Is this a scam?

[TheDivineMissE]

Hi there...brand new member here. I own a very small online business and have been contacted by a Nigerian wanting to purchase a large number of my infant shirts. In addition she wants me to send her 3 Nokia 6600 cell phones for which "she will gladly send me an additional $300 for running around to buy them". She provided a credit card number but when I called VISA to verify it and get an approval it was declined. She offered to send me a different number. I've already told her I can't fill her order for her, what I'm trying to figure out is where is the scam? I imagine it's with the stolen credit cards and the cell phones somehow, what I can't understand is why she wants to buy 180 infant t-shirts. Anyone heard of this one or is she just trying to stiff me with a fake credit card? Thanks in advance for any info you have!

Jeanie

[PatrickDeese]

Scam.

Nigerians are infamous for using stolen credit cards, and even worse, they make a number of legitimate small purchases from a merchant, then make a much larger "emergency" order - and give you a check - but want the merchandise sent before the check clears - which of course it never does.

[netscan]

Yeah, I got one today for 500 hard drives and 500 sticks of memory. Hee hee hee, yeah, they're in the mail buddy....

[zomega42]

I get a kick out of these. Mine always sound something like this (paraphrased...):

hi, captain! best greetings to you. i am wanting to know the condition of you're item and final asking price. if this is acceptable to me, no problem because i will arrange shipping through my shipping agent and my associate who owes me thousands of dollars will pay you with cashier check drawn on a US bank and you can send the money and item after the check has cleared. o thanks and GOD bless mate

[bnhall]

The scam basically drags you along a little, a little, a little until you're roped in. Some variations have you buying them a rolex, for example, then maybe flying somewhere, next thing you know bam you're out your life savings.

Do a Google search on "nigerian scams" for info.

[DaveAtIFG]

Gentlemen, where are your manners?

Welcome to WebmasterWorld, TheDivineMissE! :)

I'm not certain Miss Midler would be thrilled, but I like your nick!

[TheDivineMissE]

Hehe...thanks. The nickname is actually my baby's nickname. The Divine Miss M personally said I could use it. hehe ;)

Jeanie

[swones]

For some futher reading on the subject here have a look at these threads:

[webmasterworld.com...]

[webmasterworld.com...]

[Rugles]

I wrote this somewhere else.

Possible fraudulent orders.

- larger than normal order
- needs it fast
- free email address

If these three things apply to any order, start checking. No matter where on earth it is to be shipped. It is also wise to decline all orders from Nigeria. Just say its company policy.

[Leosghost]

BTW the reason for the Teeshirts is that contrary to percieved impression that every thing in Africa must cost next to nothing cos most Africans have not much money ..
clothing particularly Teeshirts which cost around 20 cents when made in China ( currently the cheapest source ) cost a great deal of money in Africa due to Corrupt "exclusive" import rights to countries ( usually the supplier is a citizen of the Ex colonial power )...

Most of the Tee shirts you see worn by Africans are merchandising give aways from c*ke and the like..or "knock offs" shipped via Europe ...same applies to even the fabric used for the dresses etc , work boots , batteries ..you name it ....

I used to sell various goods including textiles to small african businesses ...direct ...most of them had to pay huge 100 to 600% import duties in their own countries ...plus bribes etc to customs ..

In spite of this info ...

What you had was a scam .....

[PCInk]

And very, very, very few Nigerians actually have a credit card.

In the UK, Nigerians find it very difficult to open even the most basic of bank accounts.

[tubeguy]

We get requests from all over the world to see if we export (even though we have it posted prominantly that we do not). Most of them are legitimate, but I've been getting these Nigerian emails for a few weeks and they had me going for a while. Didn't even know it was a scam until I read this thread. Usually I'm pretty good at picking out these kinds of things.