-
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.
-
IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed
=====================
Posted 08/15/2025
=====================
Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.
Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."
Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....
=====================
Addendum: 01/10/2026
=====================
Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....
Possible scam!
- Thread starter Nicole Elliser
- Start date
Nicole Elliser
New member
A cashiers check is just like a personal check
A close friend of mine works at Hibernia National bank and I asked her about cashiers checks once and she informed me that a cashiers check was just like a personal check. She said they get at least 10 fraudulent cashiers checks in per week.
I called my local bank branch to make sure she supplied me with the correct info.
They told me the same thing!! The only check that is considered safe is a Certified cashiers check in which the bank freezes the funds once the check is issued.
I don't know the details of you deal with this guy but I wouldn't send any cash to him until plenty of time has passed.
Once you send money out of the country you will never get it back!!
Nicole Elliser
K&N Reptiles
A close friend of mine works at Hibernia National bank and I asked her about cashiers checks once and she informed me that a cashiers check was just like a personal check. She said they get at least 10 fraudulent cashiers checks in per week.
I called my local bank branch to make sure she supplied me with the correct info.
They told me the same thing!! The only check that is considered safe is a Certified cashiers check in which the bank freezes the funds once the check is issued.
I don't know the details of you deal with this guy but I wouldn't send any cash to him until plenty of time has passed.
Once you send money out of the country you will never get it back!!
Nicole Elliser
K&N Reptiles
dragonfire
New member
When I called the bank that issued the cashiers check they said they cannot verify amounts on cashiers checks, as the money is deducted from the account when the cashiers check is issued. They said if it was a personal check they could verify funds, but with cashiers checks the funds are already deducted from that account.
I'm going to just cash it and wait. Not send any $ to Nigeria or anything, just give it a few days to see what works out. The worst that can happen is that it's a fraud and I have to resell the snakes and hand the $ back to the bank. And if it's not, and the check clears through, they come pick up their snakes and I've made a good sale.
I'll let you know how it turns out!
I'm going to just cash it and wait. Not send any $ to Nigeria or anything, just give it a few days to see what works out. The worst that can happen is that it's a fraud and I have to resell the snakes and hand the $ back to the bank. And if it's not, and the check clears through, they come pick up their snakes and I've made a good sale.
I'll let you know how it turns out!
hanoverherps
New member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2002
- Messages
- 118
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
What to do???
Hey guys and gals!
Boy I feel like I'm part of the club now! I posted a 3 tier California breeder bird cage for sale on a parrot site. Here is the e-mail I just opened................
From: chuk felix <[email protected]> Add to Address Book
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 19:13:43 -0800
To: [email protected]
Subject: Inquiry-California Cage 3 Tier Utility $650
My name is Chuck Felix,i'm a black america in west africa.i work with
CHEVRON TEXACO NIGERIA LTD, i will like to buy the California Cage 3 Tier
Utility.get back to me with the present condition of the California Cage 3
Tier Utility and the last offer so that i will make arrangement for the
payment.looking forward to hearing from you.
Greenest Regards.
Chuck Felix......
Boy does this sound familiar or what?? Should I pursue it and join the club, per say?? Maybe bury these people a bit more? What do you guys think??
Bob
Hey guys and gals!
Boy I feel like I'm part of the club now! I posted a 3 tier California breeder bird cage for sale on a parrot site. Here is the e-mail I just opened................
From: chuk felix <[email protected]> Add to Address Book
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 19:13:43 -0800
To: [email protected]
Subject: Inquiry-California Cage 3 Tier Utility $650
My name is Chuck Felix,i'm a black america in west africa.i work with
CHEVRON TEXACO NIGERIA LTD, i will like to buy the California Cage 3 Tier
Utility.get back to me with the present condition of the California Cage 3
Tier Utility and the last offer so that i will make arrangement for the
payment.looking forward to hearing from you.
Greenest Regards.
Chuck Felix......
Boy does this sound familiar or what?? Should I pursue it and join the club, per say?? Maybe bury these people a bit more? What do you guys think??
Bob
dragonfire
New member
That was kinda my thought, but when I contacted the authorities they said that I first needed to show the check was not real, but the bank of issue believes their security measures are so great that it must be real. It's got a valid acct # and all
So I'm going to go for it, I don't see why not. Hell, at the very least, if they can't prosecute these guys in another country, maybe these people will get sick of the expense of sending all these bogus checks out, and not getting their $, they'll stop. I know it's asking alot, but ya gotta do what you can
Allison Brunner
So I'm going to go for it, I don't see why not. Hell, at the very least, if they can't prosecute these guys in another country, maybe these people will get sick of the expense of sending all these bogus checks out, and not getting their $, they'll stop. I know it's asking alot, but ya gotta do what you can
Allison Brunner
You won't "bury" anyone - they are immune to repercussions (effectively anyway). You don't have to wonder if maybe, just maybe, the check is good and the deal legit - it ain't. And it isn't "a guy", it's a company of sorts. Read the State Dept's info on these various scams.
I'm not sure what the bank will say if you do cash it and spend the money. I wonder if there is a limit on the amount of time they can ask you to re-pay them?
Joe Monahan
I'm not sure what the bank will say if you do cash it and spend the money. I wonder if there is a limit on the amount of time they can ask you to re-pay them?
Joe Monahan
herpcondo
New member
The guy who tried to buy from me said he would get me a "cashiers check" and after i told him i was wary of the scams from his part of the world, he backed up, and said maybe either a credit card or a regular check,,,, i still subscribe to the old saying,,,
"looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck,,, must be a duck" the whole thing seems very fishy that this many of us have been contacted by these people...
I sure wish you the best,,, hope the check is good!
if it is, i am very glad for you!
Best Wishes!
"looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck,,, must be a duck" the whole thing seems very fishy that this many of us have been contacted by these people...
I sure wish you the best,,, hope the check is good!
if it is, i am very glad for you!
Best Wishes!
TheVipersHouse
HaRdAsS SeNiOr MeMbEr
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2002
- Messages
- 478
- Reaction score
- 37
- Points
- 28
- Age
- 53
to dragonfire
well personally if it seems to be a legit cashiers check to protect yourself i would take it somewhere that cashes them and not to your bank to cash it cause unless you deposit it once its cashed it cannont fall back on you unless like i said u deposit it into your account .. if u just plain cash it and then it turns out to be fraud then the only people that will be held responsible is the bank it was drawn from and the account it is registered to to get the funds ...think of it as protection advice pay a few bucks and cash it at a check cashing facility that way it cannot come back to you cause if you deposit it and they add the funds to your account then it turns out bad and u spend the money they have the right to take the money back , but if u cash it away from your account only accountable people are the bank it was issued from and the person who requested the cashiers check from the start and if it is bogus then the bank that issued it has insurance coverage to take care of the probelm but you will have to choose your own path ...
well personally if it seems to be a legit cashiers check to protect yourself i would take it somewhere that cashes them and not to your bank to cash it cause unless you deposit it once its cashed it cannont fall back on you unless like i said u deposit it into your account .. if u just plain cash it and then it turns out to be fraud then the only people that will be held responsible is the bank it was drawn from and the account it is registered to to get the funds ...think of it as protection advice pay a few bucks and cash it at a check cashing facility that way it cannot come back to you cause if you deposit it and they add the funds to your account then it turns out bad and u spend the money they have the right to take the money back , but if u cash it away from your account only accountable people are the bank it was issued from and the person who requested the cashiers check from the start and if it is bogus then the bank that issued it has insurance coverage to take care of the probelm but you will have to choose your own path ...
JasonBrennan
Got Mice?
The check cashing facility would still come after you for passing them a bogus check. You are actually the first person they will go after, because you are the person that was paid.
I had a company stop payment on a check 3 days after I cashed it, and at the end of the week the check cashing facility went to deposit the check into their bank account. When the check showed up as "stop payment", they (the check cashing facility) first called me, then the police (one right after the other), and I had a cop at my house with in the hour!
Since the stop payment was done 3 days after the check was cashed, the company that issued the check ultimately had to honor it (I had done nothing wrong). However, my point is that the check cashing facility will actually come after you FIRST.
I had a company stop payment on a check 3 days after I cashed it, and at the end of the week the check cashing facility went to deposit the check into their bank account. When the check showed up as "stop payment", they (the check cashing facility) first called me, then the police (one right after the other), and I had a cop at my house with in the hour!
Since the stop payment was done 3 days after the check was cashed, the company that issued the check ultimately had to honor it (I had done nothing wrong). However, my point is that the check cashing facility will actually come after you FIRST.
TheVipersHouse
HaRdAsS SeNiOr MeMbEr
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2002
- Messages
- 478
- Reaction score
- 37
- Points
- 28
- Age
- 53
cashing the check
ok maybe ur right on that point but think of what u just said its not your fault if it turns to be bogus which in fact they cannot hold u reliable you are only cashing a check that was mailed to you with the intened purpose for cashing it so actually the person cashing it has no idea if its good or bad and they run checks on all checks that they cash and igf a bank is showing its good then by law they cant do chit to you .. now if it was bad and a bank told u it was bad and u still try to cash it then it is ur problem but as it stands right now that check is good but to protect their account they need to cash it away from their bank just in case
ok maybe ur right on that point but think of what u just said its not your fault if it turns to be bogus which in fact they cannot hold u reliable you are only cashing a check that was mailed to you with the intened purpose for cashing it so actually the person cashing it has no idea if its good or bad and they run checks on all checks that they cash and igf a bank is showing its good then by law they cant do chit to you .. now if it was bad and a bank told u it was bad and u still try to cash it then it is ur problem but as it stands right now that check is good but to protect their account they need to cash it away from their bank just in case
dragonfire
New member
I'm certainly not planning to go blow the money or anything. I expect them to come after me for the money, but that will get the cops attention, since currently the crime has not yet been commited and therefor they don't care. Once the check comes back as bad, then these people will have committed a crime, and the cops will pay attention
JasonBrennan
Got Mice?
Right. I didn't mean that the check cashing facility would actually get anthing from you, I just wanted to point out that they would come after you first. I agree, I would not deposit any money into my account if I had a questionable situation like this. I guess just holding onto the money to make sure all is well is the only thing you can do. Or, if you are too worried that the check MIGHT be bogus, just play it safe and mail it back to them. Either way, be careful, and good luck with whatever you decided to do.
TheVipersHouse
HaRdAsS SeNiOr MeMbEr
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2002
- Messages
- 478
- Reaction score
- 37
- Points
- 28
- Age
- 53
to dragonfire
well if you cash it like im saying to it wont matter if u spend the money or not truthfully cause u will be protected should the check turn out fraud thats the point im getting to you they wont come after u in anyway and if they want to speak to you u tell them hey look this guy wanted to purchase these animals from me he sent me the check and i cashed it ..and theres not a thing they can do to you or make you do .... you didnt write the check so u committed no crimes whether u spend the money or sit on it lol ...
well if you cash it like im saying to it wont matter if u spend the money or not truthfully cause u will be protected should the check turn out fraud thats the point im getting to you they wont come after u in anyway and if they want to speak to you u tell them hey look this guy wanted to purchase these animals from me he sent me the check and i cashed it ..and theres not a thing they can do to you or make you do .... you didnt write the check so u committed no crimes whether u spend the money or sit on it lol ...
Cold Blooded Critters
New member
Guess I'll join in
I received an email 3 days ago that sounds like some of the others I've seen posted here. In this case it was a woman, but still in West Africa. I replied that I would not ship to Africa and have not heard from her since. I don't know about the email the rest of you are getting, but mine came directly from an ad I have posted on kingsnake. I did not get an offer for a large amount, but I never gave her a chance to get that far. Anyway, I'll post the email. I'm going to remove the phone number and IP just in case it's a ligit response.
Hey
I saw your advert on the web and i am intrested in
Female Albino Granite Burm
i am a vetenary doctor in Australia.
I am based in west africa ,I am working on a Project on Animals.
I am ready to pay $1500
If my offer is okay,kindly reply back as soon as
you get this message or call me on my direct phone number:xxx-xxxxxxxxxx
Thanks.
Penny
----------------------------------------------
This message was sent by an unregistered or non logged in user.
Sent 04:46 AM, Mar 22nd, 2003 from I.P. Address xx.xxx.xxx.xxx
I received an email 3 days ago that sounds like some of the others I've seen posted here. In this case it was a woman, but still in West Africa. I replied that I would not ship to Africa and have not heard from her since. I don't know about the email the rest of you are getting, but mine came directly from an ad I have posted on kingsnake. I did not get an offer for a large amount, but I never gave her a chance to get that far. Anyway, I'll post the email. I'm going to remove the phone number and IP just in case it's a ligit response.
Hey
I saw your advert on the web and i am intrested in
Female Albino Granite Burm
i am a vetenary doctor in Australia.
I am based in west africa ,I am working on a Project on Animals.
I am ready to pay $1500
If my offer is okay,kindly reply back as soon as
you get this message or call me on my direct phone number:xxx-xxxxxxxxxx
Thanks.
Penny
----------------------------------------------
This message was sent by an unregistered or non logged in user.
Sent 04:46 AM, Mar 22nd, 2003 from I.P. Address xx.xxx.xxx.xxx
dragonfire
New member
Mine was a woman too. Her name was Mary Donald, and she was the head of the reptile department for a Zoo in West Africa, but she never specified any other details, and why a zoo would want 6 of the same animal is beyond me.
Allison Brunner
Allison Brunner
Re: to dragonfire
UNLESS the check is a scam that would potentially rip off the checkwriter as well (since in the insurance check case it is a third party)
Then you could be indicated in conspiracy or some other nonsense...
TheVipersHouse said:
UNLESS the check is a scam that would potentially rip off the checkwriter as well (since in the insurance check case it is a third party)
Then you could be indicated in conspiracy or some other nonsense...
drizzt_19
Still learning
It seems they are not sending checks anymore
I just got this email today from a "Mrs. (Hajia) Miriam Abacha"..
In this letter they are now sending boxes full of money through the airlines..They are requesting that you pick the boxes up..
Sounds like some "smuggling" going on now instead of just fraudualent checks...What do you all think..
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 04:39:25 +0000 (GMT)
From: =?iso-8859-1?q?mariam=20abacha?= <[email protected]>
[ Add to Address Book | Block Address | Report as Spam ]
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: urgent assistance!!!
Dear ,
Compliments of the season.I did like to send to you
the best wishes of good health and success in your
pursuits particularly through my proposal as contained
in this letter.
I am Mrs. Mariam Abacha,the widow of the late Gen.Sani
Abacha former
Nigerian Military Head of State
who died mysteriously as a result of Cardiac Arrest.
Since after my husband’s death my family is under
restriction of movement and that not withstanding,we
are being molested,policed and our Bank Account both
here and abroad are being frozen by the Nigerian
Civilian Government.Furthermore,my elder son was in
detention by the Nigerian Government for more
interrogation about my husband’s assets and some vital
documents.Following the recent discovery of my
husband’s Bank Account by the Nigerian Government with
Swiss Bank in which the huge sum of US$700 Million and
DM450 Million was logged.I therefore decided to
contact you in confidence as a foreigner as our other
family friends
gave up to the government our funds with them. but I
was able to move
out
the sum of US$40.3m Dollars,sealed in two Metal Boxes
for security
reasons.I therefore personally,appeal to you seriously
and religiously
for your urgent assistance to move this money into
your country where
I believe it will be safe since I cannotleave the
country due to the
restriction of movement imposed on
the members of my family by the Nigerian Government.
You can contact me through my email address as above
and I shall ask my
son
MUSTAPHA to come over to your country to liaise with
you towards
effective completion of this transaction.
However,as soon as you indicate your interest my son
shall send you the
Air-Way Bill of the Luggage and other related
documents so that you can
help to claim the Luggage and subsequently transfer to
your personal or
company’s account.
Conclusively,we have agreed to offer you 20% of the
total
sum,10%willbe for expenses incurred during the cause
of this
transaction,while70%
is to be held on trust by you
until we can decide on a suitable business investment
in your country
subsequent
to our free movement by the Nigerian Government.
Please reply urgently and treat with
absoluteconfidentiality
and sincerity.
Best Regards,
HAJIA MARIAM ABACHA
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Everything you'll ever need on one web page
from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts
http://uk.my.yahoo.com
I just got this email today from a "Mrs. (Hajia) Miriam Abacha"..
In this letter they are now sending boxes full of money through the airlines..They are requesting that you pick the boxes up..
Sounds like some "smuggling" going on now instead of just fraudualent checks...What do you all think..
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 04:39:25 +0000 (GMT)
From: =?iso-8859-1?q?mariam=20abacha?= <[email protected]>
[ Add to Address Book | Block Address | Report as Spam ]
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: urgent assistance!!!
Dear ,
Compliments of the season.I did like to send to you
the best wishes of good health and success in your
pursuits particularly through my proposal as contained
in this letter.
I am Mrs. Mariam Abacha,the widow of the late Gen.Sani
Abacha former
Nigerian Military Head of State
who died mysteriously as a result of Cardiac Arrest.
Since after my husband’s death my family is under
restriction of movement and that not withstanding,we
are being molested,policed and our Bank Account both
here and abroad are being frozen by the Nigerian
Civilian Government.Furthermore,my elder son was in
detention by the Nigerian Government for more
interrogation about my husband’s assets and some vital
documents.Following the recent discovery of my
husband’s Bank Account by the Nigerian Government with
Swiss Bank in which the huge sum of US$700 Million and
DM450 Million was logged.I therefore decided to
contact you in confidence as a foreigner as our other
family friends
gave up to the government our funds with them. but I
was able to move
out
the sum of US$40.3m Dollars,sealed in two Metal Boxes
for security
reasons.I therefore personally,appeal to you seriously
and religiously
for your urgent assistance to move this money into
your country where
I believe it will be safe since I cannotleave the
country due to the
restriction of movement imposed on
the members of my family by the Nigerian Government.
You can contact me through my email address as above
and I shall ask my
son
MUSTAPHA to come over to your country to liaise with
you towards
effective completion of this transaction.
However,as soon as you indicate your interest my son
shall send you the
Air-Way Bill of the Luggage and other related
documents so that you can
help to claim the Luggage and subsequently transfer to
your personal or
company’s account.
Conclusively,we have agreed to offer you 20% of the
total
sum,10%willbe for expenses incurred during the cause
of this
transaction,while70%
is to be held on trust by you
until we can decide on a suitable business investment
in your country
subsequent
to our free movement by the Nigerian Government.
Please reply urgently and treat with
absoluteconfidentiality
and sincerity.
Best Regards,
HAJIA MARIAM ABACHA
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Everything you'll ever need on one web page
from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts
http://uk.my.yahoo.com
drizzt_19
Still learning
herpcondo
New member
These people have got great imaginations to come up with this stuff.....
dragonfire
New member
Hey everyone! Just got home from MoneyTree. The cashiers check was good yesterday, but not anymore. It's a fraud and the Secret Service is involved.
Apparently last night the bank that "issued" this check got several of these, and has figured out the scam, when yesterday when we called, they were so confident it was good.
Anyone who says good things come to those who wait, this is an example of where it is not so. All the people who put these checks through yesterday have their money, today, nothing.
Oh well. I'm going to call the secret service to turn over my check and package it came in.
Apparently last night the bank that "issued" this check got several of these, and has figured out the scam, when yesterday when we called, they were so confident it was good.
Anyone who says good things come to those who wait, this is an example of where it is not so. All the people who put these checks through yesterday have their money, today, nothing.
Oh well. I'm going to call the secret service to turn over my check and package it came in.