First – a writing update.
I finally plucked up the courage to let someone read a draft. My writing buddy, Amanda Fleet, published author, soon appearing at Bloody Scotland has looked at Act I of my novel.
She was, of course, blinded by its brilliance. There may have been one or two tiny constructive criticisms.
Oh alright, there were lots of criticisms and her eyesight remains fine – but they were all really helpful and she didn’t tell me to give up; so I’m calling it a win. 😉
Today though, I’m going to share with you a brief email exchange that I had with a Samuel Barton. Please take this as a cautionary tale, although it did give me a laugh too. His proof-reading is worse than mine.
Samuel is a terribly nice chap, who placed the winning bid on my old laptop, which I was selling on eBay. Concurrent with this email exchange, a fake Paypal email address was sending me entirely fictitious confirmations of payment.
Hello Seller,
It is my pleasure to inform you that I have carried out the payment via PayPal to your PayPal id. kindly check your PayPal email address (inbox,spam or junk mail) for the confirmation email of my Payment from PayPal.I also have the email receipt of the payment from PayPal with me.I want the item sent to my Nephew’s address who is living and working in West Africa.I would have asked you to post it to my eBay address in UK but I am presently going to Spain for a business trip. I sincerely hope you could assist me in shipping the item over there so it would be convenient for him to pick it up when it gets there.i also want to use the item as a surprise birthday Gift for his Cousin who is having his birthday next week.Here is the delivering address of my Nephew confirmed with pay pal.
ADDRESS;
JERRY DAMMY
109, Adefemi Street,
Abesan Ipaja,
Lagos,23401
Nigeria.
I want you to ship the item tomorrow via Royal Mail Airmail International 1st Class Delivery, so that the item will get there ASAP. I’ve added you £130 which should cover for the postage cost. Please get back to me with the shipment details (shipping Bar code) after shipping to the address above.
NOTE: Please wrap the item carefully, write GIFT on the paper. Please don’t use any other postage service except Royal Mail.
Am sorry for the inconvenience,please bear with me
Regards
Hi Samuel,
My apologies, but I will only send the item, as advertised, to a UK address.
Best Regards
Thanks for your swift response lennon,Am sorry about the address,like have said in my first email that am on a business trip which was an emergency for,I wasn’t xpeceting the item go be posted off the UK and I don’t have any body to receive it for me in the UK,pls for God sake,assist me post it to the address which is also confirmed by paypal,have added £130 also which will cover for the postage cost to the address,I will forever great full if you and leave you a positive feedback if you grant my wish..thanks
Hi Samuel
I am sorry to hear of your emergency. It sounds terrible.
I regret that I will only send the item to the UK address.
I’ll see if I can live with feedback.
Perhaps you should withdraw your bid.
Good luck with your business trip.
Best Regards
Lennon you not getting me right..I have nobody to receive it for me in the UK,don’t worry about the item going international as it will get to its destination un damage,pls give this issue a very good consideration…also I can no longer remove my bid again.
NEW MAIL
Pls.
Hi Samuel
I will not send the item outside of the UK.
You can retract the bid very simply, click on the following link
http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?RetractBidShow
Best Regards
cannot do that as i no longer have acess to my money again,and paypal said they cannot refund me as its already in your account,waiting for a proof of postage from you to complete it,pls lennon just do this for me for God’s sake.
Hi Samuel
How very unusual. Paypal won’t refund your money? Just go to their Buyer Protection section. They will help you out.
Best Regards
I can wait for 21days mate…you not even given me a second think…
Hi Samuel
I’m sure you’ll manage OK.
Best Regards
Am disappointed in you lennon..thought u said u a writer??a writer doesn’t seem to be this rigid..I read little of your writes and you seem very loyal and cool but you’ve just proof me wrong..its bad ..I though the word says “customer are always right”??,am really unhappy with this and you’ve just embarrassed me in front of my nephew as have told him his package is on the way which he will so anxious to receive soonest,now you’ve got my paypal empty to the extent that I can’t even purchase another as I don’t have enough funds left..its very bad lenno.
New Mail
Better still can you dispatch it to my wife in USA???
Another New Mail
Pls lennon
Ah Samuel, the only reason I’m still talking to you is because I’m a writer.
Your ineffective attempts to defraud me are, in their own way, fascinating.
Stealing is not a way of life Samuel. You are a fraud. You are not even very good at it.
So – no I can’t dispatch it to your wife in the USA. Not even if you say pretty please.
Go get a life Samuel.
Best Regards
I have not had a response to this last one yet, nor has Samuel signed up to receive my monthly newsletter. C’mon Sam. You know you want to.
