APRIL 11, 2023
I was helping my brother sell his small generator on Ebay. This is of my conversation with “Hellen” who wanted to “buy” it. I’ve left her charmingly creative spelling, punctuation, spacing, etc as I received it.
Jim wanted to sell a small air compressor for $300. He’s an analog guy so I set up this email account for him. I put a notice on Craig’s list for the compressor and collected his email. Jim was suspicious right from the beginning, before I was, and he wanted her to call him. She never did call, even though she said she was interested at one point. The following is my email conversation with “Hellen Scott” who said she was interested in the compressor.
“AGENT: am most sure i did not include that in my previous emails, he said he won’t come for the pick up unless i pay him the agent commission fee first in order to be able to schedule a pick up time and my pick up agent Head Quarters is in the States and commission payment made for pick up from anywhere in the world is sent to their Head Quarters in the States and the only form of payment they accept is western union money transfer. i have tried to pay online but i will need a credit card which i didn’t bring aboard the ship, and there is no post office(there is usually a western union section in most post offices) or any western union agent on sea! so i have to ask you to help me with the pick up fees, i will include the $400 they charged to pick it up and take it my home(1st class treatment), to the payment i will send through PayPal, after i have made the payment.I will need you to help me send the $400 to my pick up agent through western union money transfer, the western union money transfer can be made at a post office near to you,there is always a western union agent in most post offices or online at www.westernunion.com . I will be making the payment shortly and will email you as soon as it had been done. Get back to me before i get the money transferred. ok
FROM ME:
Dear Hellen,
Thanks for your prompt response. My brother Jim really would like to sell his generator soon. And, yes, I’d be very happy to help you pay your pick up agent. Wow, he’s really expensive! Anyway it will be easy to proceed. Please send me the email address of your pick up agent. Please also send me $400 in cash (certified mail, you can’t be too careful) and I will go and immediately transfer the $400 to him. In the mean time give my brother Jim a call. You have his number. As soon as he has a little chat with you on the phone he’ll tell me to send you my paypal information so you can send him the $300.
Thanks and here’s my mailing address for the $400.
John Bernanke
475 Commercial St.
Provincetown, MA 02657
From “Hellen Scott”:
sound great i have call your brother and he have send me his email..iwill like you to go and send the agent funds which is $400 to my pick up agent through western union money transfer, the western union money transfer can be made at a post office near to you,there is always a western union agent in most post offices or online at www.westernunion.com .Get back to me before i get the money transferred.okhere is the agent information
NAME::::::Richard Klinect
ADDRESS:::1500 John F Kennedy Boulevard
CITY::::::Philadelphia,
STATE:::::PA
ZIP CODE::19102
1………..Sender Name and Address
2………..Receiver”s Name and Address
3………..Mtcn Number
From me:
OK Hellen,
I’ll be expecting your $400 cash to arrive here soon so I can send the western union money order to your agent Richard Klinect. Remember to send it certified and probably you should ask for a proof of delivery receipt. That’s a lot of money to send through the mail and you should be very careful!
Sincerely,
John
From “Hellen Scott”:
i will want you to take $400 you your pocket and go and send the agent funds before you will received your money from paypal
From me:
Hi Hellen,
I’m sorry I took so long to get back to you, I’ve been helping my brother move. So Hellen, your English is not too good and I’m having a little trouble understanding you. I hope you will forgive me. It sounds like you are suggesting that I send you $400 out of my own pocket before you send the $300 via PayPal for my brothers generator. I’m sure I must be misunderstanding you because that would mean you are probably a thief. My brother would be so disappointed if it turned out you were trying to steal money from him and I’m sure your mother would be too! My brother is an honest hard working guy who’s selling his tools so he can pay rent. You know, the bad economy right now. He would be very disillusioned if I had to tell him that you are a bad person. It must be a simple misunderstanding. I’ll be looking forward to your response so we can proceed.
Sincerely yours,
John
No response from her.