The person’s email address is lewin_hedman@yahoo.com but his name appears to be Lewis Hedman. He will not answer my direct question about where the ad was viewed. Funny thing is I don’t remember ever posting a flute for sale.
Should I “Run away, run away!!!” I am thinking so.
Steven
On Oct 10, 2005, at 7:16 PM, lewis hedman wrote:
HELLO,
I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AM INTERESTED IN
BUYING THE ITEM YOU PLACE ON THE NET FORSALE,THE
PRICE IS FAIRLY OK BY ME BUT I WILL LIKE TO ASKED IF YOU
ARE THE REAL OWNER OF IT AND WILL ALSO LIKE TO KNOW
THE PRESENT CONDITION .. AND AS WELL AS YOUR LAST
ASKING PRICE FOR IT .. AND AS WELL AS YOUR TERM OF
RADE..AND I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE
REGARDS
Steven Feil wrote:
Which flute are you referring about and where did you see the ad for
it at? I need to know this so I can properly address your questions.
Cheers
On Oct 12, 2005, at 9:57 AM, lewis hedman wrote:
hello,
the flute you advertise but if you have more than one tell me so i
will pick my choice..
i await your response//
Steven Feil wrote:
Lewis, I do not have a flute for sale. That is why I asked you to
direct me to the post so I could check it out to see what is going on.
I have also had whistles for sale in the past. Maybe it is one of those
older posts you saw. PLEASE tell me where you saw the ad so I can check it out and correct it, if it is misleading.
I do have another instrument posted for sale though. Is that the ad you
saw posted?
Steven
On Oct 13, 2005, at 2:12 AM, lewis hedman wrote:
hello,
which other instrument do you have ?
for i need good musicals instruments..
It’s scam with a capital S. Where did he say flute, in the title? (And what’s a term of rade, anyway?)
I got similar messages when I was selling a car and a piano. People will contact anyone who seems mildly likely to be willing to talk money. I bet you a pint that if you continue this conversation and come to something regarding a deal for $X, he will want to have a third party send you a cashier’s check for $X + $Z and have you forward the remainder on to him. After you do so, it will emerge that the check was fake, and you’re out X, Z, and a flute. That’s the scam.
This is one of those Nigerian scam things. The writing isn’t just bad writing–it’s stereotypical English-as-a-Second-Language Something-or-Other. This is the actual normal ESL speech for this person; that’s why he doesn’t think he needs to clean it up. He thinks it’s correct. Just from skimming it, I can tell it’s probably African or middle eastern–you can tell by the syntax.
Dale, make sure and delete the above post
(just kiddin’!)
This sounds an awful lot like some of the asian/african scammers that I would have to deal with for my father’s ebay store when I used to run it for him…
Lamby is totally dead on in her post above!
Run, don’t walk…
I am checking out that scambaiting site, though…thanx for the link.
See original post below:
Here is some updated exchanges with Mr. Hedman:
On Oct 13 I sent him the following, trying to lure him:
I do have a bodhran for sale. I am asking $400 plus shipping (probably around $25). It is worth $500, is that of interest to you? I need to sell it to finance a different instrument, a pan drum.
Steven
Just as expected, I received the following message from him on 10/14:
Thanks for your mail,i do want you to know that am from UK but i have a contact who base in europe that will make payment to you by cheque drawn from europe bank so if you are ok with this(as thats the ONLY POSSIBLE MEANS thats i can afford to give you your money) then get back to me with your last price(offer) and as well as with your details needed for the addression of the cheque such as below:
Name to be on cheque:
Address where cheque will be received by you:
Phone Number’s such as Mobile,Land line and Office Number.
As regards the shippment,this will be handle by my shipper once you must have received your money then i will instruct down to your location my shipper to come for the pick p..i do hope this is clear with you and i will be expecting your reply.
Gee, a third party… and a fourth to pick it up and ship it? So I sent him this response on 10/14…
I have never conducted a transaction in this manner. It sounds a little complicated and since the money will be coming in a foreign currency that would eat into my price. That is not acceptable since I am already listing it for below the price I paid for it. I would need to raise the price to cover the additional cost of converting the check to US dollars and to also cover any unexpected expenses regarding this transaction. Is that acceptable to you?
If this goes well, I have other friends that have instruments to sell and I might refer you to them!
Steven
His response on 10/15 was quite soothing:
hello,
the check will be in us currency..and you will not have to pay any additional price so reply me wioth the details for the cheque. as in name alongside your address..
so my client can send it to you..
and i love to have the flute ..
and i await your response..
regards
Didn’t I tell him I had a Bodhran for sale, NOT a flute??? Sent 10/15…
Is there a reason it needs to be a check? I have access to Paypal, which is a money transfer service that is FREE to the senders of money. I prefer to have my transactions completed in this manner because it then gives me a record it. If this person does not have access to paypal, then they can go to paypal.com and sign up. Remember it is FREE to do so.
I still need to verify the shipping costs, which I estimate to be around $25 for UPSP service.
I would still like to know where you saw my post that indicated that I have a FLUTE for sale. Please comply. I need to see this before I complete the transaction for my BODHRAN.
Steven
Oh, gee, mention of paypal and a permanent record and tracability has scared him off… so far no response to this message. Maybe he did not want a Bodhran? Maybe one of you do?
You offered to put him in contact with others who are selling musical instruments. He replied he would also like a flute. Perhaps his English is better than yours.
I am thinking so.
Maybe one of you do? 
