[RE-wrenches] solar order scams

[Starlight Solar, Yuma, AZ]

The most fun I ever had was reverse scamming two of these scum-bags. I  
communicated with them over time and convinced them they had an "open  
account" with us but we needed to validate the account. I got them to  
wire me $20 cash so I could confirm the contact information, address,  
blah, blah, before I shipped out the products. Once a scammer actually  
sent me overnight delivery of fake US postal money orders for $4500  
from Dubai for an item I had on ebay.  I tried to find someone to  
report this to but no law enforcement agency ever responded.

It seems we are all on the scammer hit list. No time anymore for such  
good, clean fun!

Kindest Regards,

Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar
(928) 941-1660
Renewable Energy Products, Service and Installation

Mailing Address (NO SHIPPING):
Box 11114
11279 S. Glenwood Ave
Yuma, AZ 85367

Shipping and retail store (NO MAIL):
2998 Shari Ave
Yuma, AZ 85365

On Jan 27, 2009, at 1:58 PM, Jeff Yago wrote:

> I don't know about you, but we are receiving about 2 or 3 scam  
> emails every single day wanting to order solar modules, solar pumps,  
> or other solar hardware.  These are easy to spot because although  
> each one is from a different "firm", here are the the things to look  
> for that they all contain.
>
> Usually they say they are needing this solar equipment for a  
> specific project, which would imply they would at least have a basic  
> idea of quantity and size they are looking for.  Instead, they ask  
> for what you have in stock and can ship right away, and they will  
> list several totally different combinations of modules, pumps, or  
> components which clearly would not normally go together.
>
> The written language is terrible with very poor grammar, yet they  
> will give an address in the US.  They try to appear to be an  
> established business, yet their email address is always one of those  
> "free" email services.
>
> They will always ask "what credit cards do you honor" and they will  
> make a big deal about paying up front.
>
> When this was going around a few years ago, others on the list said  
> there was some way they worked this scam where it would check out as  
> a valid credit card, but after you shipped the equipment to some  
> bogus address, the credit card charge would be voided.  I don't know  
> how you can do this, but I assume they rent some low cost apartment  
> to get a street address for a few weeks, then ship as much stuff  
> that they can to this address, load it all into a shipping  
> container, which is then shipped on to some third world country  
> where they can sell anything solar.
>
> We tried several times to trace these abusiness names or addresses  
> to see if this was real, and have passed them on to Internet fraud  
> groups but that turned out to be a real waste of time.
>
> I am sure all businesses get this stuff from time to time, but it  
> seems like they are really targeting the solar world.
>
> Watch out.....
>
> Jeff Yago
>
>
> Netscape.  Just the Net You Need.
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