SCAMPATROL

[winelight]

This is how this one works.

1) Contact made either directly or via alibaba or another trading site.

2) Scammer (usually in Africa) requests quotation for a large quantity of product: perhaps two containers, or something like that.

3) Just when agreement is about to be finalised, the scammer says he's just discovered that the Minstry of something won't issue an import licence unless the supplier can send a quantity (say, 25) samples - free of charge, of course.

Other variants are where the scammer just asks for free samples outright, and doesn't bother with steps 2) and 3).

And of course, there's always the fake letter of credit, or the promise to pay the second 50% on delivery.
_________________
also operating as Sandie Hobson

[winelight]

Another excuse used to obtain samples is something fictitious to do with transferring small amounts of money, for example: