Possible Scam?

Arthur Washburn

Arthur Washburn

Knifemaker and AMC Freak
Joined
Jul 15, 2000
Messages
1,653
Fellow Knifemakers and Forumites,

I have over the past four months received the three postcards linked below. I scanned them for your information but I have removed surname(s) and address to protect myself in the event I have made an error and this guy is on the level. I don’t think that’s the case but truth can be stranger than fiction.

I received the first postcard dated May 2nd and within a week or so sent out some pictures and a price list of what I had available. I failed to get a response from Jeff. I then received the card dated July 4th. As you can see it is almost a word for word repeat of the first card. I initially chalked it up to someone not all-there and ignored it.

Friday I received the card dated Aug 20th. As you can see the name has changed to Don along with a minor change in his address. The surnames are also different. I’m not an expert but I’d bet a weeks salary that they are the same person from the looks of the handwriting. The content of the request has changed but the flow and script are the same.

If anyone else has received anything from this fellow I’d like to hear from you. If anyone needs further information shoot me an email or PM. If you PM me I won’t be able to respond until next weekend.

http://adw.go-gbs.com/Postcards1-1.jpg
http://adw.go-gbs.com/Postcards2-1.jpg
 
I received a postcard identical to yours (the one from Jeff) a few months ago. I sent him some info on in-stock knives, and he ended up buying one. No problem with payment or delivery. He also has a couple of more on order that I'm working on now. I'll let you know if there are any problems.
 
I posted this to two other forums and thus far have three responses confirming receipt of postcards similar to mine. I wonder if anyone has had any actual monetary transactions with this fellow?

When I started this post Brett had not posted yet.
 
Look at his "M" on 'Mr' all of the cards at 'Mr. Washburn'.
The M is identical.

Odd for someone to use two names on three different cards.:confused:
 
I Got One on JAnuary 29th of this year And Didnt Hear Anthing After I Sent Him Some Info.

Mine also said that he "collects buisness cards of knifemakers. I like to display the cards with the knives in my collection"

Mine was from Jeff S****

Michael
 
I got one last year,one in January and one in June, both like yours (nearly identical).Jeff seems to send them out the day after the Blade magazine arrives.I haven't sent him a reply yet,as I have been so busy with this estate I am closing up. I'll let you know what happens.
Glad to hear that Brett had a good experience.Jeff was interested in a fairly expensive knife of mine that was featured in The Blade magazine and a piece from the Blade 2006 book.
 
After carefully analyzing the writing on all the postacards, I can without a doubt confirm that it definatley is the same person writing.
 
I was contacted back several months ago. Sent some info....he asked if I had anything in a certain price range...at the time I didnt, but I have not heard from him again. I'll try and find the card.
Mace
 
i would bet a tenner that dan and jeff are written by the same people, as said previously the M are the same, also he has a distinct style of I and his y's are all the same. however if legit it is posible that he has writen the second one on behalf of a freind, the way he writes sounds like english is not his fist language so p[erhaps he has another colector freind who had him write a letter for him.
Brett seems to be happy to deal with jeff, perhaps when you sent himinfo he was not quite happy with what you had currently available, also the fact that he sent two identicle is posibly because he seems to send out to allot of makers and forgot he had already sent to you

Brett
 
When you see something paddling towards you, quacking, with feathers and duck bill, it's probably a duck. I could be totaly wrong though.
 
Since no money was mentioned, or shipping of knives to Singapore on dubious credit cards, etc., I'd say it was just a catalog collector who sends these to most people in the book hoping to get free pictures and catalogs.

I used to get these all the time, often by the same people. I used to respond to everything, send photos and the like(pre computers for me). It got expensive, but finally when I quit taking custom orders, or any other kind, I just throw them in the trash now.

I don't ever recall getting one thank you, or reply of any kind to this type of request. So I really don't feel guilty in the slightest anymore about trashing them.
 
Got my postcard today from "Jeff". Said he doesn't have a computer, so would I send him some brochures, blah, blah, and by the way, send a business card.

Every American today has access to a computer....... Just go to your local library, community college, or whatever.

Reminds me of when I was in the 8th grade. We were assigned the task of contacting General Motors or Ford Motor Co. to request all the information they could send on their companies. I got about 25 pounds of info. We later used that info to have a "class" debate over who was the best.

Ford won because they sent more info than GM. Oh well....... That was in about 1960-60 or so.
 
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