Bad Guy Scammer alert- SAIDAH Basic International SA

[Will0W783]

I had posted wanted ads looking for jumping vipers on here and on venomousreptiles.org, and I received an email from this company. I was suspicious at first, as I think SA designates that they are in South Africa, and why would a South African company be messaging me about Central American snakes? I responded a few times to try to get a feel for them, but when they sent me a picture I did a Google Image search.
The picture they sent is from SA Herpetoculture forum's website from 2009, so it's obviously not animals they have available now. I confronted them about it and told them I would be posting here.

Below are the emails, in reverse order:


Re: jumping viper (Atropoides nummifer spp.)‏

SAIDAH BASIC INTERNATIO​NAL SA ([email protected])
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3/30/14
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Hello,
Sorry for the late reply,

Price : $$ 190

How man do you need ??
How soon do you need this

Waiting



> Yes I am very interested in jumping vipers. Do you have any available?
> - Kim
>
> Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note® 3, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: SAIDAH BASIC INTERNATIONAL SA <[email protected]>
> Date:03/29/2014 3:45 PM (GMT-05:00)
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: jumping viper (Atropoides nummifer spp.)
>
> Hello,
>
> I saw your advert on the internet that you are interested in some Atropoides nummifer spp.
> If yes please do let me know
>
> thanks and waiting.




Here is the final response I sent to them:

Re: jumping viper (Atropoides nummifer spp.)‏

To see messages related to this one, group messages by conversation.
Kimberly Urban
3/30/14
To: SAIDAH BASIC INTERNATIONAL SA
Picture of Kimberly Urban

May I ask why you are using a photo from SA Herpetological Society's forum from 2009? A two- minute Google image search revealed that photo and its actual origin in the top line.
You're obviously a scammer and I will be reporting you on the Fauna Classifieds Board of Inquiry so hopefully no one else falls victim to your lies. Don't contact me anymore; I am obviously no longer interested.



Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note® 3, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone




I've also attached screen shots of the emails for proof.

 

[Will0W783]

Here is the Google Image search I did, with the picture in question circled in red. Also attached is the website where the picture was originally posted in 2009.

 

[Ed Clark]

Posting a wanted ad anymore attracts someone(scammer) that will try to relieve you of your hard earned dollars.buyer beware!

 

[Will0W783]

How does one go about finding rare animals then?

 

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

It's fine to post wanted ads. Just do exactly as you did, be very skeptical and cautious.