Unique problem. Any idea's?

Buster6X6 · Jan 26, 2005

Hi everyone
I am faced with a unique problem.As you know I am a new subscriber to the forum and to LF in general.Last couple of months were wonderful.Browsing learning and meeting new people.Last week I had an offer to buy C1 from Jim.
Which I did ,I can't wait to start doing 8x10.To apiece my wife I had to try to sell something (or get killed )Even thou I like my Bronica kit I was hoping some of our APUG members would be interested .Price is really low for that reason.
Now to my question: I got an email today asking to buy my Bronica kit.He will be providing a certified check.But his client is Nigeria? (Red Flag)I know I was watching "60 minutes" and they were talking about some fraud with certified check's in the same line .It takes a Bank to process a check about 90 days by that time your goods are long gone without to be traced.The email address is in Canada and it was written in broken english.
Any thought's or experienceses would be apprecieted.
Greg :confused:

Jeremy · Jan 26, 2005

It's a scam and even if it's not (VERY highly unlikely) then it isn't worth the hassle.

Will S · Jan 26, 2005

Yes, this is a scam. Just do a google search on "Nigeria" and "certified check"

Will

rogueish · Jan 26, 2005

NEVER send ANY item until AFTER the cheque has cleared, and you KNOW the $$ is in hand. No matter who/where the person is.
(Unless it's me of course).

eric · Jan 26, 2005

Don't do it! If you do, I gotta bridge I need to sell 'ya

mark · Jan 26, 2005

Buster6X6 said:
To apiece my wife I had to try to sell something (or get killed )Greg :confused:

Boy don't I know this situation.

Can't you get the check and hold the merchandise until it clears. I mean there is a 99.999999999% chance this is a scam but assuming there is one honest guy in nigeria who wants a bronica then he won't mind waiting for the check to clear. I assume he will disappear when you tell him you will wait for the check to clear.

On the other hand you can use the scam thing to your advantage. Store the bronica at a buddy's house tell the wife you got scammed and in a few months slowly start bringing the Bronica back piece by piece. Might work.

JG Motamedi · Jan 26, 2005

One of the problems with this scam (if it is a scam) is that the check is forged. So, although your bank and the other bank may well clear the check in a few days, it will take a month or two to figure out if the check is forged, at which time they will remove the money from your account...

Maybe insist upon a different payment method. International Postal Money Order or Paypal perhaps.

Buster6X6 · Jan 26, 2005

I new it right a way because of watching that show on "60 min".
Thanks guy 's I am glad I asked.I don't need to sell it that bad.I rather sell it in our forum community.If not I just have to work a little bit harder to make up for the 8x10 equipment I bought.

Thanks everyone Greg

jimgalli · Jan 26, 2005

Greg, If you fall for that old cetified check from Nigeria stuff, I've got a C1 with a lens to sell you. OH wait a minute..........I already did. :-(')

John Bartley · Jan 26, 2005

Buster6X6 said:
Hi everyone...................Now to my question: I got an email today asking to buy my Bronica kit.He will be providing a certified check.But his client is Nigeria? ....................
Any thought's or experienceses would be apprecieted.
Greg :confused:

Don't do it Greg!!

And if you decide that you "must", then 1) wait for the cheque to arrive 2) take the cheque to your bank, 3) pay to have them telephone the bank that the certified cheque is drawn on and verify that it is good. 4) if it is supposedly good, have your bank certify in writing that there will be "no recourse" to you from them should it later go bad. 5) Hold the items until the bank verifies that the cheque has cleared, no matter how long it takes.

A) I'm sure that the bank won't touch it with a 10 foot pole
B) If you tell your customer that you will hold goods for 60 days after cheque is deposited because of all the "Nigerian" trouble with cheques, your buyer will likely evaporate anyway

cheers and good luck!

ps : I used to get these things all the time when I owned my own business. I got my first one about 1991 before they were common. At that time, the RCMP would come and pick up the letters from you. Now they say to throw them out.

SteveGangi · Jan 26, 2005

Play it safe from now on. In the future, *Insist* on either a money order or PayPal.

John Kasaian · Jan 26, 2005

Greg,
Your Bronica kit shouldn't have any problem finding a "home" closer to home than Nigeria. Think about this---there must be Bronicas closer to Nigeria than yours, so why would a buyer from Nigeria zero in on your kit unless 1) Your price is too cheap. 2) Its a scam and they're taking you to be a chump 3) Theres some intrinsic value that would drive a nigerian Bronica collector to drool all over their shoes with envy(in which case you'd be getting offers from all over creation, not just Nigeria.)

I would not get rid of your beloved MF kit though. I mean unless you can handle a speed graphic like Weegee you're going to miss out on a lot of shots. I suggest either selling a car or some furniture instead;-) or tell your Bride you're getting an after hours job as a Wal-mart greeter to scrape up the coin. If she sees you in a blue vest she might just cave.

John Kasaian · Jan 26, 2005

...then again, I'm going for the Wal-mart gig---got to get some bucks to order one of those new 'dorffs from MPX!;-)

Buster6X6 · Jan 26, 2005

Thanks John
I got to think about that, Blue west, nice. Hm... She just looked at me. No go I have to look for something else.

Thanks everyone for your replies

Greg

claytume · Jan 26, 2005

mark said:
I mean there is a 99.999999999% chance this is a scam but assuming there is one honest guy in nigeria who wants a bronica then he won't mind waiting for the check to clear.

Don't you just feel sorry for that one honest guy in Nigeria?

Bet he's had more rejections than all of us put together and some!

Clayton

Unique problem. Any idea's?

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