Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bassexpander]

I responded to an ad selling a bird on another forum. It didn't take long to figure out it was a scam. Here is how it started out:


Original message from me to the "Seller"

Hello donmills01

Classified ad these comments concern:
http://www.usfkclassifieds.com/index.php?a=2&b=6459

contact name: *******
contact phone: *********

Below is an inquiry about your classified ad

Did you sell your Macaw?

Thanks.


_______________________________________________

First response from the seller (Don Mills):

Hi
sorry for the late response. We are still looking for a new home for our Macaw, where are you located? Are you experienced with birds?



_______________________________________________

Hi,

I have some experience with smaller birds, but not a larger one like a Macaw. I know they are said to be high-maintenance. I'd like your input as to what would be required in terms of care/attention, as well as feeding schedule and cost. My wife and I both work, but my schedule varies by the day. How many hours does your macaw like to be outside of the cage on a perch? Does he behave in such situations? How frequently do you clip the wings on your bird (if at all?).

Thanks

_______________________________________________


From the seller (Don Mills):

Hi again
thanks for the speedy reply. Our scarlet Macaw is extremely friendly and well tamed. She was hand raised by my grand mom and was a birthday gift to me. She is just 3 years old and handled daily. Every morning,afternoon and evening i get her clean water food. I feed her with nuts,veggies,parrot mix and pellets.
I am looking for a new home for my angel because i just joined the American peace corp as a volunteer and my job requires me to travel a lot, it breaks my heart to keep angel lonely and helpless when i'm away.
Below is the list of requirements or what i am looking for when considering a new home/family for the angel.
1. Maturity - You must be over 18 or a legal representative for the intended owner to adopt angel AND be of reasonable intelligence.
2. You must be able to demonstrate that you are secure financially mentally and emotionally to adopt this bird and provide for her lifetime needs of years so as to maintain an excellent quality of life for the bird.
3. You must be able to commit to ALWAYS providing a safe and nurturing environment for angel regardless of whether it be in a social setting at home or while traveling.
4. You must be dedicated to keep me updated from time to time on her progress with you as she join your family.
5. I must feel that you are being honest about your reasons for wanting the bird and the lifestyle you intend to provide for her. I am asking $1000.00 for her adoption fee,shipping and delivery included
Respectfully
Don

____________________________________________________


Don:

I feel I fit those criteria, but I saw that the price was listed on usfk forums as $500. I was interested at that price. I can understand if you want $1,000, but that would price me out. Here is the link to your add, if you'd like to update it:

http://www.usfkclassifieds.com/index/listings/page6459.htm

As for my family, it's just my wife and I. We are in our late 30's. I teach English at a university in Seoul, and she is a mid-level manager for an international company, but will probably quit next year after we have kids. We live in a 33 pyung apartment around the Gunja station area of Seoul.

Please keep me in mind if you are willing/interested at $500.

Take care

__________________________________________________

Hi
glad to read from you again. Actually we placed the ad for our Scarlet Macaw when we were in Korea and was merely looking for a permanent home for the bird because our job requires us to travel a lot and we have nobody to care for her when we are away. We are concerned with a caring home for the bird and not money. We are willing to entrust her to you, get back to us with your mailing address and we will ship her to you. Hope this will be a permanent home for this lovely bird.
A quick note about our Macaw. Her name is Mama,she play's on her cage, chewing on a perch box and a couple of toys. She likes to be with us all the time.Mama think she is human and think she rules the house (lol).
She seems much more comfortable when associating with people. We make sure she have her special time with us each day when we are around.
We feed her with veggies,fruits,nuts,pellets.She eats must things we eat with a little exceptions.
She loves to ride on my shoulder every morning when I get her fresh water and food,then growl at the running water when I rinse the bowls. This morning she was dancing on
my shoulder, so I was"singing" to her. I stopped singing,she kept dancing.
She LOVES kisses. When I make three kissing sounds in a row,she return them with three soft snorts. The really cool thing is when she initiates the kisses by doing the three snorts first.She is not just a pet but part of us.
Even though it is hard to path with her,the thought of keeping her lonely breaks our hearts.We want a permanent loving home for her,hope you are going to keep us updated with info and pics on her progress with you.
I have enclosed some pics of me and Mama in the attachment below. can you send me a pic of yourself so i know the new owner and new friend of Mama.
Sincerely
Don

Pics he attached:

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd16/bassexpander/MeandMama.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd16/bassexpander/MeandMama3.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd16/bassexpander/MeandMama2.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd16/bassexpander/MeandMama111.jpg


____________________________________________________


Don,

I am confused... I thought you were in Korea? I'd be scared to ship a bird like that! I would fear what would happen, quarantine issues, etc.

Where are you, exactly?

Thanks

___________________________________________________

We American volunteer worker (Peace corps) presently in Cameroon, when we moved to Korea with Mama, they was no quarantine, Mama has her health papers and Migratory permits. We already checked with the customs before putting her up for adoption. Be rest assured every thing will be fine with Mama coming Korea.
Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.
Don

___________________________________________________

Me to seller:

Where do I send the money?

___________________________________________________


Seller to me:

we are new here and have no bank account.. You will have to wire the funds through western union.

___________________________________________________


Hi
send the money to the below address
Name: Geh Nelise Eka
Country:Cameroon
City:Douala
Zip code:00237
Test Question: name?
Answer: Mama
Hope to hear from you soon.

___________________________________________________
Me to seller:

Ok, I have sent the money. I even put a little extra in there for your to cover shipping costs you may incur.

I'm so excited to get this bird. Thank-you for the nice photos.

I almost forgot to tell you where to send the bird!

To make it easy on you, after you receive payment, I have a friend in Cameroon who will be awaiting your call, and will forward the bird to me. He will make arrangements to pick-up the bird from you, so you don't have to send it. In fact, he said he will gladly keep watch on Western Union to make sure you receive the money.

Mr. Edgard Alain MEBE NGO�O
D�l�gu� G�n�rale � la S�ret� Nationale
Tel.: +237 22 20 22 80
Fax: +237 22 21 00 69

It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Geh Nelise Eka.

___________________________________________________


Hi
we need the reference numbers to pick up the money. I will let you know when i contact your friend in Cameroon.
Thanks


______________________________________________________


Don,

I'm so very sorry! I was so excited about the bird, I forgot!

The Money Transfer Control Number is 6564542880

The man at Western Union asked me to make a test question:
Test question: What is the best food?
Answer: Kimchi

Please let me know when you get the money, and please call my friend for him to come pick the bird up.

Thank-you!
____________________________________________________

Hi
Can you please scan and send me the westernunion form? i have been at the western union and the lady at the counter need more details like sender's full names and address..
Hope to hear from you soon.

_____________________________________________________

My friend has a scanner at work. I will get in touch with him and scan it for you in the next day or two. I'm so sorry to make you wait.

Why didn't they accept it? They should accept it.


__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________


So that's where I'm at right now.... am tempted to fill out a fake Western Union form and scan it.

[djsmnc]

Awesome! Drag it out as long as you can before calling them out. They'll probably end up going into some tirade about western oppressors or something to justify their BS scams.

[Robot_Teacher]

It would be a joy to get my hands on a nice big colorful bird that would sit on my shoulder and dog that just craves my attention, but I know I can't have pets so I'm not shopping. I sure would love to have them. Too many people shop for these sorts of things failing to look 6 months or a year ahead when they have to move on a jet or travel on business or vacation. A lifestyle not compatible with pets unless you're made of money and then it's hard on the animals.

Forget the fantasies of a pretty bird and handsome doggie until you own land and are settled down.

Oh, don't buy from scammers unless in person for a fair price AND having received a receipt of sale.

[Bloopity Bloop]

I feel bad for whoever falls for these kinds of things... actually, no I don't.

[bassexpander]

I thought for sure he'd figure it out after I gave the address of my "friend." Basically, he's the head of police in that country. The title should have given it away, but obviously the guy didn't bother to read it.

He wrote again today:

please get back to me with the sender's names and the lady at the western union counter will pay out the money.
hope to hear from you soon.


My response was this:


Hi,

Actually, my wife wired the money, but she has left for a flight on a business trip to Canada. She's on the plane for the next 16 hours, and probably won't get my e-mail soon. I'm trying to get a scanner today so I can send you the actual Western Union receipt. It's at her office, so I must get the receipt from her co-workers later today.

In case she sent it under her name and our address (which she probably did), please check at Western Union using this address. I'm pretty sure it's what she'd use:

Sender's name: Ellen Kim

Address:
338 Hillstate Lodge Apartments
Dongdaemun-gu, Gunja-dong 3-ga
Seoul, South Korea

So please try that address, and let me know if it's OK or not. If it's not, then don't worry, because I'll get the receipt later today anyway. I'm so very excited to get this bird. Please forgive me for all of these problems! Give Mama a peanut for me, and please tell her I love her! We're so excited, because a neighbor has an identical (but green) macaw to play with her.

[bassexpander]

I've decided to turn this into an English study project for my university students next semester!

I'll have them make groups of 2 or 3 and attempt to purchase an animal from the scammer and dragging it out as long as possible. Students will be required to correct mistakes in the scammer's grammar. We'll share the best results with the class.

[TimothyWilkinson]

This is absolutely hilarious! Keep it going for as long as you can!

Cheers

[ED209]

You need to make your wife more demanding. This way it seems you really want it but your wife is placing ridiculous demands. Also your neighbours macaw can also play into this.

1. Your neighbours macaw can speak over 2000words. Your wife assumed this to be true about Don's macaw. Can it talk?

Wait for a reply, if he says yes then he has to follow-up.

2. Great it can talk! Your wife would like to hear a recording of the macaw speaking. Could he send an mp3 recording?

Add more ridiculous claims about your neighbour's macaw. You could also get a bit nastier. Claim that your wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness and that though all your money is going on medical bills and debts are mounting, and you lost your job(which your wife doesn't know about), you still want the macaw as it would make this dying woman you love happy. (Your wife might get pissed at you ripping this yarn though, but I'd do it )

[kalbi]

Hahahaha!!!!

What are you gonna call the class doing the project? How to scam a scammer 101??!!!

[bassexpander]

I'm going to sit on this for a day and respond. I just got this, which implies he's been to Western Union twice:

Hi
we been to the western union office with your wife's name and address and the could not track the money. We are waiting for the scan copy of the western union receipt.
Thanks and have a great day.

and later this...

the lady at the western union keep telling me that the details you gave me are not correct. If you could scan the western union receipt and send to me,it will make it much easier for us. Hope to hear from you soon.

[bassexpander]

Seems he has returned to Western Union a 3rd time. I told him I voided the transaction and made a new one... he needs to return there.



Hi
how is your weekend? Did you hear fro your wife? i hope she had a safe trip? we are waiting for the scan receipt. Hope to hear from you soon
Don and family

____________________

Hi,

I am waiting for her return. Ellen has the receipt with her and is unable to scan it from there. She will bring it with her, and will return tomorrow. We'll scan it then.

Take care

_______________________________
Hi
hope you had a great weekend? i will be waiting for the scan copy of the receipt. Can you please verify if the reference numbers and details you gave me were correct because the lady at western union said the money is not there.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Don

_____________________________________
Don,

Apparently, there has been some kind of mistake by the teller who input the money transaction. It didn't make sense that you couldn't find it, so we went to WU and asked about it. Because of a mistake in the system, they have now voided the transaction and we made a new one.

Please go back to Western Union and pick up the money. We're growing disgusted with the process too:

New transaction number: 6568442774
Sender's name: Ellen Kim

Address:
338 Hillstate Lodge Apartments
Dongdaemun-gu, Gunja-dong 3-ga
Seoul, South Korea

There is a test question attached:

Question: Who is the best Hollywood celebrity?
Answer: Ashton Kutcher
__________________________

[bassexpander]

Sounds like he's getting disgusted. Just got this:

Can you please scan and send us the westernunion receipt? we have been to the western union and the money is not there.



__________________________

And my hilarious response:


Hi,

I'm so ashamed... I accidentally made a mistake in the numbers I sent you.

Before we scan the receipt, I'd like to make something clear to you...

We have to be honest. I am not a teacher, and I am not interested in raising this bird. We want to use it for some laboratory tests. Specifically, some local Korean scientists we are working with believe they have the ability to cure a form of testicular cancer using some samples from the cerebral fluids of Macaw's. They have been working with some other Macaw's, but they have not made it through the tests alive. We are in desperate need of more Macaw cerebral fluid, and are searching for it anywhere we can get it. Macaws are not easy to come by here.

Are you still willing to sell us your Macaw? It would be for a good cause -- potentially saving human lives. Also, do you know where we could find some more Macaw's? Specifically, we are looking for about 10 Macaw's in total. We would, of course, pay you $500 US for each Macaw.

Please let us know.

[Nester Noodlemon]

Keep it going! This is an interesting post!

[bassexpander]

These are the two responses I got today. So funny that he has no problems with selling us the bird he has raised by hand-feeding for lab experiments! (hahaaha):

I have a friend who is a Macaw breeder, you can reach him at [email protected]
We already decided to entrust our Macaw to u. Waiting for the scan receipt.


______________________________


I'm willing to help you guys get the macaws, i contacted a friend who is a breeder here and agree to sell the macaws to you.

[bassexpander]

Oh, this could be very, very good. My response:




Don:

That's great! We are so happy! Perhaps we can start a trade business going with Macaws. This is just wonderful! So wonderful!

I am so appreciative of you help, I want to tell you of an opportunity to win some easy money. As I mentioned before, my wife works for an International company. They are a company that provides health products for individuals who suffer from things like incontinence. In case you don't know what that is, it's people who have bowel or urinary troubles. The product is called, "Depends Undergarments." Think of it as an adult diaper.

As a promotion for a television commercial in South Korea, she has been looking for people of various ethnic nationalities to endorse the product -- she needs them to say on video, "Hi, my name is __(your first name)_____ from _____(your country)_____. Koreans can depend on Depend Undergarments! I do!"

To be completely honest, she has been having a terrible time finding people from other countries to do this, and has been authorized to pay up to $850 for someone to do it. The problem is, this is Korea, and it's hard to find someone who can do this and speak English. It's so simple! But it's good for you, because you can make some money if you know any Africans (or perhaps your friend, Geh Nelise Eka from Cameroon?) who would be willing to do it? All they need to do is record themselves using a handheld home video camera and send the footage to me by e-mail. If you need help with how to send the video, please let me know...

I can give very easy directions:

You just need to record you saying the line on video tape. Maybe showing the upper-half of your body. It would be great if you had a nice green mountain or African home behind you. Record saying the line, "Hi, my name is Geh Nelise Eka from Cameroon. Koreans can depend on Depend Undergarments! I do!" Once you record the video to your camera, then use the free Microsoft Windows program called Windows Movie Maker (if you have Windows, you have that program provided free). Capture your video from your camera, and then Drag the video captured to the timeline below. Then chose Save Movie File. When you do that, then choose the following: 1. Save to Computer, 2. Best Quality for computer playback (should save the file as a 320x240 .wmv file).

The file should be saved on your hard drive. When it's done, attach it to an e-mail to me and I'll send you the payment of $850! So easy!

You're really a helpful person, and I'm doing this to thank you for helping us find the bird breeder. Maybe you can use the money to help some needy Africans in Cameroon? That would be great, and make me feel so good.

Please let me know!