Customers from Dubai

[fatdane]

Has anyone here been receiving emails from Dubai ( or any of the United Arab Emirates) expressing an interest in product then wanting to buy and pay with a cashiers cheque. The person doesn't seem to know much about the product that he wants to buy and all the messages are coming as emails - none through Ebay's messaging system. I have sent stamps to customers all over the planet for many years and something about a possible sale to the person doesn't seem "right".

[surplusdealdude]

That would make me suspicious, too.

Tell him that he must be reistered a an ebay buyer to buy from you - I've side-tracked a few questionable guys by saying that. Seems they can't get through the process.

And someone eager to pay by cashiers check? That sounds like a Nigerian scammer to me. -------------------------------------------------------------------

It is our similarities that make us all human - it is our differences that make us all interesting

[pierrelebel]

On the other hand, I have many regular buyers who are not registered on eBay who buy regularly and pay by cheque, money order, Interac, etc...

Not everyone wants to deal through eBay - whatever their reasons.

However "doesn't seem to know much about the product that he wants to buy " would raise a red flag.

I have a few customers based in Dubai and other parts of the UAE who pay by bankers cheque - drawn on a US bank, usually NY - without problem. Actually, they are kind of nice to look at with half the printing in Arabic.

[surplusdealdude]

Of course, if you accept a cashier's cheque drawn on a US Bank, you can always call the bank in question ( using the yellow pages to get the number, of course) and see if the cheque is genuine.

If it's a scam, they wouldn't have likely thought far enough ahead to put an ad in the Yellow pages. -------------------------------------------------------------------

It is our similarities that make us all human - it is our differences that make us all interesting

[fatdane]

I have for years accepted money orders and cashiers cheques so thats not the problem. The first contact from the person asked about commemorative stamps from the 18th century - Since the worlds first stamp was issued in Great Britain in 1840 there is no such thing as an 18th century postage stamp ( I'm excluding revenue stamps). The person has also approached at least one other stamp dealer using almost the same emails.

[surplusdealdude]

Could there be a language barrier here?

18th century to most non-English speakers would mean the 1800's.

It's not their fault that English is a wacky language.

I'd hate to see you throw a potentially good customer away ( those Arabs are loaded), but I don't want to see you get scammed, either.

Maybe a small trial order to see how they do? -------------------------------------------------------------------

It is our similarities that make us all human - it is our differences that make us all interesting

[fatdane]

The other stamp dealer that I was speaking to about the gentleman from Dubai was also wondering if the buyer is legit. There could be a language barrier but the name of the potential buyer was a "western" non Arab name, and the writing, spelling and grammar to me were North American. It would be a nice sale for me but I think he will just get a polite note saying that all the items he is interested in are on Ebay and should be purchased through Ebay. I think a legitimate buyer would send a message through the Ebay messaging system asking if payment could be by cashiers cheque.

I had hoped to speak to a few more stamp dealers at a small stamp show in London, ON today to see if any had been contacted by the same person but he who takes his wife along to a stamp show located in a mall does not get much time for stamps before the "Aren't you done yet" question gushes forth from the wife's mouth.

[pierrelebel]

"he who takes his wife along to a stamp show located in a mall "....

You should know better! I went to the Kingston Show last weekend. Made sure to leave Mary at home. Yet, I spent nearly $7,000 😞

It was an offer I could not refuse! 😉

[fatdane]

Well Pierre I do know better but as I was leaving the house I said do you want to ride along - not expecting her to say yes.

[surplusdealdude]

Well the stamp shows ought to know to book themselves right next to a shopping mall anyways - drop her off at the mall (after passing her credit cards over a magnet, of course), then go enjoy yourself. -------------------------------------------------------------------

It is our similarities that make us all human - it is our differences that make us all interesting