Is this a scam?

I have been researching getting a pied ball, and have been speaking to a guy in Africa who says he can get me one at a good price. I asked for webcam shots and he said he didnt have one but sent me these pics. I wanted to know if any of you have seen them anywhere else. I dont want him to just be getting random pictures off the internet. Also, he says the only payment method he can accept, because it's international, is a Western Union Money Transfer. Has anyone else ever used this? The more I talk to him the more I feel like it's too good to be true. I'm not about to get scammed. :/

Thanks for any and all help. Here are the pictures.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...ibun/scam4.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...ibun/scam3.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...ibun/scam2.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...dibun/scam.jpg

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

I have been researching getting a pied ball,

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research the seller as well! :)

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

I asked for webcam shots and he said he didnt have one but sent me these pics.

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then I would not think these were the pics of the snake he is trying to sell. Maybe he is just using those pics as a referance.

Either way...be careful! very, very careful!

I know a few people who have been scammed in similar situations. ;)

Scam...

If you want to be sure he actually has the snake, ask him to send you a picture of the snake with today's newspaper. It won't guarantee that he's honest, but it will at least demonstrate that he has the snake he claims to.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Scam...

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I agree with Jamie...for a few reason.

1. There are more than one snake in those pictures...so you don't know what "your" snake looks like
2. The photos are setup too well. The snakes are on black backgrounds (which shows them off very well) - the claim he doesn't have a camera doesn't fit.
3. "Too good to be true" - why is he selling it so cheaply, they know what the snakes go for over here (they have Internet too).

Scam - don't do it!

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Scam - don't do it!

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Ditto! DON'T do it

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Scam...

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Agreed

I work for an agent of Western Union....my prof. opinon is SCAM SCAM SCAM!

Western Union is one of the only ways to send payments that does not allow for any recourse if you are scammed. Add to that, being in a different country makes it hard for you to do much either legally.. so..


Western Union + Africa = Scam

Rick

Pieds are a high dollar morph...don't skimp! Noone is selling pieds for a couple hundred bucks. research the seller and buy from someone credible...

It is a scam.

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Originally Posted by SiscoReptiles

Western Union is one of the only ways to send payments that does not allow for any recourse if you are scammed. Add to that, being in a different country makes it hard for you to do much either legally.. so..


Western Union + Africa = Scam

Rick

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I have even gotten e-mails to this nature saying that a big collector in Africa has died and left tons of snakes and all I have to do is pay for the shipping. and its like 75.00 US per animal and I must take all of them and that there are 100 snakes ranging for BLE to pieds to some "new stuff"

Very laughable.

When a deal is "too good to be true"....it's a lie.

When a deal is "too good to be believed"....don't believe it.

If you can afford a pied to sell....you can afford a camera.

To answer your original question "is this a scam?"....yes!

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

When a deal is "too good to be true"....it's a lie.

When a deal is "too good to be believed"....don't believe it.

If you can afford a pied to sell....you can afford a camera.

To answer your original question "is this a scam?"....yes!

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Brilliant!! I completely agree!!

if you have to ask if it's a scam ......................it's a scam! :sweeet:

Ok, thanks guys. I'll e-mail him back today and tell him that I'm going to continue shopping around. No need to be nasty.

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

No need to be nasty.

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Bingo be the bigger person...

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

Ok, thanks guys. I'll e-mail him back today and tell him that I'm going to continue shopping around. No need to be nasty.

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On scammers who are clearly scammers (and that particular set of pics has been attached to dozens if not hundreds of offers), it's more fun to waste their time.
Tell them that you are really excited about the snake, but want more pictures, need more time, just have to get the money together, etc. String them along as long as you can. Ask for pics of the animals in specific settings (on a current newspaper, next to a coke bottle so you can see how big they are, etc). Ask lots of questions. The scammer will skip them and try to get you to send money in a hurry. Be persistant about getting the information. :D

Remember that they are thieves, trying to con you and others into sending money for nothing and as such deserve no compassion or compunction. Playing with them is both entertaining and useful, in that the more of their time you can waste, the better. More on the theory of scam-baiting can be found here: http://www.419eater.com/

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Originally Posted by SiscoReptiles

Western Union + Africa = Scam

Rick

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Exactly...they also had a fantastic show on Dateline I believe it was on some amazing scams coming out of Africa...I was shocked....

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Originally Posted by slartibartfast

On scammers who are clearly scammers (and that particular set of pics has been attached to dozens if not hundreds of offers), it's more fun to waste their time.
Tell them that you are really excited about the snake, but want more pictures, need more time, just have to get the money together, etc. String them along as long as you can. Ask for pics of the animals in specific settings (on a current newspaper, next to a coke bottle so you can see how big they are, etc). Ask lots of questions. The scammer will skip them and try to get you to send money in a hurry. Be persistant about getting the information. :D

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haha i would've done that

Oh a new version of the Nigerian ( sp ) email scam only this one is involving snakes instead of the 20 mil I need your help to get.

Don't do it!!!!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SiscoReptiles

Western Union is one of the only ways to send payments that does not allow for any recourse if you are scammed. Add to that, being in a different country makes it hard for you to do much either legally.. so..


Western Union + Africa = Scam

Rick

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the only recourse you really have is to fly to africa and go steven segal on him.
on another note even if he does have it you dont want it for a few reasons:
1 it might not breed maybe never.
2 he cant just send it to you there is the dept. of natural resources, and exporter lic. maybe and also importation papers to do
3 it would probally be confiscated over there because he didnt pay off the right official

plus for for about 3500$ you can get a pied with a guarantee and have a healthy animal for the get go.

EDIT by JLC -- No sales pitches in the regular forums (Or 3rd party sales, for that matter). Take it to PMs.

SCAM

I recognized those pictures in a heartbeat!!!!!

http://www.ralphdavisreptiles.com/co...all_python.asp

There you go, proof. That is a Ralph Davis BP.

I have had many ads and with that comes MANY scam replys. Any one from Africa is a scam, anyone who wants to pay you more for your item is a scam, anyone who doesn't ask or give or give relevant info is a scam. I get hundreds of them everyday, once you've seen a few they standout like a soar thumb. Also you can't buy a snake from someone out of the country unless you are an importer with the correct liscenses. Can you see scam coming. Snakes guys in Africa know this and if you don't scammers know they have a sucker in the making.