http://www.scorpionbike.com/


i came by this website after i asked a seller on ebay a question about a suspicious cheap cannondale r5000, he replied with this link to his site. do you guys recon its genuine or not?

http://www.scorpionbike.com/


i came by this website after i asked a seller on ebay a question about a suspicious cheap cannondale r5000, he replied with this link to his site. do you guys recon its genuine or not?

With the dollar so weak in the overseas markets, you're generally not going to find a really great bargains shopping there. I looked at the Treks listed and the dollar equivalent is: Madone 5.9 $2160, 5900SL $1920 and a 5900 for $1360. Each is listed as a fully equipped bike w/full DA and other high end bits. You REALLY think you're going to get a 5900 w/DA for $1360!!??. The Trek UK site has the Madone listed for the equalent of $6,300 (after subtracting the VAT).

The website is really pieced together - Cart and Search features are really nonfunctioning features. No way to add items to your "Cart". The ordering email address is a juno.com address, while the "ask us" is a coardes.com (???) address. There is no mention of VAT or custom duties, which would have to be addressed in a legit site. It indicates THEY will pay for shipping. Come on now, I know you WANT to believe this is legit, but deep down you know you're gonna get ripped off, right? This place has more flags flying that the French military (an appropriate comparision since this claims to be French company).

Tell you what, send me $1,000 cash and I'll ship to you my C40, full Record equipped with Hyperon wheels - and of course it just so happens to be any size you could possible want.

Update -- I just baited them with an request for a Madone. I used an extra email address I normally have locked down so after playing with them I can shut it off again. I'll come back and post what kind of replies I get from them. This should be fun.

What was/is the guy's eBay ID?

OK, I received a series of emails "Paul" who apparently handles the ordering for this website. He was most accommodating to my requests, and even confirmed that they indeed had my Madone in a size 59cm - which of course Trek does not produce. He was eager to change out all the DuraAce parts for Campy. You can also see he initially indicated he would accept a check, but this changed to a wire transer in a subsequent email. He even gave me detailed info on how to wire the money to him. This is a classic scam down to the letter. "Paul" refers to "buy it now" a few times so I think he got a little confused and thinks I contacted via eBay. However, I think I'll play along a little longer. This is fun. So, our correspondence started with my email below...Happy reading.

======================================
Hi,
I'm interested in a Madone 5.9 size 59cm equipped exactly as you have it listed on your website. How do I proceed with this transaction. Are there issues with VAT or custom duties. Will I need to take it to my local bike shop to have it assembled and prepared?

Thanks...Steve
===============
Hello Steve,
Thank you for your email .The buy now is including the shipping charges and insurance.No duties to be paid. The bike is complete, brand new in factory box, never opened, never ridden. I have all sizes available.

The warranty is not yet activated so you don’t have to worry. It will be activated once the package is shipped. The price for the bike includes the shipping charges .I'll ship with FeDex Express. Delivery takes 2-3 days,depending on your location. Shipping is done same day the payment is cleared and i provide the tracking details from FEDEX. For payment you can send money orders ,personal cheques,wire transfers.

If you want to buy it now please please email me fast and I'll answer you promptly with all the purchase details.
Best regards,

Paul
=====================================
Paul,

Yes, I am indeed interested in purchasing this bike. However, on second thought is it possible to switch the Shimano DuraAce components to Campagnolo Record for the same price? I strongly prefer Campagnolo to Shimano, and I would also like Campy Hyperon carbon wheels if it's not too much trouble..

Again, the size I need is a Madone 5.9 59cm and I want to confirm you have this specific model and size in stock as I don't want to have to wait for it. I've been waiting 6 weeks for another dealer to acquire a bike for me and the delay has been unacceptable and has forced me to look elsewhere. However, that dealer was willing to change to Campagnolo equipment. If you can also commit to doing this then I can send you a money order for the total amount. To whom should it be make out to and what address is it to be sent?

I need to ask one more time about custom duties. I want to be certain this is all handled by your company as I'm pretty sure there is a duty fee on the price of the frame. I don't want a customs official confiscating my new bike and taking me to jail for customs violations or accusing me of trying smuggling goods into the U.S. But, if you are handling all of this then I'll leave it in your hands and I won't worry. Please get back to me ASAP so I can get to my bank before they close Friday afternoon.

Thanks...Steve
===========================
Hello Steve,

We can make the changes that you want. We have the 59 cm madone and we are ready to ship it to your address as soon as the payment is made. We prefer the payment via western union money order and we take the money transfer charges. You'll have 30 days money back guaranteed if you are not satisfied with your order I'll refund you %100. The unit comes in sealed factory box, with full warranty .
You have to send the payment to :

Name: Raul Lony
Address: 15 rue Iena
Zip Code: 20000
City: AJACCIO
Country: FRANCE

Please send the payment with western union money transfer with cash money at a western union money transfer office. For more info, go to: www.westernunion.com at find agent locator.This way you find out the nearest western union agent in you area. After the payment is done please email me with the payment details and your shipping address.
The total amount that you have to send us is including the shipping charges. Please deduct the western union fee from the total amount. You don't have to inform western union that you'll send the payment for an internet purchase because they will ask you to pay the fees twice and the duties for your purchase. I'll arrange to send you the unit as a gift in order for you to avoid the duties. The unit will be shipped via FeDex Express same day I receive your payment.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,

Paul

note- this thread is also on the general discussions and good/bad seller boards, most replies have been in general discussions so far.

I am sure most people can tell these are scams but I am sure some get duped, otherwise nobody would be doing it, and Lance's 2002 5900 with that plate hanger wouldn't have been sold 2000 times on ebay.

Maybe someone can look into the internet fraud legal enforcement actions and get these mo f**kers locked up.

With the dollar so weak in the overseas markets, you're generally not going to find a really great bargains shopping there. I looked at the Treks listed and the dollar equivalent is: Madone 5.9 $2160, 5900SL $1920 and a 5900 for $1360. Each is listed as a fully equipped bike w/full DA and other high end bits. You REALLY think you're going to get a 5900 w/DA for $1360!!??. The Trek UK site has the Madone listed for the equalent of $6,300 (after subtracting the VAT).

The website is really pieced together - Cart and Search features are really nonfunctioning features. No way to add items to your "Cart". The ordering email address is a juno.com address, while the "ask us" is a coardes.com (???) address. There is no mention of VAT or custom duties, which would have to be addressed in a legit site. It indicates THEY will pay for shipping. Come on now, I know you WANT to believe this is legit, but deep down you know you're gonna get ripped off, right? This place has more flags flying that the French military (an appropriate comparision since this claims to be French company).

Tell you what, send me $1,000 cash and I'll ship to you my C40, full Record equipped with Hyperon wheels - and of course it just so happens to be any size you could possible want.

Update -- I just baited them with an request for a Madone. I used an extra email address I normally have locked down so after playing with them I can shut it off again. I'll come back and post what kind of replies I get from them. This should be fun.

What was/is the guy's eBay ID?

=================================
That sounds fine. I'll go to my bank in a little while, withdraw the necessary money and the head right over Western Union. However, I was thinking that it might be a problem for you to take off all the Shimano parts and then install the new Campagnolo stuff. You would also have to unpack and repack the entire bike to do this. This would be very time consuming for you. If it would be easier, just leave the bike equipped as it comes from the factory and then in a separate box ship all the Campagnolo parts. I will then take the responsibility of installing all the new stuff myself. Let me know if this is acceptable to you, and if so I'll go to my bank right now. This such a great price for this bike I don't want to miss out if you happen to run out of my size.

Oh, one last thing, can you send me the serial number on the bike. Since this is an out of the country transaction I think I should verify with Trek that they don't mind that I'm buying one of their bikes so darn cheap.

Steve
=================================
Hello,

You will have assemble the bike as we will send you the specific components that you require. we pay for shipping and insurance

you may send the payment today so we can have enough time to ship the bike tonight.we need you to confirm us your exact name and address for the delivery so we can edit the invoice for your records/

my kind regards
=================================
Paul,

I would be happy to assemble it all myself. Thanks for agreeing to send both Dura-Ace and Campy Record components all for the original price.

You requested information for your invoice and shipping records - delivery will have to be to a U.S. post office box as federal law enforcement are monitoring my mailings due to some alleged maleficence relating to interstate postal fraud and money laundering. I emphasize alleged as I don't feel they have very strong evidence against me yet. Under U.S. law you're innocent until proven guilty so I am maintaining my innocence.

Please confirm that this type of delivery is OK with you. When I send you the wire transfer confirmation information I will again confirm if the address below is still valid for delivery. It seems that whenever I withdraw large sums of money from my bank account it ignites the interest of law enforcement I mentioned above.

It may get a little complicated at this point. As I leave the bank with the money and head to the closest Western Union, if I suspect law enforcement is again following me it will be best for me to leave the country for a few weeks. I can quickly get to the US/Mexican border and crossing into Mexico is never a problem - it's only gets sticky when you try to get back into the US. I'm sure I can find a Western Union office somewhere in Mexico. However, they will have to wire you the money in Pesos so I hope this is OK.

If all of this does occur I will then provide you with a delivery address in Mexico. I'm sure shipping to Mexico would be no problem for you. Anyway, perhaps this is too much personal information and I'm wasting your time, but I just wanted you to know why I might have to change the shipping address at the very last minute. You seem to be an honest person and are providing me with such a great bike at a great price I felt I should be honest with you. The address for delivery of the bike is:

Steven Williams
PO Box 666
Nogales, Arizona
=================================
Hello,

Sorry for my late reply. it;s no problem with me regarding your requests. please contact me as soon as the payment is made so we can prepay the delivery

regards, ben
=================================
ben??? What happened to Paul? I had been talking to Paul all along and suddenly I get a message from "ben". What's up here? Now, I'm a little nervous since I don't know who this "ben " is at all. I'd like to make sure all of my previous issues and points are OK with. I understand that "ben" thinks its OK, but I don't know who "ben" is. Now it's getting late and I may not get to the bank before it closes.

Steve

================================
hello,

paul is out of town and he asked me to reply to your mails.
my name is ben and i will take care of the delivery via FEDEX service, that;s why it;s much better i have replied to you.

anyway, tomorrow you will receive replies from ben directly but i will prepay the delivery

there is nothing you have to worry about it

regards, ben
=================

Mr. Woodcock is a total fly-by-nighter... here is the whois for scorpionbike.com:

Mr a woodcock
4 westwood cottages, redbourne
gainsborough
lincolnshire
dn21 4lq
UK

Domain Name: SCORPIONBIKE.COM

Administrative Contact, Billing Contact:
"Mr a woodcock" <newoldbrand@yahoo.co.uk>
Phone: 1709216753
Fax:
Technical Contact, Registrar:
"Mr Easyspace Hostmaster" <hostmaster@easyspace.com>
Phone: +44 1932 350 097
Fax: +44 1932 350 222

Record last updated on 2004-03-30.
Record expires on 2005-03-30.
Record created on 2004-03-30.

Domain servers in listed order:

NS1.EASYPOST.COM 216.167.71.20
NS3.EASYPOST.COM 216.167.71.24

hiya!

i just read a LENGTHY article about a guy in london who was trying to scam a guy out of an apple powerbook with this same scam and how they SCAMMED him. It's worth a look as this guy has totally taken the bait already. i'll have to find the lilnk and post it heere later this afternoon. you could have the local cops deliver your check to him...

cheers!

m :cool:

here's the link: http://69.93.112.102/~pbook/

=================================
Paul,

I would be happy to assemble it all myself. Thanks for agreeing to send both Dura-Ace and Campy Record components all for the original price.

You requested information for your invoice and shipping records - delivery will have to be to a U.S. post office box as federal law enforcement are monitoring my mailings due to some alleged maleficence relating to interstate postal fraud and money laundering. I emphasize alleged as I don't feel they have very strong evidence against me yet. Under U.S. law you're innocent until proven guilty so I am maintaining my innocence.

Please confirm that this type of delivery is OK with you. When I send you the wire transfer confirmation information I will again confirm if the address below is still valid for delivery. It seems that whenever I withdraw large sums of money from my bank account it ignites the interest of law enforcement I mentioned above.

It may get a little complicated at this point. As I leave the bank with the money and head to the closest Western Union, if I suspect law enforcement is again following me it will be best for me to leave the country for a few weeks. I can quickly get to the US/Mexican border and crossing into Mexico is never a problem - it's only gets sticky when you try to get back into the US. I'm sure I can find a Western Union office somewhere in Mexico. However, they will have to wire you the money in Pesos so I hope this is OK.

If all of this does occur I will then provide you with a delivery address in Mexico. I'm sure shipping to Mexico would be no problem for you. Anyway, perhaps this is too much personal information and I'm wasting your time, but I just wanted you to know why I might have to change the shipping address at the very last minute. You seem to be an honest person and are providing me with such a great bike at a great price I felt I should be honest with you. The address for delivery of the bike is:

Steven Williams
PO Box 666
Nogales, Arizona
=================================
=================

Now that is one of the funniest things I've ever read! :D

This is funny, what happened?

Since he's located in France, send this info to Interpol.

As most threads here do, whenever I have some spare time, I go to http://www.419eater.com/ and read from the archives. This is a group of youngsters in the UK that engage in long e-mail exchanges with African scam artists. If you've ever got one of those "my rich uncle died before his diamond mine could be put into the family trust and I'm looking for partners..." then you know what these emails are about. They con the cons into sending pictures of themselves doing the strangest things and often swindle cash out of them. Always good for a laugh.

As most threads here do, whenever I have some spare time, I go to http://www.419eater.com/ and read from the archives. This is a group of youngsters in the UK that engage in long e-mail exchanges with African scam artists. If you've ever got one of those "my rich uncle died before his diamond mine could be put into the family trust and I'm looking for partners..." then you know what these emails are about. They con the cons into sending pictures of themselves doing the strangest things and often swindle cash out of them. Always good for a laugh.


Reading the account of Prince Joe from this site was the most unbeliveable and hilarious thing I have read in ages. AND....they get the scammer from Nigeria to mail THEM money. Unbelivable.

I had forgotten all about this exchange with these frauds. The update is no matter how outlandish my story became they continued to go along and request money via Western Union. I finally got tired of the game and gave up responding - shut down the email address I was using with them so I don't know if they continued for awhile.

BTW, if you send the money by WU, they could be located anywhere and still access the money. I'll bet you they are located in.....(drumroll, please).........Nigeria!

You should buy your trek from a local shop. I dont think trek allows people to buy/sell via the web.

You should buy your trek from a local shop. I dont think trek allows people to buy/sell via the web.

you can't be serious... you might want to read the thread next time before you spread your wisdom

Hello, we are searching for foreign company (person or organization) in USA to represent our company and receive payments on our behalf for a reward of defined percentage of sales volume. Payments will come for our goods from US buyers in form of paypal, cashier's check or money order. You don't need to spend anything for beginning, all relations will be controlled by the contract. Further info is available on request. Get back to me as soon as possible. Thanks, Guadalupe

This is his e-mail.....Anybody want to play along?

guadalupearaiza@dmn2070.com

Just saw this seller on ebay again, using id=garet1514.
Mails are to be sent to coardes ... something.

Read the thread with Trek - loved the idea to save all that work and just ship both the DA and Record.

As far as location, I live in France and had never seen a zip code anything like 2000, so punched the address into www.viamichelin.com, it looks like a valid address, but it's on a French island in the med, corsica if I've got my geography right.

If you ever need to see the location of an address in Europe, viamichelin is the best.

By the way, recently sold a bike through roadbikereview - went smooth - just had to watch out for all the scammers trying "buy" my bike.

I just did my first ride on my new KG481SL, straight from Laurent Jalabert's shop. Sweet! I see Laurent in the shop now and again, thought about having him autograph the bike - except it already has the decal.