When two scams collide

[argyll]

Heres a new twist on two scams. I have called it the 'Nigerian Ebay Job' for want of a better name.

 

A friend in the USA was bidding on a rare '34 Gibson TB3 banjo on Ebay. Bidding reached a couple of thousand dollars, he dropped out. He then received an email from someone purporting to be the owner of the banjo who had 'stolen' the original owners bidding history and offered to sell the banjo to my friend 'since the highest bidder cannot now buy the banjo' Since this trade is urgent, payment by money order is required..address?

Lagos, Nigeria Oh hum !

 

Thats not the end of the story, he then received the following email

 

Dear Sir,

I have a store here, and I have at lease 10 peaces. If you will want to I will give you 5 peaces for only US $8500 Including shipping and

payment via www.web-tradetool.com ( an escrow company ). I have a contract with this company for 3 years, and they will make me an 27%

discount. Please check theyr web site and tell me what you think. I will wait your reply a.s.a.p.

Best Regards! Lagos, Nigeria again

 

Do remember by the way, that the ten 'peaces' are rare Gibson banjos. These guys dont even try hard. I usually report these things to ebay, this time I just couldnt be bothered. It was such a pitiful attempt at fraud that anyone caught should be locked up.

 

The usual Nigerian scam of a share in 21 million odd dollars tied up in a bank account by a dead presidential relative, seems to be fading. Ebay is the new hunting ground for these people. Watch your step

 

Sorry Moderator shouldnt have posted this here. Please move it for me to the non-fishing forum'

thanks

Gerry

 

[ 28. July 2004, 06:24 PM: Message edited by: argyll ]

[chesters1]

blimey i`v just skipped a dozen of them i though they were TB2`s when i bought them for a fiver each i wondered what all those africans were doing emptying the skip ,luckilly it made room for all those 1933 pennies i had been hoarding

[argyll]

ten a penny TB2s

[argyll]

Chesters, heres the original email. Note the scammers ID. That what you call 'two fingers'

 

Hello Madam/Mr.

> I have a business opportunity I hope you will consider.My user > ID is > "steelhere" My email adress is : " SweetAllien@aol.com ", please

> respond me to this e-mail adress.I noticed that you were bidding on my

> auction item # 3735756249. I`ve had some problems with the high bider > because he coudn`t pay the auction. I want to offer you a seccond > chance to > buy my unit. The price for it is US $2250 .As a courtesy to you and

> every > other customer, all shipping and customs charges will be included in

> the > full purchase price and we notice you are biding for this product and > we

> would like to make you an offer. Due to the fact that these are sold at > auction, I purchase large amounts and pay literally pennies on the > dollar > for what they are truly worth in a retail store. We will use an > shipping

> company for shipping ,Money Order, an escrow services or an wire > transfer in > my bank account for payment. Shipping will take usually 48 hours > after we > receive the payment confirmation. Shipping is absolutely free. Not

> only is > shipping free but you will also receive 100% protection from loss or > damage

> with our "on the house" full insurance coverage. Your shipment will > be

> professionally secured with heavy-duty packaging designed to protect > the

> contents of your shipment cross country. . . If you are interested > please > fell free to tell me and send the shipping details so I could make > you an > offer. I am looking forward to hear from you. You can review the > auction at

> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?

> ViewItem&category=38097&item=3736435831&rd=1

> If you have any other questions, please reply and let me know.If > you wish > to proceed with this great deal, please reply to me and give me your > shipping information and I will reply promptly to let you know the > status

> of your order.

> Thank you for your time!! Kindly advice.

>