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Attached in this article are mails from one of our visitors who received orders from scammers pretending to order hay from him. The money order that was sent via UPS was verified to be fake. Despite that, the scammer became angry when the farmer did not respond to the order.
Although we mentioned about scams involving fake checks and such, it is recommended that merchants should confirm every check or money order is legal before transacting with the buyer. In the case of checks, please confirm with the bank that the check has been cleared before proceeding. Remember, a money order or check is simply a Useless piece of paper unless you see the Money. And in doubt, tell the bank that you suspect that you received a fake money order or check. You might need to wait for a few more days because it may take some time before the bank confirms that the check is a counterfeit.
This is the first email received from the scammers.
— Attachment 1—
From: laxix laxix <laxix007@yahoo.com>
To: cjbyrd@wm.connect
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007
Subject: Hay Needed
We are Interested in the Hay you have put available sale.
Our Kennel needs the hay ASAP, Please we do not know the pricing range / amount.
But we will need the about $500 worth of hay,how many bales will that be? please respond as we are highly interested in the hay.
Thank you,
Ben
Regional manager
Carre Bullies
N.B – Send your reply to – kennel_sakima@yahoo.com
— End Attachment 1—
After verifying that the money order is fake, our visitor did not respond to the scammer. What the scammer is trying to do is this: They sent a Fake money order which includes BOTH the cost of the hay and the delivery. Then the farmer receive an email from the “freight company” asking him to wire Money to them before they pick up the hay. Since the money order and checks are fake, the farmer will end up paying the delivery boy using his own money and also losing the hay.
What’s more. The scammer started a string of emails scolding and threatening to contact the FBI. What a joke!
Other than just a fake money order (and in some case, fake check) scam, it is important to note that if the buyer chooses his own freight forwarding/shipment/pick-up, they are responsible to pay them and not the seller.
Given a choice if I were the seller, I will insist that the buyers pay to their own designated delivery company. I will only release the goods upon clearance of the money order/check or whatever. Until I see the money, the goods stay in my shop.
On the other hand, the seller can choose his own trusted delivery company and include the cost in the quotation to the buyer.
These are the only 2 recommended options used by most companies.
— Attachment 2—
From: Global Freighter [mailto:global.freighter@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2007
To: xxxxxxxxx
Subject: SAKIMA KENNEL HAY PICK UP
Hello,
We write to inform you about Sakima Kennel Hay Pick Up.
We are Global Freighters located in Manhattan NY, We deliver Nationwide.
Mr Carre Kenneth c/o Sakima Kennel has informed us he has made the payment for the Kennel’s Hay Order. He also said he has provided you with the information of our Accountant for you to send the Amount Needed for the Transportation of the Hay.
We will want to know when best we are welcomed for the pick up as soon as we receive the money required for the Transportation of Sakima Kennel’s Hay.
Please, You are to send our Accountant the Money Via Western Union, Below is his Information to send the Money:
PATRICK XXXXXXXXXXXXX
MANHATTAN
NY
10033
Once you have sent him the money, below are the required information we need for confirmation:
MTCN #
AMOUNT SENT
SENDERS NAME / ADDRESS
We will wait to get the Scheduled pick up time as well so we can make the arrangements down to your Barn / Farm.
We look Forward to working with you.
Thank you and God Bless,
Atim Ita
— End Attachment 2—
— Attachment 3—
From: Orama Kennel [mailto:kennel_sakima@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007
To: xxxxxxxx
Subject: HAULER’S PAY
HELLO .
WHATS GOING ON??
I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU SINCE YOU RECEIVED MONEY FOR MY HAY ORDER.
HAVE YOU SENT THE BALANCE FEE TO MY HAULER FOR SHIPPING?? DO THAT ASAP SO THAT MY HAULER CAN COME UP TO PICK UP THE HAY ASAP.
GET TO ME WITH THE WESTERN UNION DETAILS AFTER YOU HAVE SENT THE HAULER THE MONEY VIA WESTERN UNION.
WEBERT
BELOW IS THE HAULER’S INFORMATION YOU NEED TO WIRE THE MONEY VIA WESTERN UNION –
PATRICK XXXXXXXXXXXXX
MANHATTAN
NY
10033
GET TO ME WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AFTER YOU SEND THE MONEY:
MTCN #
AMOUNT SENT
SENDERS NAME / ADDRESS
THANK YOU,
CARRE KENNETH
— End Attachment 3 —
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