A Scam ?? What do you think?

[Pete Simmons]

I sell woodpens on the web.

Got this today. Edited to remove real names.

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recipientPete@subjectWoodPenMan
contact Responseemaildddd@gggg.com
first_naChin Lee
last_naLeeaddressgggggggg
cityCauseway Bay
stateHong Kong
zip_code00000
phone_no25555555
TextDear Mr. Simmons, Hello and Greetings from Hong Kong. I am interested in the following pens what I have seen on your web site.
Please advise whether you can ship to Hong Kong (by USPS Global Priority Mail).
I am intersted to get fountain pens in these 4 woods, all made to the same size/style. (1) Morton Bay Fig (2) Bethelem Olivewood (3) Timeless Timber Bird Eye Maple (4) Ancient Kauri If at all possible, I would very much like to get all 4 pens in the Statesman style (any finish - Ti-Gold, Platinum or Rhodium) Please let me know the possibility and the pricing. Best Wishes, GGGG

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What do you think?


Maybe I will sell him one pen and see how that goes. If all goes well then the other 3.


I am afraid of chargebacks either via CC or Paypal.


What is a safe payment method short of a gold coin in a blank envelope.


I have shipped to 3 or 4 countries with no problems but this one worries me.

[Dan Hintz]

The word choice leads me to believe it's Nigerian, not Chinese. Asians have a much different twist on English...

Have you looked at the full IP address of the email? That would be more telling.

[Joe Chritz]

Normally if you have to second guess yourself it is for a reason.

I never, NEVER, NEVER ignore a gut feeling or instinct. If something looks suspicious it is.

That said it could be a good deal, just make sure you get some kind of protected payment, cleared first.

Joe

[Scott Shepherd]

In a previous venture, I shipped to about 40 countries and I shipped quite a few packages to Hong Kong. Remember, Hong Kong is an international city and there are loads of English, Australian, and other's from all over the world working there. They usually seemed to be in the financial industry and have plenty of money to spend.

It didn't read like a scam to me. You can always tell him the pens will ship after payment has cleared. You can even have him wire the money directly to your account, but it'll probably cost him a fair amount to do that.

With things like Internet Telephony, I'd get the guy's phone number and give him a call. Will cost you less than $5 to speak to him directly.

[Raymond Fries]

I would sell him whatever he wants a s long as the payment cleared my bank.

I also agree that if it does not feel right, then do not do it.

I hope it works out for you.

One other thought on the source. If you right click on the email and select View Source, you will see the routing. Maybe you could trace the source that way.

[Raymond Fries]

I guess I should have mentioned that by Pre-Pay I was thinking a cashier's check or money order that proves the payment is good.

[Phil Thien]

Very interesting. I'd say 50-50. Give him pricing and terms, make sure he knows payment has to clear, and see what he says.

[Luke Phillips]

Be aware that cashiers checks and money orders are often fake too and it takes the bank some time to find out that the paper is worthless - then they take it out of your account to cover the loss. Wire funds directly to your account is probably safest way.

Seems that a lot of us have been getting these odd quote requests from foreign "buyers". Hope the SMC email/contact lists haven't been compromised in some way?

[Steve knight]

looks like too much detail for a scam. they don't usually want some many different things and don't specify so many options.

[Pete Simmons]

Thanks for all the info.

I have communicated via email several times with the person. I do not think it is a scam. I am going to go ahead with Paypal .

We set up a payment method for the order with a deposit.



I will keep you posted.

[Craig Hogarth]

Like most here, I get a lot of the scammer emails, but this one doesn't seem like what we normally see. Generally they appear to be a generic cut and paste type email, but from the looks of yours, it sounds like he actually spent some time looking through your website. If it were me, I'd treat him as a genuine prospect until you have reason to doubt him.

btw, cashier checks and money orders are easy to forge. You'll be ale to cash them, but once they're determined to be a forgery, you'll be held liable. There's all sorts of information about it on the internet.

[Dee Gallo]

Just FYI: the Hong Kong phone prefix is 852. They have no postal code.

I would think PayPal is your safest way to go, since they have to basically transfer the funds from a bank account.

I wonder what makes your pens so different from any he could get there? No offense, but it seems like there must be a million businesses in Hong Kong and with all the Chinese lasers being sold, why wouldn't he have a closer place to get them? Of course, there is the "exotic" factor... I know a lot of Chinese who prefer to buy American because they think it's better, and it is!

my two cents, dee

[Pete Simmons]

Dee:

I bet they do not have Timeless Timber ( First cut virgin forest of the USA ) or a Morton Bay Fig tree that Tom Edison planted?

[Dee Gallo]

I see, said the blind man... and spectacularly beautiful they are, too! I get a lot of pen catalogs, but yours are unique and you are right, it's all about the wood. Very nice work!

So back to your guy, I hope he is legit and now seeing what he ordered, it is not likely he could find them anywhere else. Collectors go where the goods are.

cheers, dee

[Pete Simmons]

You know what pen turners say?

"Good wood does NOT grow on trees. You have to go out and find it!"