Nigerian scams - I've never seen one operate so closely before

[jefmcg]

This might amuse you, it's quite old (2003), with lots of talk of fax machines and scanning photos but if you want to see a Nigerian scammer tortured ...

http://419eater.com/html/john_ademola.htm

 

[ASC1951]

Can't believe a fully qualified GP round here got ripped off by the old 'Nigeria scam', you know "We have 'X' amount of money to put in your account, you can have a percentage"
Apparantly ended up losing £94,000.....

I've no sympathy. That old scam only works on people who are stupid and greedy.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Just read 'Delete this at your Peril', the Bob Servant email exchanges with various scammers, very funny.

Bob packed up his window cleaning business, unfortunate really, someone nicked his ladders so he could only do bungalows, then his bicycle was stolen so he was limited to local bungalows. He only had a couple on his round and they started to think he was taking the piss when he was cleaning their windows on a daily basis. Anyway to make the days more interesting Bob gets involved with various African scammers and Russian ladies seeking friendship.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

My boss did a talk on fraud in Nigeria and used a fake fifty pound note as an example of forgery, someone nicked it at the end of the session.

 

[Maz]

My boss did a talk on fraud in Nigeria and used a fake fifty pound note as an example of forgery, someone nicked it at the end of the session.

I went to a wedding reception once and each table had a set of these napkins. I took some home to play tricks on friends.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Thanks for the heads up.

If i sell on ebay its uk only, end of.

Or just don't post it to Nigeria or any of the other 'hotspot' countries

I've bought and sold things from and to people all over the world (mostly the U.S. and China) and have never had any problems.

In fact, the most irritating thing of all is when you find something you want, only for it to say 'Domestic only'. You get that a lot in the U.S. they don't even post to Canada, making them look like an insular and ignorant burke, and it does nothing but uphold the stereotype that Americans don't know what 'rest of world' means.

You might be in the UK, but that is how you will appear to others.

It wouldn't be so bad, but I was looking for something specific a month or two ago, and genuinely, the only one I could find on Ebay was one in California (it was a rare early version of something). Could I buy it? Could I hell! Seemingly the UK might have well have been on the moon!

Its your choice, yadda yadda ya, yes, I know, but it is the most FRUSTRATING thing ever if you live in a 'safe' country (I can't begin to imagine what it must be like if you happen to live in Nigeria or wherever and are a genuine buyer!)

Basically, these days, on principal, if I see something which says 'UK only', then, if I can, I'll avoid them like the plague and take my custom elsewhere, so, well done, you will have lost a customer!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

America ebayers used to be shockingly bad, I had to pay for a mailing address in Florida otherwise they wouldn't dream of even talking to me!

 

[Brains]

To be honest, had I even smelled the word 'Nigeria" in the deal I would have backed off immediately.
I will not deal with them in any way at all.

 

[Noodley]

I take it that you are on the lookout for a new friend after dumping him for being such a nobber.

 

[cookiemonster]

If I sell things on ebay, it's uk and eu only. I also do not entertain any request from anyone with an african name.

It works for me and have never had a problem.

 

[martint235]

Yep I've sold quite a few phones on ebay and I always insist UK only. Sometimes you'll have people claiming to be in the UK at the moment but going to Belgium/France in the next week "can you post it there?". The answer should always be no.

One actually had me post it to "his friend" in the UK. I didn't post until the funds had left Paypal on their way to my bank. Sure enough about a week later, I got an email saying "It never arrived, I want my money back". Quick email of a link to the electronic signature obtained by Royal Mail and it all went quiet.

 

[ColinJ]

I've bought and sold things from and to people all over the world (mostly the U.S. and China) and have never had any problems.

A friend of mine decided to sell a leather motorcycle jacket that he'd been riding in for over 25 years. A biker in Japan bought it for more than the original price!

 

[vernon]

A friend of mine decided to sell a leather motorcycle jacket that he'd been riding in for over 25 years. A biker in Japan bought it for more than the original price!

I sold some Lewis Leather motorcycle boots to a chap in Japan. I sold them for four times what I paid for them. He was very au fait with the UK postal system. It proved to be cheaper to send each boot separately than together.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

If I sell things on ebay, it's uk and eu only. I also do not entertain any request from anyone with an african name.

So if Barak Obama of 1600 Pensilvania Avenue, Washington DC was to ask if you could help him buy that really great present for Michelle you'd refuse?? (VERY unlikely, I know).

What you've just said is pretty racist really - basically every person with an African name outside the E.U. Is a crook?? Hmmmmm riiiiiight.....

It works for me and have never had a problem.

Course not, you aren't dealing directly with the genuine buyer at the other end (there must be some, I don't beleive for a second that the ENTIRE population of a certain country or continent is a con merchant, I mean c'mon! ).

It never ceases to amaze me just how revealing threads like this and the dog ones can be.

 

[Trail Child]

In fact, the most irritating thing of all is when you find something you want, only for it to say 'Domestic only'. You get that a lot in the U.S. they don't even post to Canada, making them look like an insular and ignorant burke, and it does nothing but uphold the stereotype that Americans don't know what 'rest of world' means.

Americans are just jealous of us in Canada, with our pot smoking, gay marriage, socialised medicine, higher dollar, beer and poutine. That's okay. We understand.