Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recieved an email yesterday about an 02 male het for hypo tangerine hondurian I had for sale.

The first email asked how much I was asking (which the ad plainly stated). I told him $150 plus shipping.

The following is the email I recieved from him:

chris john wrote:
Hello Thmas,
Thanks for your mail,Since the cost of your snake is $150 i just contacted my client about the cost of your snake and it present condition and he said there is no problem about that.So my client said he will be issuing you a certified cashier check of $1900 while you wire to me my Shipping agent that will come and pick it up at your location $1700 through western union and you deduct the cost of your snake $150 and keep the remaining $50 which my client said you should take for the terms of transaction and agreement between you and my client.So i will like you to send me your full contact information to where my client will be sending you the certified cashier check like this:
name.........
full address.............
city...............
state.............
country..........
zipcode............
cell/office/home phone number.......................
I will look forwar d to the requested information as soon as possible so that the check can be sent out to you immediately.Get back to me immediately.So i will want you to get back to me with the Pics of the snake,so that my client will be able to see what he is paying off.
Looking forward to your respond,
Best Regards,

I responded with:

Chris,

This sounds a little weird to me. I have never done a transactions like this before. Are you shipping the snake overseas? So the buyer will be sending me a check for $1900 and then I am to western union you the $1700 and keep $200 for myself? Who will be coming to pick up the snake? Am I packing it or is someone else? Who pays for the shipping? I only ship within the 48 Contiential US states. Who pays the Western Union fee? I do not ship an animal until all checks have cleared. Let me know and then I will give you my info.

thanks

tom

The email I recieved back from him said:

chris john wrote:
Thanks for your mail, If this is okay by you, provide your contact details and phone number so that payment will be made out to you pls if realy you are intrested pls i am in need of the
following daters.
FULL NAME.............
FULL ADDRESS............
CITY.....
STATE............
ZIPCODE.......
PHONE NO........ --

I responded with:

Chris,

You answered none of my questions and I do not just give out my info to anyone. I can accept a payment via www.paypa.com sent to (xtremeherps@yahoo.com). I do not understand what a "daters" is.

tom

This just all sound a little weird to me. Why would someone pay that much for a $150 snake even out of the country. I can import cheaper than that. Any comments

thanks

tom

xtremeherps@yahoo.com

This scam is designed to have you move a phony certified check through your account and they receive the funds. In the end you will be out the snakes as well as ass that extra cash that the bank will hold you responsible for. DO not share any additional information with them. Good luck!

Brian

That same person contacted me with virtually the same email. Aside from his poor English, I couldn't figure out who in their right mind would send out money to this guy.
I told the scum the get lost.

why not try and contact the appropriate authorities. If it is interstate commerce, it would be federal crime. Why not contact the FBI office in your area.

Most of the time, people contact them after they have been ripped off and there is no trace. If you contacted them in advance, maybe they could nail the theif red-handed using you in a sting?
-----
Chris Harrison

...he was beginning to realize he was the creature of a god that appreciated the discomfort of his worshippers - W. Somerset Maugham

...which friends of mine placed in the paper. Strikingly similar math was involved too. Money laundering? Some sort of scam for sure. I agree with the other post, why not contact the authorities and stop this kind of BS...