• In the past two days I have gotten emails asking about being requested to provide credit card info in order to register and also to make a post in the classifieds forums. PLEASE NOTE: In no instance will this site ask you for this sort of information. The only time any request for payment is made is if you choose to opt-in for a higher membership level, and that is done SOLELY through PayPal. Anything else is coming from a source other than this site. My guess is that this is coming through Google Adsense, but when I can get someone to send me a screen shot of this sort of request, I will know more.
  • Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    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.

Inquiry John Oliver from UK?

After the initial emails, this is the last few that I received. Nothing has been finalized yet. Thanks to anyone that looks this over for me.

FROM HIM

>>>> On Sep 9, 2013, at 12:37 AM, John Oliver <[email protected]>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>
>>>>> First of all, i am located in UK, England which is exactly where the
>>>>> animals will be shipped, and they are 3/4years old now, 1 male and 2
>>>>> females. I'll be sending you exact photos of the animals but not on a
>>>>> paper or date or whatever written since we have had bad experience in
>>>>> the past of people from Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon especially,
>>>>> emailing us and demanding for photos and end up using them illegally.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks and i hope for your understanding.

MY REPLY

>>>> That's good enough for me. How do we go about making this transaction?
>>>> It
>>>> appears that you are experienced in shipping reptiles.

FROM HIM

>>> Before deciding to do business with us, please consider the following
>>> terms and conditions:
>>>
>>> Pricing and payment:
>>>
>>> Our prices are competitively priced based on our knowledge and current
>>> status of the market. Unless specifically stated, our prices quoted
>>> already include cost of shipping. We do
>>> reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. We normally accept Bank
>>> transfer as our method of payment with bigger transactions and MG with
>>> smaller transactions,though we might consider other faster means when
>>> it comes to cases of extreme urgency.Payment must be received in full
>>> before we will ship to you. Our advertisements will not be removed
>>> until payment has been received.
>>>
>>> Refunds:
>>>
>>> All sales are not final,however, if a unique circumstance exists which
>>> warrants a refund, we will do that with immediate effect. There will
>>> be no exceptions to this policy unless the circumstance satisfies the
>>> terms of any guarantee we have offered.
>>>
>>> Shipping:
>>>
>>> All packages shipped are dropped off at our local UPS hub where they
>>> remain in a climate controlled room until they are shipped out in the
>>> evening. We will still include heat or cold packs in insulated boxes
>>> depending on the time of year to further protect the animals from any
>>> elements it may be exposed to. We will only ship Mondays through
>>> Thursdays. We will communicate with you to coordinate the best time
>>> for you to receive the animals right at your doorstep.Your complete
>>> address will be required which will enhance direct delivery.
>>>
>>> Live arrival guarantee:
>>>
>>> We will guarantee the live arrival of animals purchased . Our live
>>> arrival guarantee is void in all cases if the purchaser provides an
>>> incorrect address or is not available to receive the animals at the
>>> first attempt of delivery. If any animals purchased from us is dead on
>>> arrival, we will require a photographs of the animals.
>>>
>>> If you are not satisfied with your animals for any reason, you will
>>> have the two days to return the animals to us to receive a refund of
>>> the purchase price of the turtles .Shipping charges will not be
>>> refunded under any circumstance. If you wish to return the animal at
>>> any point after the two day period, you may do so at your expense.
>>>
>>> Health Certificate:
>>>
>>> All animals shipped from our establishment will be accompanied by a
>>> health certificate signed by a Federal or accredited veterinarian
>>> stating that the animals have been examined by that veterinarian and
>>> found free of ticks per Federal Law.
>>>
>>> Thanks for your understanding and looking forward to hearing from you.
>>>
>>> John Oliver

AND THIS IS THE PICTURE HE SENT OF THE TRIO FOR SALE

 
Matthew,
What is his asking price for the pair of cataphractus & their young?

Not looking to buy any, it just might give you a tell tale sign, or not.

Very curious.


Lynn Peterson
Big Time Reptiles
 
I'll be sending you exact photos of the animals but not on a
paper or date or whatever written since we have had bad experience in
the past of people from Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon especially,
emailing us and demanding for photos and end up using them illegally.

SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM!!!

It's common for Nigerian scam artists to point the finger at... you guessed it... Nigerian scam artists... and talk about how bad they are to make themselves look innocent and more legit.

Recently I got one of those Nigerian scam emails and the jist of it was this:

Ignore all of the previous emails you have gotten with claims that you have a lot of money coming your way! They are nigerian scammers trying to scam you!

Followed by their own attempt to create yet another ridiculous scenario in which you would be wiring them cash from some bad checks.
 
Thank you for asking the UK dealer...

This is the first 2 emails...

I SENT

Sir, I have been in search of 1 or 2 Cordylus Cataphractus for the last few months with no luck. I was referred to you by Todd Gearheart. If you have any intel or any of these animals for sale, could you please reply whenever you have the time. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

~Matthew

HE RESPONDED

Hello,

I have currently got available for sale, 1.2 Cordylus Cataphractus and
1.1 Cordylus Giganteu adult and 1.2 juveniles.

1.1 Adult Sungazer(Cordylus Giganteu)Pair £2200GBP
1.2 Young Sungazer(Cordylus Giganteu)Trio £2400GBP
1.2 Corylus Cataphractus Trio £3600GBP

We are also open to reasonable offers for the whole group for very
serious interest only.

Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you soon.


His initial price translated to ~$5600... I offered him half of that ($900 each lizard)

He replied saying that he could not accept anything less than $1000 per lizard, so the final agreed price ended up at $3000 for the trio...
 
Cordylus are ALL CITES

Ask him for the paperwork... Without the CITES they'd be confiscated at the airport anyways upon inspection.
 
yeah those ~$50 armadillo lizards are not the correct species I am looking for. I can get those at most of the local pet stores for 30 - 50 bucks. I'm looking for the south african lizard, unique in that they give live birth AND even more unique in that they bite the end of their tail and hold it in their mouth in times of stress as a defensive measure against predators. I believe that the true Cordylus Cataphractus are the only lizards that do have this defensive trait.
 
>>> Shipping:
>>>
>>> All packages shipped are dropped off at our local UPS hub where they
>>> remain in a climate controlled room until they are shipped out in the
>>> evening. We will still include heat or cold packs in insulated boxes
>>> depending on the time of year to further protect the animals from any
>>> elements it may be exposed to. We will only ship Mondays through
>>> Thursdays. We will communicate with you to coordinate the best time
>>> for you to receive the animals right at your doorstep.Your complete
>>> address will be required which will enhance direct delivery

Was this how he was going to ship? It's illegal to ship animals UPS internationally. They have to go via airlines so the shipment can be inspected.
This would be a red flag, also.
 
I'd be willing to bet it is a scam. I see quite a few minir grammatical errors that indicate the email was written by a well-educated person, but one for whom English is not their first language. Considering that the writer goes by the name of John Oliver from the UK, this does not seem to add up. I would proceed with serious caution.
 
After doing a little digging, I personally would not send this guy a dime. I saw too many similar offerings at other sites by users "Codyluslizards",and "geckoinsider" who turned out to be scammers.

Here's a link to one of geckoinsider's ads:
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/foru...31-cb-varanus-spenceri-cordylus-giganteu.html

Also I found this ad right here. Interesting the user is geckoinsider/Todd Gear. (Wasn't there a reference to Todd Gearheart earlier?) Todd Gear did not post the photos Harald requested.
 

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Finally, the EXIF data from the photo that was sent to the OP would suggest the photo was taken in 2011. Nope, not one dime!
 

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this is his last email... I guess I call it quits and go buy a puppy from petsmart instead! :( what a pain in the ass.


Sorry but when you talk of getting ripped of, it gives me a rather bad
impression and less i remind you there is always power in positive
thinking. I have sent you my terms and services, and if for any reason
it cannot be respected, then its quite unfortunate you can decline the
deal rather than occupy your mind with negative thoughts.

I don't find it suitable dealing with someone without any sort of
trust and confidence, so please its either we are doing business or
not and moreover, i have assured you, if anything should happen
contrary to our agreement, you will be refunded accordingly.

I have confirmed you address, so if you really want to do business,
then I'll advice you think about it before we proceed with payment and
shipping respectively. Don't forget live arrival is 100% guaranteed
and you will get exactly what you have paid for, without any
inconvenience be rest assured.Once again,we can use MG for the
transaction, since i have got 1 just some few minutes from my farm, so
please confirm payment and lets proceed.

Thanks

John Oliver
 
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