Messin' with the Scammers - what should I do next?

[Lawlass]

I've had a parachute advertised for sale for a while now. Every now and then I get scammers pretending they want to buy it. They're always easy to spot. I love amusing myself writing back to them trying to get them to prove they are an 'expert skydiver'. Sometimes they get mad. Sometimes they send me pictures. Here's tonight's fun...

--- On Sat, 16/7/11, heskey brown <[email protected] wrote:

From: heskey brown <[email protected]
Subject: I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE THIS ITEM OF YOUR'S Jav Odessey NJ, DOM July 02, fully articulated, Black/Green/Grey S120/120R - Chicagoland SC staff rig
To: [Lawlass]
Received: Saturday, 16 July, 2011, 11:26 PM

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is Heskey Brown, it is my pleasure to let you know I am
interested in purchasing your this item of yours. Hope it still
available? If yes, kindly scan the picture to me and let me know the
last price involved. I will be expecting your response soonest bye.
Hello,


***

From: Lawlass

Yes it is still available and it is AUD 2500. However, do you have the experience to jump this parachute? It can only be sold to an expert skydiver as it would be very dangerous for a novice skydiver to try to jump it.

Please let me know how much experience you have and we can arrange the sale.

Kind regards


***

--- On Sat, 16/7/11, heskey brown <[email protected] wrote:

From: heskey brown <[email protected]
Subject: About the Parachute
To: [lawlass]
Received: Saturday, 16 July, 2011, 11:37 PM

Hello Lawlass,

It is my pleasure to read from you and interesting to let you
know I am pleased with and absolute awareness is known by me about the
parachute. Why not bit down the price to 2400? I will be expecting
your feedback soonest bye


***


From: Lawlass

Thank you for your prompt response.

I must be very sure that you are an expert skydiver. I could not have it on
my conscience if you were to use this parachute and were not an expert. You
could DIE. Please confirm how many jumps you have so that I know you have
enough experience to jump this parachute.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,




--- On Sat, 16/7/11, heskey brown <[email protected] wrote:

From: heskey brown <[email protected]
Subject: Re: About the Parachute
To: [Lawlass]
Received: Saturday, 16 July, 2011, 11:43 PM

Hello,

Honestly I really admire and appreciate your sense of inquisition
and compassion, well I have 12 jumps. I guess that is enough to
convince of how experience I am. So tell me have you agreed to my
price?


***

From: Lawlass

12 jumps??? You are only a student! You need a MUCH bigger parachute! You need at least 1000 jumps to jump this parachute.

I am sorry, I cannot sell it to you. You would die if you tried to jump an expert parachute with only 12 jumps.

Shame on you! Shame!

Regards,


***

--- On Sun, 17/7/11, heskey brown <[email protected]> wrote:

From: heskey brown <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: About the Parachute
To: [Lawlass]
Received: Sunday, 17 July, 2011, 12:19 AM

You are misconception it, I am not the one to use it. I am only buying
it for my cousin who will come over to your place with the to picking
it up then you can test her ability. So let's get down to business,
how much is the last price?

***



From: Lawlass

I think you mean to use the parachute yourself. I very much want to sell it because I need the money, but I am a good Christian and I could never live with myself if I sold it to you and you used it and then you DIED.

Too often I hear of people trying to use parachutes they are not experienced enough to use and then they DIE.

If your cousin is an expert do you have any pictures of her skydiving to prove it?

Regards,

From:

"heskey brown" <[email protected]>
Add sender to Contacts


To: [Lawlass]


Message contains attachments


1 File (2KB)

• cousin.jpeg
  

File: cousin.jpegDownload File


Hello,

I have attached her picture to this email, check it out


Hee hee, a google image of a tandem. Think I should mention that the experienced skydiver in this picture is a bloke. :mrgreen: Meanwhile, anyone got any good ideas to keep them going as long as possible? Anyone else played with scammers trying to string them along?

 

[Lawlass]

Oh, I have a live one! :mrgreen:


On 7/16/11, Lawlass wrote:
I don't understand? The experienced skydiver in that picture is a man!
I
thought you said your cousin is a girl?

Are you trying to trick me into selling you this parachute so that you
can
use it?

Maybe I should sell it to you and it would serve you right if you die
when
you use it!

I will not go under $2500 for you.

Regards,




--- On Sun, 17/7/11, heskey brown <[email protected] wrote:

From: heskey brown <[email protected]
Subject: Re: About the Parachute
To: "Lawlass" <
Received: Sunday, 17 July, 2011, 12:54 AM

You seem to be upset at me, please forgive me if I have wronged you.
But you seem to be misconcepting me. All the same, kindly bit down the
price Lawlass?





On 7/16/11, Lawlass < wrote:
I will not put down the price because I think you want to buy the
parachute
for yourself. Why else would you send me a picture of a man when you
said
your cousin is a girl?

$2500. Not one cent less.

Regards,





--- On Sun, 17/7/11, heskey brown <[email protected] wrote:

From: heskey brown <[email protected]
Subject: Re: About the Parachute
To: "Lawlass" <
Received: Sunday, 17 July, 2011, 1:01 AM

Yes she is because the picture I showed you belongs to her. You seem
to be mixing up some where I am sorry? Why not come online let's chat?





On 7/16/11, Lawlass < wrote:
The picture you sent me is of a man! The only girl in the picture is the
tandem passenger. She is not even a skydiver!

What do you mean by come online? I am online obviously!

Regards,





--- On Sun, 17/7/11, heskey brown <[email protected] wrote:

From: heskey brown <[email protected]
Subject: Re: About the Parachute
To: "Lawlass" <
Received: Sunday, 17 July, 2011, 1:06 AM

If you have to understand me, it is not possible for you to value my
cousin's life the way I value it. I told you she is perfect is sky
driving, but you seem to be calling me a lire which is an insult to me
Lawlass




On 7/16/11, Lawlass < wrote:
That is because you sent me a picture of a MAN and said it is your GIRL
cousin!!






--- On Sun, 17/7/11, heskey brown <[email protected] wrote:

From: heskey brown <[email protected]
Subject: Re: About the Parachute
To: "Lawlass" <
Received: Sunday, 17 July, 2011, 1:12 AM

do you know what i have sent you a request into your yahoo messenger
so logon let's chat there now





On 7/16/11, Lawlass < wrote:
What do you mean?

I am logged on! Otherwise I would not be able to email you!






--- On Sun, 17/7/11, heskey brown <[email protected] wrote:

From: heskey brown <[email protected]
Subject: Re: About the Parachute
To: "Lawlass" <
Received: Sunday, 17 July, 2011, 1:15 AM
I am there now, so that you and I will exchange immediate response





I am logged on but I cannot see you. Are you just playing with me? Do you want to buy the parachute or not? I will not go under $2500.

Regards,

From: scammer
Hello,

It is my pleasure to read from you and interesting to let you
know I am pleased with the price. I have made all arrangement for both
your payment and the pickup of the item at your place because I not at
home at the moment. Glad to let you know I will be paying you with a
certified draft and I shall wait until the draft clears into your
account before I proceed for the pickup of the item, so I need your
full date such as the following

Full Name:
Full Address:
City:
Post Code:
Home & Office Phone Number:

With all this, I will be able to get your means of payment to you
without any stress. I will be expecting your response soonest bye


From: Lawlass
I do not know what a certified draft is I'm sorry. I would prefer your cousin brings cash with her when she comes to pick up the parachute. She must also bring her parachuting licence so that I know she is an expert.

Kind regards,


--- On Sun, 17/7/11, heskey brown <[email protected]> wrote:

From: heskey brown <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: About the Parachute
To: "Lawlass"
Received: Sunday, 17 July, 2011, 1:38 AM

Well, definitely she will come with all that to your place. I am the
one buying it for her and I am not around at the moment that is why I
want to send you a certified draft I mean valid and authentic cheque
and I will wait until it clears into your account. Then she can come
over to your place for inspection of her ability and the pickup of the
item. So may I have your full data as I requested so that I can
prepare your means of payment now.

From: Lawlass

How about you send your cousin the certified draft and she brings me cash?

I do not trust banks and so I only like to deal in cash. The banks in our country are very corrupt.

I look forward to your cousin bringing me the cash and her parachuting licence. Maybe she would even like to go for a jump with me!

Kind regards,



--- On Sun, 17/7/11, heskey brown <[email protected]> wrote:

From: heskey brown <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: About the Parachute
To: "Lawlass"
Received: Sunday, 17 July, 2011, 1:45 AM

Lawlass, I quite understand your point of view, but I have already
putting things is scheduled mannar. The cheque in question is a
certified one besides your I shall wait until it clears into your
account because it will take less than 2days for it clear into your
account. So put your mind at rest and let me have your full data as I
requested?

From: Lawlass

Like I said, I don't trust banks so I don't have an account! I prefer to keep my money in my house so our government can't get their hands on it!

So I am sure your cousin will not mind you putting the money in her account if she has one and then she can bring me the cash.

I am very excited to be getting $2500 and going for a jump with your cousin!

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Regards,

 

[meloz]

Brilliant

Some more examples here

Welcome to the 419 Eater

Meloz

 

[trooper]

1000 jumps before you reckon anyone could use it? Are you serious?

What container? What's the main? Whats the Reserve?

Is it fitted with a CYPRES ? (maybe not AT THAT PRICE....)

How old.. how many jumps on it.......Lotsa questions! :mrgreen:

(Hey... 2 CAN PLAY!)

 

[harvyk]

I don't think you've been mean enough to them yet. all your replys have focused on experience, now you need to send something which says you want to move the "deal" forwards. The idea is that the scammer thinks you have taken the bait...remember to throw in some strange request or problem (eg your place was just raided by our corrupt police and taken as evidence but you'll be getting it back from them tomorrow) also have a small break from replying that makes them wonder whats going on.

 

[Lawlass]

1000 jumps before you reckon anyone could use it? Are you serious?

What container? What's the main? Whats the Reserve?

Is it fitted with a CYPRES ? (maybe not AT THAT PRICE....)

How old.. how many jumps on it.......Lotsa questions! :mrgreen:

(Hey... 2 CAN PLAY!)

All in the very first email when he quotes what he wants to buy (and yes, cypres2 with about 6 years left on it) But true, a small chick could get by with 500 jumps or so. I was hyperbolising with him.

BTW it's a bargain at the price if you want it.

I don't think you've been mean enough to them yet. all your replys have focused on experience, now you need to send something which says you want to move the "deal" forwards. The idea is that the scammer thinks you have taken the bait...remember to throw in some strange request or problem (eg your place was just raided by our corrupt police and taken as evidence but you'll be getting it back from them tomorrow) also have a small break from replying that makes them wonder whats going on.

See second post above. All in my very last email. (I keep all my money in my cash because our banks are corrupt). He gave up on me

 

[albatross710]

BTW it's a bargain at the price if you want it.

Maybe Trooper and Albatross710 could go halves and take to the skies again.

Somewhere in my ceiling I still have a "leading edge" PD190 which was all the rage at the time but I know that things have moved on.

Actually the canopy use to come out on windy days at the park. While other fathers took those flimsy little kites....we use to fly the kids on 190 sq ft of canopy. "You call that a kite, this is a kite." (apologies to Paul Hogan)

 

[Lawlass]

Maybe Trooper and Albatross710 could go halves and take to the skies again.

Somewhere in my ceiling I still have a "leading edge" PD190 which was all the rage at the time but I know that things have moved on.

Sure, I don't see any problems at all with you going from a PD190 to a zero-P 120 after a long break. $2500. Cash only. I don't trust banks.

 

[trooper]

I used to jump with cameras.... so a 120? No thanks!:mrgreen:

I'm sure we've all seen the types who jumped canopies that were way too small for'em.... could be ugly.

Of course I'm old enough to have jumped roundies.... (I even owned a UT-15... the fairly radical Rusian take on the PC....)

 

[Lawlass]

I used to jump with cameras.... so a 120? No thanks!:mrgreen:

I'm sure we've all seen the types who jumped canopies that were way too small for'em.... could be ugly.

Of course I'm old enough to have jumped roundies.... (I even owned a UT-15... the fairly radical Rusian take on the PC....)

Roundies, static line, weren't no such thing as tandems or cypres when I started jumpin' :mrgreen: These young whippersnappers don't know how good they got it.

I've sent another email to my scammer asking when I can get my $2500. No reply yet.

p.s. camera flyers nowdays are more often than not on a Velo 89, even the odd 79. I remember when I had a slider about that size...

 

[markis10]

You are all mad, jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft in mid flight!

 

[Lawlass]

You are all mad, jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft in mid flight!

I don't know about these other guys, but our aircraft had no door and was held together with gaffer tape. Nothing 'perfectly good' about it.

 

[albatross710]

I don't know about these other guys, but our aircraft had no door and was held together with gaffer tape. Nothing 'perfectly good' about it.

Lawlass when did you start jumping? Maybe we know each other. I was jumping Meredith, Labatouche, Pakenham, Corowa around the period 79-82 before moving to Qld.

I reconnected Trooper on this forum and turned out we were jumping buddies from the mid-eighties.

 

[Lawlass]

Lawlass when did you start jumping? Maybe we know each other. I was jumping Meredith, Labatouche, Pakenham, Corowa around the period 79-82 before moving to Qld.

I reconnected Trooper on this forum and turned out we were jumping buddies from the mid-eighties.

I started late 80's - Pakenham/Meredith/Ceres (when we were naughty)/Violet Town back then.

I gave it away about two years ago.

Black Bill Kenny was my first CI. He put me on my first demo at about 25 jumps because he needed a girl.

Commando Skydivers recently had their 50th Birthday celebration - over 200 attended the formal dinner including people from your era and before

 

[nlagalle]

I've still got my BT50/Atom around somewhere!

Oh and my S18 and Raven 2 are still there too!!

 

[Lawlass]

I've still got my BT50/Atom around somewhere!

Do the skydiving world a favour and burn it.

Oh and my S18 and Raven 2 are still there too!!

My first BASE jump used that configuration...

 

[trooper]

OK.. where was that BASE jump??? Inquirin' minds want to know......:mrgreen:

I suppose camera folks can jump small canopies these days... look at the size of the cameras!!!!

My first camera set up was an SLR still camera on the front of the helmet.... a video camera on the top.. AND a full size VHS recorder on my chest.... Yikes!!!:shock:

Yep... looks like there are some old colleagues around here.... I started at Wilton in 83... gave it away in 93 after damaging my neck....had a really nasty opening on a camera jump.... Neck is still not all that great!

Ended up with about 1100 jumps...

And to those who talk about "perfectly serviceable aircraft".... You sure as hell haven't seen some of the planes we jumped from!! :shock::mrgreen:

Speaking of scams... I got myself posted to HMAS ALBATROSS back in the 80's and talked my way onto the Military Basic and Free Fall courses....

The Basic course was about as much fun as you'd expect... but the MFF course was good value.... equipment packs and rifles sure add some interest in FF! Got to jump a C-141 as well..... Too kewl.......

 

[jsd]

I don't know about these other guys, but our aircraft had no door and was held together with gaffer tape. Nothing 'perfectly good' about it.

You jumped out of a Tiger A320 :shock:

 

[Lawlass]

OK.. where was that BASE jump??? Inquirin' minds want to know......:mrgreen:

It's off the Westgate.

 

[jonbud]

Hi,we have got an email off Heskey Brown, now he has decided that he is a pilot and wants to buy my share in a cesna.



To Whom It May Concern,

My name is Heskey Brown, it is my pleasure to let you know I am
interested in purchasing your this item of yours. Hope it still
available? If yes, kindly scan the picture to me and let me know the
last price involved. You can also reach me on my cell phone number
+447045733335, I will be expecting your response soonest bye.

I have not had the fun you have yet but I am really st a loss to understand why they do it? What is the deal here? What are they scamming for? Do they think I'm going to hand over the aircraft without payment or what? Just don't get it??? I would be grateful if someone could explain

Jon






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