Nigerian T-shirt Connection, Internet Fraud, scams and rip-offs

Web Merchants Beware of Bogus Product Orders from Nigeria!

Every week, we at Going Postal T-shirts receive at least a dozen orders from Nigerian scam artists. They offer to pay by credit card and often claim to even have an account with one of the major international couriers. They will say they are buying for their shop or, alternatively, some religious organization. We know they are not just scamming t-shirt companies but more than likely any company selling a product and willing to ship overseas.

THREE POINTS TO WATCH FOR

These "buyers" all have three things in common:

(1) they want to pay by credit card;
(2) they place significant orders; and
(3) they are very much in a hurry for their product.

DO NOT TAKE THESE ORDERS SERIOUSLY!

If you want to be sure, just do your due diligence and check out their credit card information. It will always be fraudulent. We have received hundreds of these orders and not one of them has checked out.

I have compiled some of these letters below. You'll probably find them similar to any you may have received.

Nigeria is not the only country where this scam originates (it was popular in Indonesia a couple of years ago and it is popular in Morocco and other West African countries right now) but it is by far and away the most prolific source. If you receive an order that fits the three points mentioned above, your best bet is to ignore it. Be aware also, that occasionally an order will appear to have orginated within your own country; evidently they are into "drop shipping" now!

As legitimate and ethical Internet merchants, we are fully aware that it is more dangerous for us to do business on the Web than it is for our customers. Customers have recourse from their credit card companies who will almost always reimburse for any dissatisfaction; they will always get their money back. But we as merchants have nothing whatsoever to protect us from unscrupulous customers or the use of fraudulent credit card numbers. The credit card companies will not only not help us retrieve our goods but they will force us to pay back the legitimate holder of the credit cared used. We, therefore, not only lose the amount paid for the order but the goods shipped as well, plus shipping.

If you want to have some fun, however, play along with them until they finally catch on that you're yanking their chain. Usually, after placing an order, they will follow up after a week or two asking if you have shipped. You can tell them that you have shipped their order and give them the name of an imaginary international courier (World Pendejo Couriers is my favorite). When they ask you for a tracking number, make that up as well. Never give them your name and delete all signatures from your letter; there's no sense in making it easy for them. Get creative! Have some fun! These people are out to rip off you and any other merchant they possibly can so have no mercy on them. Perhaps we can waste enough of their time that they'll look for some other nefarious scheme to make a living. Who knows - they might even get a job.

If you have any questions regarding this scam, feel free to e-mail me!

SOME GOOD NEWS: The Nigerian Store in Atlanta, Georgia, is run by a Nigerian who is as upset as we are by the rip offs coming out of his country. Please visit his site and send some encouragement his way!

SOME TYPICAL ORDERS FROM NIGERIA:

(This letter was a follow-up after having placed an order with on our shopping cart)

Subject: Re: Thank_You_for_Shopping_with_Going_Postal!

HELLO WELL I WILL LIKE TO KNOW WHEN ARE SHIPPING OUT MY GOODS , SO THAT I CAN COME FOR HE SATUS...........

silver a james
3,rufia str somolu,
PW 23401 Nigeria

My Reply:

Sir - All business transactions originating in Nigeria or from Nigerians are fraudulent in our experience, therefore, we do not accept credit cards from them. If you want us to fulfill the order, you must send us cash in US dollars via express mail. Good luck!

DLR

His Reply:

hello
well i can understand but i was informed one store around last weekend about all black nigeria there all fraudlent about i was born in turkey but i only came down to nigeria to make two or more business so plz help me send down the goods well..............

* * * * * * * * *
(I really like this kind! Note that the "customer" claims to be a Business Woman and then signs her name Thomas Bella.)

I am a Business Woman who owns and operate a store in Nigeria, I got your contact from a friend who is a customer in your store and he introduced me to your store, I have got the list of what to Order for, presently I'm in the United States on a business trip, I will like you to give me the Shipping Cost to Nigeria for the below stated items and how long it will take this goods to arrive in Nigeria, This goods are needed urgently in my store. Please reply as soon as possible and let me know the Total cost for Shipping and Handling including the tax, the shipping should be via EMS/UPS.

PRODUCTS Money T-shirts
Patriotic T-shirts
Scandinavian Tee Shirts
40 pieces each
REGARDS THOMAS BELLA

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(When they ask for a total cost, I usually inflate my prices several hundred percent, charge thousands in shipping, and then require pre-payment in non-counterfeit US dollars or gold coin, shipped to me via international courier. I seldom hear back from them!)

dear sir/ma

I want to have a business relationship with yourcompany/store.I am mr Adam colins.I will like to place an order with underlisted product Spiritual t-shirts[90 pcs].I want you to give me the total qoutation and discount of this product,together with the shipment cost.I will like you toship with any of this two companies,DHL,UPS.I suggest this two companies because my client in nigeria told me that they are fast in service,this order is for my client in lagos/nigeria.The method of payment is with my visa creditcard.i will be greatful if my order is granted.

Thanks
Adam colins

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DearSir/Madam,

This is LumesCrystalcompany.We had visited your site on internet it was very interesting and we had discovered some goods/item from your site that we will like to order from your store and ship to my Company in Nigeria?.but first we will like to ask you this question.Did you operate on international shippment to Nigeria?If your answer is yes,kindly give me the shipping charge to Nigeria via UPS, then i will send you the items list i want to order from your store.Kindly give feedback information, also we could send you the items list below.Thank in anticipation for your kind response.I will be waiting for your reply any moment from now.

Thank you. Smith Scott

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Hello,
I will like to inform you that I'm interested in the designs of your tee shirts and I will like to purchase the items below:
Short sleeve tee shirts Irish-design------ 120pcs
Short sleeve tee shirts aviatio-design------120pcs

kindly Calculate the total price plus EMS/USPS shipping charges to Lagos , Nigeria and get back to me as soon as possible. Awaiting your quick mail. Best Wishes.

*************************

DEAR SALES,

I AM INTERESTED TO BUY SOME ITEMS IN YOUR STORE AND I WILL LIKE TO KNOW IF CAN SHIP TO NIGERIA ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS FOR THE PAYMENT. GET BACK TO ME WITH YOUR WEB SITE ADDRESS OR WHAT YOU HAVE IN STOCK. URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED.

MANY THANKS, BEST REGARDS.

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Hello Sir ,

How are you doing today,thank you for the prompt response and attention. I actually am looking to place an order for :

ITEMS QTY
1.Product ID: egyptrail1 50pcs
2. Product ID: monacorail1 100pcs

I will like you to kindly get back to me with the total cost including UPS Worldwide Express shipping charges to Lagos,Nigeria. I will also like to apply for a first large order discount for this order. As soon as i receive your final quote,i will forward my credit card details to your attention. Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards, lomaxsmith Managing
Director. lomaxsmithstore Nig Ltd.

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SIR,
ON BEHALF OF MY CLIENT IN LAGOS I WILL LIKE AND PLACE OF 30 Norwegian FlagExtra Large Long Sleeve Tee Shirts

AND I WILL LIKE YOU TO GIVE ME THE COST OF 30 AND THE COST OF SHIPPING IT TO LAGOS STATS, NIGERIA THROUGH U P S COUNRIES SERVICES

SIR I WILL BE LOOK FOWARD TO YOUR MAIL .

THANKS. WOODSBECKELY

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please i would like to order these goods in your store ,kindly calculate the shipping quotation to nigeria by united states postal services [usps] global express 3-5 days delivery or fedex international and get back to me with the shipping quotation to nigeria so that i can give you my CARD TO BILL FOR IT.

product Win the War T-shirt (1943) 20 pieces
Army & Navy T-shirt ( 1940) 10 pieces
For Defense T-shirt (1940 10 pieces
T -shirts for Cigar Smokers 5 pieces
Firecracker Label T-shirts 5 pieces
Beautiful Flower T-shirts 7 pieces
Patriotic 10 pieces T-shirts all in xclarge

thanks coker ade

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(I received this after the gentleman had placed an order via the shopping cart)

HELLO, PLS I WILL LIKE TO KNOW WHEN MYORDER WILL SHIPPED

(My Reply)

Dear Dr. Mayo -

Because every order we've ever received from Nigeria has used stolen credit card and shipping information, we no longer pay attention to these orders. If you are serious about the purchase, please send cash via international courier.

Best regards,
Management Going Postal! T-shirts from Classic Postal Art

(His Reply) (ooooo...the secret code!)

i am not a thief so please send the goods i bought from you i can even give u the secret code so please just try me for the first time and i will not dissapoint you so please i will like you to tell me the date my goods will be shipped

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(this guy won't give up - his second attempt)

DearSir/Madam,

Thank you.
Smith Scott

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(My Reply)

Dear Mr. Scott -

As you are surely aware, most Nigerians on the Internet are thieves and scoundrels. We receive at least a dozen requests like yours every week from people who offer to pay us with fraudulent credit cards and UPS/FedEx accounts. Therefore, we only ship to Nigeria if we receive the total amount of the order prepaid in cash U.S. dollars (not counterfeit) or gold coin.

Good luck.
DLR

(His rather annoyed reply)

Hello, what kind of insurt be that are you want to call me a fraud person pls if you want to do business with me let me know and don't said that to me again.

(My reply to his reply)

Great - just give me a credit card number listed with your name and address on a local Nigerian bank and I'll do business with you. I'll bet you can't do that. Look, you know you're not going to do business with me, so for just once be honest with yourself. I'm used to you Nigerians lying to me but I'd like to hear you confess your criminal intent just this one time. What's the harm? God might even reward you.

So how's business? How many suckers fall for this trick? Is it easy to re-sell the merchandise you receive? I understand that things are tough in your country, but believe me, things are going to get a lot tougher for you if you keep trying to cheat people.

Grow up.

(His succinct reply to my last suggestion)

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If you have some cautionary tales or amusing anecdotes about these scumbags, send them to me for posting!

(More to come)

The Nigerian T-shirt Thieves