ATTN CAROL: Just to show you that there are wolves out there....even on the boards!!

coinlieutenant · February 11, 2004 1:31AM

Some of you saw that I was selling alot of stuff on the BST. Anyway, after answering a few PM's about coins for sale I get this PM from a member who I will keep confidential.

Hi.
I saw u are online.I got a rare Morgan Dollar for sale.
Interested?

I responded with some large amount of doubt:

It all depends on price. What do you have?

They responded:

I have a raw 1893S Morgan Dollar,in F grade.
If u give me your e-mail,i will e-mail the scans.
I can accept even $600 for it(but in cash).

Now my bs meter was pegged but I thought that I would play along. I countered with:

Do you have any references?

They wrote me back with this:

I have done some trades with user: #####
But i can sell this coin for u on yahoo auctions(i am new user there) if u like that.
If u don't want with yahoo,i agree to receive first 50% of its price.

I have not written back and most likely will not.

For most of us out there this is a blatantly obvious scam. However, there are some newbies out there that might be solicited similarly and I wanted to point out some of the danger signs.

1. There are NO Santa Clauses in numismatics!! A nice fine 1893-S is nearly a 2000$ coin wholesale. If someone is offering you something too good to be true, it usually is.
2. Stay away from people selling raw coins for cash only that you dont know. Obvious? yes. Do people ignore common sense when they see dollar signs. Yes. Enough said.
3. Beware new users on ebay and yahoo. These auction companies DO NOT protect the buyer. Caveat emptor...

If someone has received a similar PM as this, pls PM me with the party who sent it. Perhaps we can get to the bottom of the dung heap and keep the boards a safe place to buy and sell.

Very respectfully,
John

Dog97 · February 11, 2004 1:36AM

I stay away from people that can't write & talk right.
Thanks for the headsup.

LucyBop · February 11, 2004 1:37AM

if I get a pm like that I'll out their name quit, I'm not afraid.

Wolfy00002 · February 11, 2004 2:10AM

Just to show you that there are wolves out there....even on the boards!!

Please don't confuse with the "Wolfy's" on the boards.

Dog97 · February 11, 2004 2:15AM

There's a real wolf

coppercoins · February 11, 2004 2:23AM

I simply can't find myself dealing seriously with anyone who uses "u" and "r" for three letter words.

braddick · February 11, 2004 2:24AM

Could it be his ' F ' grade meant "FAIR" instead of 'FINE'?

Neptune · February 11, 2004 2:28AM

I'd play along with them, get the scans - then casually ask for a phone number to discuss a few things before you send payment. THEN get an address, and if they give you a PO Box, tell them that you are UPS'ing it and must have a physical address ................and then BUST THEIR BOOTY!

clackamas · February 11, 2004 2:28AM

>>1. There are NO Santa Clauses in numismatics!!

Actually there is. 2 years ago on Christmas I found 10 1943 DDO Jeffersons in an original roll. Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus

joeyuk · February 11, 2004 2:31AM

Thank you for the heads up John. I for one tend to give board members the benefit of the doubt. I guess you only need a e-mail address to start posting. It does not take long to see who the good people are. Joe

MICHAELDIXON · February 11, 2004 2:39AM

He might be legit, but I've been hesitant every time he has contacted me. This is the e-mail I received yesterday from him and my response. If he will have the coin certified, I'm a ready buyer.
====================

I saw that u are looking to buy US type coins.
Well,i got for a while now a Morgan Dollar,year
1893S(rare)in F for sale.
Available pics on request.I am in Europe.
====

My reply, as always:

Hi,
Thanks for the offer. But, on coins of this
nature I only buy them certified.
Mike

291fifth · February 11, 2004 3:03AM

It's amazing what 1893-S Morgan dollars do to otherwise intelligent collectors. I'm amazed that anyone would even consider sending cash to an overseas seller of this ilk.

Shamika · February 11, 2004 3:06AM

If it sounds too good to be true, it is!

Casey · February 11, 2004 3:12AM

Good post John.

Russ · February 11, 2004 3:15AM

If he PM'd me with the offer I'd simply tell him that since he's new he needs to ship me the coin first and, after I've received it, I'll send payment.

Russ, NCNE

Tsimmerdown · February 11, 2004 3:32AM

Was it Perro?

tjkillian · February 11, 2004 3:33AM

I'm with Russ, as if he sends the coin, have it certified (by whatever means you choose), then send payment. Bad English is not enough to call it a scam, the low price is, though.

Tom

dbldie55 · February 11, 2004 3:34AM

This explains the email I received yesterday "Do u buy Liberty Nickels?".

DCAMFranklin · February 11, 2004 3:45AM

<< I stay away from people that can't write & talk right. >>

Something like the following?

<< if I get a pm like that I'll out their name quit, >>

coinlieutenant · February 11, 2004 3:46AM

I was going to harrass Lucy about that but decided against it. Thanks for taking the hit DCAM!!

rkfish · February 11, 2004 3:48AM

yep......we got the same about the 93-s yesterday also.

Offered to buy coin if shipped to us......would provide references....dealers/and collectors.
No go......only accepts Western Union money order.....DUH !!

We get these at least once a week.....just makes me wonder how many people fall for
scams like this ??? obvoiusly a few do or it wouldn't continue.

Be careful out there !!

keets · February 11, 2004 3:50AM

hey John or anyone else who's had an e-mail from this "member"

there is a simple way to respectfully tell who he is. just ask in another thread if anyone is familiar with member ______ and explain the situation. why would you feel compelled to protect the "sanctity of the PM function" for someone you feel is a blatant scammer?? in that fashion, you actually protect him which runs contrary to common sense. it seems clear what he is doing, cruising the various forums and hoping to find a member naive enough to take the bait.

whoever he is, he should at the very least be reported to the administrator who oversees the forums. there's always talk of the forum family, would you let someone take advantage of a sibling just to protect the offenders anonymity?? i think not!!! reason says to tell us who it is and end the hoax.

al h.

LucyBop · February 11, 2004 3:54AM

I agree with Keets and don't really understand what John is afraid of...

If this person is really running a scam, out the name and maybe the mods will do away with this person....

I do think we are a 'forum family' and I don't want anybody getting took........

EVillageProwler · February 11, 2004 3:59AM

I agree that it seems illogical to protect an obvious scammer. This isn't a court of law, and the concept of innocence until proven guilty can be stretched too far at times.

EVP

relayer · February 11, 2004 4:02AM

Geeze, if you don't want to buy my coin just say so. No need to post it here

puff · February 11, 2004 4:03AM

Looks like alot of us agree with Keets!

joeyuk · February 11, 2004 4:05AM

On the other side of the coin, to give benefit of the doubt, if the name was told people may say " I have had many good dealings with them". Just a thought. Joe

stman · February 11, 2004 4:13AM

<< Looks like alot of us agree with Keets!

>>

Yeah, I hate when that happens.

puff · February 11, 2004 4:16AM

<< 

<< Looks like alot of us agree with Keets!

>>

Yeah, I hate when that happens.

>>

LucyBop · February 11, 2004 4:22AM

scammers, shysters, hoodwinkers and dishonest bozo's.......

pm me with that garbaaage.........

i'll list your name and make this board aware of it quick......

LucyBop · February 11, 2004 4:24AM

just got my first pm....

scammer number #1 just offered me 20 bucks for my tbird... some stman fellow........

keets · February 11, 2004 4:27AM

LucyBop · February 11, 2004 4:27AM

shyster #2 just sent a pm.....

he told me what he thought about my frankies..

the pm was signed NCNE????

LucyBop · February 11, 2004 4:29AM

JUST GOT another from a dog97....

heh heh, can't share thise one!

coinlieutenant · February 11, 2004 5:06AM

Everyone,

I AM going to do something about it and told Kranky via PM that I am going to contact Carol about it.

I just want to give everyone the benefit of the doubt before I act or slander someones name.

I got the info I needed via PM and now feel very comfortable releasing the name since numerous people have PM'd me about it.

BEWARE of mihaiinforcoins. That is the user and member that I got the note from. It was validated by many people.

I also feel like this is a family here on the boards and will do the necessary tasks to protect it.

V.r,
John

Bear · February 11, 2004 5:09AM

I cant write or talk real good and Im not a wolf. Im a bear.

LucyBop · February 11, 2004 5:11AM

its hard for Bear to type on the keyboard, he has big claws.....

KollectorKing · February 11, 2004 5:44AM

"Some of you saw that I was selling alot of stuff on the BST. Anyway, after answering a few PM's about coins for sale I get this PM from a member who I will keep confidential.

Hi.
I saw u are online.I got a rare Morgan Dollar for sale.
Interested?"

I know who the culprit (guilty party) is. He has PM'd me the same. But I told him I hated 93-S Morgans

JrGMan2004 · February 11, 2004 5:45AM

For you Bear: Oversized Keyboards

MatthewBabcock · February 11, 2004 5:55AM

I received the following email last night:

.....From: "Mihai" <mihaiforgod@yahoo.com>
.....Date: Tue, February 10, 2004 10:49 pm
.....
.....U buy US coins?

(I added the dots to make the indentation.)

I told him/her that I wasn't interested...

mrfred · February 11, 2004 6:16AM

I think you all did the right thing: bring this to the attention of everybody here on the Forum and also tell us who the scammer is. Kudos!

Russ · February 11, 2004 6:19AM

<< BEWARE of mihaiinforcoins. That is the user and member that I got the note >>

I have had many good dealings with them.

Russ, NCNE

UncleJoe · February 11, 2004 6:28AM

I have had many good dealings with them.

Is this a joke?

Joe.

Russ · February 11, 2004 6:44AM

<< Is this a joke? >>

Joe,

Read Joe.

Russ, NCNE

KollectorKing · February 11, 2004 6:57AM

Now that the cat is out of the bag, here are his PMs to me:

1. "Hi there

Got a 1893S Morgan Dollar for sale.Grade: F

Interested?"

2. "What about a half cent,1794,in VF?"

3. "I found in my collection a nice 1893-CC Morgan,grade AU 55+.
Price is not high.

Mihai"

I asked him to send me scans of the 93-CC and his asking price. He has yet to respond.

wallstreetman · February 11, 2004 6:58AM

John, tell him you want to meet!

Lucy, tell these guys you did that on purpose!

stman · February 11, 2004 7:05AM

Isn't this the same guy that was soliciting by PM in the past from India or something like that? He was told to put it on the BST and said he didn't know? Then people were sending him free coins and such. Perhaps I have the wrong person in mind, but I got the same Pm about the 93s and some PM's way back from the same person.

dougwtx · February 11, 2004 7:07AM

Here is a nice AU note he was offering to me for $120. I think I will pass for now; so its up for grabs for anybody else. Notice the serial number is solid 5's.

Doug

JrGMan2004 · February 11, 2004 7:30AM

A comment left on my site from him...

<<Name: mihaiforgod@yahoo.com
Remote Name: ##.##.##.###
Date: 02/10/2004
Time: 08:16:45 PM

Comments
Got a 1893s MORGAN DOLLAR,in Fine.

If interested,let me know.

Mihai>>

Russ · February 11, 2004 8:11AM

Looks like his 1893-S Morgan dropped from MS60 to Fine.

Must have been carrying it in his pocket since then.

Russ, NCNE

1jester · February 11, 2004 8:18AM

"I also feel like this is a family here on the boards and will do the necessary tasks to protect it.

V.r,
John"

Thank you John. I've had an uneasy feeling about him for a long time. He used to ask me by PM if I was interested in buying Bulgarian coins. He's from Bulgaria.

" Isn't this the same guy that was soliciting by PM in the past from India or something like that? He was told to put it on the BST and said he didn't know? Then people were sending him free coins and such. Perhaps I have the wrong person in mind, but I got the same Pm about the 93s and some PM's way back from the same person." --stman

I do believe you're talking about a member by the name of Nanda, who always enters giveaways on the Darkside, and although his/her light is frequently on, rarely ever posts for any other purpose. A group of us sent Nanda a bunch of coins last year for free, and I read a few months ago a thread by him where he was thanking people in this forum for helping him nearly complete his US type set from the mid 1850s. All for free. However, I have no reason to suspect Nanda is involved in any scams.

Mihaiiforcoins, on the other hand, is a different story.

ATTN CAROL: Just to show you that there are wolves out there....even on the boards!!

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