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

Forget it, it's a scam. It's popping up all over the internet for all kinds of property, not just snakes.

Hi Tom,

You are probably right IMO to stop the transaction.

With the information requested from this person he could very well own your Identity. And use it!

This person did not answer or attempt to answer your questions and is offering you more then the original price you are asking. IMO this smells of scam.

My gut feeling is,

If it smells bad, looks bad, I would say it is!

You did the right thing by calling him on his request.

Later Tom, Dann

.

I just received something similar with regards to a motorcycle I'm selling. Somebody in Ireland wants it. Is there anyone/anywhere we can report this sort of thing?

Thanks,
fliptop

Yep. I got the same email about a pair of reverse okeetees that I only want $70 for. This guy's emails make absolutely no sense at all. I hope he hasn't gotten anyone yet.

Brandon Osborne

What you can do is to report them for internet fraud, and since the mail was involved...Mail Fraud (there is a link in Ebay in the security site). I have used it and the Post office does land on them. Of course if the source is generated from outside the USA there little that can be done.

Personally I have had a relative die in Togo and more family die in Indonesia (last week) all in car wrecks!.............I never knew I had so many (lol)and all of them leaving me millions....to split with their lawyers (just for helping!)!

There is an awful lot out there..................
Frank

As I recall, this scam was coming out of Africa. They are going after more than just herps sellers, though..I know of one guy that was selling a motorcycle and they tried the same scam on him.

OH,

Several of these elements here in the States with origins and on temporary expired visas out of Africa were apprehended for fraud.

They used several different identities, which confused investigators. The Identities were used to cover illegitimate businesses and confuse authorities. This is a well-organized ring. With ties back to Africa.

Two of them caught here are still in jail for fraud and expired visas (INS was called). The key to there success is your Identity.

Later OH, Dann

You should report it to the internet fraud division of your local FBI office. With all that's going on since 9/11 i wonder how much time they have for such concerns, but i reported a scam about a year ago, and they told me they were the right place to report it.
terry

Hi,
I also had an e-mail from a guy named chris, he said he had a clent interested in my snake for sale. He also said he wanted to know how much I was asking and where to send payment to. I deleted the e-mail but i did respond. i told him this seems very starnge to me, why would someone have another person look for a snake for them, most people want to talk directly with the breeder of the snake so they can know all there is about it, see what the bloodline is like,etc. So I told him how Much I was asking and to e-mail me back if he had any other questions. He hasnt e-mailed back, but if he does I wont even open it now. Thats really weird, when i saw this post I was like DAMN, samething.
Jeff Teel

NP

Do any of you guys know how this scam is suppose to work? The info he ask for could be found about any person searce web site (suck as theultimates.com), or in a phone book.

I definately would not sell to this guy, but how exactly do you think he plans on scamming you??

Too weird.

TA

this may seem far-fetched ------- but it's one of 3 things or a combo of all............
identity theft (which i have been a victim of-for real, bad sh..)
currency change -country from country ---pay you 200 dollars for
1500 dollars worth of dope-(remmember the guy that comes and "picks up the snake"
or to rip either you or western union(ripping the latter is extremly easy if played right)
I THINK - the point is to (depending on what kind of person you are) to be the one to take and not be the one to get took,,,,,
and obviously! to NEVER be the one to get taken.........
you are a small biz owner....... if i was to buy a snake from you
and was serious i would have no problem providing my info first,or.
and i would not be offended if you said: "i need to be careful so
can we speak on the phone for a minute? , before we go any further?, or a referance? ect. ect. etc. etc.
granted ,this may take alot more time -
.......sorry if this seems choppy....... i've worked a very loooong night and am very sleepy.
DJW

The scam is the check. The property they are "buying" and all the other stuff is window dressing to make it look legit. After you deposit it, you call up your bank and they says the funds are available. You send the balance to the scammer. Then in a couple of weeks the bank calls and says the check is counterfeit.

see here:
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/carsale.asp

And you are stuck with paying the bank back the amount of the check, plus any fees associated with bouncing a check!!!

Dont fall for it. Report this to the Better Business Bureau.

Brian Baker

The BBB can't help with this. This is an international thing. The Feds have to get involved. They have been chasing this scam for a couple of years now.