Another First Bait & Lessons Learned

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Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 5:05 am

After signing-up a couple of months back and doing a lot of reading, I decided to jump in and give it a shot.

I had been initially hooked by the epic Eric / Franklin saga as the modality used by Mr. L was pure genius, so I decided to use a similar approach.

Players:

Quote:

Blessings Uwadie: the lad
Simmon & Bretha: mugus in UK
Basil Thripp: GPS-@ 3Track Region 3 Manager
Jumbo Iwue: GPS-@ 3Track van driver
One letter has been altered in each name

The usual banker's offer of $40 million in Burkina Faso, was refused and turned into a "but do you know any orphanages that we might send our large annual donation to", quickly got a response from 'Sister Blessings Uwadie'.

Like the exchanges with the initial banker, everything from the sister was one long sentence.

Quote:

Mr Simmon,

May God be with you all the days of your life and your entire
families, I admitted your mail to me, regarding your question,Androde
Smart Phones will be fine for the children’s to use, again sir for
sure if you donate cash we most surely use it for the children’s to
buy things for them like food clothe and pay the worker that take care
of them because the children’s are not feeding fine but your wish is
our command and your command will be our wish,if you decided to donate
the Androde Smart Phones that will be fine but the mostly we need is
cash to feed the children well because they are seriously hungry.

Below Are Our Sheltering Wings sponsors Missionary Account Information.

BANK NAME: BANQUE COMMERCIALE DU BURKINA.
A/C NAME: M. SAWADOGO MAHAMADI.
CODE BANQUE: xxx6.
CODE GUICHET: xx01.
NUMERO DE COMPTE: xxx56041456.
CLE RIB: 96.
ADDRESS:PMB 1336 OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO.
DOMICILIATION: B.C.B OUAGADOUGOU.
IBAN: BF 056 02001 34156041456 96.
CODE BIC: BNCFBFBFA.

A Google search of his banking info turned up several instances of it being used previously. I did submit it via the online form but have no idea if any action was taken.

After several days Bretha and Simmon have done their shopping and were even more generous than Mr. L:

Quote:

So in total the package will contain 65 iPads, 2 Laptops, and 4 iPhones. Bretha also wanted to include some other goods. There is some dehydrated food, basic hygiene products, first aid supplies, and other supplies(this is just to make the package large and heavy) that I am sure you will be able to use.

Following the modality, Bretha also slipped an 'extra' $2000 cash into the box. Sadly they had little money left for shipping and as happened, DHL and UPS were both horrifically expensive but luckily GPS-@ 3Track was able to ship to Africa at a very good price Laughing

In spite of the 'sister's' several pleas to use DHL, the package was shipped with GPS and the 3Tracking information was sent to the sister.

Unbeknown to me, the sister had been 3Tracking the package as it stopped in several cities on the way south. Each time, the package scan revealed the plane parked near a cargo hanger.

After two days of no package movement, e-mail was received via the GPS e-mail system:

Quote:

From: Blessing Uwadie

Email: [email protected]

Dear,Sir/Madam,please I am worried,my parcel arrived at Accra Ghana since on Sunday,I want you to ask you the specific day it will arrive in Burkina Faso and your company address in Burkina Faso,reply me back as soon as possible.

Basil Thripp, GPS-@ 3Track Region 3 Manager sent her / him
3 messages over several days via its website e-mailer, the last of which is this:

Quote:

Re: contact follow-up
Re: parcel awaiting pickup

Attn: B. Uwadie

Please confirm receipt of your parcel pick-up notification of May 9th:

Greetings, your parcel has been delivered to your nearest pickup facility located at Kotoka International Airport, Accra
Ghana.

It is available to be collected during regular business hours 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and will be held until Wednesday, May 18th.

Please note that our facility will be closed on Tuesday, May 17th due to electrical upgrades.

Basil Thripp
GPS @-3Track Region 3 Manager

Note: Please ensure that the PARCEL CODE appears in mail subject header.

Crap! It seems like GPS @-3Track has sent the parcel to the wrong country again. Crying or Very sad

After 4 days of silence:

Quote:

Mr Simmon.

May God be with you all the days of your life and your entire
families, Sir I am totally disappointed in you i travel to Accra Ghana
where the GPS @-3Track.direct me to pick up the parcel.the airport
authority requested the air way bill number you use send the parcel
with the airline name that delivers the parcel at Accra Ghana.so
please i would like you to send me the air way bill number with the
airline Name.

Yours Faithfully
Revealed Sister
Blessing Uwadiae

I ignore him / her for several days. Whether he actually travelled to Ghana or not is undetermined as there is no real proof ... his IP address is untraceable. His four-day silent period leads me to think that he possibly did. Had I know that he was in Accra, I would have requested a photo so that I might find him and deliver the parcel.

Confused Simmon responds after a week of ignoring her / his requests for telephone numbers and calls:

Quote:

Dear Sister Blessings...

Bretha and I have just late this evening returned from a week to Scotland. We were visiting Bretha's sister.

I don't understand your message. Have you received our parcel yet? You say you are disappointed with me for some reason? We have sent a very large donation to your orphanage so I am not sure why you should be disappointed? What is this business with Ghana? We thought the orphanage is in Burkina Faso.

Blessings,

Simmon

Quote:

Mr Simmon.

May God be with you all the days of your life and your entire
families, sir I am totally disappointed with GPS @-3Track, they
contacted me through mail that they has deliver the package at kotoka
international airport Accra Ghana that I should go there pickup the
package, then last week Friday I traveled to kotoka international
airport Accra Ghana As GPS @-3Track directed me but I can not find the
package there and they has told me in their last message sent to me
that they will return the package back to you tomorrow been 18th may.

Sir. I tried my possible best suffered a lot traveled to Ghana to
make sure I pickup the package you send to support the poor and need
children's but is unfortunately I couldn’t pick it and I now
understand that GPS @-3Track are not sincere delivery company WTF?because
you told them to deliver the package in Burkina Faso Why did they
deliver it to Ghana? that's what show they are not sincere delivery
company,I will advice to visit their office in your country correct
the package send to me through DHL because DHL are sincere delivery
company.

Sir I plead you in the name of Almighty God immediately they return
the package to you go to DHL delivery company send the package to me
directly to Burkina Faso and make sure you put my name and my number
in the package so that once they arrive in Burkina Faso they will
contact me by phone to come and pick my package,

Name:Blessing Uwadiae
Country: Burkina Faso
City Ouagadougou
Tel:+226xxx

Yours Faithfully
Revealed Sister
Blessing Uwadiae

Simon replies:

Quote:

I have received your mail but Bretha and I are still very confused. Bretha is particularly confundigated.

Are you still in Accra? If so, I will see to it that you get your parcel!

Bretha wants my to ask you how you travelled to Accra so quickly?

I will try and contact GPS @-3Tracker and get this mess sorted out before the package leaves Africa. They are a well-respected company here and I am sure they will figure out something. Laughing

Simmon

The sister pleads again with Simmon:

Quote:

Mr Simmon.
May God be with you all the days of your life and your entire
families, I am here to answer your questions, firstly I return back in
my country Burkina Faso yesterday by 11:46 Am. because from my country
Burkina Faso to Accra is almost 22 hours through luxury bus, secondly
according to Bretha question to me. I traveled to Accra last week
Friday morning with luxury bus which left here in my country by 10:50
Am. and I get to Accra on Saturday morning by 8:25 Am.

Sir I suffered a lot on the road because of the far distance and is my
very first time to be in Accra Ghana and I spend equivalent to $300
dollars for the journey upon that no avail and to be honest with you I
went around the kotoka international airport Accra Ghana I couldn’t
locate GPS @-3Track office it means they don’t have office there.
[I have no idea why he couldn't find it?]
Sir I want to plead you once more is better that you contact GPS
@-3Track to deliver the package to me here in my country Burkina Faso
through DHL and make sure you write my name with my telephone number
on the package that’s the only means I can get the package because I
don’t think if GPS @-3Track has an office in Africa because I find
their are office at kotoka international airport Accra Ghana tired
till Airport authority and people work in the arrival hall told me
nothing like company called GPS @-3Track in the airport I was so
confused and disappointed with GPS @-3Track management.

so sir is better that they return the package back to you then you
send it through DHL to my country directly which is well known
delivery company here in Africa or if possible you instruct GPS
@-3Track management now that the package is at Accra to go DHL office
at kotoka international airport Accra Ghana there send package to me
directly in Burkina Faso.

Name:Blessing Uwadiae
Country: Burkina Faso
City Ouagadougou
Tel:+226xxx

Yours Faithfully
Revealed Sister
Blessing Uwadiae

I'm not sure why so many of these lads dislike GPS-@ 3Tracker?

Simmon tells the sister that he will have someone from GPS contact him.

Basil makes formal 'first contact' and hopefully can get a scan of the bus ticket to help validate a safari. As well, referring to him as 'Mr. Uwadie' rather than Sister to see if he corrects. Evidently he is OK with the gender alteration:

Quote:

Dear Mr. Uwadie,

My name is Basil Thripp and I am the GPS @-3Track Region 3 Manager. I have been asked to contact you regarding a parcel delivery (parcel B561F07RONC37XST), sent by S. Brunger from one of our UK depots.

I am not totally convergent with the situation. Could you fill me in on the details and we will try to figure this problem out to your satisfaction. GPS @-3Track is a customer-oriented company and we take great pride in doing a good job for our customers.

One thing I have understood in full from Mr. Brunger, is that you have incurred a large (~ $300) expense due to an error on our part causing an unnecessary bus trip. In cases like this, GPS @-3Track is most obliged to compensate you for our error and any inconvenience caused because of it. Please, if you will send us a scan of your bus ticket receipt showing expenditures, we will get a payment to you immediately.

We are anxious to solve this situation as quickly as possible once I am totally understanding of the overall problem.

Basil Thripp,

GPS @-3Track Region 3 Manager

Quote:

Dear,Sir/Madam.

I am so much glad to read your message,nevertheless am totally
disappointed with your company I suffered take a lot of risk traveled
down to Accra Ghana which is about 22 hours on bus I couldn’t locate
your office and my package which is not fair because is your company
that contacted me to go pickup my package at Accra international
Airport I went there wasted my time jump_4_joy

without pickup my package.I plead
your company to delivery my package to me directly to Burkina Faso
because I am not ready to travel to any other neighborly country any
more for the issue.

Below are my receiver information.

Receiver Name:Blessing Uwadie
Receiver Country:Burkina Faso
City:Ouagadougou
Telephone Number:+226xxx

Enclosed document for the bus ticket you requested and I have include
the receipt Mr.Simmon Brunger use send package to me to facilitate your
company solve the problem urgent delivery my package to me directly to
Burkina Faso.

Look forward to hearing from you urgently.

Blessing Uwadie

The lad submits a scan of a pocket-worn bus company business card as well as the receipt from the GPS package shipment. Either he didn't actually go to Accra or, more likely, has tossed his receipt since it has been several days now.

Quote:

Mr. Uwadie,

Sir, your information has been all received and understood. Please note that in order to receive monetary compensation, for which you are fully entitled, our accounting department requires a scan of the actual receipt of your costs...something that shows where and when you travelled and what you have paid. A receipt scan of your bus ticket, with this information would qualify you for payment. The scan which has been provided does not demonstrate that you have actually travelled to or from Accra unfortunately. Once this has been demonstrated, we will reimburse you for the full amount without further requirement or fundifications. I'm sure you will understand.

Regards our facility here at Kotoka Airport, Im very sorry that you could not locate us.
I do understand how this could happen as we are relatively new here at the airport and not yet too well known. As well, our unit is not easy to find since it used mainly used for short term package storage and loading.

If you had contacted us when arriving, I could have given you directions or even delivered the package to you at your location. We can always be quickly reached through our webmail from the companies' online website. All mail sent through our website, with the parcel number on subject, will come to our immediate attention!

Basil Thripp
GPS @-3Track Region 3 Manager

Uwadie appears to be growing more agitated:

Quote:

Dear Sir/Madam.

Thank you for your mail to me and your good effort to compensate
me.bus ticket I sent to you is the receipt I used traveled to
Accra.Beside I am not interested for your company to pay me back the
money I spend traveled to Accra.

What am interested is to receive my package in Burkina Faso.Which day
your company are going to delivery my package to me in Burkina Faso?
Because am not ready to travel to any other neighborly country because
of the package.

Again as my package still at Accra why not your company put it to the
available bus that is coming to Burkina Faso give them my receiver
information immediate the bus arrive in Burkina Faso they will contact
me to come their office and pickup my package I feel that is the
easier way because am worried and tired for this issue. Thumbs up

Below are my receiver information.

Receiver Name:Blessing Uwadie
Receiver Country:Burkina Faso
City:Ouagadougou
Telephone Number:+226xxx

Look forward to hearing from you urgently.

Blessing Uwadie

The lad continues to gripe to Simmon & Bretha:

Quote:

Mr Simmon.

May God be with you all the days of your life and your entire
families’ Sir I am so tired of the GPS @-3Track management I ask them
the day they will deliver the package to me directly in Burkina Faso
without any good response,Sir I would like you to meet them once again
over there in your country, if they are unable to deliver the package
to me let them return it back to you so that you can send it through
other delivery company that is sincere because to tell you the truth I
didn’t understand GPS @-3Track system at all since on the 9th of this
month the package still at Accra which is not fair, (seems to be working just fine for me) I traveled down to
Accra according to their instruction to me I couldn't locate their
office.

Yours Faithfully
Revealed Sister
Blessing Uwadiae
+226XXXXX

GPS has a possible solution as Jumbo enters the picture:

Quote:

Dear Mr. Uwadie,

Thank for your recent mail. I understand that you have signed-off on our company's offer of monetary compensation for your recent travel to Accra. I believe this is the first time I have seen a customer refuse free money!
Regarding your request for transport money for another trip to Accra, we can only issue payment after travel has been confirmed and this would require a receipt showing the date of travel and the cost involved.
Unfortunately we would not be able to just put your package on the local bus as GPS @-3Track has been bound by contract to safely deliver the package to its consignee. It is just too valuable a package to let out of our control as I'm sure you will understand. Although we would no longer be in control of the package, we would still be held legally responsible and liable for the value of its contents should it become lost or damaged.

However, after the national holiday here on Wednesday, we will dispatch our new van driver (Jumbo Iwue), a new local hire, up with your package. I have given him your e-mail information and I will instruct him to contact you on his way up to make arrangements. Please advise him of your delivery location street address for the package. (no way will he likely do that)

I will let you know when the package is on its way to you later this week. We are trying to schedule this with other deliveries so that Jumbo will get some experience on the road. It will be his first trip with the van.

Basil Thripp
GPS @-3Track Region 3 Manager

Jumbo is going to have border-troubles however, hopefully tempting the lad once again to come to Ghana, but just across the border.

Quote:

Dear,Sir/Madam.

I am so much glad to read your message also understood with you,sir I
could advice you to give your company driver my telephone number
immediately he arrive in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso he will call me tell
me his direction so that I can rush meet him pickup my package,I feel
is most easier way to solve this problem once and for all because
given him my e-mail address to contact me when he arrive here may
result another big delay as I use to access my mail box daily,so is
better you give him my telephone number +226 61 97 87 82 to avoid any
more delay and for easier communication between me and him once he
arrive here.

Below are my receiver information.

Receiver Name:Blessing Uwadie
Receiver Country:Burkina Faso
City:Ouagadougou
Telephone Number:+226 61 97 87 82

Look forward to hearing from you urgently.

Blessing Uwadie

Jumbo decides to work on the holiday and is anxious to hit the road.

Quote:

Mr. Uwadie,

Our van driver was anxious to get on the road and left this morning. This way he will get there earlier, before the weekend and as well, can earn some extra pay for working on the holiday.

Unfortunately his older cell is not very functional but it works OK for sending e-mail still and this is how we will keep in touch. I have instructed him to make e-mail contact with you so that you and he might co-ordinate the delivery. He will advise his progress.

Basil Thripp,
GPS-@ 3Track Region 3 Manager

In the meantime, Simmon & Bretha are starting to get worried, hoping to let the lad know that time is running out on his chance to get the package.

Quote:

Sister Uwadie,

Thank you for your recent message. I'm glad that you have someone there helping out. We have been away for the weekend and have just returned home.
We were at the GPS office on Saturday to see if the package had been delivered to you but they didn't think so.

The man there was rather rude and said that we were very stupid to send such a valuable package to Africa without knowing who we were sending it to.
He said that it sounded like a scum and that there are a lot of scummers on the computer trying to fool people.

Bretha and I tried to tell him that we were working with sisters from an orphanage that had been recommended to us by an important banking official so we were pretty sure it was all OK.
He was laughing and said we were very foolish. He told us to have the package recalled before it was too late but we said no.

We will be going back next Monday and we will show him the mails we received from the banker and from your orphanage. Then he can see that it is not a scum at all.

Simmon

Lad Uwadie doesn't think it's a great idea to take the banker's original e-mail to the GPS office. I can't understand why.

Quote:

Mr Simmon.

May God be with you all the days of your life and your entire
families, Thank you for your mail to me and your seriousness to make
sure GPS delivered the package to me,concerning what the man at GPS
office told you that there is lot of scum my happiness is that for the
very first time I didn’t contact you or deceived you to donate
anything to this poor and need children’s rather you are the one wish
to donated something with all your heart that were be making the
children’s happy and to use support the orphanage.

Sir I am servant of God my prayer is any man or woman that trying to
stop something good coming to this motherless baby home will receive
fire of God because bible made it clear that wages of sin is death,the
banker that directed you to this orphanage I swear before God and man
I didn’t know him and for you to show the man at GPS office the mail
you received from the banker directed to this orphanage is of no need
it seem is the one controlled you, because he his not God and he is
not the one to tell you what to do since you and Bretha have decided
to donate to this poor and need children’s at Burkina Faso God will
bless you.

Sir my advice to you is to stop listen to the man at GPS office as you
wish to donate to this poor and need children’s almighty God will pay
you and Bretha back more than your expectation and will supply your
need according his riches in Christ Jesus that’s my prayer to you as
servant of God, if you go to GPS office on Monday they refuse to
delivery the package to me you can recalled the package back resend it
to me through DHL if you wish because I can’t false you to donate to
this poor and need children’s that’s all I have to tell you.

Yours Faithfully
Revealed Sister
Blessing Uwadiae

Fear not, GPS Jumbo is on the job and sends the lad a heads-up:

Quote:

Mr Uwadie Sir, I am Jumbo Iwue from GPS van drivin servise on way to u now Jumbo

Uwadie sounds relieved knowing the goods are coming but certainly doesn't want him coming to the orphanage. Later I realize this may have been a critical error on my part, a result of wanting to stick to my plan rather than go with unfolding events but I really wanted to see him cross the border to get his package. Maybe I should have just messed with him in Burkina.

Quote:

Dear,Jumbo.

I am so much glad to read your message now.Immediately you arrive here
Ouagadougou Burkina Faso contact me through my direct telephone number
+226XXXXX so that you can tell me where to meet you and pickup my
package.

Look forward to hearing from you urgently.

Blessing Uwadie
Telephone Number:+226XXXXX

GPS Jumbo assures him the telephone is not required:

Quote:

Mr Uwadie Sir, I am Jumbo Iwue from GPS van drivin servise
my cell not workin but email is OK good so will be checkin in with u on mail
bossman Thripp say email beter than phone an can keep trak of all infirmations beter

Lad:

Quote:

Alright,when you arrive here in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso,e-mail me
tell me your direction so that i can meet you and pickup my package.

My plan was to get him back across the border again and a day and a half later, Jumbo breaks the bad news:

Quote:

Mr. Uwadie Sir, I am Jumbo Iwue from GPS van driver
truble at Paga border an not lettin me pass thru over to Burkina
border men stopin say becuse GPS have no lisense for doin biziness in
Burkina an GPS van cant be takin parsels tru border with no OK lisens
am drivin back to Navrongo an waitin so bossman Thripp figur what next
Jumbo

As well, Basil lets him know a little later:

Quote:

Dear Mr. Uwadie,

I have been informed by our van driver that he was not able to cross the border to Burkina Faso as the border officers stopped him and turned him back. He is now in Navrongo awaiting further instructions.
Is it at all possible for you to go to Navrongo so that he can transfer the parcel to you? If that is possible for you, I will instruct him to stay there until you are able to meet him. The only alternative is to bring the package back here to the airport.

Basil Thripp
GPS @-3Track Region 3 Manager

As well, Simmon & Bretha put a little more fear into him so he might know this could be his last chance:

Quote:

Dear Sister Blessings

I must tell you that we are both very fettrified over this entire matter, especially after reading your last mail to us. We are both finding it difficult to sleep. It is 2a.m. as I write to you, since we are both worried so much. Especially so after you have told us that you do not even know the banker that has referred you to us. We thought surely that you were knowing each other or had done banking with him.

I wonder if you might be able to have him contact me again and reassure us that he is a good honest person and would not try to trick us. If he can somehow reassure us, we can put off our trip to the GPS man on Monday. But I think if go to the GPS office and show them the banker's first mail sent to us and the kind offering that was offered to us, that they would understand he is not a computer scummer as they told us last week. We are both truly convectored over the entire business. We only wanted to make the children's lives better.

Simmon

Once again Uwadie urges him to stay away from the GPS office with those blasted e-mails:

Quote:

don’t allow any body or the man at GPS office deceive
you or made you change your mind because anything you give to this
poor and need children’s that suffer here shall be given back to you
by God not human being,

I told you several time GPS is not sincerely delivery company but you
didn’t believe me is better you send the package to me directly
through DHL because I believe they had return the package back to you
as I 3Track the parcel code without seeing anything again,

It seems the lad is growing leery but still open to travel if we send him the cash for the bus trip:

Quote:

Alright,send me transport money to go Navrongo meet with your so
called van driver or you put the parcel to luxury bus that is coming
to Burkina Faso give them my number to contact me once they get here.

I hope to get him moving knowing this is his last opportunity but in hindsight perhaps have offered one more time to tell Jumbo wait for him.

Quote:

Mr. Uwadie,

As stated in my earlier mail, there is only one option. We cannot release the parcel to bus service.

Since you are not able to come to Navrongo I will let the van driver know so that he can return to Accra today. GPS @-3Track cannot send travel expenses until such trip has occurred and expense receipts have been submitted. I am sorry that we could not enter your country to complete the delivery.

Basil Thripp

Basil Thripp
GPS @-3Track Region 3 Manager

He seems fairly pissed instead and lashes out at poor Jumbo:

Quote:

You and your bossman Thripp or trap are not honest,how did you sent me
an email ? while you said your phone is not good to call,

But Jumbo explains:

Quote:

Mr. Uawidiae Sir, Jumbo Iwue from GPS van. Am sorry
bossman Thripp now sendin van back to home
cell workin OK for call but nobody can hear me speakin so canot use cell for phone Jumbo

Blessed "sister Uwadie" shows her ugly side:

Quote:

You are more than stupid,you knows your company didn't have license to
entry Burkina Faso,you sent your so called van diver,you are a fool
better return the package to the sender.ever i was born these my first
time hearing delivery company don't have direct telephone.

From GPS:

Quote:

Mr. Uwadie,

I can assure you that I am not stupid. I am as upset as you that your package has not been delivered.

We at GPS @-3Track take great pride in giving our customers what they deserve. banghead

In actual fact, we do have a licence for doing business in your country. It appears that the dishonest border guards tried to extort a large amount of cash from our driver, who properly refused, and so would not let him pass. Such things as this are unheard of in Ghanna.

Of course, you could have easily picked up your package, as our driver was willing to wait over the weekend for you to meet him near the border. As I explained to you earlier, GPS-@-3Track would gladly compensate you for your travel costs if, unlike the last time, you remembered to save your ticket showing payment.

Since you decided that you don't want the package, we had no choice but to return to Accra with it.

If you wish to pick it up here, that option is still available to you and once again, we will pay for your costs in doing so.

Basil Thripp
GPS-@ 3Track Region 3 Manager

That's where it presently stands. I'm not sure exactly where we might go from here if he still wants to play.

Any thoughts? Where might it go from here? Where could I have improved things?

*******************

I've learned several things on my first bait:

Not all lads are as gullible as Eric and little Franklin.

My expectations should not be so high without gaining more experience.

Greater forethought needs to be given to prove a safari. With most IP's now hidden, that method won't work. I understand a picture of the lad near some identifiable landmark or signpost might be enough but how do we know it is not the lad's buddy in the next country? How can safari be proven without telephone calls before and during the trip?

A lot can be done ignoring requests for telephone calls and telephone numbers but it is possibly a crucial factor in all of the really great baits. I'm not even sure how this is done, safely, and appear to be either coming or going from within the correct country. I couldn't find a lot of info on this and not sure I really want to get into calling lads. There always seems to be plenty of offers from others to make calls on someones behalf, so this might be one possible solution.

What about receiving calls? Are there any active numbers where a lad can call and just get continual ringing or a pseudo answering system or ...? Perhaps there are folks here that are able to take a call as well, now and again?

It would be better not to be locked-into a plan but be prepared to change on the fly...I need more experience.

Baiting from western North America can lead to some very early (middle of the night) mailings so that they arrive at a plausible time in Africa ... not a good thing.

GPS 3 @ Tracker is a superb and valuable resource...truly diabolical!

It would be nice if the SH in Accra were finished its renovations.

I've learned to stay away from overly large cities, where lads in neighbouring countries might have friends to find their package for them. Although it's probably better to have the package end up in some smaller place, initially, this might not look so believable to the lad since the package would more likely get unloaded (incorrectly) at a major airport GPS cargo facility.

..... so much yet to learn Sad

Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 5:58 am

I'd say you're doing pretty darn good so far Smile

Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 6:37 am

Crazy Mary wrote:

What about receiving calls? Are there any active numbers where a lad can call and just get continual ringing or a pseudo answering system or ...? Perhaps there are folks here that are able to take a call as well, now and again?

For some UK numbers, check out my answering service in the Premium Lounge https://forum.419eater.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=263907

5 different UK geographic numbers with generic answering machine messages.

Baiting Guru Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 3876

great baiting so far

what you could do: ask him to go to a specific location and take a pic. that will help jumbo to find that place AND your lad. oh, and it may confirm your safari Twisted Evil

Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 9:49 am

Excellent baiting!

There's a lot of discussion on proving a safari, but as Mr. L, The Monsignor and other experts will tell you, getting a lad invested through time and emails and usually phone BEFORE he travels is mandatory.

There are a lot of things you can do first-like tell him your charity is holding a benefit. Ask him for suggestions on the menu. Ask for pics to show donors. Send him pics of the "event". Anything to set the hook deeper.

While it is certainly possible to get a lad to safari without phone work, it is much more difficult. B8er has posted his modality, Frost has one and there are lists of still active pay phones in the US. If you need someone to take or make a call, try posting in HHT.

Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 1:50 pm

Nicely done! I do have a US based number that I have used with GP5. You can PM me for details if you choose.

Customer Service.

Ralphie gives it very low marks and said it cost him too much.

Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 5:43 pm

Thanks OC and others. Your input is very much appreciated.

B8er - I positioned my mugus in Yeovil so that I might use that number if desparate, and the package flew out of Southampton airport. I've forgotten...does the Yeovil number actually take a message or just play elevator music?

RH der1 - I had hoped to be able to get him to take a picture nearby a road sign or some identifiable region for the ID but if he did safari, he didn't contact me while doing so, which makes me wonder. He did a lot of griping about the 22 hour road trip but I'm not convinced. I hope he did. But...from what I read, a photo of the lad next to a prominent sign for example, is still not enough for confirmation.

Capone - excellent advice re HHT phone help. I've noticed a lot of folks offering to make or take a call during various baits so that may be something I need to investigate.

bware419ers - the US based # sounds interesting...will contact you via PM for more

Regarding the SH's ... does anyone know why the one in Accra is closed for renovation?
I was thinking of trying to get him back to Accra once again by having GPS offer him and a friend a weekend booking at the Accra SH, all on the GPS's tab since they feel so badly about the situation. This offer will come from upper-management after much discussion.

Perhaps SH can reopen the Accra location...or perhaps the renovations have finished ahead of schedule and they have just reopened a few days ago and they haven't had time to update their web page ... I just wonder why it was closed in the 1st place?

Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 6:14 pm

^^^ All of my numbers allow messages to be left and have shortish outgoing messages.

I might be wrong, but I think that the Accra SH is closed due to the location that was being used as a meeting point telling lads that they were being messed around. The Monsignor is the person to ask as it is his modality.

Posted: Sun May 29, 2016 2:31 am

Tnx b8er ... I've sent him some PM. That might explain it. I've seen comments that these addresses represent locations of webcams ...??

CM

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Sep 2013 Posts: 2205

Unfortunately the webcam that use to be outside Accra (and perhaps the only one in all of West Africa) is gone now. One of TM's funniest safari's was a group of lads on that webcam. Pr!cky told them he was watching them outside the window of the hotel but was too scared to come out because one of them called him a motherf*cker. Laughing

I like the obscure locations myself. Still large-ish cities, but not the major ones. Less chance of fellow lads helping them by doing recon work. There's a lad behind every bush in Accra.

If your not in the mood to call a lads (which sometimes I am not) I will often just "flash" call them. I will just say "Hello? Hello?" in a muffled voice and then hang up. Then you can email them and complain about the bad connection. This will give the credibility of the phone call without having to spend a fortune calling somewhere like Burkina Faso.

Posted: Sun May 29, 2016 3:03 pm

Mr. L - the 'flash call' is a great idea and the first I've heard of it! Certainly not intimidating. I need to learn more about using Skype for phoning and how this can't be traced etc ... would love to see a tutorial on this but perhaps I have missed it somewhere. Do you use Skype for calls or regular LL?

Too bad about the web cam but what a great story. I wonder if there has been any searches lately for new cams ... hhhm.

Tnx for your help Mr. L.

CM Very Happy

Posted: Sun May 29, 2016 4:35 pm

Good stuff CM.

Remember that it is always the lad's fault.

There was a free service that would allow a very phone call overseas. They are gone so I have turned to Skype.

I started up an anonymous Skype account and charged it up with a gift credit card I bought with cash at conveniene store.

I went from flashing a phone call to using a soundboard and having a celebrity say HELLO, HELLO.

Now I call the lads just to wake them up and pressure them to continue the bait.

Posted: Sun May 29, 2016 6:23 pm

Quote:

I started up an anonymous Skype account and charged it up with a gift credit card I bought with cash at conveniene store.

CLG - Many thanks for your help. I can see there is much more to Skype calling than it seems! I'm wondering if other Skypers are using anonymous gift cards to pay or simply paying online via PayPal or other card options ... or is anonymity with Skype payment a must? Skype gift cards are not available in this country unfortunately. I have read that Skype has changed their configuration menu so that 'anonymous calling' (or whatever term they use) is no longer a choice ... can anyone confirm this?

I'd love to see an in- depth tutorial on using Skype while baiting as I know so little about it other than normal video Skyping. It would seem that this is a must-do when safari confirmation is needed.

CM newby Confused

Posted: Mon May 30, 2016 9:13 am

Connie's idea is a great way to preserve anonymity. I bought a couple of numbers some years back and used a completely fake name and address-skype didn't care except for if the credit card worked. So you don't need a "skype" gift card.

I have one ZA number but I'm very careful about using it-expensive as hell. The other is in the US, obviously nowhere near my RL location.

Posted: Mon May 30, 2016 10:53 pm

Quote:

I bought a couple of numbers some years back and used a completely fake name and address

Wow ... had no idea you could buy a number. I guess all of this is common knowledge to most ... will have to visit their web pages and see what options are open. Really like the concept of a 'flash' call though.
Tnx Capone.

CM

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