The Stinky SCAM of the cigar world
perpetrated.com
Special Report on Frauds, Scams and the Flimflam-ManFrauds and scams have reached a new level of sophistication thanks to the Internet. As a public service, internetnews.com wants to educate you to their ways so you can avoid being taken by the flimflam-man.
There is a Stinky Scam in The Cigar World that has been perpetrated by a really fat, tall tale teller. This spinner of yarns is non other than
Of course this is all very wacky and very amusing to us, who reside with Lars Tetens in Allentown.
"Lars
"In 1492, the cigar industry was destroyed. When Columbus came to the islands, he raped and pillaged the indigenous community. Do you think they then would teach (the Europeans) the ancient ways of cigar making? For centuries the ancient ways of making cigars was lost. Until now.
Lars Tetens spent years doing research to rediscover the ancient techniques of manufacturing cigars, Through an ancient secret conditioning process Lars Tetens has brought back the spirit of the cigar. Real cigar connoisseurs worldwide recognize him to be the great champion of the true old world cigar. Now you too can experience what cigar connoisseurs worldwide are embracing as the cigar of the future, brought back from the past. If you have the wherewithal, nothing else but a Lars Tetens will do.
Lars Tetens has always been the leader in the cigar industry, breaking the conventional standards and solidifying the ancient way of making cigars within the world cigar market. Lars’ cigars are made in the true ancient way of cigar making, developed by the original tribes of South America. This process dates back thousands of years, and was almost lost when Columbus brought tobacco to Europe without understanding how to make a real cigar. Lars spent many years studying with these indigenous tribes to learn the true way of cigar making. The particular process that Lars uses gives you an incredible cigar like nothing else on the market; so incredible in fact there have been many companies that have sprung up trying to imitate Lars. These “newbies”, who started a few years ago, think that they can fool you with a cheap imitation, and attempt to copy Lars and make a quick buck on an inferior product. Lars has been making cigars with this process for over 25 years and still is the only manufacturer on the market to produce cigars in the traditional way they were originally made; making Lars’ line of cigars truly a unique and enjoyable experience.
Lars Tetens childhood was what you'd call a little less than ordinary. While his peers were learning their ABC's, Lars began training in martial and internal arts. When he was five, without any formal training, he began painting, building furniture and he stated on the road to becoming a master chef, creating exotic dishes that delighted even master chefs and at 8 was already creating exotic spiced chocolate truffles and chocolates that will blow away most master chocolatiers. By the time he turned seven he was designing and making clothing and skateboards. His cigars brought him worldwide recognition using an ancient cigar making technique that dates back thousand of years. He also began selling his paintings at seventeen and since then he's had a consistent following of those who have the wherewithal to be collectors of his works. His handmade and hand tooled platinum automatic watch movements are just another innovation in another industry that Lars is exploring. Lars has always been a 
big fan of science and technology so when he and Eddie Lakata, best friends since Lars was twelve, started working on a motor controller over fifteen years ago no one was surprised. Also soon to be released to the public, the most exotic and tasty beef sausage you've ever had, and the most delicious and unique chocolate bars you've ever sank your teeth into. Stay tuned for more innovation coming from Lars Tetens.Please call us at 877-262-7370 if you would like to have your package express shipped."
"Lars has created an innovative line of automatic watches which are both classically and beautifully styled and at the same time modern and chic. Each watch is custom designed for the individual and made to your specifications. You choose from various metals ranging from stainless steel to red, white, or yellow gold, or platinum for the case. Movements can be anything from a standard automatic Swiss movement to an in-house, completely hand tooled automatic platinum movement. Lars specializes in multi-axis tourbillions and is one of the few within a handful of watchmakers to utilize titanium as a metal of choice for his cages. Power reserves will vary depending on the style of watch and features that you choose. Lars' innovative face designs range from classic looks to chic and outspoken designs."
Please email sk8nsmokeonline@yahoo.com for more information.
http://www.bonitasmokeshop.com/lars_teten_cigars_lars_tetens_ci.htm
http://www.24a69.com/links.htm
http://www.larstetens.com/
Responses:
From: moki Date: 05/28/05 9:59 PM
I'm sure you folks have seen this over and over again, and chuckled mildly at it:
One of the things that has made Lars world-renowned is his cigars, which he started making at the ripe old age of fifteen. Lars began making cigars because of the love he had for them, and he was determined to make a product that would expose the ancient cigar making techniques to the new world. In order to do so, Lars studied an ancient conditioning process that he uses with his tobacco, which dates back over 5,000 years.
LARS TETENS CIGARS use unique blends of eight to twelve year old vintage Dominican tobaccos and some say "pre-embargo Cuban tobaccos" (tobacco that was brought into the U.S. prior to the embargo in 1962) handmade by the best Cuban rollers. These cigars are cured and aged using the secret recipe and conditioning process which gives Lars Tetens Cigars a completely original taste and sense awakening aroma. There is only one cigar that tastes like it! If you demand the very best in flavor and ease of the draw then nothing else but a Lars Teten?s cigar will do.
My question is: so much of this story sounds like bullshit... has anyone actually done any fact-checking on this? He starts making cigars at 15? C'mon...
All ripping/joking aside, does anyone have factual information on the veracity of the story presented above? Does this guy even exist, or is he like Betty Crocker?
Rare Fuente Cigars web site
From: mdman Date: 05/31/05 5:44 PM
ya.. so a 15 year old knows all, is going to expose the ancient cigar making techniques to the new world?
Give me a break....
From: Stormin' Date: 05/31/05 10:05 AM
His website is so freaking funny! The "artwork" he sells looks like it was painted by a moderately talented high-schooler, except he is asking 6 figures for it. His lines of clothing, furniture, etc., are all the proof I need to know that excessively high self-esteem is a dangerous thing...
From: cjswag Date: 05/31/05 10:24 AM
Moki, that story is BS. Do yourself a favor. Go talk to anyone who works for Drew Estates. When a number of his workers including a number of his rollers got tired of his BS, they split off and formed Drew Estates. 99% of what he says is "just marketing", no truth to it whatsoever. As I understand it, he got into the business when he got an inheritance in his mid-twenties. He started Lars Tetens and as a marketing tool toward hip twenty-somethings, he made up stories about his "life". As a not-too-subtle jab at "Lars", Drew Estates named one of their Acid cigars "Extraordinary Larry" (he claims to be named "Lars", not "Larry", and to be of European origins). Big buncha BS.
From: drkaje Date: 05/31/05 11:22 AM
The Drew Estates people essentially ripped Lars off. All of their packaging is reminiscient of Original Lars as well. They are just batter marketing/business people than Lars will probably ever be. He should have been more guarded with the process used to stinkify them cigars, LOL! As far as the hype, mostly BS.
From: joeman Date: 05/31/05 2:07 PM
You've got to give Drew Estates credit. They took an overpriced, overhyped product, and out-marketed and undercut the alleged innovator. Is Lars Tetens a genius? Absolutely, he's sold lots of overpriced cigars. As P.T. Barnum once said said...
Johnathan Drew is blowing him out of the water, though. Plus Drew Estates can make real cigars too.
FROM AN INTERVIEW:
Interview with Lars Tetens by Rachel Halkias
RH - What made you become involved in the cigar industry?
LT - I smoked my first Cuban Monte Cristo #2 when I was nine years old and that ruined me for life. From that moment on I wanted to learn how to make cigars and create that wonderful flavor that only a great Cuban cigar can deliver. When I was fifteen I started actually making cigars and creating blends for other companies, and to this day, the blends I made when I was fifteen for these other companies are still their top selling blends. And once I started making cigars I gained a full time love of the process of creating these great smokes.
RH - What differentiates your cigar company from other companies?LT - I've been a pioneer in the industry. I took the old traditional techniques from South America that date back thousands of years and other ancient processes and made a one of a kind original unique cigar. Many companies have tried to copy me and make wild claims that they created a cigar just like Lars Tetens, but in truth, no one has been able to copy my manufacturing process because the process is done in five different factories in three different countries and no one knows what process is done from one location to the next. And that is how I ensure the secrecy of the process.. It's impossible to describe my cigars because there is nothing on the market to compare them to
RH - What are some primary sources from which you draw inspiration?
LT - Food, the girl I made love to last night, the song I just played on the guitar, all things inspire me.
RH - How has your company grown and evolved over the years?
LT - I always follow the end consumer, the person who works all week very hard to earn the money they have and if they are going to spend that money on my cigars then I need to work very hard to give them the best product and the best quality that I can do and more.
RH - I know you never go to events, even when people like Arnold Schwarzenegger have thrown you dinners; you frequently haven't shown up; so what inspired you and your partners, Musashi Sonne and Tesshu, to actually be involved in planning this Scotch & Cigar Dinner with Glenn, the owner of The Black Horse?LT - It was just a fluke. Jacques, my partner in an HVAC motor controller company and I were at a meeting with an owner of an Italian HVAC company who had just placed a large order. Jacques had mentioned to one of the owners of the cigar distribution company that he was going to be in the area, and he offered to drop off an order to The Black Horse which was nearby. I decided to go along with Jacques when he made the stop and it ended up being a night of a lot of fun. I had a great time there and started a really good friendship with Glenn, the owner, Robbie, the restaurant manager, and Brian, the Chef. We planned this event because of our friendship and on top of that, The Black Horse has a great atmosphere for a night of relaxation and enjoyment along with the finest selection of Alcohol refreshment in the area.
Responses
PK1
So what does he sell now? Is it crappy cigars, 1/2 million dollar paintings (yeah right) or now clothing? Come on everybody should know that he is out there to make a fast buck by poking people's eyes out. I mean $400 for 10 cigars that everybody seems to agree are crappy. His golf clothing is absurd, ($1800 for a golf shirt?) and now he is selling furniture. Wake up people he doesn't know jack about cigars only how to take people for their money with all this flash and glam. Anti-cigar culture following, they are just a bunch of bloomin' idiots.
F.C.
I have to disagree. I smoked one of his couches the other day and I thought it was very nice. Better than his cigars at least!!!
Been There...
Lars laughs at all this stuff. He puts herbal weeds in with his non-cuban tobacco and laughs all the way to the bank!
And just who do we think is responsible for the "rumor" that Lars 'gars contain pre-Castrated tobacco??? Hmmmm??? Anyone want to take a stab at that one?
The truly funny thing is here that everyone who's really knowledgeable about cigars knows that Lars is purpetrating an over-priced fraud on the marketplace, but he'll STILL continue to sell these cigars to the "pseudos" and "hipsters" who equate high prices with quality.
From: Resjudic
I just smelled a lars in my local store's humidor, I almost threw up! The entire humidor smelled like incense. There is no way in the world that smoking that potpouri with a maple leaf could taste good. Frankly I would be afraid to put the cigar in my humidor because the stink would probably ruin my other cigars
MAXI CIGAR@AOL.COM
BEING A CIGAR SHOP FOR OVER 45 YRS. WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING AS VILE OR UNAPPEALING AS LARS. THE WHOLE IDEA OF A CIGAR IS RELAXATION ENJOYMENT, A TASTE OF THE REFINED. ONE WAS GIVEN TO ME AND I CANNOT SAY THAT IT WAS A CIGAR. IT REMINDS ME OF THE TEENAGE PRACTICE OF BUYING BLUNTS AND USING THE WRAPPER FOR ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES. THE ODOR SMELLS LIKE DIRTY LAUNDRY MISTED WITH LAVENDER. . . . IF THIS IS THE BEST ANYONE CAN DO AT THIS PRICE THE WHOLE INDUSTRY IS HEADED FOR THE TOILE
Nodezone
It would appear the vast majority of travelers and posters to CigarFamily have brains, refined taste and the sense to call Lars' fraudulent pieces of lint what they are: An Affront to the Taste and Common Sense of Cigar Smokers.
I am angered that this "charlatan" is given a free ride by many of the seemingly responsible people in this industry. With good honest decent human beings like the Fuentes pouring their heart and souls into producing the best product possible at an affordable price, this self-promoted new age huckster comes posturing ever so delicately into our lives, producing truly vile snake oil in the form of cigars, marking them up to an obscene price point and taking hard-earned cash from unknowing, trusting neophytes..... and then having the absolute gall to parade around as a Mystic producer of spiritual products annointed as the Stick of the Cognesenti! Revolting!!
P.T. Barnum
Attention all Lars Tetens smokers!! I have a bridge for sale at a very reasonable price. If you are interested meet me at the corner of 190th and Broadway in NYC and bring lots of $$
Robusto
I was raking leaves the other day and a thought hit me - HEY, Rob!! Why not shred some of this mulch, roll it up in a funky wet leaf with a bigtail end and an uncut foot....and SELL IT TO CIGAR NUTS AS PRE-CASTROW CUBAN LEAF! Hey...I don't have to say what kinda leaf....just that it's Cuban! Man, I said to myself...YOU are an onto something now! Sooooo....if the emptor won't caveat....I got some big phat smokes that will remind you of autumn in Cuba!!! In all seriousness, I gave in against my better judgement and actually smoked a Lars....bought it first (ouch!) Once burned, twice learned. Probably the worst smoke I ever had, smelled like a burning craft store. I cried over what my $14 could have gone towards. A twelve pack of beer and a couple of fine smokes.......
Rick in Ky
He must be high on paint fumes ,or the stinking herbs he puts in his "cigars". To make a Lar's at home. Take a Swisher ,take off the wrapper and replace it with a wet paper bag, before replacing the wrapper put some nutmeg,cloves ,and whatever other spices you can find into the filler,go to Walgreens and buy the cheapest perfume they have, soak the Swisher in it, let it sit for a couple of weeks, put a band with your picture on it..... THERE IT IS! Your own Lar's-type cigar. Then to market.... You charge some un-godly price for it and say you got the tobacco from Castro himself. Sell all your garage sale items on the same net page that you do your cigars. Thank you for attending LARS101 CLASS.
Dante
I predict that Lars and his bizarre efforts to hawk super-premium cigars to the uninitiated will eventually become a curious and humorous footnote to the history of the Cigar Boom in the 90's. If you step back for a moment and think about this whole weird situation, it really is very funny. Not since The Emperor's New Clothes has there been such a genuinely amusing case of mass hysteria. I love the whole thing and am saving the uproarious Lars Tetens ads run in Smoke magazine to show to my grandchildren. You just can't make this stuff up!
The Surgeon General
A recent medical study has unearthed convincing data that establishes a definite link between the smoking of Lars Tetens cigars and being a gullible idiot.
JJ
I was given one by a friend (now ex-friend, ) and all I have to say about them is that Lars is proving that the old adage "there's a sucker born every minute".
Puffinagar
DateWill the real Lars please stand up. Lars, since you decided to post here,( yea right) would you please tell us what you soak those, things you call cigars, in? When I smoked one in my basement, my wife thought I sprayed a whole can of glade air freshener.
LARS
I INMERSE MY CIGARS IN URINE COLLECTED FROM VESTAL VIRGINS. IT HAS A SPECIAL PHENOMORE THAT ATTRACTS MEN TO SUCK ON THESE STICKS.I AM BOTTLING AND SELLING THIS JUICE TO ALL THOSE THAT HAVE PURCHASED MY CIGARS IN THE PAST. YOU GUYS ARE JUST ENVIOUS OF MY SUCCESS. LOVE & PEACE....LARS.
LARS
You just dont get it do you? My cigars are inmersed in urine obtained from VESTAL VIRGINS. No weasel or cow poop. Just good ole pee from legal virgins, like my girldfriend. Ah!, the scent of it! Peace and Love, LARS
James
I guess your girlfriend is the bald chick shown on your web site, eh Lars? Do use her head to cut and roll your doodie sticks?
Yagman
Cuban cigars are rolled on the thighs of beautiful women. Lars Gars are rolled on the hairy asses of Lars's lovers. Just a thought for the day.
LARS
First you make fun of my cigars, then you dis my girlfriend.This I can not tolerate. Yes, I admit her hair fell off after smoking one of my experimental cigars but the doctors told her the hair might come back soon. Have you no shame? Leave her out of this discussion! Peace and Love. LARS.
dscreek2@yahoo.com The fragrance of a Lars Teten cigar has been compared to the scent of a tire fire in the basement of a whorehouse. While most well known cigar makers have only been rolling smokes for a century or two, Lars has nearly a decade of experience creating his incomparable cigars. No other cigar has the distinct combination of sloppy rolling, smelly perfumes, outrageous prices and pure hyperbole that makes smoking a Lars a unique experience.
The Hittman Chronicle has developed a secret recipe that will let you make a whole box of Faux Lars for less than you'd pay for one of his sticks. You'll find everything you need at the drugstore. Start with a box of El Productos. (50/$12). Then find some perfume that smells like your grandmother in August. If it costs more than $5/quart keep shopping. Finally, pick up a small package of urinal cakes.
Dip the cigars in the cologne once a day for three weeks. That will get you most, but not all of that famous Lars flavor. The real secret (I shouldn't be giving this valuable information away for free) is as follows:
Crack open the credo in your humidor. Remove and discard all the green stuff in it. Crush a urinal cake and mash it in to the credo. Now fill the humidor with your Lars Productos. Let them age for at least two weeks before smoking one. NOW you have the authentic flavor of a Lars, at a fraction of the price!
And Now More From Lars Tetens Website
"Lars started cooking at five years old and when he was only six and seven...
...In 1972, when Lars was 8 years old, he started his work on creating the most exotic and unusual chocolates and truffles ever made. "
"Lars Tetens line of couture clothing combines class, style and elegance with comfort and casualness. Lars does most of the stitching himself; only relying on two apprentices with whom he's worked with for years. Lars never uses patterns and all cuts and designs are totally Lars's vision. We are very sorry, but presently, Lars is not taking any new clients. He will start accepting applications for new clients in 2006 "
"Another one of Lars' talents is designing and building guitars that amaze all that play them. Lars has an feel for designing guitars that are comfortable and enjoyable to play and he has an ear for making the sounds of the guitar come alive and transform into exactly what the player is trying to express.
All guitars are custom made, but take a look below at one of Lars' most popular guitar designs. This guitar goes from bluesy Silvertone to full on metal. Made of the best components, all we can say is this guitar rocks. There is a six to eight month waiting period on this guitar; dirt and pick holders are extra. "
Immersed in New Age Mysticism and budhism, This wacko claims that the following is a book?
A "Book"? by Lars tetens
Title "B"
Intro
There are 360 degrees in a circle
There is no degree in that circle that makes the whole thing
There are many different ways
not just one way is the only way
when you go more away from oneness
you can’t see the person’s way next to you
so you insist your way is the only way
but when you’re into your own thing
you see the oneness from your point of view
but you don’t see the person’s way next to you
so you insist your way is the only way
in this habit you won’t see the whole
that’s why it’s important for people to stop attacking each other
evolution comes through everyone
no person is the great saint who has come to save the world
let all people save themselves by seeing oneness in everything.
1
My way to freedom starts with seeing everything for way it is
Nothing more
Nothing less
2
You can’t look for oneness in something written or spoken
It’s alive
You see it in the way you deal with everything
3
We were never born and we will never die
We are evolutions.
Were are all here for a purpose
Do your job
4
If you have desires for this and that
If you have wants
opinions
preconceptions
thoughts and so on
focus on your breathing
DO YOUR WORK
5
to hang with me there's one rule (well maybe a couple more here or there)
everyone has to respect each other
that means if you're going through some kind of shit inside
don't take it out on anyone else
6
work on eliminating the thought process
work on seeing things clearly and allowing clear actions to come through
7
spiritualism comes from the heart but thrives in the anus
8
give up
all ideas
all thoughts
all preconceptions
and anything else that you associate with anything
giving up is beyond anything we can speak of or anything we can think of
actually it's not really anything
you can't freeze life and analyze it
it's alive and consistently changing
9
focus on relaxing your body and concentrate on your breathing
don’t run away from your own life by getting involved in someone else’s
you’ll only fuck up their lives more than they already are
10
looking for recognition for work you’ve done will lead you to disappointment
do what must be done
don’t dwell on it and you’ll be a lot more comfortable
11
all people need to work together to evolve
try to see things you do for selfish reasons and stop yourself from being that way
work on developing yourself for all of evolution
12
the masses work to gain something everyday
I work to lose something everyday
When you accept loss willingly
You’ll be more at peace with emptiness
13
the more you give the greater your abundance
14
everything comes to those who wait
as long as you work while you wait
remember laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes it
15
being what is
you’ll be here
deciding what is what
you’ll be what you are
16
when you live in your opinions you won’t experience what’s happening at this moment
17
giving guidance to children or adults is not controlling them but disciplining yourself and training to be a better example
18
change without action
work without effort
19
cleverness plans and strategies will definitely make your life uncomfortable
20
avoid power trips and head games
instead focus on making meals your body soft and filling your stomachs
21
there are two ways of performing
one is techniques
the other is spirit
when you perform with techniques you can get fucked-up or over indulge in low-grade emotional outlets and still perform well
when performing with spirit you must calm your spirit and center it
when your ego is involved in your performing no matter how free you feel you are not performing with spirit
22
having likes and dislikes you won't see things for how the really are or how they fit in society
23
when you look only at small details
you miss the big picture
when you look only at the big picture
you can't carry body and mind and keep to the way
body mind and spirit in one action is pretty close to being there
24
life is alive
it's nothing you have to analyze
just let go of your thoughts and start living right now
25
if you avoid being sensitive to people's feelings you will be able to respond to them in a clearer way
feelings are not real in the first place since they're based on thoughts and thoughts are lies
work in seeing the situation clearly and responding in a clear way without letting emotions get in the way
26
two guidelines for a comfortable life are:
1. respect all things
2. keep to your schedule
27
the thing that makes me different from you:
you make choices
you on the whole do what you want to do
i have no choice
i do what i have to do
in the order of things man follows the earth
earth follows the universe
the universe follows all that is
so you change the direction every second
but i follow you
28
my way is like a bridge to get you from one place to another
but if you build your house on it
it will be your cage
29
anything you say is a lie
anything i say is a lie
anything anyone thinks is a lie
truth is action
or is it
30
life is a contradiction
the very thing the earth gives life to is the very thing that destroys it
if you can destroy as little as possible while on this planet
you will be flowing
31
violence and confusion is not the opposite of peace and clarity
it is absence of peace and clarity
32
the greatest wealth on this planet is peace in the mind
but those who chase after wealth acquire more things to worry about
33
true things make people uneasy
uneasy people are afraid and reject the truth
live in the truth and that shall be your freedom
34
you run a constant commentary on everything around you and on yourself
that is your cage
to free yourself concentrate on smooth breathing in and out and relaxing the body
35
one of my students came to me and asked
"what is the secret to letting go of my worries, thoughts and desires?"
so i took both of my arms and put them around a nearby tree
then i said, "i'll tell you as soon as this tree lets go of me"
Scam alert!!
Warning to those who try and SCAM
Caution should be taken very seriously for potential buyers of anything you have to sell on the internet.
There are currently some "geniuses" out there that think folks on the Internet are stupid enough to think they will sell their bike or other goods to them by sending them a "cashiers check" over the amount of the asking price and asking them to send them their property and the change back...Looking for poor penmanship, and other key words like "Client, Africa, Nigeria, Cheque, Change and other obvious words" will help you pick a "winner" in no time. Here is an example of this message going around:
"Thanks for your urgent reply .I think we should proceed to payment. There is this client of mine who is in states now, he is about giving me a cheque of $5000 he his owing me, i will then instuct him to forward the cheque to you so when you cash it you send the change to me while am still in Africa , i think i really need it here in Africa , if this is ok by you i will like you to send the following information so that my client will use the information to forward the cheque to you".
YOUR NAME IN FULL.
YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS .
YOUR PRSONAL PHONE NUMBER.
If all this information is given my client will then send the cheque to you . hope to here from you asap,so i can get my shipper prepared too.
Possible Response: A MGNOC visitor done this and he said he has stopped receiving such messages.
I sold a vintage bicycle a few months back and received a flood of these Nigerian offers to sell them the bike and send them the "change". I kept ignoring them but finally couldn't resist. I replied to a few, and when I replied I used poor English, misspelling, incorrect capitalization and punctuation. I got two of them to send me the checks, which were cashier's checks supposedly from Wells Fargo Bank. I took one to Wells and they told me it was a bad forgery (surprise!). Anyway, I told the morons who sent them to me that I had cashed the checks and decided to keep the money and my bicycle, and not send them anything. I never told them their checks couldn't be cashed. I kept the checks as a little souvenir. Their replies were hilarious (death threats, telling me they'd call the FBI, etc, all in bad English); the way I look at it they had to spend money to send the checks over via FedEx, so I'm putting a small dent in their idiotic scam.
ED note: This would work best if you had a post office box I assume.
Notice to the Scammers
Us motorcycle riders will not tolerate any of this non-sense. We can and will have you turned in to the proper authorities. Do you honestly think that your email address, and other encrypted information you send over the internet is not traceable? It is traceable right to the computer you sent it on. Do not try it.
An actual email transcript from a motorcycle seller on MGNOC.com below:
From: Harry Hilp
To: Roy
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2004 7:22 AM
Subject: Re: 1984 Moto Guzzi California II......................................$3700
HELLO,
THANKS FOR THE MAIL SO MUCH SO I AM FROM IRELAND SO I WILL CALL MY CLIENT TO ISSUE OUT THE CHEQUE OF $7500 FOR YOU AND AFTER YOURECEIEVE THE CHEQUE YOU WILL DEDUCT YOUR MONEY AND SEND THE REST TO MY SHIPPING COMPANY THAT WILL COME FOR THE PICK UP OF THE 1984 Moto Guzzi California II IN YOUR LOCATION SO WHEN YOU GET THE CHEQUE YOU TAKE IT TO YOUR BANK AND DEPOSIT IT AND AFTER THE CHEQUE CLEAR YOU CAN NOW SEND THE REMAINING FUND TO MY SHIPPING COMPANY AND I WILL NEED THIS INFORMATION BELOW:FULL NAME:FULL POSTAL ADDRESS:ZIP CODE:CITY:STATE:COUNTRY:PERSONAL PHONE NUMBER: I WILL NEED THIS INFORMATION SO THAT THE CHEQUE WILL BE ISSUED OUTTO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOUR MAIL.PLEASESEND THE PIC OF THE 1984 Moto Guzzi California II. THANKS. HARRYRoy wrote:
Harry, Yes the bike is still for sale as advertised. I will take cash, or a US bank Certified Check only. Check must clear before bike is released. Photos enclosed. Thanks for asking, Roy.
----- Original Message -----
From: Harry Hilp
To: Roy
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 10:13 AM
Subject: 1984 Moto Guzzi California II......................................$3700
HI THERE, I AM HARRY HILP,I AM INTERESTED IN YOUR 1984 Moto Guzzi California II POSTED FOR SALE,SO I WILL LIKE TO KNOW IT'S CONDITION IF STILL FOR SALE,AND ALSO SEND ME SOME PIC OF IT IF AVAILABLE,LET ME KNOW THE LAST PRICE IF STILL AVAILABLE FOR SALE AND IF YOU CAN ACCEPT CHEQUE AS PAYMENT. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOONEST. THANKS, HARRY
Scam Alert
Work-at-home opportunities are big business for scam artists. Each year over billions of dollars is lost to scams. You can protect yourself by learning how to evaluate opportunities, knowing what are the most common scams you will run into, and using consumer protection resources. . To learn about current scams and hoaxes, subscribe to WAHS Jobs and News
Scams to Avoid
Consumer Protection
Evaluating "Opportunities"
You are reading an e-mail or magazine ad that promises to help you make good money working at home. Or your neighbor invites you to a "meeting" to learn about a new way to "leverage time and money". They all sound so tempting and convincing. So how do you know which deals may be legit and which aren’t? Here are a few rules of thumb to consider when tempted by work-at-home schemes:
1. If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is. Avoid any program that will "do the work for you" or gives grandiose income claims.
2. Avoid any company that doesn’t have a street address (not P.O. Box) and phone number.
3. Envelope stuffing and assembly work....stay away from it. I haven’t run into anyone yet who hasn’t lost money on these.
4. I tend to avoid work-at-home job ads in which the email address is not to the domain name of the site. For example, when you email Work-At-Home Success, your mail is sent to success@workathomesuccess. Some job announcements are sent to a commercial account such as AOL or Yahoo. Anybody with a legitimate job to offer over the internet will have an email address with their company's domain name... not a commercial account (unless of course it is AOL or Yahoo offering the job). The same goes for Website URLs. Any websites listed at free hosting sites such as Angelfire, Geocities, and Freeyellow, should be carefully investigated. Any company that can't afford its own website with domain name can't afford to hire you!
5. NEVER SEND MONEY TO GET A JOB. Is isn't uncommon to invest money in a home business but if you are responding to a job announcement, don't send money. Legitimate employers never charge to hire you. The non-legitimate company will tell you to send money to cover the cost of materials or to process your application. Don't believe it. You wouldn't pay for training or paperclips at your current job would you? These companies usually aren't offering jobs, just information on how to scam others or how to start a business.
6. Have you ever noticed that some ads are very appealing but, never indicate what exactly the program entails? Stay away from any company whose ad doesn’t come right out and tell what it is offering. How good can a program be if it relies on hype in stead of a good quality work-at-home program?
7. If you are looking for a home-based job from your classified ads, 800 numbers should raise a red flag. Most local companies don't use 800 numbers in local ads. If you decide to call, and it sounds like a "job" situation, get as much information as possible so you can research the company. And remember, never send money.
8. What about infomercial opportunities such as Carlton Sheets, Brad Richdale, or Jeff Paul? To be honest, they do provide legitimate information on building your own business BUT, most of the information they provide you can get for FREE or at least cheaper at the library or local book store.
9. Network marketing opportunities abound. Over the past few years, MLM has begun to recover from the negative association with pyramid schemes. While the hierarchy is a pyramid in shape (come to think of it, all businesses are!), network marketing is a legitimate business opportunity IF the main purpose is to market products. You can feel safe in joining the companies that are well-known such as Amway, Mary Kay, Discovery Toys, Shaklee and others. Even so, it always pays to research any business opportunity. Be sure you understand the compensation plan and any refund policies. See below for information on how to investigate companies.
10. Always "sleep-on-it". Many business opportunities can get you so excited about the possibilities that you end up writing a check without thinking. Always leave your checkbook and credit cards at home! Put the magazine ad away for a day or two. Turn off the t.v. You won’t miss out. The ads are run all the time. If you decide to pursue it, it will still be there.
11. Watch out for Home Business Associations and Home Business Seminars. They have been investigated by the Federal Trade Commission mostly for misrepresenting earning potentials to consumers. That's enough to keep me away. See number 7 if you feel tempted.
All About Frauds and Scams on the Internet
Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) - Federal Bureaus of Investigation & National White Collar Crime Center
Affinity Fraud: Beware of Swindlers Who Claim Loyalty to Your Group
Better Business Bureau Central Web Server for U.S. and Canada
Chain Letters - United States Postal Inspection Service
Competition Act - Pyramid Selling and Multi-Level Marketing Schemes (Canada)
Consumer Fraud Alert Network - Professional Con Man / Scam Artist Alert
CyberCop - Keeping Cyberspace safe for consumers
CyberTipline for complaints about the sexual exploitation of children
Exploited Child Unit
Federal Bureau of Investigation - FBI's National Computer Crime Squad (NCCS)
Federal Bureau of Investigation - FBI Field Offices - FBI FAQ - Fraud & Obscenity
FTC Names Its Dirty Dozen:12 Scams Most Likely to Arrive Via Bulk Email
Fifteen Ways to Spot internet Scams
Internet ScamBusters - Publication On Internet Fraud
Home Business Scam Alert Network
Internet Advocacy Center - California Alliance For Consumer Protection
Internet Fraud Watch - National Fraud Info. Center - National Consumer League
"Make Money Fast"--Start a multi-level marketing scam
MLM Alerts: On the Net
Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) - An intrinsically flawed system of marketing
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
National Consumers League
Pyramid Schemes, Chain Letters and Ponzi Schemes
SCAMS: On the Net
Spam: How to Stop it - Actions you can take to reduce your spam intake
Sweepstakes, Lottery, & Chain Letter Fraud - United States Postal Inspection Service
Top Ten Subjects of Reports to Internet Fraud Watch 1997
Traps and Scams - Financial Traps & Scams
Webguardian Internet Watchdog Website - Internet Commerce Problems
What's Wrong with Multi-Level Marketing?
Where to Complain About Frauds & Scams on the Internet
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posted by shameful_U @ 1:15 PM
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