Sniper
30th November 2005, 12:38
Theres a new scam out at the moment from......... Guess where............ NIGERA :hbd:
I put my old Sony Ericsson T630 on TradeMe at $1 reserve because the thing needed a new screen, keypad ect. I clearly stated this and was quite surprise when the (legitimate) bidding got to $26, but even more surprised when a new trader bid $66 on it. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Mobile-phones/Vodafone-network/SonyEricsson/auction-41197654.htm
Anywhoo, He got in contact quite quickly and told me that he cannot pay the money by bank deposit, he wants to use bidpay. So without replying, I used Google to do a search on Bidpay and found that it was infact a legitimate part of Western Union that pays out money orders all over the world for auction that have been won. So I told Mr Ade (This weirdo's name) that Yes, Im more than happy to be paid by Bidpay. And I asked him for his address which is in................................. you guessed it, NIGERIA!!!
Anyway, I got a rather official looking email from Bidpay stating that the money order has been approved and that I need to provide a shipping number before the money will be released to me. (All $72US of it). "Cool", me thinks, until I realise, how can I provide said number to the nice people who want to give me money? So I rings up Bidpay I does........
I can't recall the total conversation but the short and curlies of it is that Bidpay does not accept money orders from Nigeria due to the 419 scams and that their policy is that the seller must wait to have the money in his hand before sending the goods. Ok, so I go to send a polite email to Mr Ade telling him that I may be South African, but Im not stupid (Save the smart arse comments), BUT WAIT, theres more! I see in my Inbox, I have another email from "Bidpay" saying that unless I provide a shipping number soon, they will not give me my money. They even provided a help link this time....... larry@bidpaycustomerservices.com. So I thought, "OK, I'll email larry and ask him for his help" :devil2: I got an email back the next day in very bad english from larry asking for the shipping number. So replied back to him that all is great and that I will give a shipping number as soon as pigs fly (He never got that part) and they provide me a encrypted link to give them the number. All I got back was a please reply to this email address with the tracking number. Great...... not only does he think Im stupid, but they are icredibly dumb themselves.
Anyway, the saga continues and I have attached all emails so that you guys don't get caught with your pants down.
I'll update this as I go along. Have a laugh.
Oh, and for those they want to know, I havent sent the phone, Im debating on whether I send some bits of broken plastic.
I put my old Sony Ericsson T630 on TradeMe at $1 reserve because the thing needed a new screen, keypad ect. I clearly stated this and was quite surprise when the (legitimate) bidding got to $26, but even more surprised when a new trader bid $66 on it. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Mobile-phones/Vodafone-network/SonyEricsson/auction-41197654.htm
Anywhoo, He got in contact quite quickly and told me that he cannot pay the money by bank deposit, he wants to use bidpay. So without replying, I used Google to do a search on Bidpay and found that it was infact a legitimate part of Western Union that pays out money orders all over the world for auction that have been won. So I told Mr Ade (This weirdo's name) that Yes, Im more than happy to be paid by Bidpay. And I asked him for his address which is in................................. you guessed it, NIGERIA!!!
Anyway, I got a rather official looking email from Bidpay stating that the money order has been approved and that I need to provide a shipping number before the money will be released to me. (All $72US of it). "Cool", me thinks, until I realise, how can I provide said number to the nice people who want to give me money? So I rings up Bidpay I does........
I can't recall the total conversation but the short and curlies of it is that Bidpay does not accept money orders from Nigeria due to the 419 scams and that their policy is that the seller must wait to have the money in his hand before sending the goods. Ok, so I go to send a polite email to Mr Ade telling him that I may be South African, but Im not stupid (Save the smart arse comments), BUT WAIT, theres more! I see in my Inbox, I have another email from "Bidpay" saying that unless I provide a shipping number soon, they will not give me my money. They even provided a help link this time....... larry@bidpaycustomerservices.com. So I thought, "OK, I'll email larry and ask him for his help" :devil2: I got an email back the next day in very bad english from larry asking for the shipping number. So replied back to him that all is great and that I will give a shipping number as soon as pigs fly (He never got that part) and they provide me a encrypted link to give them the number. All I got back was a please reply to this email address with the tracking number. Great...... not only does he think Im stupid, but they are icredibly dumb themselves.
Anyway, the saga continues and I have attached all emails so that you guys don't get caught with your pants down.
I'll update this as I go along. Have a laugh.
Oh, and for those they want to know, I havent sent the phone, Im debating on whether I send some bits of broken plastic.