I was interested and did a cursory check of this supplier. Couldn't find any scam warnings and the fact that they had advertised widely - even on Kalahariads.com seemed to confirm that they were legit. They also did not appear to be a fly-by-night as their advertising record indicated that they had been posting adds for months.
Received an invoice from Elizabeth and paid by eft on Friday, said I would collect on Saturday. Saturday morning I did a search on Google Maps and saw that their business address is in a residential area. Alarm bells started to ring, I am cautious. Whilst I was driving Elizabeth called me and told me that her boss told her that the stock they had was promised to be delivered to Zimbabwe, but that she should receive new stock on Sunday and would courier these to me free of courier charges on Monday. On Monday I was sent a Tracking Number 2FAEXXXXX with a link to the web page I sent you earlier.
This morning I get a mail:
Attn: Eric,
Your package that was received from QUICK LINK MOBILE UK inscribed with your name and address and this packages includes the below products:
Package content (s)
3 units of blackberry bold 9900
However, these items with the Tracking Number 2FAEXXXXXX will be delivered directly to your correct address this afternoon, so we're being stopped by Custom and said that you are to pay the following payment as to ensure release for us to make the delivery to you by 13:00GMT South Africa time today and failure to do that may increase the bill and delay the package from delivery.
Charges to be paid:
Custom Handling Charges: R880
Custom Tax: R920
Custom Clearance: R1,550
Total Amount: R3,350
Banking details
Bank Name: Standard Bank
Account Number: 003XXXXXX
Account Name: Fast Delivery
Branch Code: 004805
Ref: customs/559-2fae116542
Fax Number: 0862411690
Please do stay around for collection of the package with your ID by 1PM
'South Africa' time.
Regards
Western Delivery Department
http://www.simpdservices.com
Now I smell a rat! Elizabeth says there were three units in the shipment, I should help her sell the other two and can offset the clearance costs against the price I get for them! No bloody way!
Looking at the shipping company website I see I cannot enter any other tracking number, it 'defaults' back to 'my' number - the only one!
I am now getting calls from 078 667 8142 claiming to be called 'Western' and working for Fast Delivery. I checked the bank account given with Standard Bank and the account belongs to a private individual. All is not kosher.
From: Simply Services
[mailto: [email protected]]
Sent: 13 September 08:33 AM
To: Eric
Subject: Fwd: CUSTOM CLEARANCE
Attn: Eric,
Your package that was received from QUICK LINK MOBILE UK inscribed with your name and address and this packages includes the below products:
Package content (s)
3 units of blackberry bold 9900
However, these items with the Tracking Number 2FAE116542 will be delivered directly to your correct address this afternoon, so we're being stopped by Custom and said that you are to pay the following payment as to ensure release for us to make the delivery to you by 13:00GMT South Africa time today and failure to do that may increase the bill and delay the package from delivery.
Charges to be paid:
Custom Handling Charges: R880
Custom Tax: R920
Custom Clearance: R1,550
Total Amount: R3,350
Banking details
Bank Name: Standard Bank
Account Number: 003759660
Account Name: Fast Delivery
Branch Code: 004805
Ref: customs/559-2fae116542
Fax Number: 0862411690
Please do stay around for collection of the package with your ID by 1PM 'South Africa' time.
Regards
Western
Delivery Department
http://www.simpdservices.com
Thanks Sir,
I do understand that the customs clearance is not for your account, please i invested my salary for the business, i don't have R3,350 right now to payment courier, and that is why i said you can sell for me if you have a buyer from there, please kindly help me, the courier will deliver 3 Units for you, you have 1 unit for yourself and the extra 2 units are for sell, soon as there delivery you can take 2 Units and send someone to get the other unit from you and you will balance me the difference later today.
Regards
Elizabeth
Subject: RE: Order No AP/165 for Blackberry Bold 9900: Customs charges
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:17: 22 0200
From: eric
To: [email protected]. Za
Hi Elizabeth,
Customs and clearance charges are not for my account - I do not have an additional R3,350.00 to pay this on your behalf. Please pay these yourself, should I be able to sell the other phones I will transfer this money to you.
Regards,
Eric
From: Mobile Phone Supplier
[mailto: [email protected]. Za]
Sent: 13 September 09:11 AM
To: Eric
Subject: RE: Order No AP/165 for Blackberry Bold 9900: Customs charges
Morning
Sir,
Thank you for the update, it means the items are now in South Africa, you may proceed with the payment for them to deliver at the right time, am also looking for buyer from here, please you can sell 1 unit for R4,200 and deduct the R3,550 from the money. I will also inform one of our customer in Johannesburg if interested he can pick it up from you later today.
Regards
Elizabeth
From: Ranchod, Sujith S
[mailto: Sujith. [email protected]. Za]
Sent: 13 September 01:35 PM
To: BEric
Cc: van Zutphen, Veronica V
Subject: RE: Eric Fraud
Dear Eric
Sorry to be in contact under these circumstances. We regret we are unable to recover any funds from the beneficiarys account as all available funds have been withdrawn. Regrettably this is a common internet fraud scam and the only way to avoid becoming a victim is to use reputable companies in dealings of this nature. We cannot recall the payment as there are no funds to recover there as well.
You will need to open a case at the police station to have this fraud investigated.
We regret we are unable to recover anything from our side as this was a transaction you initiated with an outside
party.
Veronica mentioned she has spoken to you as well in this regard
Please advise us if you have any further queries in this regard.
Best regards
Sujith
Ranchod I Private Banker | Private Banking Bedfordview Suite I 1 Eastgate Lane,
Bedfordview I Standard Bank |
) 27 11
601 3044 I 7 27 845 888 754 I 27
865 079 013 I? Sujith. [email protected]. Za |
www.standardbank.com
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