Hi, You are correct... this is a scam!
I answered an ad on 'Astrobird' for an amazing deal on a Questar left for this guy from his uncle. I sent numerous emails and all were answered, in fact I even spoke on the phone with him. I asked for more photos and they were supplied. I asked for serial #'s and they were supplied. I sent this info to Questar and they verified that it was one of theirs and the date it was made. The scammer holds an address in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. He wanted money sent before shipping, I said I would only send a small portion to before shipping, and the rest later. The small portion was still enough to make me bang my head on my desk a few times, when I realized I was scammed.
About an hour after I wired the money overseas, I see the exact same ad on Astroedit, with the same pictures! I email right away, and the scammer apologized profusely, saying his wife placed the ad, and sure enough the ad was deleted in a few moments. I called my bank, but by that time the money had already left Toronto and was impossible to retrieve.
It turns out that the Questar for sale was taken from an ad on Ebay! Verbatim! Same pics, description, serial #... everything. The scammer copied the ad from Ebay and sold it, saying it was his, and was willing to accept any amount of money, wire transferred to his bank.
I am not sure that all the names, account information, addresses and phone numbers still exist, but I will gladly forward all the correspondence and info to you to use as your own to help other fellow astronomers be aware. I am really amazed at the overall honesty and integrity of the astronomy community, and being so impressed, I felt this one was honest too!
Thanks
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Penticton, BC CANADA
I am a registered Astromarter, and I really enjoy the service you have provided. I have bought and sold a few things, but more important, I have met many friewnds whom I still correspond with.
I answered an ad on 'Astrobird' for an amazing deal on a Questar left for this guy from his uncle. I sent numerous emails and all were answered, in fact I even spoke on the phone with him. I asked for more photos and they were supplied. I asked for serial #'s and they were supplied. I sent this info to Questar and they verified that it was one of theirs and the date it was made. The scammer holds an address in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. He wanted money sent before shipping, I said I would only send a small portion to before shipping, and the rest later. The small portion was still enough to make me bang my head on my desk a few times, when I realized I was scammed.
About an hour after I wired the money overseas, I see the exact same ad on Astroedit, with the same pictures! I email right away, and the scammer apologized profusely, saying his wife placed the ad, and sure enough the ad was deleted in a few moments. I called my bank, but by that time the money had already left Toronto and was impossible to retrieve.
It turns out that the Questar for sale was taken from an ad on Ebay! Verbatim! Same pics, description, serial #... everything. The scammer copied the ad from Ebay and sold it, saying it was his, and was willing to accept any amount of money, wire transferred to his bank.
I am not sure that all the names, account information, addresses and phone numbers still exist, but I will gladly forward all the correspondence and info to you to use as your own to help other fellow astronomers be aware. I am really amazed at the overall honesty and integrity of the astronomy community, and being so impressed, I felt this one was honest too!
Thanks
edit
Penticton, BC CANADA
I am a registered Astromarter, and I really enjoy the service you have provided. I have bought and sold a few things, but more important, I have met many friewnds whom I still correspond with.
