Today I’m posting a constructive and informative post on scam artist so all those who read this can recognize their traits, lines, and con methods. I'm going to use a real life scammer that I got directly from a Post on Alibaba. The preferred name for a scammer is Con artist. Con is short for confidence. The best Con artist work by luring their unsuspecting mark into a web of confidence and trust. This is done in a myriad of ways stemming from the basic to the well planned and executed. I’m going to use a real life example of a company that has scammed many members on this board. I’ve omitted my contact details per forum rules, but not the scammers. Here’s the scam:

From:"fen lan" Add to Address Book Add Mobile To:wdcxxx@xxxxx.com
Subject: RE: Xbox 360 and PS3
Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:04:46 +0800

Hello,how are ou today? thanks for your inquiry and welcome to our
website, www.appleipod.com.cn I¡¯ll glad to help you.Well.i am sorry reply so later, Because I just back from sony factory a few days,so very busy, could you pls add my msn then we can show you the ps3 by webcam,OR YOU CAN SEE THE MORE OUR OWN PIC OF THE PS3 IN OUR WEBSTIE, here is our some price list ,all item are they are 100% AUTHENTIC, no copies, brand new in the original box. our the minimal order quantity is 10,but for your first order,you can buy sample to test,and we
can meet orders of any size. our company relies on quick sales,small
profits and quick turnover,so you¡¯ve probably noticed that our prices
are extremely competitive, I hope we can to speed up business
relationship,well,here is our price list,all the price are include the
shipping cost,but if ou want to buy sample ,then must add 14usd for
the shipping. Ntsc version:20gb is 329 usd, 60gb is 389 usd, pal version :20gb is 339 usd, 60gb is 399 usd, asia version : 20gb is 309 usd, 60 gb is 379 usd,
ipod nano 1gb is 79usd,2gb is 99usd,4gb is 139usd, ipod nano 2nd
gereration
2gb is 119usd, 4gb is 159usd,8gb is 199usd, ipod iPod Video 30gb is
199usd,
fifth-generation iPod 30gb 199usd, fifth-generation iPod 80gb is
229usd,
ipod special edition u2 is 219usd, psp Value pack is 155usd,psp Giga
pack is 174usd, SLIM PLAYSTATION 2 is 69usd, Xbox 360 Core System is
199usd,xbox360 Premium Edition is 269usd,
after we got your money, we will ship to your hours we use ems, ups, dhl,tnt in 24 hours,and about 5days the item will to get to your house,and in china ,there are only 2 methods for your payment sending, one is western union,the other is Bank Transfer < T/ T£¨Wire Transfer£©> We prefer Western Union transfer, it is very fast, you can learn how to use it via :
http://www.westernunion.com


From: James Wxxxxxxx
To: tradeocean@hotmail.com
Subject: Xbox 360 and PS3
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:01:20 -0800 (PST)

Hi,

My name is James Wxxxxxx of WDC Intl Inc. I'm looking for a supplier of Xbox 360's and PS3's. I want to buy 25 of each. Please send me your best FOB price, lead time, and sample availability.

Best regards,
James Williams
WDC Intl Inc
W: www.xxxxxxxxx.com
E: xxxxx@xxxx.com
T: 1-xxx-867-1191
F: 1-xxx-419-5440

Why scams work!
Every scam has an element of truth in it; that’s what makes it so believable. If it was a salacious claim like: I can sell PS3’s for $89..no one would believe it. So scammers put just enough ‘truth’ details to gain the trust and confidence of their mark. A ‘mark’ is the target of the Con artist

Now that you’ve seen my request and his reply, I’ll break down the scam:

Hello,how are ou today? thanks for your inquiry and welcome to our
website, www.appleipod.com.cn

{Con Artist are lazy. That is why they try to con others because they don’t want to work hard. Scammers correspondence are often riddled with typos and inconsistencies as you see above with ou; (should be You) and as you’ll see throughout the reply. In addition, ask yourself what is missing from the reply? No formal introduction of himself, his company, or the line of business he’s in. Just the web address. Con Artist work on providing as little ‘personal’ information as possible.}

I¡¯ll glad to help you.Well.i am sorry reply so later, Because I just
back from sony factory a few days,so very busy, could you pls add my msn then we can show you the ps3 by webcam,OR YOU CAN SEE THE MORE OUR OWN PIC OF THE PS3 IN OUR WEBSTIE,


{This Con Artist is somewhat sharp. He apologizes for not replying sooner (most good businesses should reply to request w/in 24hrs) and offers a credible excuse that would excite a would be buyer by saying he just returned from the Sony factory and he’s been busy with orders. Luring you into believing he’s working hard on fulfilling orders. Notice however He didn’t say he was at the Sony PS3 factory. This is a technique called ‘give a little, get a lot.’ He provides just enough information to lure, to reap the benefit. A Con Artist builds confidence one step at a time. Here he is laying his foundation for you to stand on, and believe is safe. However, unless he is a Sony Employee, he wouldn’t be allowed 100ft of the PS3 factory.

Then he offers to provide you with contact details. But when you look more closely, he only offered MSN IM info. Information that can be easily deleted and abandoned before it’s traced. He then adds another step of Con to the equation by offering to let you see him and the PS3 on webcam. This technique is called: ‘luring you into a false sense of security.’ It’s called that because psychologically, YOU are tearing down your own brick wall of common sense. By this time, you are already beginning to rationalize something like: If he’s willing to let me see him on video with the PS3, he must be legit. This is what scammers rely on. However, with all scams, there are caveats. Immediately after he gives you the opportunity to ‘view’ him on Video (eventually), he offers you the opportunity to view the PS3 (immediately) online. He’s hoping you will take the immediate and easy way of going to the website. This is a common salesmen technique called the ‘choose close.’ He’s letting YOU decide what method to use. The statement is riddled with poor grammar and English.}


here is our some price list ,all item are they are 100%
AUTHENTIC, no copies, brand new in the original box. our the minimal
order quantity is 10,but for your first order,you can buy sample to test,and we can meet orders of any size. our company relies on quick sales,small profits and quick turnover,so you¡¯ve probably noticed that our prices are extremely competitive, I hope we can to speed up business relationship,well,here is our price list,all the price are include the shipping cost,but if ou want to buy sample ,then must add 14usd for the shipping. Ntsc version:20gb is 329 usd, 60gb is 389 usd, pal version
:20gb is 339 usd, 60gb is 399 usd, asia version : 20gb is 309 usd, 60
gb is
379 usd,
ipod nano 1gb is 79usd,2gb is 99usd,4gb is 139usd, ipod nano 2nd
gereration
2gb is 119usd, 4gb is 159usd,8gb is 199usd, ipod iPod Video 30gb is
199usd,
fifth-generation iPod 30gb 199usd, fifth-generation iPod 80gb is
229usd,
ipod special edition u2 is 219usd, psp Value pack is 155usd,psp Giga
pack
is 174usd, SLIM PLAYSTATION 2 is 69usd, Xbox 360 Core System is
199usd,xbox360 Premium Edition is 269usd,


{Here he starts the paragraph off with telling you about the authenticity of the PS3. He’s attempting to ease your mind and concerns. Remember, cons build confidence one step at a time. You believe him. Why? Because earlier he told you he just came back from the factory. This technique is called: ‘playing on words’ He’s playing on earlier things he said. He also keeps using words like ‘our’ distancing himself from the equation making you think there are others involved with the company. Of course if there really were others, he could have had one of ‘those’ people reply ;). Now begins ‘the hook.’ He tells you their profit is small and you know already the price is low. This is called ‘the boost.’ He’s boosting/inflating your confidence in your knowledge. In other words, he’s patting you on the back. He then wants a ‘speedy’ relationship and offers ‘blanket shipping.’ ALERT! He doesn’t know my country, state, or city I live in or where my orders are shipped to. How then can he offer blanket shipping? Impossible. He also can deliver ANY quantity. He can do what Sony can’t?! He builds another stepping stone of confidence by offering to ship you a sample at a slightly higher price, knowing already that you won’t order a sample. Because by this time you’re already feeling like you can trust him. Now comes the ‘meat on the hook’; the pricing. The pricing is priced just right where you can see some profit room, but also see some haggle room. Notice how he includes country settings and other similar electronics from factories other than Sony. This segment was riddled with typos and incoherent grammar.}


after we got your money, we will ship to your hours use
ems,ups,dhl,tnt in 24 hours,and about 5days the item will to get to your house,and in china ,there are only 2 methods for your payment sending, one is western union,the other is Bank Transfer < T/ T£¨Wire Transfer£©> We prefer Western Union transfer, it is very fast, you can learn how to use it via : http://www.westernunion.com

{This paragraph starts with a Freudian slip: ‘after we got your money…’ He knows already he’s going to be taking it. He gives you all the shipping details you want to believe. Then comes ‘the hit.’ He tells you CHINA only accepts two forms of payment and tells you his preference his WU because it’s fast. He’s built you up so you want to buy fast, so you can sell fast, and make a profit fast. He even gives you the web address of WU for your convenience and to check. What is missing? Again…no full contact information, poor grammar, and no closing salutation.}

Now look at my request to him. It has all the elements of a legitimate company. I provide my name, my company name, specifically what I want and the quantity. I ask specific questions about the trade including FOB pricing. His reply only addresses parts of my request. I close it with a salutation and full business contact information, and the letter is grammatically correct. All signs of a legit business company.

Conclusion
What you’ve just seen is a scam being broken down step by step. I wouldn’t call this scammer a good scammer, but I wouldn’t call him a bad one either. He’s relying on YOU to justify your own doubts and answer your own concerns so he doesn’t have to. He lures, entices, then grabs you; hook, line, and sinker. Now you’re caught! Learn from this so you’re not a victim again…for the first time.

Part 2 How I scammed the scammer... To be continued later

regards,
James
WDC Intl Inc

Replying to [Obiwill]:

How many people have been scammed by this person?

regards,
James
WDC Intl inc

Replying to [Obiwill]:

hi there

can you please post your how to scam a scammer post ,i have just been scammed myself and would like to hear your thoughts

Replying to [Obiwill]:Thank you for your important information. If I may, could I ask you few questions. I am inquiring into purchasing TV's from Kriptondara-Distribuicao De Informatica Unipessoal LDA. I received a reply from Vitor Ferreira asking me to email him to a yahoo.com address to a product list and prices per item. He states that they accept TNT as form of payment. Does sound legit? If this is not a valid request, please forgive my intrusion and ignorance. Thank you for your kind attention.

Thomas Macias
trmacias@msn.com
(562) 697-2493

Replying to [Tommy Macias]: TNT is not a form of payment it is a shipper

Replying to [Tommy Macias]:

I'll forgive your intrusion because you appear to be a newbie. My advice to newbies is always the same, don' get invloved in this business until you understand this business!!!!!

As Ranger pointed out TNT is a delivery company, not payment service. In addition, as a FYI to you, nobody in the UK or really even China for that matter can deliver wholesale TV's for less than you can buy from the wholesale market in the states right now. The economy of scales don't match up for any other country in electronics. US has the world's No 1 penetration rate for TV's at an astounding 79%. If it your intention to buy your TV's by the container, you will not find a manufacturer in Alibaba. You will only find trading companies, and none of them will be competitive. In fact, and this is the funny thing, some will quote you FOB prices higher than Walmart for TV's. You could explain in to them, but you would only be wasting your time.

regards,
James
WDC Intl Inc

Replying to [mardo10]:

Sorry for the late reply.I was busy making money. Let me know your scenerio and I'll tell you how/if you've been scammed. Judging by your reply, it seems you already know the answer.

regards,
James

Replying to [Obiwill]:
Hi, james,
Thanks for your story shared with us, that's really useful.

If you are considering importing from a supplier for the first time I’d suggest you run a credit check to make sure you are dealing with a reliable company. We can help you with this. Although not mandatory, it is a good idea and is quite cheap.

Kind Regards,
Lily,
www.transfermate.com
lhung@transfermate.com

Replying to [Ranger]:Thank you for your response. Does TNT handle all transactions, including delivering goods to your posted business address.

Replying to [Tommy Macias]: Yes they are basically an express delivery service like, UPS, FedEx and DHL. They can also handle customs in the same ways as the others when importing.

Ranger