So, this guy says he wants to come to the Unithon but keeps asking questions clearly answered on the Unithon webpage. I will apologize to him personally if he actually shows up, but something about the way these emails are written gives me the feeling a scam is in the offing.
Oddly in the last email he seems to want to make a check out to me which I told him is unacceptable. The checks are made out to the Alliance for a Living Ocean (ALO). And I let him know that, no, I’m not going to accept money to arrange accomodations for him as he seems to be suggesting he would like.
Realty America is an actual company, but I don’t see a listing for Ganesville, Ga.
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Hi,
I am Scott Luis…a member of the Realty America.I am presently in the united kingom lambeth,london but based in hinesville,GA.I will be going on a vacation soon andd thought of relocating if possible. Well i am emailing in regard to the9th Annual LBI Unithon thats taking place in Long Beach Island.Would like to know more details about it because of my interst in it. Hope to hear from you soon.
Regards
Scott
Thanks Raphael for mailing back at me.The question i have is this…who am i suppose to be making out the payment to because i am really interesting in bringing along some of my colleagues who are british to be present in this great show okay. Just let me know and what will it cost me to bring along 5 of my friends. Scott
Hello Raphae, I’m so glad to hear from you.The payment is okay…but the form,i won’t be able to send that to you…the only thing i can do now is attach it okay to my email if that wil be okay,but i would like to know if i can write the 5 names on just a page. Also,i want to know if i can be making out the payment to you in check because we will also be needing a place to stay…so can you get back to us with details of this and what it will cost me. I will handle that. Regards Scott
Hmm, he evidently doesn’t speak English as a first language, I can’t see how it could be a scam but I certainly wouldn’t accpet money from him if I were you.
Sounds to me he is trying to use you as a travel agent. My guess is he doesent travel much and does not know how these things work. I don’t think he is trying to scam you out of your money but your time.
This smells fishy. He and his five “colleagues” all ride unicycles and wish to go on “vacation” together? Six unicyclists from London of whom we have never heard?
If it’s legitimate, this guy should be able to find a hotel all by himself. He obviously has accesst to the Internet. It’s not hard to figure out where this event is and what hotels are in the area. It’s the 21st century! Has he not heard of Travelocity or Hotels.com?
Remain adamant in simply restating what is already on the Unithon web page. He MUST follow those instructions exactly. Offer no help. He can figure it out himself. It’s all crystal clear on your web page.
I’m sorry someone is putting you in such a position.
Here’s what I would say (which you’ve probably already said to him)…
Read the warnings available to all who sell something on Craigslist. Be careful about the forms of payment you accept.
I had a guy interested in my product, though he really didn’t ask meaningful questions. I barely answered and his next email said he would send a cashier’s check, and asked me to mail upon receipt.
Used to be Cashiers check were good as “gold” but today there are so many fraudulent ones, and they don’t get discovered until 2 months after you deposit it.
Yes, it looks exteremely scammy. Ask the guy some questions about unicycling. Like what he plans to ride. That should clear things up pretty fast.
Thanks for the info from Billy on cashier’s checks. I wasn’t aware of that problem. When I do MUni Weekends, personal checks are treated as pretty paper until the funds show up in my bank account. I haven’t had a problem yet, but expect it could happen.
When people are coming from outside the country, since regular checks don’t work (or are a hassle to deal with), I ask them to just pay cash when they arrive. That should work with this guy. I don’t think he realizes how small an event you guys are.
But people without names coming from “London” to ride the Unithon? Sure, it’s a nice ride and all, but it doesn’t seem like much of a core reason to visit another country, if you know what I mean. Enjoy stringing the guy along…
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Hi Rahael
So how r’u doing today.I’m sorry to have gotten back late…i was busy up running a project down here but i’m done now.Its okay…since the payment won’t be sent till in 3 days time and it shouldn’t take up to 3 days for it to get to you.
I was able to get the information you told me to check on the link but there’s something i would like you to work on for me…there’s a problem with my issuer at this point but i just feel if i tell you about it,you would help me in a way.The project i told you above is a project on funding and i have to do it no matter what…its a protocol here.But the problem with my issuer is that she has refused to make out payment in another form to an organization that i’m funding…the reason is because they don’t cash foreign checks in africa and she wouldn’t like to deposit a check in a her…its against the law.So i have been given an option…its either i get someone else that can help me forward the payment to the organization in africa or i forget about it. I’m rendering this help to you in a way whereby the check will be made out to you in the name that will be given now in regards to ALO and to the organization…so as it clears the bank,you will be sending some amount of money to the organization in regards to my name…this is a favour from you okay…all you have to do is get the check and help me forward some amount of money to them…i will let you know what you’ll have to do. On ALO…I will be sending the names to you on here…she(the issuer) won’t be able to do that.I hope thats fine? Hope you understand all this.
Hoping to hear back from you.
Scott
Honestly John, I don’t string people along. It’s not my style. I told him that I would not be sending any money to anyone on his behalf. I told him that if he wanted to participate in the Unithon to follow the instructions he’s been provided and if not that our communications were at an end.
Really if I’m going to waste my time I’d much rather spar with Billy.
I find it both amusing and alarming that this guy must be trolling for event organizers, even itty-bitty events like this one, and firing off letters to try to scam them for a few hundred bucks.
