there are people overseas who breed even corns and offer them to me with shipments of their native stuff. Its pretty funny actually, but hey they accomplished something that in their country hasnt been yet.

He's a scammer, I already got a reply!

Subject: RE: Looking for rare lizards Uwangi fallenoffi
Date: 1/4/2005 9:44:48 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: [email protected]
Reply To:
To: [email protected]
CC:
BCC:
Sent on:


Sent from the Internet (Details)
Internet Address Card Attached


Hello,
Thanks for the mail.
I have six Uwangi fallenoffi young ones .I can supply you with any number you desire.
Iam going to give you six Uwangi fallenoffi young ones for $500 including shipping .If you urgently need them, get back to me as soon as possible cause i have to go to a collection trip on the 8th of this month.
best regards


I already replied with the following:

Hi,
Wow thanks for your reply, Do you really have 6 young Uwangi fallenoffi? $500.00 is quite reasonable. I will need all of your information so I can send payment, including how I can send it.

John

I'm gonna play with this one!

Unsolicited Importation/Exportation Offers

I usually receive several of these in my inbox on a weekly basis... few being legitimate (like Animal Kingdom out of Egypt). I received a new one the other day and apparently I am one among a group of the elite few who can order pteradactyls, "garden wolves" and gnomes. Where do I sign up?! Frustration aside, some of these e-mails can be quite entertaining.

Jennifer Webb
(Jungle Gems)

He wrote back with his information

Subject: Re: Looking for rare lizards Uwangi fallenoffi
Date: 1/4/2005 11:55:51 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: [email protected]
Reply To:
To: [email protected]
CC:
BCC:
Sent on:


Sent from the Internet (Details)
Internet Address Card Attached

Hello,
Thanks for the mail.The fastest way for me to receive money is through the Western Union Money Transfer through the below address. First Name:Kimbi Ernest
Last Name:Musa
Country:Cameroon
City:Bamenda
The test question of the money transfer should be
How's the weather?
Answer
Just great
When you do so send me back transfer details and your full address so that i collect the money and effect shipping immediately .I will ship to you using Jet-A-Petshipping Lines which will take a maximum of 72hours to reach you and will be deliver to you at your door.
Best Regards
Kimbi

Now the fun begins.....

My reply

Kimbi,
Did you say you were going collecting? Look I might be able to use some other stuff what do you think you might be collecting? I could use some Mambas, cobras, and any other vipers you might be able to get. Money is no object as long as you can provide me with animals. I have a zoo here and I have trouble getting some animals from your country so this could be a good thing, please tell me what else you have.
I do need to make sure you have the Uwangi fallenoffi because another lizard Uwangi rotonoffi is really commen and not very expensive. The fallenoffi is green with red stripes bordered in black where rotonoffi is green but has no stripes.
Do you want this in US dollars or can I use Canadian dollars? We were just in Canada gambling last weekend and I won a lot of Canadian dollars, but I haven't had a chance to turn them in yet.


Thanks,
John

Kimbis reply

Subject: Re: Looking for rare lizards Uwangi fallenoffi
Date: 1/5/2005 9:23:26 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: [email protected]
Reply To:
To: [email protected]
CC:
BCC:
Sent on:

Sent from the Internet (Details)

Hello,
Thanks for the mail.I have only the lizards Uwangi fallenoffi.But after you receive these ones I will check if I can get any of the things you asked.I want the money in Canadian Dollars.I wish to establish a good and friendly business relationship with you after you receive the 6 Uwangi fallenoffi .So you can go right now and transfer the money and send me back transfer details so that i can collect the money and effect shipping immediately .Don't forget to send me your full address.The plane will soon be leaving Cameroon to the U.S in less than 24hours from now and I will like that these lizards enter this plane so that you can receive them on Friday morning at your door. Waiting to get from you.
Kimbi

Well he's not greedy, I opened up the bank and he didn't try to rob it! He's not too bright though, he'll take the Canadian dollars. I don't know what the rate of exchange is but he's taking a loss at $500.00 American vs Canadian. Gotta run to Western Union the plane leaves Cameroons for the US in 24 hours. Below is my reply.

Kimbi,
I don't suppose You could e-mail me a photo of yourself holding a Uwangi fallenoffi? It would really help me feel better to know you weren't mistaken and have Uwangi rotonoffi, I'd just like to be sure.
Thank you for being kind enough to accept the Canadian dollars as payment, I knew I should have turned them in Canada but my wife was in a hurry to get home and wouldn't let me stop at the money exchange.
I am going to Western Union today to wire the money, please send a photo if you can, if they are not the right lizards you will send my money back, right?
I wish you had more to send at this time since I will still have lots of Canadian dollars to spend , if you could send a list of things you are going to collect that would be great.

Many Thanks,
John

More mail from Kimbi

Subject: Re: Looking for rare lizards Uwangi fallenoffi
Date: 1/5/2005 11:32:49 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: [email protected]
Reply To:
To: [email protected]


Hello,
Thanks for the mail.I am giving you the Uwangi fallenoffi which are green with red stripes bordered in black .I have already prepared the lizards for them to be ship.You need to be fast to wire the money so that I can collect it and use part of it to pay shipping charges,the plane will soon be leaving,so make the money transfer fast.I will send you the list of the things I will collect after returning from the collection trip.I hope to establish a good and friendly business relationship with you and hope you will promote my business in your country after you receive these Uwangi fallenoffi . I require your full address,contact number and postal address.I will write your full postal address ,your phone number and your email address on package to avoid any lost on the way. Then also I will write on the package that it is a gift and for study,no commercial value.

Waiting to get from you.

Kimbi

undefinedI can't wait to hear he didn't get my money, I'm going to tell him he answered the question wrong the answer was "lousy we had an ice storm last night". He did assure me the had Uwangi fallenoffi, and not Uwangi rotonoffi. I feel so much better knowing I'm going to have the real thing delivered to my door Friday. My answer is below.


Kimbi,
I wired $500.00 Canadian dollars to you this morning I used your test question, about the weather. I wish you would send a picture of you holding one so I could be sure you have the right lizards, but they have to make that plane so we have to hurry. My full name and address is:

John Brown
4256 Lone Tree Lane
Garfton Heights, New York 14201

Phone (412) 563-9412

I am looking forward to finally seeing Uwangi fallenoffi, and having it at my zoo. I just hope they're not Uwangi rotonoffi, they're a dime a dozen here.

Thanks,
John

... its like reading a soap opera or a real tv drama....

A year ago I was producing those regularly. I have one male left but I think it's spoken for.