Request for supplies - scam or no?

By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics and access other forums reserved for members. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today by clicking here.

Wannabe Baiter Joined: 08 Jan 2014 Posts: 82 Location: UK

Hi guys.
I received the following in my catcher today. Is this a scam, and how would you categorise it?

Quote:

Can you supply any of these items listed below to Republic Of Ghana? Please get back to me for more details.

1. Promotional T-shirts.
2. Street Light.
3. Fertilizer.
4. Rice.
5. Mosquito net.
6. Hospital Bed.
7. Condoms.
8. Hospital Equipment.
9. Hospital bed sheets,Pillow cases.
10.Towels.
11.Knapsack sprayer.
12.Fire Fighting equipment.
13.Sanitary Wares
14.Energy Saving Bulbs.
15.Electrical Wires.
16.Standing Fan.
17.Ceiling Fan.
18.Wall Sockets.
19.Led Fluorescent.
20.A4- Paper
21.Sewing Machines.
22.Sports Equipment
23.Agricultural Products.
24.Agricultural Tools/Machines.
25.Erosion Control Equipment.
26.Industrial Wears.
27.Portland Cement.
28.Agricultural Equipment/Tractors.
30.Road construction Equipment.
31.Environmental Equipment
32.Poultry Equipment

I will be waiting for your urgent reply,I am a sourcing commission agent.

First like this I've had, is this common?

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 1:09 pm

It's a fairly common advanced fee scam. They will tell you that you've been awarded the contract to supply the item, but there are some fees that need to be paid (or possibly bribes to get your accepted for the contract).

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Quote:

27.Portland Cement.

Email back that you are a cement supplier and that you only carry ISO 9001:2000 certified Soft Brown Cleveland Fermented Cement , see if you are offered a contract.

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 1:42 pm

Actually, I'm betting this is a credit card scam, not AFF.
Usually along the lines of "yes, supply us with these, take money off my credit card. Oh and can you send the items via a shipping company of my choice, and pay them with money from my credit card too?"

Actually, the credit card (-s, lads who use this format tend to have details of loads of cards) is stolen, the shipping company they ask you to work with doesn't exist, they're just trying to get an unsuspecting legit business person to send money from the stolen credit cards back to them while believing they're carrying out a legit business transaction.

Bait away, there are black piggies to be had!

Wannabe Baiter Joined: 08 Jan 2014 Posts: 82 Location: UK

Yes, that might be a bit of fun. I can certainly get my hands on plenty of that brown fermented stuff. I might come up with something silly regarding the condom request...

OK, so that identifies the scam - I did wonder what it was, and how the scam worked. Thanks for the education. Smile

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Yup, email back anything you wish, my guess is that you will be offered a contract and there will be some advanced fees involved. Let us know how it turns out so we can all learn.

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 1:53 pm

Basinga wrote:

Actually, I'm betting this is a credit card scam, not AFF.

The format is wrong for a card lad - they normally ask whether you accept cards and mention using their own shipper in the first mail.

The list of products usually indicates that they are going to get you bidding for a Government contract.

Wannabe Baiter Joined: 08 Jan 2014 Posts: 82 Location: UK

OK, will do.
One heck of a range of products required, good chance of hitting someone who can supply.

I may also reply (from another address) offering something fictitious not on the list, for the heck of it.

Incidentally, the 'LED flourescents' amused me. Smile

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Shnagel wrote:

fictitious not on the list

Perhaps some Unobtainium?

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 2:11 pm

@B8er, I'm not saying you're wrong, (I should have said 'rather than AFF' instead of 'not AFF', sorry about that) there is a good chance that you are right. But going by the simple opening email above, it could go either way. We wont know for sure until it's taken further. I'm just making the alternative known Smile

Wannabe Baiter Joined: 08 Jan 2014 Posts: 82 Location: UK

Unobtanium? Far too much of that about, I wouldn't get a good price.

I have been considering offering high-density epicyclic gypsum candles.
Or sommat like that.

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 2:15 pm

A few years back I had a lad obtain genuine but highly illegal Rocks from Mars brought back to Earth By Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Sedakka in 1976.

His dolla got chopped, alas. So many dishonest people in the illegal Mars Rocks game.

Unobtanium might work, but the name itself might make him twig if his basic English vocabulary manages to thwart his greed center long enough for him to think about the meaning.

You could have some fun being a high-tech, state-of-the-art scientific lab supply firm. This gives you some room to play with realistic sounding absurd products like Quantum Field Meters, Angstometers, Ladiscopes and Fuggizzit Identifiers.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Lehigh Guy wrote:

A few years back I had a lad obtain genuine but highly illegal Rocks from Mars brought back to Earth By Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Sedakka in 1976.

Fantastic! That made me laugh. Laughing

Wannabe Baiter Joined: 08 Jan 2014 Posts: 82 Location: UK

Very good. Smile

I wouldn't be surprised if the lads involved even look at the product name, other than to copy/paste it into a reply.
After all, what would it matter to them?

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Shnagel wrote:

would it matter to them?

Nope.

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 11:23 am

I've seen this one-you will be offered a contract and charged a processing fee or a barrister will need to get an official document notarized for a fee.Have fun with it-I'd make them redo the contract several times.

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 11:29 am

Had the same mail in my catcher this morning.

Fortunately, my 2ndhand supplies business can sell them items 7 and 13 on their list.

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 4:01 pm

Quote:

Dear,

Mike thanks for your urgent reply.

First,I introduce my company {},as
government accredited commission agency registered with the Contract &
Procurement Authority and Ghana Purchasing Commission to initiate
contacts with companies/persons overseas for the supply of government
needs.

Over the years, many firms have gotten contracts from our government
through my company efforts. So will appreciate more if your firm will
be able to handle the supply of the Condom and sanitary Wares,

As a commission agent,my company is entitled to {1%} one percent
commission of your total invoice of the contract fund.

If you get the supply order through my effort, you will give my
company 1% commission out of your total invoice value,and bear it in
mind that my commission is only pay to my company directly from
you,immediately after you confirmed the contract payment in your
account.

Note: their payment is normally 80% advance payment and 20% before
shipment,and all the payment will be confirmed from you before
shipment.

If you can work with me,Please get back to me for more details.

I will do my best to make sure that order is given to your
firm,representing you as your local Agent.

You also send to me your direct contact mobile/cell phone number for
easy communication.

Regard`s,

Quote:

Thank for your email.

Africa is an area that we are keen expand into as we see it as an important developing market for our products.

As I said in my original mail, we can supply the used condoms and sanitary wares and I'm sure that we can come up with a keen price in ordr to win the contracts.

I am happy with your 1% fee, which sounds more than reasonable.

Kind regards

Request for supplies - scam or no?	View next topic View previous topic