Nigerian Book Scam
We gets loads of scam emails and attempts to defraud but this one was more amusing than most.
So here we present the chronology of a scam, what sets it aside is that I played along, it involves Golden Age Crime Fiction (as opposed to cell phones etc).
I was emailed by Charles Richardson, an elderly collector living in South London, with a collection to sell.
Despite this description sounding typically English his prose suggests English is a second, or even third language: Bold text is Charles, italic is my reply
The Nigerian Book Scam
Hello
I am Charles Richardson from south London uk, I have some of the books and i can sell for your club .then if you are ready to pay some good money then i will send you my list of books in my library about crime.those you have in your list and others.
please I only need a serious business minded individuals to deal with in any thing i do
I will be expecting your call or write me
Charles Richardson
Hi Charles
thanks for the email, much appreciated. We are always interested in pre war crime fiction, UK first editions in dust jacket.
Loook forward to hearing from you
All the best
Rod
HI Rod
Thanks for your mail, like what i told you i have some in my personal library.i will sell for your club or you if you are ready to offer me something reasonable.
How much can you offer for each of the books and how soon do you need the books, how many can you buy.
All the best
Charles.
Hi Charles
obviously it depends on what books you have as to how much they are worth or indeed if we can buy them.
We would need some idea of authors titles, presence of dust jacket, first editions etc
Regards
Rod
Here are some example
THE MURDER OF GERALDINE FOSTER
THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY
THE MURDER OF THE NIGHT CLUB LADY
THE MURDER OF THE CIRCUS QUEEN
MURDER OF A STARTLED LADY
MURDER OF A MAN AFRAID OF WOMEN
MURDER AT BUZZARD’S BAY
DEADLY SECRET
Hello Charles,
thanks for the sample list, greatly appreciated.
Are the books hardback first editions with their dust jackets ? If they have dust jackets then they should all be priced at 7/6 if they are first editions
If so they are the sort of titles we would be interested in buying
All the best
Rod
HI ROD,
THANKS FOR YOR MAIL. THEY ARE FIRST EDITION AND WITH DUST JACKETS.
THE PRICE IS OK AND HOW MANY DO YOU NEED ALSO HOW SOON?
READ FROM YOU SOONEST
CHARLES
Hi Charles
I would potentially be interested in buying all the books you mention and any similar.
Could you give me an idea of how many books and a rough idea as to the money you are looking for?
It does not bind you to a figure and I regularly pay a lot more, it just gives me some idea as to whether it is viable to proceed or not
Thanks again Charles
All the best
Rod
ROD,
Thanks for your mail.the books are about 30 and i can sell for say 320.00 pounds.and if is ok by you let me know how soon you are paying for it.
All the best.
charles
Hi Charles
if you want to send the books on approval I can make payment by cheque immediately upon receipt of books
I will send full details if this meets with your approval
Regards
Rod
Rod,
Thanks for your mail.i get my money before i can send you the books .
I dont think i will accept any check becouse i have some problem with that last time i was selling my car.
I will prefer cash by western union money transfer or call money.
Charles.
This all took one week with the last one arriving today, I am tempted to continue but I’m feeling bored now
A really clued-up bookseller said,
July 14, 2006 @ 10:19 pm
£320 for all those pre-war Crime Club firsts in 7/6 wrappers? I’d snap his hand off if I were you.
Rod said,
July 15, 2006 @ 8:46 am
ARCUB,
thankfully these scammers have yet to get their act together..
Just think if he wrote a proper email
Just think if the list of titles had not been copied straight from the website listing wants
They’d have a good chance of catching someone, indeed, you copuld argue that £320 for 30 CCC in dw is worth a gamble, just in case it’s genuine.
Regards
Rod