• LAVA Moderator: Shinji Ikari

Did I get scammed?

2oclockbeanfiend.2

Bluelighter
Joined
Oct 13, 2005
Messages
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I assume I got scammed (I pretty much scammed myself by believing this was possible in the first place), but before I completely chalk this one up as a loss, I thought I'd ask you guys if there is ANY validity to this claim:

"I have registered your Package with the Couriers,but there is a problem They have sealed the Tracking number, the reason being that you are required to pay a refundable Anti Custom fee and Diplomatic Sticker

The customs officers have hold the parcel that new law have been pass by European custom offices that , no parcel should leave to EU without a
Refundable Anti Custom Clearance fee for free no custom checking on arrival. .

Also they call to our notice on the diplomatic sticker which must be stick on the diplomatic
parcel which is the free way permit for shipment from us to you as diplomatic receiver.

So they said it will cost a total of 350$ for these Refundable Anti Custom Clearance fee and Diplomatic Sticker.

We realize all this happening because its your first shipment , but after this shipment all your certificate will be issue to you and as
from next shipment , the will be no disturbance with the parcel since
all your details will be register by our company and the delivery
company and you will have all the certificates for free import as out
other buyers in American are having.

Once this fee is settle we shall attached certification and send to you
. So we wait to hear from you when you will be able make this
payment to settle every the problem for this parcel as we wait to do
the more and free supply to you without any problem .They said this fees is Refundable on delivery .You can use the same address to make the payment,

The $350 will be refunded back to you upon delivery by the UPS agent.
Please try make the payment as soon as possible so that the product can leave soon,"

Basically, I ordered something (doesn't matter, just know that it was supposed to be packaged discreetly), supposedly from a supplier in Canada, I paid Western Union (like a naive idiot), was expecting to get the tracking number from them today and, instead, got that email. I'm pretty pissed, because, to me, it seems like an obvious scam and these people are now trying to get even more money out of me. If we come to the conclusion that this is indeed a scam, I will provide all the info (almost all - anything that isn't potentially incriminating) I have to prevent this from happening to anyone else.

Thanks, BL.

Peace, Love, Unity and Respect,
beanfiend

P.S. I know I haven't been around in forever, but I guess I kind of grew out of (or got tired of) the whole BL lifestyle. I hope everyone is well (although, certainly, some have passed on since I was last here) and I love you all (well, most of you.) :)
 
I worked at a store where we did Western Union transfers, and we had people come in with these kinds of problems all the time. They would pay upfront through WU for something then get an email a short time later. There is nothing you can do with Western Union to get your money back. Its basically like handing over your hard earned money. I'm not 100% sure this is the case with you but 99% of the time I saw this happen it turned out to be a scam.
 
The $350 will be refunded back to you upon delivery by the UPS agent.
Please try make the payment as soon as possible so that the product can leave soon,"

That would make me wonder right there. UPS or USPS? Plus I dont think I have ever been paid by either but I could be wrong. Ive heard of people paying strange amounts to get stoned shipped back from overseas and having to get certs and jump thru hoops type of shit.
 
missheidi:
Yeah, I know. I'm 99% sure I got scammed. I'm just looking for information on this supposed "anti-customs fee" and "diplomat sticker" or any info anyone has on shipping/customs issues like this.

bagochina:
Yeah, besides the fact that I got an excuse and not a tracking number, that was one of the things that stuck out most to me. Since when does UPS (or any big shipping company like that) PAY the RECEIVING customer? These are just delivery truck drivers. They don't carry money or have the authority to do anything like provide a refund in any way, correct me if I'm wrong.
 
missheidi:
Yeah, I know. I'm 99% sure I got scammed. I'm just looking for information on this supposed "anti-customs fee" and "diplomat sticker" or any info anyone has on shipping/customs issues like this.

bagochina:
Yeah, besides the fact that I got an excuse and not a tracking number, that was one of the things that stuck out most to me. Since when does UPS (or any big shipping company like that) PAY the RECEIVING customer? These are just delivery truck drivers. They don't carry money or have the authority to do anything like provide a refund in any way, correct me if I'm wrong.


It even says on their trucks (at least UPS and FedEx, I'm not sure about USPS's trucks but I'm sure its the same situation as the other package delivery services) "Driver Carries No Cash".
 
cant post that here mate

sorry you got hit.. but you know this aint the place to put them on blast...

Sourcing rule and all
 
^ My bad. I should have asked first...BUT its pretty obvious they aren't a source of anything but lies. They aren't selling adultured or (potentially) harmful products. They aren't selling anything. They are stealing. I guess what I could have said was: DO NOT buy anything on the internet via Western Union payment. Its not worth the risk when the only liable party is you. Be careful.
 
^ You always take a risk with Western Union. Honestly, in this case, yep you got scammed.


However, I wanted to comment on the "carrying cash" thing. One time, I ordered a book (I think?) and the USPS guy knocked on my apartment door, and said that the postage was $.58 short but it had gotten here somehow anyway, and I could either pay him that cash on the spot, or he would have to return it to the sender. I told him I didn't have $.58, and he said he would be fine with a larger bill and would return the change tomorrow. Well, at this point, I told him I would be right back, counted out maybe 60 pennies from a penny jar I have (that I rarely put anything into, it was just taking up space) and he looked extremely pissed off, reassured me he could bring change for a larger bill tomorrow, and I pointed out that $.58 is $.58, even in pennies. He handed me my package and walked off angrily...to this day, I've never known if it was true or not. It was extremely strange, and I was willing to lose 60 pennies to have my package then.
 
^That's pretty strange indeed.

I think its official policy for them to not carry cash, or at least not make it obvious that they carry cash (to reduce the chances of the driver getting robbed for the cash more than anything else I think).
 
however...USPS is different from UPS, FedEx, etc...they are the US gov't. idk how they work for sure. but, FedEx, for example, is 100% a private company that is not technically associated with the US Government. FedEx sorters (@ the airport) do come in contact with USPS mail, but generally, they are separate entities...

(btw, i told them to refund me or fuck off - in the nicest, calmest way possible of course...will let u know if anything other than expected happens)
 
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