SCAMPATROL

ecsy · ***NEW*** Forum Member Joined: 03 Apr 2005, 4:24 Posts: 1

I need help. I'm an exporter of rapid diagnostic tests from the Philippines and I received 2 offers from the Cotonou, Republic of Benin via Alibaba.com. The first lead I got from an Alibaba "wanting to buy" trade lead, I sent a quotation to this company, and shortly after I received an order for 55,000 strips of pregnancy tests bec. they told us that they found our prices "attractive", I confirmed the order by sending a proforma invoice, the company acknowledged the receipt of the proforma invoice is now asking for samples. Our company policy for samples is that the courier charges is charged to the client. But the client insists on us sending the samples and we pay for the freight bec. they have no Inbound courier account number so the samples would be freight collect. I am a little bit apprehensive of the legitimacy of this order bec. of the numerous scams in the internet esp from countries like Benin & Nigeria. Do you have any examples of this kind of transactions that turned out to be scams?

The other order lead I got from a person who posted a lead that they are an importer of biotechnolgy products and that they were mandated by biotech companies to import for them. I sent them a quotation and after submitting the prices to their board, he e-mailed me his large order and told me to send him a proforma invoice, the quantity was for 7,000,000 pcs for products worth about USD 3 Million. Is this a new scam. I desperately need answers. Can you help me.?

Former Member · Posted: Sun 03 Apr 2005 08:18 Post subject:

Hi ecsy. You are quite right to suspect foul play, and well done for that.

There are many very legitimate companies in Africa, but unfortunately one has to be very careful indeed.

Personally I don't have any specific examples of what you are offering up here, but here is what I would say.

(1) If a company will not pay for samples, after accepting a pro-forma invoice, then you should be very wary indeed. I would simply insist it is the way that YOUR company does business and if they won't accept it, hard luck on them.

(2) Always be very wary of being approached by buyers wanting unusually large quantities of anything. Test them first. Ask where they found you and ask exactly which product(s) they want.

(3) Where did you advertise your products? Is it normal for your business to be approached by email? Unsolocited approaches by email are rife, and there are many scammers wanting to take advantage.

If they are scammers they may be looking to send a fake cheque/bankers draft to you, or to try and use your banking account as a channel for money laundering (though I'm not too familiar with how they operate the latter).

In any event, be very careful. Are they using free email accounts like yahoo or msn? Can you find any information about the companies they represent? Google is your friend in these respects. Do their phone/fax numbers match where they say they are from? If they are able to purchase very large quantities, why would they use free email? That is certainly dodgy.

If you give us these details we can do some background checks for you if you wish, but I think I may have given you enough to make a start on your own.

As with any business dealings, check the client out thouroughly. If you have ANY doubt whatsoever then do not deal with them.

Should you need any further help, come back and we will be pleased to assist.

Former Member · Posted: Sun 03 Apr 2005 13:53 Post subject:

PM recieved, evidence gathered and a PM is waiting for you ecsy.

Former Member · Posted: Sun 03 Apr 2005 14:40 Post subject:

Having received a PM from ecsy, I was able to drag out various bits of evidence from copies of email communications and go hunting Smile

klaasvaak · Victim Support Joined: 10 Nov 2004, 10:01 Posts: 64

see also this topic: http://forum.scampatrol.org/viewtopic.php?t=141

Ask your chember of commerce if the African business is genuine!!!!