Recently, I’ve been looking for a good deal on either a Canon EOS 550D or a Canon EOS 50D. I came across this online advertisement and e-mailed the seller regarding the cameras he was selling.
About 20 minutes later, I received a phone call from an “Unknown Number” (my handphone number is attached to my e-mail signature). The call quality was pretty bad and I could hardly make out what the other person was trying to say.
Eventually, the person advised me to continue the conversation online. I e-mailed that person my msn account and began chatting with the seller, who called himself Mr. Lee.
In hindsight, I suspect that what I heard on the phone could have been a generic recording. That person had an American accent. Or perhaps, the scammer was an American.
The following is our MSN conversation.
………………… says:
Hello Derick
how are you doing
Dedrick says:
good thanks for asking
Mr Lee right?
…………………. says:
yes
So like i was saying the camer is about 1200sgd
Dedrick says:
does it come with a lens?
…………………. says:
yes it comes with a canon 18-200mm lens
Dedrick says:
is it a local set?
…………………. says:
no it is not
it is brand new and comes with complete accessories plus a 2 year warranty
Dedrick says:
international warranty?
…………………. says:
yes
work in japan , china , singapore , malaysia , indonesia
and also usa , canada , and UK
Dedrick says:
is the international warranty for the camera body or the lens?
…………………. says:
both
Dedrick says:
is it a new or refurbish set?
…………………. says:
it is brand new
with its complete accessories
Dedrick says:
how is it so cheap?
…………………. says:
because we are whole seller
Dedrick says:
hmmm…ok…
…………………. says:
are you a dealer
Dedrick says:
nope
i’m just a regular consumer.
…………………. says:
or you are just buying that set for yourself
Dedrick says:
the camera’s for myself
…………………. says:
oh ok
that is nice
Dedrick says:
just worried that it might be a scam
…………………. says:
you are a student
Dedrick says:
no offense intended
yup
…………………. says:
oh no it is no scam
you get a free ipod along with the other
as a first thing customer
Dedrick says:
it comes with a free ipod?
…………………. says:
yes only for first time customers
Dedrick says:
what’s the payment options?
is COD acceptable?
…………………. says:
no we do not accept COD
but we allow you make Half payment upfront and the balance after you get the item
Dedrick says:
do you guys have a retail outlet or something?
how do i know you’re legit?
…………………. says:
we do not have one in singapore yet
we just started dealing
and with the help of good customers like you we would grow big and have many outlets
we are 100% legit and you get what you are buying within 3 days
we provide tracking details to the shipment once the shipment is made so that you can monitor the shipment online
and also i can give you a copy of my passport
Dedrick says:
how will payment be made?
…………………. says:
western union money transfer
fast and easy and closer to us
Dedrick says:
yeah. also unrefundable (unlike paypal) incase of fraud
…………………. says:
but we are no fraud
i know after this first deal you would love to deal with us more
Dedrick says:
besides, how do i know you’re sending me a real copy of your passport and scammers have sent phone books to people they cheated before. so, tracking number means nothing to me
…………………. says:
the thing is the name on the passport which is made
mine*
Dedrick says:
can you take a pic of yourself, with your open passport, the camera and a note saying “Look Dedrick Koh from Singapore, we’re legit!”
…………………. says:
is the name you would send the money to through western union
all this stress just for 1 camera
Dedrick says:
that’s the best form of verification for me
…………………. says:
sorry this offer is by choice and not by force
like i told you before we are legit and you are rest assured of getting what you are buying
Dedrick says:
i’ve had sales staff do more for cheaper good before
…………………. says:
i do not need to go through all these stress just because of 1 camera
and i mean it you would get he camera
all you have to do is trust me
Dedrick says:
if you can do this relatively simple task, it would go a long way to convincing me
and all you have to do is take a picture
…………………. says:
i would not run off as i will want my balance
Dedrick says:
it’s not just a camera, you are asking for over 41k
$1k
…………………. says:
sorry i can’t do that
all our customers do not ask for such
why most it be yours just because f a single unit
Dedrick says:
you’re assuming i believe that you have ‘real’ customers
…………………. says:
like i said we are not cheat and we would rip you off your hard earned money
like i told you
we are not cheats
and this offer is by choice and not by force
i can’t take the picture you ask of me i am sorry
if you trust me you would get the camera and then send our balance to us
simple as that
that is a very good offer for a new customer
Dedrick says:
no deal then
let me know if you change your mind about the picture
…………………. says:
alrigth
sorry i would never chang my mind
Dedrick says:
then you will never have my business
…………………. says:
the only offer i can make to you is simple
like this
you go to western union
and send the money to any name of your choice
Dedrick says:
dude, the time you’ve taken trying to convince me could have been used to take 20 pictures of yourself, with the passport, camera, and the authorization sign
…………………. says:
once you get the item you go over to western union and change the name so that i can get the money
i am sorry i am not taking any picture
simple as that
i just gave you another option
Dedrick says:
so that you can ship me a phone book?i’ve seen these scams before dude
…………………. says:
and it seems you did not get it
listen to me and what i have to say
you go to western union
send the money to my details but not my name
you put any name of your choice
it may be your brothers name
once we confirm with western union that the money is there we ship out
when you get the camera you go over to western union and change the name to mine so that i can collect the money
that way you would have received the camera and confirmed that yes you have it
and go to the western union change the name to mine
so that i can get the money
so what say you?
Dedrick says:
dude i know how western union works.even if it’s not your name, you can still claim the cash with the “To Receive Money” form
…………………. says:
when the money is not under my nae
name*
i can’t claim it
the money has to be under my name before i can claim it
check with western union themself
Dedrick says:
let me verify that claim with western union tommorrow
…………………. says:
ok
till tomorrow then
email me to let me know
you do not need to go to far
let me bring out the details from their website
Dedrick says:
no don’t bother
i’ll call them personally tommorrow
…………………. says:
oh ok
then update me tomorrow
bye for now
I’m thinking about calling the cops on this camera scammer. The problem is, technically a crime hasn’t been committed yet. Judging from the seller’s poor English, which seems much poorer than the English I heard spoken over the phone, the ‘person’ I spoke to on the phone is not the same person I spoke to online.
Buyer beware! Should you ever encounter a deal that’s too good to be true, then check your facts like I did. I’ll probably write a follow-up if I choose to involve the police.
