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Possible scam!

N

Nicole Elliser

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Of course when something seems to good to be true it is!

I had a customer contact me via e-mail about some of our albino leopard geckos. He evidently found us on kingsnake or fauna because I had just updated our site and posted ads that we had 36 new pics up and that is what he put in his subject.

Anyway he goes on to say that he is from Africa and has a business here to receive shipments and make payment arrangements through. I instructed him to visit our site and let me know which geckos he wanted.

His next reply was that he was interested in a pair of our milksnakes. I sent him the balance and I got this reply.

----- Original Message -----
From: harry James
To: K&N Reptiles
Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2003 3:23 PM
Subject: Re: Message about: Albino Leopard Geckos 36 new pics!


HELLO.

Thanks for the mail. In respect of payment. I have a client in the u.s who is oweing me $3,500 all i will do is to instruct him to issue a company check on your name and when it clears in your bank you can deduct your money and help send my balance via western uniou money transfer to my secetary, he will use it to pay a prepay shipping cost to the shipping company so that they can instruct thier office in the u.s to come to your location and pick it for shippment. I will like to
know if i can trust you to help send my balance. Am doing this to make the payment easier and faster.
Furnish me with your name, address and phone number so that i can
forward it to my client who will be sending the check for payment. Thanks.

H. JAMES.



This just sounds to much like a scam to me. Of course we decided to not do the deal but I just wanted to let everyone know that this guy is out there and it seems he is trying to take advantage of the reptile industry!

Hope this helps someone!
Nicole Elliser
K&N Reptiles
 
Nicole,

There was a thread posted somewhere here about this very same scam happening to someone not too long ago. I believe the check or money order, whatever it was, was a forgery and the person lost not only the money on the sale, but also in the balance they forwarded on to the person pulling the scam.

This may or may not be the same thing, but it sure does sound familiar.
 
Its Deffinitly a scam

this guy thats offering you a deal like that is deffinitly a scam artist . He offered me close to a same offer he was intereted in purchasing my het for albino ball pair .. he told me that he was based in WEST AFRICA in Nigeria ...well needless to say he offer me the same deal that someone owed him money from the states and he was going to have a cashiers check of $7300.00 sent to me and i was to take my money out and western union him his balance ... well i had a bad feeling about this guy from his emails so i played along ... a week later i recieved a check made out to me for $7300 ...BUT this where it gets interesting the check i recieved was sent via FED EX from GREAT BRITIAN ... and the check was from PROGRESSIVE AUTO INSURANCE turns out when i recieved this i spoke with a REP from Progressive i gave him all the check numbers and he says that the check i was holding was a fraud ( knew this ) the original check with same numbers as mine was given out for an old insurance claim to a drive last year (i think thats when the rep said it was issued will have to check to make sure ) but the amountfor the original check was for $90.73 NOT $7300.00... well i was told by the rep that thanks to me going further with this guy and actually getting him to send me the money and all that they had enough proof to start an investigation now ... so i faxed all the info i had on this guy etc ( name ,address,phone numbers ) and a copy of the fraud check so they could launch an investigation ... and all this took place roughly 2 weeks ago .. so STAY AWAY from him its deffinitly a scam and soon he will be behind bars and wont be bothering anyone .... i have all the emails to back everything said here and i stilll have the check that was sent im just kicked back waiting for the authorities to drop by one day and ask for all the paperwork and info i have so they have the evidence on hand ....

hope this shed a little more light for others ..

shawn skillings
 
HERES ONE OF THE FIRST EMAILS FROM HIM

From: Fred Frankford
To: [email protected]
Date: 3/1/03 1:09:04 PM
Subject: payment and shipping


Shawn,

Thanks a lot for your mail.
I am based in Lagos,Nigeria,West Africa.

I will be willing to buy Het for albino ball python pair FS


Aspa shipping i have made arrangements with a shipping company that is jet apet,they will be on
ground to do the pick up at any location of your choice but i will have to inform you before the pick up will be done.

As regards payment,this is what i am going to do;I have a
client in the US who is owing me $7,300 i would instruct him to
make out a cashiers check to you in that amount and as soon as
it clears your bank you can now deduct your money from it and send my balance by western
union money transfer.Although the value of the cashiers check is more
than the price of the Het for albino ball python pair FS , but i think i should be able to trust you with my balance.

The reason why i am doing this is that it would take a cashiers check
sent from over here in africa 30days to clear over
there,whereas a cashiers check sent from within the US would clear tops
within 48hrs.I will also be using part of the balance to pay for the shipping company that will be on ground to do the pick up.
So i would like you to deduct the western union charges from my
balance.So if my terms are acceptable to you,i would like you
to give me your full name address and phone numbers so that i
can instruct my client to make out the check to you.
Pls get back to me as soon as you get this mail so that i can
know my stand.

Regards
 
I would encourage Nicole to pursue the deal, if she has any interest, until he sends her a bogus check too. Every offense documented adds to the severity of the sentence when he is convicted of fraud.

I wish now that I had let him send me a check when he contacted me. I got irritated with his persistance and assumption that everything I had was for sale and told him to get lost.
He wanted baby hog islands, I explained that it would be a year or two before I produced any. Then he wanted me to locate him some hogs, I told him I was not a dealer or broker or anything else, I was a breeder.
Then he thought he could just buy my future breeders. I had lost patience by that time and he never emailed me again.
 
He sent me a check as well, I know it is a scam. I figure it cost $ to make and send the check? So let him send it!
 
I had the same person email me for a baby albino corn snake. he offered $300 shipped for it and said he would send the payment just like you said in your post. I refused the offer because he wanted me to ship to africa and i dont know how to ship over seas. good luck with the deal. Paul Moldovan
 
Case pending?

Is there a case pending on these people? I've got a check on the way from them, but I don't know who to contact when it gets here. Should I call the local FBI? or police?
I knew it was a scam, just sounded a little too odd that they would trust sending me $5000 for $1000 worth of product. I surely wouldn't do that for someone I didn't know in some far away country.
And let me tell you I'm on red alert after the last fraud I dealt with.
So what should I do when the check arrives?

Thanks
Allison Brunner
 
IMPORTANT INFO FOR ALL INVOLVED

OK LISTEN UP FIRST OFF FOR ALL WHO HAVE RECIEVED CHECKS FROM THIS GUY WHAT KIND OF CHECKS DID U RECIEVE WHERE THEY THE SAME AS MINE A PROGRESSIVE AUTO INSURANCE CHECK ????? IF SO HERES A NUMBER AND AN EXTENTION FOR YOU TO CALL AT PROGRESSIVE THIS IS THE PERSON I SPOKE WITH ABOUT ALL THIS AND HE HAS THE INITIAL REPORT GOING the REPS NAME IS ( Atiba ext 71154) and the number is 1-800-274-4499 or if no luck at 1st number 1-800-888-7764 i cant remember exactly which number is easiest to call Atiba at ...
make sure u keep all info and emails from this guy , that sent you checks , cause Atiba will ask for it ( if YOU WERE SENT AN INSURANCE CHECK ONLY ) any one elses that has gotten some kind of check similar i would say call the fbi and inform them and also inform them of this posting so they can get an accurate up to date of the events and info here if you would like to speak to me over phone about this for any extra help feel free to email me for my number ....

shawn
 
Interesting!

Below is an email I also received with regards to a snake I had posted up for sale. I had paid no attention to it until the UK was mentioned, the e-mail apparently also came from the UK.


From:
"X" <[email protected]>
To:
[email protected]




hello,
i am "X" an american.i am presently a vet practitioner in west africa and i have been
asked to conduct a research on reptiles.this reptiles will be experimented on ,then i will have the
priviledge to keep as pet.could you please let me know your last offering price and would
appreciate if you can send a pic.
thanks and many regards,
"X"........................................................
Click to expand...

Last Wednesday I also received the typical Nigerian scam:

The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which
it is being sent to and may contain confidential and/or privileged material.
If you are not the intended recipient of this message please do not read, copy,
use or disclose this communication and notify the sender immediately. It
should be noted that any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of,
or taking action or reliance upon, this information by persons or entities
other than the intended recipient is prohibited.
Thanks for your co-operation.
Barrister. Maubane Mapele

BARRISTER MAUBANE MAPELEOKEAYA IGEH LAW FIRM
LEGAL PRACTITIONER. SOUTH AFRICA

Dear sir,

COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON. GRACE AND PEACE AND LOVE
FROM THIS PART OF THE ATLANTIC TO YOU. I HOPE MY
LETTER DOES NOT CAUSE YOU TOO MUCH EMBARRASSMENT
AS I WRITE TO YOU IN GOOD FAITH. BASED ON THE CONTACT
ADDRESS GIVEN TO ME BY A FRIEND WHO WORKS AT THE
JOHANESBURG INTERNET RESEARCH DEPARTMENT IN RESEARCH
MINISTRY HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA. PLEASE EXCUSE MY INTRUSION INTO YOUR PRIVATE
LIFE.
I AM BARRISTER MAUBANE MAPELE, I REPRESENT MOHAMMED
SEIF, SON OF THE LATE SEIFJONES, WHO WAS THE
FORMER HEAD OF MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
IN SOUTH AFRICA. HE DIED IN 1998. SINCE HIS DEATH, THE FAMILY HAS BEEN LOOSING
A LOT OF MONEY DUE TO VINDICTIVE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO ARE BENT ON DEALING
WITH THE FAMILY. BASED ON THIS THEREFORE, THE FAMILY HAS ASKED ME TO SEEK FOR A
FOREIGN PARTNER WHO CAN WORK WITH US AS THE NEW BENEFICIARY OF THE
CONSIGNMENTS TAGGED (DIPLOMATIC LUGGAGE) TO MAKE CLAIMS TO THESE FUNDS THAT ARE
PRESENTLY LODGED IN A DIPLOMATIC HOLDING COMPANY IN EUROPE.THESE FUNDS WERE
CAREFULLY CHANNELED OUT OF THE COUNTRY DIPLOMATICALY. THE FUNDS ARE KEPT IN
CONSIGNMENT AND THE CONSIGNMENT CONTAINS US$12,000,000.00 (TWELVE MILLION
UNITED STATES DOLLARS). WE DECIDED TO MOVE THIS FUNDS IN THIS FORM TO REDUCE
THE RISK OF US LOSSING THE MONEY. THE PLAN NOW IS THAT WE WANT TO FIRST ENSURE
THAT THIS CONSIGNMENT IN EUROPE ARE CLEARED AND SAFELY KEPT BY A TRUST WORTHY
PARTNER.WHAT WE REQUIRE FROM YOU IF YOU ARE INTRESTED
TO ASSIST US IS TO PROVIDE US YOUR FULL DETAILS AS IN(1)YOUR FULL NAME
(2)YOUR MAILING ADDRESS (3)YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS.
THESE INFORMATIONS WILL ENABLE US MAKE YOU THE
BENEFICIARY OF THE CONSIGNMENTS AND FORWARD THE
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS THAT WILL ENABLE YOU PUT CLAIMS TO THE FUNDS.THIS MONEY WAS
OF COURSE, ACQUIRED BY THE
LATE SEIF JONES AS A REWARD OF HIS HARD LABOUR AND SINCERITY DURING HIS TIME.
ME AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS BEARING IN MIND THE SET BACKS THE FAMILY HAS
EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST FROM THE DEATH OF THEIR FATHER AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL
LAWS AND REFORMS HAS MADE IT NECESSARY THAT WE SEEK YOUR ASSISITANCE IN
RECEIVING THIS MONEY AND IN INVESTING IT ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY. THIS MUST BE
A JOINT VENTURE TRANSACTION
AND WE MUST ALL WORK TOGETHER. SINCE THIS MONEY IS STILL CASH, EXTRA SECURITY
MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO PROTECT IT FROM THEFT OR SEIZURE.
I HAVE PERSONALLY WORKED OUT ALL MODALITIES FOR THE PEACEFUL CONCLUSION OF THIS
TRANSACTION.
THE TRANSACTION DEFINITELY WOULD BE HANDLED IN PHASES AND THE FIRST PHASE HAS
ALREADY SUCEDED TO AN EXTENT AS THE CASH IS PRESENTLY SAFELY LODGED IN A
SECURITY FIRM IN THE EUROPE.
MY CLIENTS ARE WILLING TO GIVE YOU A REASONABLE
PERCENTAGE OF THIS MONEY AS SOON AS THE TRANSACTION
IS CONCLUDED. I WILL, HOWEVER, BASED ON THE GROUNDS THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO
WORK WITH US AND ALSO ALL
CONTENTIOUS ISSUES DISCUSSED BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT
OF THIS TRANSACTION. YOU MAY ALSO DISCUSS YOUR
PERCENTAGE BEFORE WE START TO WORK.
AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU, I WILL GIVE YOU ALL NECESSARY DETAILS AS TO HOW WE
INTEND TO CARRY OUT THE WHOLE TRANSACTION. PLEASE, DO NOT ENTERTAIN ANY
FEARS,AS ALL NECESSARY MODALITIES ARE IN PLACE, AND I ASSURE YOU OF ALL SUCCESS
AND SAFETY IN THIS TRANSACTION. PLEASE, THIS TRANSACTION REQUIRES ABSOLUTE
CONFIDENTIALITY AND YOU WOULD BE EXPECTED TO TREAT IT AS SUCH UNTIL THE FUNDS
ARE SAFELY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. PLEASE, YOU WILL ALSO IGNORE THIS LETTER AND
RESPECT OUR TRUST IN YOU BY NOT EXPOSING THIS TRANSACTION, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT
INTERESTED.
IN THE EVENT THAT YOU ARE INTRESTED IN ASSISTING US I WILL LIKE YOU TO CONTACT
ME VIA THE ABOVE EMAIL ADDRESS OR [email protected]

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

TRULY YOURS

BARRISTER MAUBANE MAPELE
Click to expand...

Believe or not there are several people that feel for this last one.

Regards.
 
We received the same email about a month ago. I'm not sure if it was the same person but the amount was the same. We didn't go thru with it because it just sounded too fishy to me. He wanted something like $900 worth of my snakes and was going to send me a $3500 check. Didn't sound right to me so i didn't even want to deal with him. He told me to ship his snakes to a broker of his in the US and they would forward them to him. I'd just pass......not worth your time or energy in my opinion.

Good Luck!
 
Well,,, i had the same emails from this guy,,,,
he wanted to buy 4 dozen crystal clear shoes boxes and 6 dozen crystal clear sweater boxes from me.
it sounded way to fishy when after we figured out the shipping to south africa was over 1000.00 plus the price of the boxes, he said no problem,,,, I just stepped back, and replied to him, i could not ship them out of the US. he was persisitent, and i finally told him i had heard of scams his part of the world, that i had read about them on a few of the herp boards,,, and he stopped emailng me all together... He is scamming people left and right ,, I have only been on this board for a month and he found me,,, so he is sure looking,, also at one point he said he wanted them sent to his sister in Nigeria,,,,, hope this helps,,,
 
What's this guy's e mail ?
p.s. I' m also checking to see if my signuture is right so I don't have to type my name after evey post
I apologize if my name doesn't show up
 
I wouldn't get too worked up over any of this. These scams are run like businesses. People sell the scam to people who hire a few others on a commission - the names are all fake, many of the places are too. There is no US law that will touch them there, so I wouldn't waste too much time working on it. They are just very poor people in a very desperate environment trying to make a buck. Not good, but maybe understandable under the circumstances.

Joe Monahan
 
SAME THING HAPPEN TO ME

hi everyone this same thing happen to me about 1 1/2 weeks ago onley the he wase a she I have a nanday conure for sale she emaild me and offerd to pay 400.00 for him plus shipping she said she would send me a check for 3,500 when i sent her my add. she said for me to take the amount out (the 400.00)and then send the rest to her secrataire and she would pay for the shipping but lucky for me i did not do it becouse my husband and i sat dowen talked and decided it was a scam becouse why on eairth would someone that did not know you and you did not know them send you a check for that much money ???? i said wouldnt she be afraid that she would not get her money back i mean i know i would be afraid of that.but anyway i will look threw my emails and post the one she sent me thanks destiny woolman
 
Update!

I did what you guys said and told him that we could go ahead with the deal and he could go ahead and send the check.

This was yesterday afternoon. This morning about 4:00 a.m. I got a phone call from a relay service ( a relay is usually used for the deaf public where they type their message to you in a computer and an operator reads it to you) saying that the check was on the way!

Has anyone else got a phone call?

The number was listed as unknown caller so I don't have a phone number to track.

I will keep you guys posted as to when the check arrives and I would appreciate any new news for your ends.

This is his e-mail address: [email protected]
He goes by H. James

Nicole Elliser
K&N Reptiles
 
Nicole

hey nicole

no he never called me before when the money was being sent he just hd it sent and told me via email when it should arrive
no remember if you receive a money order of any kind or a cashiers check then this guy will be on the level cause you cant forge those to easy but im guessing you should be recieveing some kind of insurance check and when u see that then u need to call whoever companies names on the check and report it let me know when u get it before doing anything to tell me what kind of check you recieved then we can go from there

shawn
 
Money is here

I got mine today. But it's a cashiers check, so it can just be straight out cashed rather than deposited. I was still worried to I took it into my bank to talk to them about it, and they said to call the bank it was issued by. I did that, and they verified the cashiers check was drawn from a valid account with their bank. Maybe not all of these people are frauds?
I was expecting a check that would then bounce, or whatnot. Not a cashiers check which equals just as good as if they had mailed me cash as far and the bank is concerned. Even after I explained my concerns to the bank, they said with the checking I did on this to verify it was valid, that I am free and clear to cash it as everything appears in order to them.

Anyone else get a money order or cashiers check?
 
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