Scams!?

L

LHKnives

Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Messages
312
Ok with these scams that guys are trying to pull over us, what payment method saves our butts being the makers and sellers. I recently got an order which seems right to the point, no chit chat or anything and for 4 knives in which add up to a fairly high dollar. They asked if a credit card would work, I do take credit card but for some reason I was a bit leery about this deal so I didn`t accept credit card and asked for international money order. they came back with how about a bank draft.
So is a bank draft safe or can they some how back out of it once they get the goods.
This deal may well be legit, but for some reason I`m a bit leery.
 
Bank drafts can be forged. With any foreign payment I would wait until funds had cleared before sending the knives. The best way to get payment is by bank transfer. It usually doesn't cost the other person any more than it would to send you payment by an express courier like Fed-Ex and somtimes it is less. Another good way to get payment is to have the people send the money by Western Union. Again, this should not cost much more than sending the funds by Express courier.

I know that there are many trustworthy foreign people that are not out to scam anyone and that these people are being hurt by all the fraudulent scams that being perpetrated these days. Just the same, sellers must be very cautious in how they do business.
 
Be careful. Bank drafts can be forged. If they pay upfront and you have a 2 months or more to wait on it to clear, then maybe.

If it is a sizeable order, Western Union or a Bank wire transfer is the best option as the relative cost is insignificant.
 
Did the last two lines of the address read:

...
...
Djogjakarta
Singapore

If it is, please beware. I have been asked by another knifemaker who was suspicious of the address of a foreign buyer. Order was for 4 high-value knives, to be paid by credit card. I told him it sure smelled like a scam since Djogjakarta is not in Singapore. International Money Order should be fine but wait til the money is in your account before you send anything.

The last thing we want is hardworking makers being conned by the cheats and scammers that give the rest of us foreign customers a bad name!

Andrew Lim
 
Don't do it!!
Wire transfer only, and shipment only after the money is confirmed at your bank.
 
There has been a rash of bank draft forgeries with net transactions. Be very wary! It clears at the bank, 2 weeks later (when they actually try to collect it from the foreign bank) your bank will find it's a forgery and cancel the deposit from your account.
 
Tell them to convert their money to US funds and wrap it in tinfoil and send it fedex to you next day air. You'll have the money in hand and a better piece of mind.
 
No, Striper. If he does that, he will never hear from these scammers again. They have no intention of sending him any money. :mad:
 
Well I went with the bank draft, as I figured it should be ok. I did ask for 50% up front and the remaining before the knives are to be shipped, They will be waiting for a bit as I`m backed up till march right now. I would hope that the bank draft should clear before I`m finished with the knives. At least they are knives I`ll be able to sell later if something should go wrong, that is if I have the knives..lol
They did mention wire transfer, but I really don`t care to give out any banking info. They also didn`t want to go the money order route.
I`ll keep you guys informed of the status of this in case it is not legit.

Thanks for your advise
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top