Spam or not?

[lvponies]

I got the following email today and replied to it. The sender then answered back. What do you think, Spam?

Dear Kim:

I think my client might be interested in Lee Ann 3 in 1 deal. Can you please tell me what will be your best price including crate to ship them by air and why you are selling this mare?

We may also be interested in the pinto filly born 4/21/2007, but I am not clear if you are selling it or not. Please advice price.

Finally, can you confirm if you can ship by air via Continental or American?

regards

Saludos

David Ibarra

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

De: KIM [mailto:[email protected]]

Enviado el: Domingo, 27 de Mayo de 2007 11:55 a.m.

Para: David Ibarra

Asunto: Re: minihorseworld.com Ad ID: 5287

Please see the for sale page on my website: http://mtnspringminis.com/index.html for pictures of the horses I have for sale. Please let me know if you have any questions once you look at them. These horses are all very tame and sweet natured.

Thanks,

Kim

----- Original Message ----

From: David Ibarra <[email protected]>

To: [email protected]

Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2007 1:52:32 PM

Subject: minihorseworld.com Ad ID: 5287

We have a client in Nicaragua interested in buysing a small group of miniature horses. He is considering buying one colt and perhaps 2-4 filly. I noticed you have several available at reasonable prices. Client wants them as pets in his home (about 5 acres). Bottle fed or very tame is a plus. Can you please send pictures of what you have available?

As mentioned earlier, we need them in Nicaragua. We have Continental and American Airlines flying here. Please advice if you can ship with these two airlines.

Regards and best wishes.

Saludos

David Ibarra

Tel +505-2709683

Fax +505-2781818

E-mail: [email protected]

 

[Reble]

Ask to have his Client contact you? :new_shocked:

I am thinking scam with the word Client...

 

[Mona]

Sounds valid to me! Good luck!

 

[Minimor]

This one could go either way. It doesn't exactly match the usual scam queries--maybe a vague similarity and of course it's possible the scammers have been busy tweaking their wording so that they sound more believable, but it's entirely possible this one is ligitimate too. Scammers usually don't want you to be concerned with shipping, they say they will deal with that.

Personally I would treat this one as real at this point and reply as if it is real. If it is a scammer, that will soon become clear and you will be able to end contact at that time. Scammers can hide their identity only so long!

 

[lvponies]

Thanks!!! You're right, they could just be tweaking their words, but I know better then to take more money then the horses are worth. He did go to my website and called LeeAnn by name. That's different then the usual words they normally use.

I don't know anything at all about international shipping.

 

[MiniHoofBeats]

My next e-mail to them would be "how would payment go through for this transaction?"

If they then pull out the usual "we'll be sending X amount with extra via Western Union....." there's your answer!

 

[_minihorses4ever_]

I agree, it could go either way. I remember on another horse forum, a member was contacted by someone in India. Everyone was telling her it was a scam, but it turns out the buyer was legate! She now has had some good business with the man since.

I say go for it for now!

 

[lvponies]

Here's his next email:

Dear Kim:

OK, lets see if we can work on the 3 in 1 deal with LeeAnn and her colt. When will they be ready to ship? What will be the best price you can offer us?

To ship International all we need is an invoice and a health certificate from your vet. The horses need to go into wooden crates for the flight. It would be a good idea for you to call Continental Airlines and American Airlines at Dulles to find out if they need anything else. Just tell them you are shipping two miniature horses to Managua, Nicaragua and see what they have to say. If you let me know what they tell you, I will contact the country managers in Nicaragua to coordinate everything and make sure things run smoothly. It should be easy to do as we move a lot of animals from suppliers in Texas, Florida, and California.

Regards

David

Sounding legit or not? Haven't mentioned money/payment yet. Guess that would be my next reply.

 

[Mona]

I still think this is legit! Just ask how he plans on paying, as you won't go through any expense until you have received payment.

 

[lvponies]

I emailed him back last night with my best price and questioned him some more about the international shipping and what would be required. Haven't heard back from him yet.

Weird thing.....got an email this morning from someone totally different who wants minis in Malaysia!! Said they were browsing my website and questioned if the horses were trained to drive and if not, could I train them. Also wanted to know if I had any carts to sell with them.

This is all kind of weird. I'm used to getting the regular spam emails where they are asking about "the item" for sale with no specifics or questions about "the item". Not too sure what's going on with these emails!!!

Mona.....if David comes back accepting my price on the mare & colt, I will ask about payment at that time. If it is at all suspicious, I will bow out. I think the payment piece will tell us once and for all if this is spam!!! I did tell him that I would expect "his client" to pay for any vet costs associated with shipping the horses to Nicaragua. Last year I shipped a colt to Canada and the cost to get a Federal Vet to sign off on the papers tripled my normal prices for coggins and health cert. I didn't know it would be that much and didn't include it in the price of the colt. Live and Learn!!

 

[Miniv]

What this person has neglected to mention is that when the horses are to leave the continent here, they are required to go through an official quarrantine site. The amount of time required in quarrantine varies depending on the country they are going to. Anyway, there is also THAT cost as well!

MA

 

[lvponies]

Not knowing any particulars, I did say something re quarantine. If this sale should actually be legit and go through, the buyer will be responsible for all fees required for the horse to leave the country.

 

[lvponies]

Ok....payment has come up....he has asked if I would like payment via a credit card or transfer to my bank. Not sure I'm comfortable with giving him details about my bank account. What do you think about a credit card payment to my PayPal account? I could then transfer it to my bank account. Is that safe? Anyway to get "taken" that way? What is the % that PayPal charges for a credit card payment....3%? Is that right? He has not suggested giving me more then what is required and sending him the difference. Is there any other way I could get ripped off that you all know of?

Help me guys!! This is making me nervous!! He has asked for the horses to be shipped in August and has asked that I contact the airlines to find out their requirements. Is there anyone skilled with international sales that could help mentor me through this? Having never done it before, I don't know how to start or even what questions to ask. I would greatly appreciate any help you can give!!!

:

Thanks!!!

Kim

 

[billiethekid40]

I know Tony and a few others have experience dealing with over seas sales. maybe now that you have a better idea of the legitimacy of the inquiry, you should post this on the main board and see if you get a response about international shipping? I'm sure more of the people with experience would see it there.

 

[lvponies]

My husband has said NO WAY to this sale to Nicaragua!!! He's not hauling the 1.5-2 hours to Dulles Airport, he's not worrying himself about a shipping crate. Just not doing it!! I will wait til someone in the states comes along to buy this mare.

Would anyone like me to refer this man to their website?

Thanks for everyone's help!!!

Kim

 

[Mona]

My husband has said NO WAY to this sale to Nicaragua!!! He's not hauling the 1.5-2 hours to Dulles Airport, he's not worrying himself about a shipping crate. Just not doing it!! I will wait til someone in the states comes along to buy this mare.

Would anyone like me to refer this man to their website?

Thanks for everyone's help!!!

Kim

This is why it is best for them to have an agent working for them...then they pay the agent to take care of everything.

 

[lvponies]

The man who contacted me sounds like an agent as he kept referring to the buyer as his "client". If he had come to me with all the info I would need, it would probably have been different, but all he said I needed was an invoice and a health certificate. He did say that he had contacted a customs agent to try to find out more info, but it would be a few days before he got any answers. I've already told him that I wouldn't be going through with the sale and would stick to sales in the states.