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