WARNING: SCAM ALERT

**Pedal Steel Mike** · May-12-2006, 11:15am

I have 2 CDs on CD Baby. Recently I received a letter from somebody calling himself “Sean Macko,” claiming to be a distributor located in England, who said he wanted to buy 100 copies of each. I gave him a price and he said he’d arrange payment and get back to me.

Next thing I know, he says he is sending me a money order for $3,000 more than the agreed upon price, and he will send somebody to my home to pick up the CDs and the extra 3 thousand dollars. (He did not provide his address.) I told him I didn’t want to do business that way, and that I wanted him to send a U.S. Post office money order for the exact price and I would send him the CDs.

Two days ago I received what looks like a money order, from some company I never heard of, in an envelope with no return address.

I wrote the guy and told him this was unacceptable, and that I wanted to return the money order (which of course is a fake) and that if he wants the CDs he will have to send the US Postal money order for the correct amount, and he wrote back an abusive and threatening letter, implying that he was coming to L.A. and I had better give him the 3 thousand and the CDs or else.

I filed a complaint with the FBI. And will soon be doing the same with the L.A.P.D. and applying for a permit to carry a gun. The permit will probably be denied, but I want it on record that I’m being threatened.

**PaulD** · May-12-2006, 11:20am

You never really know with the whackos out there, but I doubt anybody that's working that kind of lazy-man's scam is going to go out of their way to do you bodily harm. Turn the M.O. over to the LAPD and tell him they will cash it for him, he can pick up the $$$ and bring over what you need for the CDs!

pd

**glauber** · May-12-2006, 11:23am

Yikes! On the other hand when someone wants to buy even one of my CDs, it really gets my attention!

I think you're doing the right thing getting the cops involved. At the very least, it gives the FBI something else to put in your file.

It's sad that there are people out there who think scamming musicians is a way to make a living.

**ApK** · May-12-2006, 12:22pm

This is a VERY widely used scam these days. #They do this to any one who offers a product or service on line. #When it's a serivice, what they are hoping is that you'll deposit the fraudlulent overpayment, then wire them back the overage before you find out from your bank that the original payment was counterfeit. #If it's a product, I guess they're hoping for both the money AND the product.

My friend was solicited with the same scam for some services, recognized it as a scam, and he decided to play along for a bit just to check it out. # When he got the (obviously) fake cashiers check in the mail, he called the Secret Service. #They told him "We are familiar with the scam. #Since the counterfeit check is less than $10,000, we probably won't do anything about it, and in the future, don't play along, you might get hurt."

Another young foolish person I know, actually fell for a similar scam and sent off her laptop computer to an eBay buyer who sent her a check from -- get this -- Nigeria. #No overpayment involved in this though, just a stolen computer.

**otterly2k** · May-12-2006, 12:37pm

Mike-- I encourage you to alert the nice folks at CDBaby as well, so that they can be aware of this sort of poaching and warn all of us who utilize their marketing/distribution services.
KE

**Jim Garber** · May-12-2006, 1:53pm

There is an article in the current New Yorker about a fairlky intelligent guyb who fell for the classic Nigerian scam and lost about $80,00 and went to jail because of it.

It is amazing that this scam still works for some folks given the fame of it.

Jim

**Bret Roberts** · May-12-2006, 2:28pm

Mike,

At the end of the day I agree that this is a bit of smoke being blow at you as one last chance to get some money . However, I think that you are being very wise to have all this documented with the police. If any of this did turn bad, it is very important that you can show the chain of events that led up to any kind of confortation. If I remember right, you need no permit to keep a shotgun at home! ( 4 buck is always a good choice )

Take care, this will pass.

**Pedal Steel Mike** · May-12-2006, 9:58pm

Originally Posted by (otterly2k @ May 12 2006, 10:37)

Mike-- I encourage you to alert the nice folks at CDBaby as well, so that they can be aware of this sort of poaching and warn all of us who utilize their marketing/distribution services.
KE

I've already done so.

The more I think about it, the more I think tht carrying a gun is a very bad idea. I seriously doubt that these guys would come to L.A. to make trouble for me, but if they do, I have something that I think is better protection than a gun. His name is Petey.

Post edited by moderator

**Daniel Nestlerode** · May-12-2006, 10:12pm

Nice. I like Petey better than a gun too. Petey can't easily be stolen, and he can't be used against you.

I'll bet that intimidation is part of the scam, but it is wise to put your situation on record with the local authorities.

Thanks for sharing this with us.

Best,
Daniel

**Pedal Steel Mike** · May-13-2006, 1:46am

Originally Posted by (Curious @ May 12 2006, 20:22)

Scams like the classic Nigerian scam work for one reason. GREED. Some people suspend their common sense when they think there is a big payday.

In this case, they didn't offer me anything outragous or unbelievable. The come on was that tey wanted to distribute my CDs. Had the deal been legit, I would only have made about $500.

I've alerted the both CD Baby and the FBI, and posted the warning on a variety of internet boards.

This being a family oriented board, I cannont use the words I want to describe how I feel about this incident.

However I thank everybody for your concern and support.

**jim_n_virginia** · May-13-2006, 2:19am

Glad you didn't fall for this very common scam. I read an itresting article about these Nigerian scams. First off it's usually not one person but a bunch of bored villigers crowded around a computer in some Internet Cafe in Nigeria.

It is not looked upon as a crime over there but as some sort of a game. It even has a name that I forget but is much like Go Fishing or something like that.

The authorites don't even really enforce the laws to much on this as it is generally looked upon that if someone is so stupid to fall for such a dumb trick then they deserve it.

I have never known anyone personally that has fallen for this but it is interesting that all of us has "heard" of someone who has.

Most people I would think who would fall for so obvious a scam would probably be embarresed and not say anything.

Also I too doubt that they will search you out and cause you bodily harm but it is a shame that you cannot own a handgun for your personal protection. Because you cannot take Petey with you wherever you go! He can only protect you while you are at home. And as far as the Brady bunch malarky about the bad guy finding your weapon and using it on you well thats fodder for another discussion on another forum! LOL!

I think it would have been funny to play along and send them a box that was rigged up that when they opened it 3 pounds of BB's would pour out on the floor!

**swampstomper** · May-13-2006, 2:34am

It's called 419 fraud, from the section in the Nigerian penal code. See this short Federal Trade Comission explanation. In Nigeria they have local pop music songs that celebrate the scam, basically saying anyone stupid enough to fall for it deserves what they get. They compete with each other to figure out how to worm their way into our natural sense of greed, to get us to suspend disbelief.

There are various sites which I will *not* link here where people describe how they 'bait' the scammers and waste their time; they collect 'trophies' like photos the scammers send. NOT recommended! You did exactly the right thing... it's very nice to have a documented paper trail in case something happens, which I doubt will. The dog should be sufficient.

**glauber** · May-13-2006, 9:11am

Originally Posted by (jim_n_virginia @ May 13 2006, 03:19)

Glad you didn't fall for this very common scam. I read an itresting article about these Nigerian scams. First off it's usually not one person but a bunch of bored villigers crowded around a computer in some Internet Cafe in Nigeria.

It seems to be more like organized crime. Big bosses have smaller bosses who have computer sweatshops where people work and live. The Nigerian government is beginning to makes noises about shutting this down, but you can imagine how hard it is (all you need is an Internet connection and a few old computers) and if they shut it down there it can easily jump to another country.

**tricyclist** · May-13-2006, 9:57am

Post removed by moderator.

**howbahmando** · May-13-2006, 12:23pm

They're not really appealing to greed, usually (I don't know what the story was w/the $80k guy though); just naivete. Guy says he (for some obscure reason) is sending you more than the sale price so pls. send him the item plus your check for the excess amount, that's not appealing to greed.

Although the scam's centered in Nigeria, I've gotten similar "offers" from Scotland, Belgium, and Hong Kong.

eBay, CDbaby, & all the other internet marketing places really ought to email an info packet to first-time sellers warning them of this scheme.

**Tom C** · May-13-2006, 10:53pm

Post removed by moderator.

**howbahmando** · May-14-2006, 2:16am

Originally Posted by (Curious @ May 13 2006, 22:46)

The CLASSIC Nigerian scam apeals to nothing but greed. It promises you a substantial cut of several million dollars for providing Dr.XXXX with your banking information so he can wire you this huge amount of money so that he can get it out of the country. After you receive the funds you and he will split the funds up with him keeping the lion's share of it (want to keep it believable after all

#), but you will still make out with a few million.
If GREED is not the only reason someone would fall for this I can't imagine what the other reason(s) would be.
BTW this predates email and was previously done by fax machine.
EDIT: Check out this link to see a version of the classic Nigerian scam letter.

But that's (a) not the scam they tried to pull on the OP, nor does it have anything to do with people trying to sell mandos/CDs/etc; and (b) let's not get into which is THE classic Nigerian scam

.

**Scott Tichenor** · May-14-2006, 7:55am

I agree this is a problem on the web, but this discussion is creating its own set of problems on our message board.

Inappropriate non-mandolin related images have been posted, and subsequently removed.

At least one site linked to had fairly vile content that is totally outside of what is allowed here. The web is full of this, yes, I'm aware. Find it on your own please. That link has been removed.

In addition, at least one web site that has been linked to with amusing content is set up to serve pop-under ads that have no bearing on the content and appears to be a front-end for trojan programs for your PC. Common to set up sites like these that people pass around for amusement, but the real intent is to sell ads, deliver trojan programs to PCs and general spam to the visitor.

In others words, some of the activities in this thread may be further assisting the very matters being discussed. Jumping on the web and searching for scam keywords is not going to guarantee you're getting content with your best intentions in mind. Entire sites get set up to duke people doing just what's going on here. Best to stick to mandolin content.