This is probably the wrong forum, as I am not registered for the Buy and Sell forum. I responded to a local ad on Craig's List in Columbus, Ohio for a Canon 5D and lenses at a very attractive price. Two days later, the ad disappeared. A week later I received an e-mail from London, UK, offering to use Royal Mail to get the equipment to me and allow me to inspect it. The info stated that my money would be refunded if it were not as described.

Is anyone familiar with this Royal Mail process? Do you recommend it?

George

Edited by GCasey on Aug 05, 2008 at 06:49 PM GMT

Edited by GCasey on Aug 09, 2008 at 10:32 AM GMT

I think it smells funny... Donīt have any practical experience though...

A

I seem to recall this was the method used by a number of scams about a year ago.

Royal Mail isn't really an international delivery company, and offer no real tracking system.

Why would someone from UK list in local craigslist? SCAM!

I'd go with that, I only heard of Craigslist from this site.

The Royal Mail is just the regular postal service here in the UK. They deliver letters to your door & that's about it - they are not a courier service and do not offer tracking. Also, as Chester has said, why would anyone in the UK list an item for sale on Craigslist??

I'd say it's a scam - don't touch it.

Pierre.

Craigslist has sort of replaced the weekly newspaper for a lot of misc. stuff for sale. I bought a mint Canon 100, f/2.8 macro lens via Craigslist a few months ago from someone local. I was able to inspect the lens before buying it.

The price of the 5D outfit sounded too good to be true. I suspected a scam, and wanted to see if anyone had any dealings with Royal Mail.

In his reply, he referred me to a website that presented a glowing report of the tracking ability of Royal Mail. In brief: They verify the contents and contents of the merchandise, I receive the package, inspect the merchandise, and, if it is not in the condition described, can ask the Royal Mail to refund me from the seller's trust account. It looked official, but it appears that he may have set up the URL just for that purpose!

I won't accept the guy's offer!

Thanks for your quick responses.

funny- I did the same thing. Guy's email was Randy Nicholas. Scam!

Look around Craigslist. Those ads are everywhere! Scam for sure.

Agree that you are looking at a SCAM that's after your money.

In general, if it ain't local and you can't lay your hands on it FIRST, you should beware of it.

I send a lot of stuff back and forth to England. The Royal Mail is just the British mail system. It is NOT a registered commercial business, and the site you were referred to is part of the SCAM..........Run Away, Run Away.

If you insist on following this guy up, inquire as to why he isn't shipping via USPS or Federal Express. Both do business in English Isles, and both do insured shipping and tracking. Price of shipping isn't an issue for photographic equipment, as the mail system has to ship via air mail and that's hugely expensive for a 2+ pound package.

Also inquire as to his customs certificate number. If he doesn't have one, ask how he will handle customs fees on the item (he would have to declare the value, and then YOU are going to have to pay over 20% of that in customs fees, COD). Note that if he hems and haws over this issue, your next point is to ask how he will handle insurance, payable to you (you can't lie about the value for one, and not have it show up on the other ).

Be Safe, Run Away.

Tell him to send it - and you will pay him when it arrives

This was a post a few weeks ago
I quote:

"Anybody familiar with Royal mail...

I'm in the US and found a great deal (NEW Canon 5D and 2 lenses with filters-$1300) on the local Craigslist but now the seller is in the UK and wants to ship the gear by Royal mail in 2 days and says I can somehow receive the items and check the gear before he receives payment.......the low price of the items and this situation is sending a red flag."

Sound familiar?



RUN

Geoff, this guy's name is Randy Nicolas!

Genes, it might be fun to play with him a bit and ask the questions you raise.

Paul, This is the same 5D offer that I responded to!

I'm inclined to say "No, thanks!" and ignore it, because it isn't worth the time.

I will report it to Craigslist. I bought one lens locally via their ad and got a good price on a mint lens.

George

George, maybe we should tell him that we'll send him a check for $1,000,000- all he had to do is take his price out of the check, and send the rest back to us.

Geoff, That's a great idea! Seems that aa few people from overseas hire wedding photographers the same way. Or, try to.

When you buy or sell on Craigslist, you should only deal locally and in cash.

Was he there "studying medicine"? I responded to a similar add about a year ago for a 5d and 24-70L for 1300 US dollars. I never pursued, but was just interested in what he had to say; he did say he was there studying medicine and mentioned Royal Mail as well.

The Royal Mail is just the British mail system. It is NOT a registered commercial business

It is a registered commercial business, like any other.
It also does insured, tracked, shipping overseas but only up to a value of Ģ500.

It does not offer the service described above though, as far as I know.

Royal Mail does offer "tracked" parcels, but Royal Mail's idea of "tracking" isn't the same as mine, they tell you if it's arrived, that's all, if it doesn't get turn up you've got as much chance of finding it by consulting a mystic with some runes.

Comments -- from both sides of the pond -- are warm and helpful. Thanks!

This scam is widespread. Most of you have seen or know directly of the ad. It was repeated yesterday, word for word -- no surprise! I 'flagged' it, and it was deleted very quickly from Craigslist. They are obviously aware of the scam. Initially, I sent an inquiry, saying that I was interested.

It may be helpful for you to see/know the response to my inquiry. Here it is:


"Obviously we need a safe way to complete this deal that will allow us to make sure we receive what we are after.I have found a way for us to complete the deal fast (3 days) and easy. The solution is Royalmail. Royalmail is the UK's national mail carrier ( such as USPS in the United States) and they will provide assistance in handling the payment and delivery of the items .With this process you will be able to check the items before I receive the payment.Let me know if you agree with this!
Here is a link where the process is described: http://www.royalpost-international.com/transactions/

Randy Nicholas
Aintree Complex, Longmoor Lane,
Liverpool, Merseyside L9 7LN
United Kingdom
Ph: 07031890636


I replied to this message and stated that I responded to the ad because I thought he was local and wanted to look at the equipment before I made a final decision. "Can you arrange that?" He has not yet responded.

I have to wonder if UK authorities would like to know of this. The URL given looks authentic, for example. Googling on "Royal Mail" might be interesting.

George

GCasey wrote:

Here is a link where the process is described: http://www.royalpost-international.com/transactions/

I have to wonder if UK authorities would like to know of this. The URL given looks authentic, for example. Googling on "Royal Mail" might be interesting.

George

It is not a genuine site

I googled on "Royal Mail" -- not on 'royalmail' -- and a got completely different site. There was also an opportunity to report fraud to the police in the UK, and I sent a copy of the reply to them. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

This is one big scam, I have looked at other cities on Craigslist an find the same add for the same equipment word for word. Below is a e-mail sent from the man selling the equipment. I ask him to send it to someone state side and he said that the Royal Mail is the only safe way.

Obviously we need a safe way to complete this deal that will allow us to make sure we receive what we are after.I have found a way for us to complete the deal fast (3 days) and easy. The solution is Royalmail. Royalmail is the UK's national mail carrier ( such as USPS in the United States) and they will provide assistance in handling the payment and delivery of the items .With this process you will be able to check the items before I receive the payment.Let me know if you agree with this!
Here is a link where the process is described: http://www.royalpost-international.com/transactions/

Randy Nicholas
Aintree Complex, Longmoor Lane,
Liverpool, Merseyside L9 7LN
United Kingdom
Ph: 07031890636

> Subject: Re: Canon EOS 5D Kit- $1200
> To: dexterr26@hotmail.com

here the royal mail site. It a honest company just like UPS. royal mail

GCasey wrote: The URL given looks authentic, for example. Googling on "Royal Mail" might be interesting.

George

Ask yourself, if an organization that's nearly 500 years old and has a turnover of over $20 billion would have such an amateurish looking web site...

Oh,. wait a minute, the Royal Mail actually does have a really amateurish looking web site. I can see how people get fooled.

Seriously, do a quick search on Whois and you'll see your bogus website is owned by a guy in San Jose. It even has his phone number, so you can ring him up and give him hell

Guys I'm so happy I found this forum....

I got a similar email but this one came from Karol Whitlow from karolwhitlow27@hotmail.com

This was in regards to a Macbook for $600 ridiculously priced....i know it was too good to be true.

Be low you can read her first email:

Hi there,

I still have the MacBook. But the thing is that i'm in the U.K. for my school ( i have the machine with me), if you're still interested in the sale please let me know and maybe we can work something out . So drop me a line if you're up for grabbs!
Thank you!




Karol Whitlow
22-23
Pownall Square
Liverpool
Merseyside L3 6AD
United Kingdom
Ph: 44 20 3014 7453


Then Second Email:


I`ll be back to US in 4 months from now but i m in a hurry with the sale due the personal reasons.
Obviously we need a safe way to complete this deal that will allow us to make sure we receive what we are after.I have found a way for us to complete the deal fast (3 days) and easy. The solution is Royalmail. Royalmail is the UK's national mail carrier and they will provide assistance in handling the payment and delivery of the items .With this process you will be able to check the items before I receive the payment.Let me know if you agree with this!
Here is a link where the process is described:www.royalpost-international.com/transactions


I bet that last email rings a bell....anyways also wanted to point out that there is also a Karol Whitlow out there...buyers beware....

By the way this item was found on Craigslist in Chicago!