• 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....

[email protected] - Fishy emails...

Mesa

New member
Joined
May 4, 2004
Messages
9
Reaction score
1
Points
3
Age
42
Location
Summerville, SC
Hey all,

I got this email yesterday. Seemed like it might have been legit at first, but I received a nearly identical email a little later, with the father being a warm lover of Boas instead of pythons. We're not set up for export and I replied to his email saying just that. I kind of wonder whether he's sending this email to everyone on kingsnake. You'll notice that we do have a phone number, and a pic of the animal in our ad (and all our ads), yet these are still asked for.

So, anyone else get an email from this guy? Think he's some official trying to make a bust?

Subject:
Message about: Proven Breeder Male Ball Python $70
From:
[email protected]
Date:
Thu, 6 May 2004 19:49:30 -0500 (CDT)
To:
[email protected]

Hello ,
I am strongly interested in the Snake you advertised.i am willing to make the purchase for my Father who is a warm lover of Pythons and i plan to buy this for him as a gift on his B-day and will like you to know that am currently not in the States.Im located in Canada so wouldn`t be able to view or inspect before purchase but believe business is based on trust. Meanwhile i will like you to assure me that the Snake is in perfect health condition.Tell me how soon i can make the Purchase,I have decided to make payments with a Cashier`s Check or Money Order through my cousin in the State who would be issuing and making it payable to you on my behalf so kindly update me on your offer.
Let me get a response from you soon.
Ward....

NB.i would like to get a phone number in which i could use
to reach you,and really appreciate a pic as well.

----------------------------------------------
Click on (or cut and paste into you browser's
location window) the URL below to view the ad that
this message is in response to.

http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?de=200753&cat=32
 
Typical Nigerian Scam. Do a search here for other threads. Just delete those emails.
 
Same guy...

I received that EXACT SAME e-mail, word for word. The ball pythons I had were already sold though so I responded and told him they had been sold earlier that day.

It sounded VERY fishy to me as well. Wonder how many other folks got this same e-mail...?

Aprylla Hall
 
Nicolas,

Although it could be legitimate, it sounds very similar to the "Nigerian scams". In the latter the next step is to offer a cashier check for a larger sum, and you are supposed to send the balance from your own pocket. When the bank notices it's fake it's too late because you have already sent out the balance.

Regards.
 
I Got The Same

e-mail from Ward with his father being a fine lover of boas LOL. Expect to get more as this wasn't my first and surely won't be the last.
 
alvaro said:
Nicolas,

Although it could be legitimate, it sounds very similar to the "Nigerian scams".

Sorry, but it is never legitimate. Out of the counrty, third party representative, doesn't need checks because business is done with trust, and will send a cashiers check, always equal Nigerian scam.

Always delete those types of emails. My department is getting more and more reports of people taken by them. It's amazing how many people fall for these everyday. There is aboslutely nothing that law enforcement or your bank can do for you once that money is sent overseas.
 
I have received the same e-mails but I am stringing him along. He has not said anything about an overage payment and such like in the Nigerian scam but we will see what he says next. He tld me that his Cousin would be sending me the money order/cashiers check and that his shipping company is located in New York. He also just said that when I receive payment and send them their fees they would come here to pick up the animal. This is a $150 animal so I know it is a scam but I am getting as much information as I can from them first. Will keep everyone posted.
 
Hey guys, thanks for all the responses. I was pretty sure it was all a scam, and you all have confirmed that.

"ward jolly" sent me back another email, after I responded that we wouldn't ship to Canada. I can hardly read through the whole thing, hehe... I almost want to play along, but I'm just going to ignore him now.


Hello Nick,
Thanks for the wonderful response.Actually i read through your mail and understood your comment.I will arrange the pick up myself,I will be okay with the wonderful Snake you have sure Dad will love!.Regarding your mail all i can promise you is that my Father will actually take very good care of The Snakes.I stated earlier that am gething The Sankes For my Dad whose B-day will be coming up soon he will be 59 years on the 10th of next month and been my wonderful Dad,i really want to love him the more and i know he needs a wonderful Companion!.Regarding your question about getting the Snake to his location in Canada.Soon as the payment is made i shall contact my shipping Company that will come over to your location for the pick up.Meanwhile i have a cousin who is located in the states and will be issuing out a cashiers check on my behalf for the payment.The Snake is only Coming to be Part of our family!.my Day have promised to be sending pictures to anyone we get the Snake From so you can actually know as it grows with us.I also want you to kindly update me with your offer.Meanwhile since we taking the Snake out of the States ,i will be having my shipper come over for the pick up at your location.the shipper will be making other arrangements and have the proper paperwork to ship Etc.I forgot to include that i can call out at this moment with my line cos it isn't working but i will try to call you from a pay phone just to keep you updated.Meanwhile you can aways keep me posted via the email. Pls kindly respond if everything is okay by you so we can proceed from there.
I await your response,
Best regards
Mr Ward....
 
Sorry, but it is never legitimate. Out of the counrty, third party representative, doesn't need checks because business is done with trust, and will send a cashiers check, always equal Nigerian scam

OK, this one is OBVIOUSLY A SCAM.
That doesn't mean that "everyone" that is out of country, sends money orders, and has a 3rd party involved is a scam. I know first hand here. We were stationed in Germany. We had 9 months before we were due to leave. I wanted to purchase some Albino boas and some Rosy boas. If you remember back in 1999 Albinos boa were "very reasonably priced". I also had the boas sent to my sister in the states(3rd party). Anyway I had a heck of a time getting a "RESPONSE!" Of course, with this "Nigerian Scam" way of thinking could explain why only 4 of the 38 people I emailed every replied. Of course, I was very pleased with the the people that actually did reply and I purchased boas from each of them.
Anyway BE CAUTIOUS, but don't ASSUME. You might lose a legitmitate sale.
 
Yes that is a scam cause a friend of mine got the same email word for word and he dosen't even sell snakes he buys them..lol I thought it was very funny when he forwarded it to me.
 
scam ward

HI I got both emails excatly like the other party on here --

this h as his IP address also !! Hello ,
I am strongly interested in the Snake you advertised.i am willing to
make the purchase for my Father who is a warm lover of Pythons and i plan
to buy this for him as a gift on his B-day and will like you to know
that am currently not in the States.Im located in Canada so wouldn`t be
able to view or inspect before purchase but believe business is based on
trust. Meanwhile i will like you to assure me that the Snake is in
perfect health condition.Tell me how soon i can make the Purchase,I have
decided to make payments with a Cashier`s Check or Money Order through my
cousin in the State who would be issuing and making it payable to you
on my behalf so kindly update me on your offer.
Let me get a response from you soon.
Ward....

NB.i would like to get a phone number in which i could use
to reach you,and really appreciate a pic as well.

----------------------------------------------
Click on (or cut and paste into you browser's
location window) the URL below to view the ad that
this message is in response to.

http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?de=209160&cat=32


----------------------------------------------
This message was sent by an unregistered or non logged in user.

Sent 07:26 PM, May 06th, 2004 from I.P. Address 216.139.169.180
 
I did a trace on that ip and here is what I got:

Location = Ellenwood, GA
lat/lon = 33.39n, 84.16w
source = NET whois.arin.net
type = guess
geo-key = 30294 -> .\data\geo.vdb

Canada my foot!!
 
another one of thier IP addresses --

Sent 09:09 PM, May 21st, 2004 from I.P. Address 81.23.204.210


these guys don;t have a clue that we know about them -- does anyone want the fed ex info the dumb ass is going to send me LOL
 
It's a scam all the way

I received all the same e-mails word for word so I won't bother to waste space and post them here.

Mr. Ward contacted me about selling him one of my Sunglow Boas which I had on Fauna here and Kingsnake for $6000. He said he was OK with the price and it was for his Fathers birthday and would just be a pet, some present.

I knew about the Nigerian scam thing so I strung him along to see if I could get any more info and he overnighted me thru FedEx a fake cashiers check for $9800 and told me to deposit it and forward the rest right away to the shipper. I haven't seen any fake checks in my day but a child could see and feel this was a fake, the paper was real thick and held up to the light there is no water marks. The funny thing is the front of the check has a little note on top that says how to tell if it's a copy and it didn't have any of the things mentioned. "What a maroon"

I did manage to get a name and address to western union the money to:
Name: John Steele
Address: 16 BROADWAY
HAVERSTRAW, NY 10927-1605

I called the Haverstraw Police and they put me on with a Detective who told me it was a mailboxes exctera and that nobody would come for the money. I personally think someone would have showed for $3800. They didn't want to be bothered trying to catch the guy and told me I was better off to just stop contacting him. He was more in disbelief that I had a snake for sale for so much and questioned me about that more than about the scam.

It's definitely a form of the Nigerian scam and nobody cares so were on our own. Be careful out there, it's been around for years and if there's one there are probably more working on a different version as we speak.
Thanks......................Brock
 
?

I may be wrong, but even though the guy's local police weren't too interested, isn't this something that the FBI shoudl be contacted about? If you have a fake cashier'scheck and it crossed state lines I would at least send an e-mail to the FBI (Or in this case I guess the IFCC since the fraud was committed origianlly on the internet) to let them know what is going on, before someone dumb enough acually gets ripped off by this guy!

Aprylla Hall
 
These guys are Ghosts, almost impossible to catch. There is no one local, the address was a mailboxes ectera. The tracking number from FedEx shows that the envelope not only crossed state lines it crossed the pond from Great Britain. Here's the tracking number and where it came from straight from the FedEx site. If anyone has the time and wants to pursue this and can get anywhere with it I have the check framed on my wall if needed for evidence. Good Luck. Here is the link to the site, sorry you'll have to copy and paste it.

http://fedex.com/cgi-bin/tracking?a...=us&initial=x&mps=y&tracknumbers=847139690306

Tracking number 847139690306
Signed for by B ROOKSCHMIDT
Ship date May 14, 2004
Delivery date/time May 17, 2004 10:30 am

Delivered to
Recipient
Delivery location
RIVER EDGE NJ
Service type
Priority Envelope



Date/time

Status

Location

Comments


May 17, 2004 10:30 am

Delivered

RIVER EDGE NJ

No signature required - release waiver on file


10:30 am

Delivered

RIVER EDGE NJ

No signature required - release waiver on file


8:09 am

On FedEx vehicle for delivery

MAYWOOD NJ




7:38 am

Arrived at FedEx Destination Location

MAYWOOD NJ




May 16, 2004 3:55 pm

Left FedEx Sort Facility

MEMPHIS TN




10:23 am

Left FedEx Sort Facility

MEMPHIS TN




9:17 am

Release for delivery

MEMPHIS TN




May 15, 2004 10:17 pm

Left FedEx Ramp

STANSTED GB




6:11 pm

Left FedEx Ramp

POYLE GB
 
Same scam different name

I just wanted to bring this back to the top before it disappeared, it's definitely the same guys listed in this other thread.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39858

I tried to post a pic of the check but it says too big, 900 X 600 is as small as my camera goes though. I can e-mail it to someone if they know how to post it. Thanks.....................Brock
 
I love this site. I have learned so much since joining :)

I could try and resize that for you.

I would like to see what a fake cashiers check looks like lol
 
here is my fedex tracking report LOL -

_
Tracking number _ 847139667330
Ship date _ May 24, 2004
Estimated delivery reattempt date _ May 26, 2004 by 12:00 am
Delivery location PHOENIX OR
Service type Priority Envelope
Date/time

Status

Location

Comments

May 26, 2004 10:50 am Delivery attempt_ PHOENIX OR_ Incorrect address_

_ 9:02 am

On FedEx vehicle for delivery_

MEDFORD OR_

_

_ 8:21 am

Arrived at FedEx Destination Location_

MEDFORD OR_

_
_ 5:44 am Arrived at FedEx Ramp_ PORTLAND OR_ _
_ 3:43 am Left FedEx Sort Facility_ MEMPHIS TN_ _
_ 2:08 am Left FedEx Sort Facility_ MEMPHIS TN_ _
_ 1:12 am Release for delivery_ MEMPHIS TN_ _
May 25, 2004 11:54 pm Arrived at Sort Facility_ MEMPHIS TN_ _
_ 9:08 pm Left FedEx Ramp_ STANSTED GB_ _

_ 2:40 pm

Left FedEx Origin Location_

FELTHAM GB_

DUMB ASSES LOL I DON:T THINK I"LL EVEN WASTE MY TIME GOING TO FEDEX TO PICK IT UP _
 
Back
Top