13.07.2007

Used crane equipment scam

The following is a chain of emails kindly sent to us by one of our readers who responded to a West African "419" type scam attempt. We have removed any references that might disclose our readers identity, at his request replacing them with xxxxxx . Apart from this it is a direct copy, mistakes and all. .

The scam comes to a conclusion with the demand for documentation fees from the shipper.

While most equipment traders would see through this early on , these people do succeed in fooling some punters.

You will note that after it became crystal clear tht this was not a kosher enquiry, the trader began to have a little fun with the scammers even trying to turn it around, it does not look like they picked up on the humour.


----- Original Message -----
From: john rogger
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2007 7:27 PM
Subject: ORDER Used Cranes & Forklifts

Hello my name is MR.JOHN ROGGER
from Texas and I would like to order some of UR Used Cranes & Forklifts for my company ,and would like to know the price of each Used Cranes & Forklifts and the types ,to widen ur understanding I will like to be ship to one newly company which is located in west africa , and may I know the form of payment u accept if u do accept master card Or discover as payment then I will provide u with ma cc information for the Used Cranes & Forklifts to be ordered and i need it urgently.

JOHN ROGGER
OWNER
JOHN CO LTD


[email protected]:
We thank you for your enquiry, please advise type and capacity of crane required.

Thanks & regards

xxxxx


From: john rogger
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: ORDER Used Cranes & Forklifts
Please register to see all images

OKAY CAN YOU CAN GET ME THIS ONE AND ALSO IF NOT TRY TO SHOW ME THE TYPES YOU HAVE AND THIER PRICES OKAY
I WILLL BE VERY GLAD TO HEARFROM YOU SOON

JOHN ROGGER
OWNER
JOHN CO LTD



From: xxxxxxx
To: john rogger

Dear Sir

We will need to know type & capacity.

Regards

Xxxxxxxx



From: john rogger
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 4:45 PM
Subject: Re: ORDER Used Cranes & Forklifts

OKAY THANKX FOR YOU MAIL
I WILL LIKE 5000 (P) CAPACITY OKAY
I WILL BE WAITING FOE THE PRICE OKAY SO THAT WE CAN PROCEED

JOHN ROGGER
OWNER
JOHN CO LTD



Xxxxxxxxx wrote:

Please advise what capacity and type of crane required, we do not recognize a 5000 (P), what does it mean. Do you have a preferred brand?

Regards

Xxxxxxxxxxx


From: john rogger
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 5:28 PM
Subject: Re: ORDER Used Cranes & Forklifts

AM STILL WAITTING TO HEAR FROM YOU .


Xxxxxx wrote:

We need to know what type of crane that you require, there are many different types, it is impossible to quote a crane when we do not have a type or capacity. If you are seriously interested in purchasing a crane then you must know what capacity and type you require.

Regards

xxxxxxxxx



From: john rogger
To: xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 7:27 PM
Subject: Re: ORDER Used Cranes & Forklifts

WAITING FOR THE PRICE RANGE SO THAT WE CAN PROCEED OKAY



xxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear John

We have hundreds of different types and capacity machines available, from 1te - 3000te, it would be impossible to send you details of over 3000 machines, therefore we must insist that you advise us of what type of machine you require.
Regards

Xxxxxxxxxxxx


From: john rogger
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 4:21 PM
Subject: Re: ORDER Used Cranes & Forklifts

OKAY THANK FOR YOUR MAIL I WILL LIKE YOU TO GET ME 1te - 3000te THIS ONE AND ALSO I WANT TO KNOW THE PRICE OF IT OKAY


Xxxxxxxx > wrote:

PLEASE CONFIRM WHICH CAPACITY YOU REQUIRE, WE HAVE MANY VARIOUS CRANES WITH CAPACITIES THAT START AT 1te AND GO UP TO 3000te, THIS MEANS THAT YOU COULD HAVE A 1te OR A 2te OR A 3te OR 10te OR 20te IN INCREMENTS OF 10te UP TO AND INCLUDING 3000te. YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH THIS TYPE OF EQUIPMENT, ARE YOU A SERIOUS CUSTOMER?

Regards

Xxxxxxxxxx


From: john rogger
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 4:48 PM
Subject: Re: ORDER Used Cranes & Forklifts
XXXXXXXX
AM STILL WAITING FOR THE PRICE SO THAT I CAN SEE HOW MANY I WILL ORDER
OKAY TRY TO GET ME BACK WITH THE PRICE OKAY .......


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear Mr Bogger

We could offer a XX3000 for a price of £1,200,000 (pounds sterling) ex factory United Kingdom.
Technical details are as follows:

Boom length 3000 meters
Capacity 10te
Engine 2,900 kva
Hoist rope 3 meters
Fuel type Atomic
Travel speed 220 kph

If we can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thanks & regards
xxxxxxxxxxx


From: john rogger
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 5:35 PM
Subject: WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU XXXXXX

HELLO XXXXXXX
I CALL MY COMPANY IN WEST AFRICA AND I TOLD THEM ABOUT WHAT YOU EMAIL ME WITH AND ALSO THEY SAID IS OKAY FOR THEM OKAY SO I WILL LIKE YOU TO CONTACT THIS SHIPPING COMPANY SO THAT YOU CAN GET ME THE SHIPPING QUOTE OKAY THIS THEIR EMAIL [email protected]

SO I WILL LIKE YOU TO CONTACT THEM WITH MY DELIVERY ADDRESS OKAY THIS MY ADDRESS IN WEST AFRICA
101 Harvard Street
Accra-Ghana 00233
West Africa

AND ALSO CONTACT THEM WITH THE WEIGHT AS WELL AS THE SIZE SO THAT THEY CAN GET YOU THESHIPPING QUOTE
AS SOON AS YOU GET ME THE SHIPPING QUOTE I WILLP ROVIDE YOU WITH MY CREDIT CARD INFORMATION SO THAT YOU WILL RUN IT FOR YOUR CHARGE OKAY THATS DOWN PAYMENT HALF PAYMENT .

THANKX TO HEAR FROM YOU WITH THE SHIPPING QUOTE OKAY


Xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear Mr Bugger

Please note that we will need your credit card details prior to contacting or arranging shipping, the amount of deposit will be 50% of the purchase price.

Regards

xxxxxxxxxxxx


From: john rogger
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 7:25 PM
Subject: Re: WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU xxxxxxxxx

That's good and can you get me ( 7 ) Pics of the XX1000 Model for as to Process the order okay
I will like you to delete first order okay .... am waiting for the total prices of this one also try to email the shipping company i email you with and try to email them with the weight and size of the XX1000 OKAY ....


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear Mr Bugger

Please find attached photographs of a xx1000
Please register to see all images

Weight: 3,866 tonnes
Dimensions: 17m X 5m X 4m

Hope this helps

Regards

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx


From: john rogger
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 4:36 PM
Subject: Re: WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU XXXXXXXXX
Hello Xxxxxxx
I Would Provide You with My Credit Card Informations for the Payment of $6000 + Shipping Cost But I First would Like Us to Proceed to Pick Up Arrangement with a Local Shipping Agency Here In U.s.a Contact Mr.Nyamekye Osei .Via [email protected]
with the Total Weight , Size , Dimension and As well as the Pick Up Location of the order to be Delivered Below ,

121 GolfWay Ave .
Madina - Accra
00233. GHANA

Ask them the Shipping Cost and Get Back to me with the Estimated Cost of the Shipping Plus the order Cost for me to Procced and Issue You My Credit Card Informations for You to Run and Charge The Required Amount for Both Payment and As well alert the Shipper's Your Ready Pick Up Day and Time . I Would be There to Make the to Finalise Paper Works to Complete Shipment Arrangement .Thanks and Awaiting Response Real Soon .


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear Mr Bugger

Please note that we will need your credit card details in advance and that our price is in British Pounds and not US Dollars. Shipping dimensions were given in our previous email. Pick up location is xxxxxx, England.

Thanks & regards
xxxxxxxxxxxxx


From: john rogger
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 5:53 PM
Subject: Re: WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU SPARROW

okey just contact the shipping company. and get me the shipping quote


Xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear Mr Bugger

We will need at least a 50% deposit prior to contacting the shipping company, these are our standard terms of business.

Regards
xxxxxxxxxxxxx


From: john rogger
To: xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 6:15 PM
Subject: Re: WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU XXXXXXX

HELLO xxxxxxxxxS,
NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU I DO APPRECIATE YOUR BESSINES ,WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS AS SOON AS YOU I GOT THE QUOTE FROM THE SHIPPERS I WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH MY CREDIT CARD FOR THE DEPOSIT AS SOON AS POSSIBLY SO YOU GO AHEARD AND CONTACT THEM AND GET BACK TO ME THANK YOU HOPE TO HEAR FROM WITH POSSITIVE RESPOND.



Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxk> wrote:
Dear Mr Bogger
We would ask that you contact your shipping company and get the freight rates, we have already supplied you with dimensions and weight, we repeat these are your shippers not ours, therefore you are in a good position to contact them yourself and get the best rates.

Regards

xxxxxxxxxxxx


From: john rogger
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 6:34 PM
Subject: this what the shippers said
WORLDXSHIPPERS
Mr./Mrs/Miss Good Day,
Thanks for engaging Our service and we assure
you nonething but the best of all service . However,
has kept has aware of this shipping arrangement and We check on Our Mechardise for a package with the above weight
and size ,We charge this amount .

$3,750.00 USD for a Weeks delivery including Tax. ALSO AIR SHIPPING
However, We only accept payment through WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
only with the following information on the Money sent malied to
Us before Pick up.
1:- The Money Transfer Control Numbers.
2:- The secret question and it's Answer.
3:- The sender's name , Address and phone number .

Payment is only made through Our Account department's address andit's Our company Policy that, WE ACCEPT Payment FOR THE SALE THATS YOU (that's GHANA).
Payment is made through this Our Account Department in this following address Via Western Union Money Tranfer.
The Accountant:--
Mr.AMIDU ODAMETEY
99 landry hill road
ACCRA-GHANA 00233

Hope to hear from you really soon and we will have Our affiliated
shipping partner's to pick up the equipment as soon payment is made. AND SO PAPER WORK WILL BE DONE US SOON US PAYMENT IS DONE
The Manager:--
Mr.Nyamekye Osei
(WORLDXSHIPPERS)
Mr.Nyamekye Osei
Managing Director
99 landry hill road
ACCRA-GHANA 00233
BRANCH IN AFRICA...................WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY.


From: Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: john rogger
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 6:39 PM
Subject: Re: this what the shippers said

Dear Mr Bugger

We have spoken to our accounts have requested that you send the deposit by return, they have also requested that this be sent using telegraphic transfer via Western Union.

Regards
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


The scam is now introduced, freight payment by untraceable Western Union transfer, collection of funds by an agreed password and false ID. Lets see if he like to pay our deposit by the same method.

Regards