SSReptiles
Snake Lover
I got this e-mail from a Booth Connell asking about an item that I no longer have or not selling.
Here is the e-mail.
Any feedback on this?
Here is the e-mail.
Any feedback on this?
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Posted 12/19/2024.
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I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?
So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.
But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.
Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.
I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.
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Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.
And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
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Responding to email notices you receive.
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In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.
booth connell? is this one of those scams?
- Thread starter SSReptiles
- Start date
SSReptiles
Snake Lover
gregh,
I was thinking the same thing. I wasn't sure if it really was, so I deleted the topic on the reply and also his message, and responded "what iten are you looking for?" I want to see if he even remembers which scam he is working on...
I was thinking the same thing. I wasn't sure if it really was, so I deleted the topic on the reply and also his message, and responded "what iten are you looking for?" I want to see if he even remembers which scam he is working on...
total scam...
It's a total scam. He wasn't very good at trying to explain what he was trying to do either. Basically, an "agent" contacts you and says his "client" is interested in something you are selling. Supposedly the client has already made out a check for more than the amount that your item plus shipping would be. Since the client always seems to be out of the country, the agent signs the check over to you and asks that you refund the difference via wire transfer. Should the seller agree and accept the check, even if he waits 7 days or whatever before doing the wire transfer for the difference, the check will bounce, and the seller is out however much he sent via the wire transfer.
I was selling my truck on autotrader and got an offer like this one. At first the 'agent' said he was buying the truck for his dad. I found it amusing to see how far he would let it go, and the guy just kept digging the hole deeper. Later he forgot that his client was his dad, he referred to the denali as a Lexus, and he asked at least three times for my bank info. Once I had enough rope, I submitted all the correspondence to the IFCC (I think..? I can't remember now) and autotrader. Then I let the little booger know that I used to work at a bank and had heard this one before. I also told him that I had already sold the truck and was just stringing him along for amusement. I never heard back from him... I was hoping despite our failed business deal that we could at least still be friends.
It's a total scam. He wasn't very good at trying to explain what he was trying to do either. Basically, an "agent" contacts you and says his "client" is interested in something you are selling. Supposedly the client has already made out a check for more than the amount that your item plus shipping would be. Since the client always seems to be out of the country, the agent signs the check over to you and asks that you refund the difference via wire transfer. Should the seller agree and accept the check, even if he waits 7 days or whatever before doing the wire transfer for the difference, the check will bounce, and the seller is out however much he sent via the wire transfer.
I was selling my truck on autotrader and got an offer like this one. At first the 'agent' said he was buying the truck for his dad. I found it amusing to see how far he would let it go, and the guy just kept digging the hole deeper. Later he forgot that his client was his dad, he referred to the denali as a Lexus, and he asked at least three times for my bank info. Once I had enough rope, I submitted all the correspondence to the IFCC (I think..? I can't remember now) and autotrader. Then I let the little booger know that I used to work at a bank and had heard this one before. I also told him that I had already sold the truck and was just stringing him along for amusement. I never heard back from him... I was hoping despite our failed business deal that we could at least still be friends.
pch101
New member
Scam-o-rama!
(that meanss a yes, it is a scam)
(that meanss a yes, it is a scam)
Ken Harbart
New member
Actually, the seller incurrs a larger loss than just the amount of the transfer. Your bank will also hold you liable for the amount of the bogus check as well. It's a double whammy.PaulSage said:
Ken Harbart said:
Maybe I misspoke earlier, but the check won't clear your account, meaning the funds are never deposited. Other than a 'returned check' charge ($ amt. depends on the bank) I don't believe the seller would be 'out' any more money than however much he/she transfers 'out' of his/her account. If the reptiles are actually shipped out, odds are that the shipping address is fictitous and the package will be returned.
My suggestion if anyone ever finds themself in a situation where they are receiving a check they are skeptical of, is to insist that the check be drawn off of a national bank with a branch in your area. This way, you can go to that bank (without having an account) and since the check is drawn off them, they can look it up and if it's valid, they can cash it for you. Usually they will charge non-account holders a $3-7 fee, but at least you're walking out of there with cash in hand, and you don't need to worry about a bad check bouncing against your account.
Sorry, I know that was totally off topic. BUT IF IT HELPS JUST ONE PERSON...lol
cheers,
Paul
SSReptiles
Snake Lover
THIS BUGGER WILL NOT LEAVE ME ALONE!
This is what I said to him "
Booth, the animals I have did not sell, so I'm keeping back those two animals. Sorry"
Then he replies.
Wait a minute...what check?
He won't leave me a lone now! I told him in my last message, I don't have them.
Really, I do have the two males, and will not sell them.
This is what I said to him "
Booth, the animals I have did not sell, so I'm keeping back those two animals. Sorry"
Then he replies.
Wait a minute...what check?
He won't leave me a lone now! I told him in my last message, I don't have them.
Really, I do have the two males, and will not sell them.
SSReptiles
Snake Lover
my god, where is my head. I told him I have one of the males, but will not sell him the other due to that I kept him back.
but in reality, I have both snakes.
but in reality, I have both snakes.
Ken Harbart
New member
Actually Paul, the checks do indeed clear the victims' accounts, as the FDIC requires that banks make funds from cashier's, teller's, and certified checks be made available within one to five days. Consequently, the money is often released into the payee's account before the note has been presented to the issuing bank.
That's what makes this scam so appealing to the cons that run it, and so costly to the victims duped by it. The forged notes appear to clear the mark's account, so it's assumed that they're good. The mark then withdraws the amount of the "overpayment" and wires it to the con. It's not until two to three weeks later, when the forged note makes its way through the system that the mark finds out that he/she has been duped. Not only are they out the amount that they sent to the con, they are also out the full amount of the forged note, as their bank seizes the funds from their account.
That's what makes this scam so appealing to the cons that run it, and so costly to the victims duped by it. The forged notes appear to clear the mark's account, so it's assumed that they're good. The mark then withdraws the amount of the "overpayment" and wires it to the con. It's not until two to three weeks later, when the forged note makes its way through the system that the mark finds out that he/she has been duped. Not only are they out the amount that they sent to the con, they are also out the full amount of the forged note, as their bank seizes the funds from their account.
This is exactly the same proposal the user name Aienia in Reptibid (supposedly Sal T. from Bocamorphs) received in the Q&A session.
His reply was "You have got to be kidding me"
The situation was rather hilarious (in the right context). Did anyone by any chance saved a copy of the Q&A interaction in that ad? It's worth reading.
Regards.
IntriguingReptiles
New member
....Check this out: http://www.reptileauction.com/cgi-b...ptileproducts_lightingheating&item=1115743433
This person asked me one of the same questions on one of my auctions that I have on reptileauction right now. I had a bad feeling about him (because of his poor grammer and cause of the way he spelled the word 'check') and told him to contact me via email/phone....of course he has yet to respond, LOL. Later!
Justin Ferlich
This person asked me one of the same questions on one of my auctions that I have on reptileauction right now. I had a bad feeling about him (because of his poor grammer and cause of the way he spelled the word 'check') and told him to contact me via email/phone....of course he has yet to respond, LOL. Later!
Justin Ferlich
Ken, I don’t think that we necessarily disagree, I think that we’re probably just looking at the situation from two different perspectives, that’s all. Now I see what you mean when you said:
“Not only are they out the amount that they sent to the con, they are also out the full amount of the forged note, as their bank seizes the funds from their account.”
I was looking at it from the perspective that the seller is ‘out’ the actual reptiles, because he never receives the cleared funds for them. You seem to be looking at it from the perspective that the seller is out the monetary value of them. Six of one, half dozen of the other, so I think we agree. ???
I think we may have different interpretations of a deposited check clearing however. You are correct that the Fed requires official monetary instruments be ‘available’ (most banks make exceptions for newer accounts, but Regulation CC does state that at least $100.00 of the check amount be made available immediately), but it can take as long as three weeks for an official check to actually ‘clear’. (This relates to the difference between your current and your available balance in an account.)
Official checks are first run through the proof department of the bank that receives it as a deposit, then through the Fed twice (thus the term “official” check), and finally to the bank from which the check was drawn. This is why it takes so long. If there was a stop payment placed on the check, it would not be caught until the check reaches the paying bank. I agree, it seems as though the check has cleared the depositor’s account, and it would be easy for someone to be duped by such a scam. There exists a misconception that official checks and money orders are safer than personal checks, but whomever purchases the check/mo has up until 10 days to place a stop payment on it. Therefore, it is my opinion that it is actually safer to accept a personal check, if you are sending/shipping anything in the near future. The check issuer can place a stop on a personal check, but it is usually not guaranteed, and they obviously have less than 10 days to do so. I still would advise that if accepting a personal check, that it be drawn off of a bank with a branch in your area so that you can cash it in person. Once you’ve done so (with proper ID, etc.) the liability of the check transfers to the bank from which it was issued. If you accept a check drawn from a bank that does not have a branch in your area, I would recommend that you at least call the bank to check the availability of funds before attempting to deposit or cash it against your own account. Thanks to the new Check21 law, personal checks clear much faster (99% of the time) so you can usually get a confirmation from your bank within just a couple of days as to the status of the check. Of course, every seller is entitled to his own payment terms, this is just what I would recommend after working at a bank and seeing how many people get cheated out of their money. (It got pretty depressing and frustrating, thus I left the finance industry and went back to school… but that’s an entirely different story.)
My apologies for this post being rather drawn out and somewhat off topic. Maybe I’m entitled to a warning, but I think that the information is important for people to know. Just doing what I can to contribute, you know??
Thanks
Paul
(unless I totally messed something up, and I don't think I did, I'm just speaking from my experiences, any further posts from me would probably just be splitting hairs.)
“Not only are they out the amount that they sent to the con, they are also out the full amount of the forged note, as their bank seizes the funds from their account.”
I was looking at it from the perspective that the seller is ‘out’ the actual reptiles, because he never receives the cleared funds for them. You seem to be looking at it from the perspective that the seller is out the monetary value of them. Six of one, half dozen of the other, so I think we agree. ???
I think we may have different interpretations of a deposited check clearing however. You are correct that the Fed requires official monetary instruments be ‘available’ (most banks make exceptions for newer accounts, but Regulation CC does state that at least $100.00 of the check amount be made available immediately), but it can take as long as three weeks for an official check to actually ‘clear’. (This relates to the difference between your current and your available balance in an account.)
Official checks are first run through the proof department of the bank that receives it as a deposit, then through the Fed twice (thus the term “official” check), and finally to the bank from which the check was drawn. This is why it takes so long. If there was a stop payment placed on the check, it would not be caught until the check reaches the paying bank. I agree, it seems as though the check has cleared the depositor’s account, and it would be easy for someone to be duped by such a scam. There exists a misconception that official checks and money orders are safer than personal checks, but whomever purchases the check/mo has up until 10 days to place a stop payment on it. Therefore, it is my opinion that it is actually safer to accept a personal check, if you are sending/shipping anything in the near future. The check issuer can place a stop on a personal check, but it is usually not guaranteed, and they obviously have less than 10 days to do so. I still would advise that if accepting a personal check, that it be drawn off of a bank with a branch in your area so that you can cash it in person. Once you’ve done so (with proper ID, etc.) the liability of the check transfers to the bank from which it was issued. If you accept a check drawn from a bank that does not have a branch in your area, I would recommend that you at least call the bank to check the availability of funds before attempting to deposit or cash it against your own account. Thanks to the new Check21 law, personal checks clear much faster (99% of the time) so you can usually get a confirmation from your bank within just a couple of days as to the status of the check. Of course, every seller is entitled to his own payment terms, this is just what I would recommend after working at a bank and seeing how many people get cheated out of their money. (It got pretty depressing and frustrating, thus I left the finance industry and went back to school… but that’s an entirely different story.)
My apologies for this post being rather drawn out and somewhat off topic. Maybe I’m entitled to a warning, but I think that the information is important for people to know. Just doing what I can to contribute, you know??
Thanks
Paul
(unless I totally messed something up, and I don't think I did, I'm just speaking from my experiences, any further posts from me would probably just be splitting hairs.)
gmherps
New member
I just got a reply to an ad I had on Reptibid over 18 months ago. From our buddy Booth:
USA's Online FREE Reptile Classifieds
Home > Reptilian Classifieds > Snake
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Welcome, you need to login here to use the the "ReptiChat" Search for in SnakeLizardAquaticTortoiseInvertebratesFoodReptile ProductsMiscellaneousAll Sections
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View Personal Inbox Message
You received the following message from booth connell in response to your ad or message:
Name: booth connell
Subject: 2.0 66% Het for Pied Ball Pythons! VERY GOOD PRICE! ON BOTH!
Date: 05/03/2005
Message: Hello, i have a client in united kingdom that want to buy your item i have spoken to my client and he has instructed me to pay with a company cheque from united state. Due to company policy only allows a refund payment to the client shipping agent in united kingdom via western union money transfer because the payment will include the shipping agent charges to ship the item to my client in united kingdom. and also i will like to know your last offer price. Thanks booth connell.
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Change Section LizardSnakeAquaticTortoiseInvertebratesFoodReptile ProductsMiscellaneous
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))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
I responded with: My price is $4500 and please send cash asap.
USA's Online FREE Reptile Classifieds
Home > Reptilian Classifieds > Snake
Search Ads Place Ads Edit Ads My Profile My Checklist Auto Notify Help
Welcome, you need to login here to use the the "ReptiChat" Search for in SnakeLizardAquaticTortoiseInvertebratesFoodReptile ProductsMiscellaneousAll Sections
Within Snake: Browse Ads - Advanced Search - Power Search
View Personal Inbox Message
You received the following message from booth connell in response to your ad or message:
Name: booth connell
Subject: 2.0 66% Het for Pied Ball Pythons! VERY GOOD PRICE! ON BOTH!
Date: 05/03/2005
Message: Hello, i have a client in united kingdom that want to buy your item i have spoken to my client and he has instructed me to pay with a company cheque from united state. Due to company policy only allows a refund payment to the client shipping agent in united kingdom via western union money transfer because the payment will include the shipping agent charges to ship the item to my client in united kingdom. and also i will like to know your last offer price. Thanks booth connell.
Search Ads Place Ads Edit Ads My Profile My Checklist Auto Notify Help
Change Section LizardSnakeAquaticTortoiseInvertebratesFoodReptile ProductsMiscellaneous
Terms of Use | Privacy Statement | Tell Your Friends
Content copyright © 2002 Reptilian Classifieds. All rights reserved.
Please send your questions, comments, or bug reports to the Webmaster.
))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
I responded with: My price is $4500 and please send cash asap.
I had one and I had them my name was G. Walker Bush and to please send the "check" to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. I never heard from him again. LOL.
Same message today. This was an ad I had placed months ago.
Regards.
SSReptiles
Snake Lover
grrr.....he's still trying to talk to me....
here is his last message.
I'll just keep ignoring him.
here is his last message.
I'll just keep ignoring him.