I would like to bring up this issue to you, to continually raise the awareness of fraudsters living in UK and Nigeria. I had met this online dealer, nicknamed Zammylink from a Singapore advertising site who has been posting advertisments on selling various cameras and other electronic equipment. Zammylink, known as a Haji Nurfadilah has an existing website of his own http://zammylink.synthasite.com/.
In this website are a product catalog of the electronic good that he carries, and the website has the statement We are a UK based and registered company..
He listed his address as 31 Padwell Road Southampton Hampshire SO50 9AL Uk and left a contact number of 447045761869, with email contacts of [email protected] and [email protected]. He also has an msn account
of [email protected]. He also has an accomplice David Olawale, with a listed address of: 22 akowonjo raod, Egbeda, Lagos, Nigeria 23401. On several occasions, Haji Nurfadilah has called with a no. with the country code of (234), which indicates that he may not be operating in uk.
I will attempt to re-construct a timeline of events that happened from the 23rd of March.
23rd March: Saw the advertisement posted at Inkiti Singapore (http://www.inkiti.com), for Nikon D80 kit digital SLR camera. enquired the following questions:
interested in the Brand new Nikon D80 with 18 - 200 mm Nikkor Vr lens is it international warranty? whats the price that you're offering for this camera?
24th March: reply from Zammylink aka Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@10:49am
Hello.
Thanks for your interest in the camera we have for sale, it is available and is brand new comes with complete accessories
The Nikon D80 with 18 - 200 mm Nikkor Vr lens is just $550 including the shipment charges
We ship to your location with in 2 day. Once shipment is made the tracking number and air way bill will be given to you.
We have a 3 months insurance policy which covers the camera should in case any thing happens to it within that 3 months you can get your refund back or another camera sent to you
To proceed get back with these details:
The address you want the camera shipped to?
Do you have a yahoo or msn id so that we can chat?
How many of the camera do you want to buy?
Do you have a reachable phone number?
Expecting your earliest response.
Thanks and have a great day.
24th March: reply to Zammylink aka Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@15:21pm
Hi there, thanks for the quick reply!
the $550 that you quote..which currency is it in? Where will the item be shipped from? What will be the mode of payment? The address you want the camera shipped to?
Do you have a yahoo or msn id so that we can chat?
How many of the camera do you want to buy?
I would like 1 unit of Nikon D80 kit Do you have a reachable phone number? Hope to hear from you soon!
Kylie
24th March: reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@16:18pm
Hello Kylie
The $550 is in us dollars, i have packaged the camera and is ready for the shipment. The camers is shipped from Uk
the payment is through western union money transfer and once your payment is confirmed the shipment would be made.
Please reconfirm your shipping details again:
To proceed get back to go to western union and send the money to my details so that i can shp outThis is my details to send the money to:
Receivers Name: Haji Nurfadilah
Receivers address: 31 Padwell Road, Southampton, Hampshire SO50 9AL Uklet me know as soon as you have sent the money
thanks
24th March: reply to Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@21:41pmHi Haji,
I've sent USD550 through Western Union into your name and address as
you've specified.
Do check! Kylie
During the transaction of the money, Haji Nurfadilah called my cellphone several times, asking to confirm if I have done the transaction. Appeared to be in a hurry for the transaction to be completed.
The following day on the 25th March I received an email reply from Haji:
25th March: reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@06:06am
Hello
i had a busy day at the shipping company office the item is registered with them but they demand for custom charges and tax charges and also custom stamp charges and import warranty of $299 usd dollars you have to go send the money so that i can sort things out.. i talked to my friend and he would help out make the import warranty as it is the most important so you would have to send the whole money to him so that he can make the import warrant for you and i would sort things out
this is the details of my friend to send the money to
Receivers Name: David Olawale
Receivers address: 22 akowonjo raod, Egbeda, Lagos, Nigeria 23401
Text question: what
Text answer: item
let me know when you have sent it i would call you or you can ring me up when you see this message
After I've read this email my heart sank. Nigeria = country of scams. Trying to salvage the situation, I decided to bait him to at least refund my money back.
To this email I replied:
25th March: reply to Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@06:22am
Hi Haji,
I was under the impression that the entire cost of the camera is at550usd, with no hidden charges. I'll like to cancel my order at this moment and reconsolidate my orders as I may want to order it from you in bulk in the future. Please refund USD550 back to me via western union money transfer. Please drop me an email when u've done the transaction! Looking forward to do business with you again
Kylie
About 2 minutes after I've sent out this email, Haji Nurfadilah came online in msn and the following exchange occurred:
Kylie: morning haji..its 6.30 am here..
Haji Nurfadilah: hello
Haji Nurfadilah: yes
Kylie: i just got your email.
Haji Nurfadilah: ok
Haji Nurfadilah: so what would you do about it
Haji Nurfadilah: i just want to clear things up with you
Kylie: yea. i've got to reconsider now that you said there are extra charges
Haji Nurfadilah: as i am very tired
Haji Nurfadilah: you have nothing to reconsider as you would gain from this deal
Haji Nurfadilah: ask me how
Kylie: i'd like to cancel this deal first cos i may want to order from you in bulk if per unit is 550usd
Haji Nurfadilah: oh ok
Kylie: but now its 550usd plus another 299usd then the price is a little steep
Kylie: could you do a refund back for me?
Haji Nurfadilah: listen to me
Haji Nurfadilah: you have nothing to worry about listen to me
Haji Nurfadilah: it is very simple
Haji Nurfadilah: are you willing to listen to me
Kylie: yea im listening but i'd still like my refund back at the end of the day
Kylie: per unit 550 299 is too expensive
Haji Nurfadilah: listen to me sister
Kylie: im listening
Haji Nurfadilah: when i went to the shipping company and also they demanded for this
Haji Nurfadilah: i included 1 more nikon and also the blackberry storm for you
Haji Nurfadilah: so after you get it you can sell it and resend me the money
Haji Nurfadilah: so that way you are not loosing and also you get to make profit
Haji Nurfadilah: the other nikon i included in the package i would sell lesser to you and also the blackberry storm will be cheap
Kylie: its alright haji..i know you're trying to help me out, but i really need to reconsolidate my funds before i do a bulk business with you
Kylie: im thinking of bringing in 20units or more
Haji Nurfadilah: listen to me you do not need to consolidate any thing
Haji Nurfadilah: this way you woud not pay any tax charges when the item gets to singapore
Kylie: could you do the refund for me first?
Haji Nurfadilah: so try understand this my sister and you must know i would not advise you bad as i am trying my best to make sure things work out better between us
Kylie: its my first time doing business with you... so i need to establish this trust first
Haji Nurfadilah: the package is already in the shipping company
Kylie: im not a dead buyer
Kylie: so i'll definately order from u again
Haji Nurfadilah: i can not return back the funds as i would be at lost because i alread paid for the shipment
Haji Nurfadilah: listen to me sister i need your trust her
Haji Nurfadilah: so please do you trust me
Kylie: i knew that you wont refund me
Kylie: i've already transferred 550usd to you
Haji Nurfadilah: listen to me sister
Kylie: why dont you post the unit over first
Kylie: then i'll transfer another 299usd to you?
Haji Nurfadilah: ok listen to me
Haji Nurfadilah: then lets do things this way
Haji Nurfadilah: since you do not want to beleif in me
Kylie: since earlier on u said that u've included another unit of camera and a blackberry
Haji Nurfadilah: are you listing
Kylie: i am
Haji Nurfadilah: ok i would pay $99 you pay the rest after you get the item you balance me up
Haji Nurfadilah: i think this way you would know i am trying my best for you
Haji Nurfadilah: you must understand i am trying to make this work
Haji Nurfadilah: i have been all day at the shipping company
Haji Nurfadilah: just to see your package through
Kylie: i understand. but if u've done business in the asian market before surely you would have know of this import tax charges beforehand and let me know before i made nay transfer right?
Kylie: i want to believe you. so please do a refund back for me
Haji Nurfadilah: sister you have to belief me
Kylie: i can't keep paying for extra costs if i dont see the goods!
Haji Nurfadilah: you would see the goods that is why i had them include the import warranty charges as well
Haji Nurfadilah: oncw i make the import warranty i will scan it to you
Haji Nurfadilah: it is a certificate that allows you import items with out paying any thing
Haji Nurfadilah: i promise you onmy word that you would not be paying any other money after this
Haji Nurfadilah: trust me
Haji Nurfadilah: if after this you have to pay any other money i would gladly refund all your total amount to you
Haji Nurfadilah: try trust me i am trying to make thing easy for you in case of next time
Kylie: i think its fair that i pay for the remaining only after you'd mailed out the item
Kylie: i dont need the extra blackberry
Kylie: i just need one unit of camera
Haji Nurfadilah: listen
Haji Nurfadilah: the reason why i included itis because i want you to gain
Haji Nurfadilah: you would still pay thesame amount if i did not include the item
Haji Nurfadilah: so i thougth it wise that after you get it you can sell the items and make some profit off it
Kylie: i understand. but at this moment i can't just transferring money and not see any signs of the good
Haji Nurfadilah: oh ok
Haji Nurfadilah: sister listen to me
Haji Nurfadilah: if after you transfer this and you do not get the tracking number i will send all your money back to you
Haji Nurfadilah: all at once through western union
Kylie: if u're buying online and u've already paid a certain amount from a seller wouldnt you be concerned that the seller wants you to fork out more money?
Haji Nurfadilah: listen to me
Haji Nurfadilah: after this first deal you would understand what i mean
Haji Nurfadilah: the next deal you would thank me for this and when this package gets to singapore
Haji Nurfadilah: you must know i would not do any thing to spoil this business relationship as i like it and i know you would bring alot more business for me
Haji Nurfadilah: i am trying to keep this deal going smooth and you must trust and belief me i would not lie or do any thing to hurt you
Haji Nurfadilah: as i know if i do i will effect this deal
Haji Nurfadilah: please sister try understan where i am coming from
Kylie: i understand. but i still think its more fair if i dont pay up the full amount first
Haji Nurfadilah: oh sister
Kylie: because i have nothing on my side, i just seem to keep paying
Haji Nurfadilah: why would i want to hurt you
Haji Nurfadilah: you too try consider that i would loose the chance of selling the other camera and blackberry to you
Haji Nurfadilah: which i do not want
Haji Nurfadilah: i am trying to make this clear toyou
Kylie: ok. can i transfer 150usd first
Haji Nurfadilah: Sister why are you doing this way
Kylie: and i will most definately pay up the rest when you give me a tracking no.
Haji Nurfadilah: you know i am not lying to you and you know it
Kylie: because u keep telling me to trust you
Haji Nurfadilah: you must know it
Haji Nurfadilah: please do
Kylie: but you dont seem to trust me
Haji Nurfadilah: if you pay the money now before the next 6 hours i would get you the tracking number
Haji Nurfadilah: if i do not get the tracking number to you
Haji Nurfadilah: iwould refund you back your money
Haji Nurfadilah: you must know i not only one this me and my friend and my wife does
Haji Nurfadilah: please sister try understand and beleif me
Kylie: how do u get me a tracking no. within 6hrs? isnt it evening time in uk now
Haji Nurfadilah: it is 10:49 pm now
Haji Nurfadilah: within 6 hours it would be 6 am to 7 pm
Haji Nurfadilah: i would wake up early to sort things out for you
Kylie: as i said. can i pay up 150usd first
Haji Nurfadilah: trust me
Kylie: because u should trust me as well
Haji Nurfadilah: that would get no were
Haji Nurfadilah: as i have alot of bills to pay and you knowit
Haji Nurfadilah: i understand. we all do
Haji Nurfadilah: so please do try know where i am coming from
Kylie: i will pay up asap when u get me a tracking no. as well!
Haji Nurfadilah: i have the duty tax import warrant, clearance
Kylie: how come you dont trust your buyer
Haji Nurfadilah: sister listen to me
Haji Nurfadilah: i do trust you that is why i sent you the other items in the package
Haji Nurfadilah: sister you would waste transfer charges in paying the money twise
Haji Nurfadilah: why no pay it once
Haji Nurfadilah: i am assuring you that you would never regret this
Haji Nurfadilah: i can swear on this deal
Haji Nurfadilah: you only need to belief in me and it would give me more confidence
Kylie: another question haji..
Kylie: why is this friend of yours in nigeria?
Haji Nurfadilah: he is the one who would help out with the import warrant which is the most important
Haji Nurfadilah: if you send the money to me and i want to transfer it to him i will have to pay charges
Haji Nurfadilah: why didnt you know about the important warranty before you quoted me the price?
Haji Nurfadilah: that is why i want the shipment
Haji Nurfadilah: sister if you are into buying and selling you would know onething
Haji Nurfadilah: the customs could be really funny
Haji Nurfadilah: they migth charge and migth not charge
KYlie: but why would your friend all the way from nigeria help you with the import warranty?
Haji Nurfadilah: i had to contact him when i knew they wanted the warranty just to ask him to help out
Haji Nurfadilah: he work in the nigerian ministery of commerce
Kylie: what has that got to do the the customs in uk?
Haji Nurfadilah: so he would help makeit faster for us and scan the copy to us before i send to you
Haji Nurfadilah: they want the warranty that you have the liecense to import
Haji Nurfadilah: and that is what th eimport warrant is for
Kylie: ok
Haji Nurfadilah: that is where he comes in
Haji Nurfadilah: they migth demand for it in singapore too
Haji Nurfadilah: so you just show them the scan copy
Haji Nurfadilah: untill you get the original copy that would be sent to you
Kylie: "Goods says (6:34 AM): ok i would pay $99 you pay the rest after you get the item you balance me up i think this way you would know i am trying my best for you you must understand i am trying to make this work "
Kylie: so i'll send your friend 200usd first
Haji Nurfadilah: yes sister
Kylie: haji, whats the difference between helping me pay 99usd and 149usd?
Kylie: i just dont understand
Kylie: when i will still balance you up in the end
Haji Nurfadilah: cos that is the raw cash i have at hand now
Haji Nurfadilah: i am talking about the raw cash i have at hand now sister
Haji Nurfadilah: i have say only 120 usd
Haji Nurfadilah: but is willing to spend 99 for you
Haji Nurfadilah: try understand me
Kylie: ok
Kylie: i will transfer 200usd.
Haji Nurfadilah: ok sister
Kylie: and you will send the tracking no. when i've done the transfer
Haji Nurfadilah: yes sister
Kylie: because its diffcult on my side to keep paying and paying
Haji Nurfadilah: trust me honestly
Kylie: and not see anything
Haji Nurfadilah: sister i promiseyou would see the end result of this payment and would thank me for this
Kylie: i will send you an email when i've done the transfer alright?
Kylie: i've gotta go head... late for work
Haji Nurfadilah: oh ok sister hope you would do it early this morning
Kylie: i will try
Throughout the entire msn conversation, Haji kept trying to digress away from the refund that I was requesting, and explaining what this Nigerian import warranty is for. I maintained that I only want 1 unit of camera per my original order,
"Kylie: i dont need the extra blackberry
Kylie: i just need one unit of camera"
but Haji insisted on throwing in another unit of camera and a unit of blackberry storm so that I could, from his own words, pay him off when I sell it off so that I could gain as well He also brush off the refund with and excuse that he already paid for the shipment so he could not give me the refund. I queried him on paying only half the amount of 299usd (I offered to pay 150usd first), since he was already willing to pay 99usd to make the deal seem more credible but Haji repeatedly refused. The conversation ended with me only agreeing to pay 200usd for the import warranty and he will pay the balance of 99usd until the shipment arrives at my side. Haji also promised to deliver a tracking number for the shipment when I transfer the 200usd. Never in the conversation did I agree to help him sell off his extra unit of camera and blackberry storm and make a profit out of it.
Right after the msn conversation went off another email appeared to remind me of the new payee's details. I observed that the msn conversation ended only 1 minute earlier.
25th March: reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@07:10am
Here is the details again
Receivers Name: David Olawale
Receivers address: 22 akowonjo raod, Egbeda, Lagos, Nigeria 23401
Text question: what
Text answer: item
let me know when though
I replied Haji informing him that I will not be able to do the transaction so early as I had to work
25th March: reply to Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@08:32am
hi haji, i will only be able to do the transfer singapore time at about 7.30pm. Will let you know asap thru email
In the evening Haji sent and email to rush the transaction
25th March: reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@21:06pm
hi
i have been waiting for you but you have not got back with the details you are delaying the shipment now
I replied him when I got home after doing the transaction
25th March: reply to Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@22:03pm
Hi Haji,
transaction to david olawale done
test question: What
please email me for item tracking no. and also a scan of the import
warranty, thanks!
Kylie
Following that email from me, there was no phone call, he did not come onto msn, until I tried calling him the next morning (447045761869) and only after several tries, he agreed to go online onto msn. To following exchange took place
Kylie: good morning haji
Kylie: could i get the tracking no. from you
Kylie: you went offline the moment i went online
Kylie: i will take action if you still dont get back to me regarding the item
Kylie: are u online yet?
Kylie: there you are
Haji Nurfadilah: yes i am
Haji Nurfadilah: tracking number
Haji Nurfadilah: 934192009811
Kylie: when did u post the item... this afternoon?
Haji Nurfadilah: website
Haji Nurfadilah: www.pargofly.com
Haji Nurfadilah: yes
Kylie: you are very fast in business
Haji Nurfadilah: have to be
Kylie: i look forward to receive the item
Haji Nurfadilah: wait let me scan the import warranty for you
Haji Nurfadilah: ok
Haji Nurfadilah: should i send it here or through email
Kylie: email will be good
Kylie: thanks!
Haji Nurfadilah: ok
Haji NurfadilaH: what happen this afternoon it took you long to get back to me
Kylie: this afternoon was my evening... i got home and was waiting for u on msn but u didnt go online
Kylie: then i went off for a run with my teammate
Kylie: when i got home i saw my phone... so many missed calls
Kylie im so sorry!
Haji Nurfadilah: oh it is ok]
Haji Nurfadilah: are you married
Haji Nurfadilah: not yet
Kylie: ok i've got to get ready for work
Kylie: stay in contact ok
Haji Nurfadilah: ok
Haji Nurfadilah: have you got the email?
Kylie: yep!
Kylie: omg its really from nigeria
Haji Nurfadilah: yes i told you
Haji Nurfadilah: where did you think it was coming from before
Haji Nurfadilah: UK. the place that u are now
Haji Nurfadilah: if the import warranty was coming from uk you would have sent the money to me
Haji Nurfadilah: i am sending you your invoice now
Haji Nurfadilah: do you know how much you owe me now
Kylie:?
Kylie: exactly
Kylie: yes 99usd
Haji Nurfadilah: and for the other camera?
Haji Nurfadilah: 550 usd for the nikon and 300 for the blackberry storm
Kylie:?!
Haji Nurfadilah: total amount 949usd
Kylie: i only ordered one unit
Haji Nurfadilah: yes i mean the other units in the pcakage
Kylie: how come u put in other units?!
Haji Nurfadilah: i already told you or have you forgot?
Kylie: i thought you offered to get me to trust you
Kylie: but not to put the extra units
Kylie: as a consumer i've only ordered 1 unit of camera
Kylie: i will post the balance back to you the moment the shipment arrives
Haji Nurfadilah: i told you already that since the custom charges came i had to include the other units in
Haji Nurfadilah: you promise to post it immediately when you get the item
Kylie:
"Haji: when i went to the shipping company and also they demanded for this Haji: i included 1 more nikon and also the blackberry storm for you
Haji: so after you get it you can sell it and resend me the money
Haji: so that way you are not loosing and also you get to make profit
Haji: the other nikon i included in the package i would sell lesser to you and also the blackberry storm will be cheap"
Kylie: there is no mention that you "had to include" the other units in our previous conversation
Haji Nurfadilah: c
Haji Nurfadilah: here it is
Haji Nurfadilah:
"Haji: i included 1 more nikon and also the blackberry storm for you
Haji: so after you get it you can sell it and resend me the money"
Kylie: yes but u did not inform me that u mandatory had to include the other units in
Kylie: its like u're forcing your customer to buy more than what he has ordered
Kylie: i will post the balance items back to you
Kylie:
"Kylie: i dont need the extra blackberry
Kylie: i just need one unit of camera"
Kylie: this as well
Kylie: so i will post the balance items back to you
Haji Nurfadilah: so what are you trying to say now?
Kylie: i will transfer the 99usd balance
Kylie: and also whatever extra units that u may have posted
Kylie: because i've only ordered 1 unit of camera
Kylie: when the shipment arrives
Haji Nurfadilah: so you are trying to say you would not pay for the other 1 d80 and balckberry phone
Kylie: yes because i only ordered one unit of camera to you in the first place
Kylie: *from you
Haji Nurfadilah: listen kylie i told you before i sent this
Haji Nurfadilah: remember now you say you would not pay for this
Kylie: so i will post the balance item back to you
Haji Nurfadilah: now as a matter of fact you would have to pay for the balance now unless i will put the package on hold untill you do pay for it
Haji Nurfadilah: have you checked your email i already sent you your sales invoice
Haji Nurfadilah: this was not the deal before i shipped out
Haji Nurfadilah: i explained thing to you and you agreed to pay $200
Kylie: the 200 is for the import warranty right?
Haji Nurfadilah: i have changed my mind i have to confirm the payment first now before i would allow the shipment continue
Haji Nurfadilah: if i do not confirm the payment today i will put hold on the shipment untill you do pay the money
Kylie: ok,
Kylie: then i want to cancel my order
Kylie: because i've only order one unit from u from the start
Kylie: then u started putting more items than what was ordered
Kylie: and now demanding to me to pay for them
Haji Nurfadilah: listen now it is simple
Kylie: in the first place when i've placed an order of 1 unit i was also not informed that there are hidden charges
Haji Nurfadilah: i changed my mind
Kylie: and the fact that you keep changing your mind
Haji Nurfadilah: this was the same way i lost me items to one guy in singapore last month
Haji Nurfadilah: i lost item work 3000 usd
Haji Nurfadilah: this can not continue
Kylie: because u keep putting in things that your customers didnt order!
Haji Nurfadilah: you have all prove that i did what i you i did
Haji Nurfadilah: now you must beleif and trust me
Haji Nurfadilah: so it is now left to you
Haji Nurfadilah: i most confirm my balance payment today
Kylie: i have to trust you again?!
Haji Nurfadilah: total amount of 949 usd
Kylie: no haji i've only ordered 1 unit of camera right from the start
Haji Nurfadilah: that i most confirm today if not i would put hold on the shipment
Kylie: and i;ve done not one, but 2 transfers of money on that one unit
Haji Nurfadilah: listen i explained to you before you made the payment for the tax duty and import warranty
Haji Nurfadilah: you did not complain about it why now
Kylie: u put those extra units in there without my consent
Kylie: i told u that i only want 1 unit and i dont want other other items
Haji Nurfadilah: i told you about them
Kylie: yes but i replied that i dont want them
Haji Nurfadilah: you where fully aware of it
Haji Nurfadilah: you never said any thing like that
Haji Nurfadilah: well it is now simply
Kylie:
"Kylie: i dont need the extra blackberry
Kylie: i just need one unit of camera"
Haji Nurfadilah: i must confirm your balance payment today if not i will not allow the shipment to continue
Kylie: ok then i want to cancel my order
Haji Nurfadilah: i lost items to a singaporean before and it would not happen again
Kylie: because u're forcing your customer to order more than what she has ordered
Haji Nurfadilah: sorry you can't cancel as i have already shipped out
Haji Nurfadilah: look i am making things easy for you
Kylie: i can post the balance items back to you
Haji Nurfadilah: now it is all left to you
Kylie: look haji, i dont have that much money with me
Haji Nurfadilah: i do not want it to be posted as i do not trust you and you migth not post it back
Haji Nurfadilah: look get the money
Kylie: ok
Kylie: so u want me to trust you
Kylie: but in return you dont trust me?
Haji Nurfadilah: you can sell the item to your friends after you get the item
Haji Nurfadilah: i have given you more than enough evidence for you to trust me
Kylie: i only want one unit of camera
Haji Nurfadilah: i am sorry you must pay me the balance
Haji Nurfadilah: that is my finial decision
Kylie: i cant pay u the balance right now
Kylie: cos i've only order 1 unit
Kylie: i need to get to work right now so we'll talk tonight alright
In this exchange of conversation, Haji now demands for payment for 2units of camera and 1 unit of blackberry, for a total of 949USD. Haji sent a scan of this import warranty to me (which is suspiciously photoshopped), and also showed an invoice of 2units of camera and 1 unit of blackberry storm. He also demanded immediate payment or he will put the shipment on hold. I had repeatedly told him that I only want what I have paid for since the beginning of this transaction, 1 unit of camera, and that if the shipment arrives with the extra units, I will post the balance items back. It is ridiculous that customers are forced to pay for what they did not order. Haji even repeated that I take the extra unit of camera and blackberry and sell it to someone else to earn the money back. Haji also claimed that he was cheated by a Singapore transaction before this and now he does not trust deals from Singapore at all. I had also reminded Haji that it was already his wrong not to inform his customers beforehand of hidden charges (the import warranty of 299usd).
A thought behind my head was if he had been dealing business since December last year (as stated on his website) wouldn't he have known about these potential costs and inform his customers of this? I then had to go offline and head to work.
Haji called me on the phone several minutes later and ask if I was going to pay up 949usd. I replied that I only want one unit of camera, which is the one that I paid for. He replied that then he will have to put my shipment on hold and promptly hung up the phone.
An email from him soon followed:
26th March: reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@06:48am
i am putting the shipment on hold now
I replied to him and ask him to consider the following options
26th March: reply to Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@08:10am
Hi Haji,
noted that you're putting the shipment on hold.
From the first email that I've enquired till current I've maintained that I only want one unit of camera (Nikon D80 kit) and no other items. I have also already paid for this 1 unit in 550usd 200usd for an import warranty to your friend two days ago. I will not pay for any extra items that you may have put together with
the shipment. There are a few options:
1. Cancel the entire transaction and refund 550usd for the camera (I
will not demand for the refund of 200usd as your friend has already
made this import warranty)
2. Continue the shipment and I will post the balance items and the
remaining 99usd back to you the moment the shipment arrives in
Singapore.
3. Take out the extra items from your current shipment (which is on
hold), and only ship one unit of camera to Singapore
Please consider the following options and get back to me. I have only ordered and paid for one unit of camera and it is unfair that you are forcing your customers to pay for items that they did not place an order for
Kylie
Haji's reply quoted my above email with the following response
26th March: reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@10:52am
sorry i would do none of any .when you are ready to pay me my balance you get back to me
I knew that he was trying to demand further payment without me ever seeing the goods so I started to trace out a timeline of this event, and replied Haji with the following:
26th March: reply to Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@12:55pm
Hi Haji,
I have only ordered for 1 item and I have already paid for it. If you
are not keen in this 1-item transaction then I can cancel the order,
and a refund of the item that has been put on hold should be returned
to the customer
I will report this issue to the relevant authorities in UK so that
they can conduct a formal investigation on it as I have paid for a
product but it has not been delivered to me
Kylie
A few hours later, Haji called my phone and told me to check my email. His reply was as follows:
26th March: reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@16:51pm
Ok Kylie i would give you the benefit of doubt and trust you i will not put the shipment on hold.
But you must today send the balance of 99usd today that is only what i require of you
Here is the details again
Receivers Name: David Olawale
Receivers address: 22 akowonjo raod, Egbeda, Lagos, Nigeria 23401
Text question: what
Text answer: item
let me know
I could not get to the post office in time for the transaction so I replied his email
26th March: reply to Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@16:59pm
Hi Haji,
The post offices are closed early today, so I will not be able to to
do the transfer after I knock off from work tonight. I can only do
the transfer tommorrow evening singapore time at the earlist
I have a suggestion, put the shipment on hold until I have done the
transfer to your friend tommorrow. Is that alright for you?
I would like to ask you something, why is it not possible that you
take out the balance items and only post to me what I've order, which
is one unit of camera? "
Haji replied my email promptly, but made another ridiculous request of rounding up the sum of money
26th March: reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@17:01pm
i would have removed it but it was already registered at the shipping company there was no way i could take it back
check for any other post office which is not close i do not want to go through the stress of put the package on hold
listen can you just round the amount to $100 sharp
I replied him as quickly as possible
26th March: reply to Haji Nurfadilah via [email protected]
Hi Haji,
the nearest post office to my workplace closes at 5.30pm, and I only
knock off at 6.30pm. The latest closing time for post office today is
8pm but its all the way at the airport, I wont be able to rush there
in time. I will transfer the 99usd to your friend as soon as I can
tommorow after I've knocked off from work
I understand that you're concerned that your items will go missing
like the last singapore transaction that you dealt with. But when I
receive your items I will post the balance items back in courier as
asap to your address in UK.
Why do you want to increase the amount to $100 when it was agreed at 99usd?
Haji replied with a non-substantial excuse
26th March: reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@17:10pm
it is just 1 dollar
you should know it would mean no difference it is just because when they want to pay him out it might come short that is why i want you to round it at 100 usd
I replied him that I will not do any tipping for business deals and also inform him that I will post the balance items back to him asap when it arrives in Singapore
26th March: reply to Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@17:16pm
Hi Haji,
it may just be a dollar but our initial agreement for the import
warranty is at 299usd, with me paying the initial 200usd. A deal is a
deal and I should have been informed beforehand that its not a simple
299usd nett.
So I will transfer the balance to your friend tommorrow Singapore time evening.
Will you be holding the shipment till then? I should be able to
courier back the balance items back to you on saturday morning (the
post offices opens half a day) if the shipment arrives tommorrow.
Haji replied to my email with the following:
26th March: reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@17:17pm
no i will not hold the package
My reply to him was:
26th March: reply to Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@17:22pm
Dear Haji,
Alright, I will email you the moment the shipment arrives (which
should be tommorrow), and also when I've done the transfer to your
friend. Please be assured that I only want what I've paid for, 1 unit
of Nikon D80 kit, and nothing else
The next day, Haji called my phone at approximately 3.30pm Singapore time and demanded for the 99usd payment again, claiming that the item has arrived in Singapore but will only be delivered to my address the next day (28th March, Saturday) The contact no. listed on the call was 234%__ (which I later found out to be a Nigerian country code) I checked with the pargofly website and noted that the item was still in transit.
Replied him with an email:
27th March: reply to Haji Nurfadilah via [email protected]
Hi Haji,
understand that you're anxious about your friend's balance of 99usd
and that shipment has arrive in Singapore and delivery will only be
done tommorow on saturday.
What is the singapore number that I can call to confirm arrival of
shipment in Singapore?
Once confirm, I will expedite balance back to your friend this evening
around 7.30pm Singapore time.
Kylie
Following my email, Haji replied with a threat to stop delivery:
27th March, reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@16:11pm
look if you do not pay this balance i would not allow that delivery and you know it
There is no Singapore number you can call to confirm
so it is up to you now as i have done my part
I went to check on the status of the shipment and found that it was still in transit
so I replied him
27th March: reply to Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@16:15pm
Hi Haji,
had just checked the tracking no. that was given to me via msn.
Current status is set as "in transit" since 26th March. Shipment
has not arrive in Singapore
Prior to our phone conversation, there was instruction from you to
check my email. However, I have yet to receive a reply from you.
Kylie
Haji then decided to change the date of delivery with the reply:
27th March: reply from Haji Nurfadilah via [email protected]
listen i have sent items to singapore before and they only update once it is in singapore so that means the item is not yet in singapore but will be in later today that is why i said they will not deliver it today but tomorrow
27th March: reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@16:40pm
so i hope to see the details this evening
I questioned Haji about the impossibility of having no contact number to verify that shipment has arrived in Singapore
27th March, reply to Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@16:58pm
Hi Haji,
I am waiting for the update on the website as well.
How can there not be a number to call in Singapore? All the shipment
should go through the Singapore customs for clearence. I'll will call
them to confirm for pargofly's shipment first. Once confirmed arrival
on shore, I will expedite the balance
To which he replied
27th March, reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@17:39pm
so you are trying to say you would not send the money unless confirm the item is in Singapore
I quoted the email of the above statement and forwarded it to him
27th March, reply to Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@17:43pm
Which is what we have agreed on.
"date26 March 17:22
subjectRe: [Contact Inkiti Singapore]: Brand new Nikon D90 with 105mm nikkor vr lens
mailed-bygmail.com
hide details 26 Mar (1 day ago) Reply
Dear Haji,
Alright, I will email you the moment the shipment arrives (which
should be tommorrow), and also when I've done the transfer to your
friend. Please be assured that I only want what I've paid for, 1 unit
of Nikon D80 kit, and nothing else"
to which this email you did not reply and disagree on it.
Kylie.
I sent him a website from the Singapore customs to verify whether his shipment has arrived in Singapore
27th March, reply to Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@17:44pm
Hi Haji,
I've just contacted the Singapore customs, no such shipment has arrive as yet. Their contact website is at
http://www.customs.gov.sg/mis/con/
Haji started to push for the payment again, claiming that he did not agree on me paying balance only after the shipment has confirmed arrived in Singapore
27th March, reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@17:56pm
that is not what you and i agreed on you said you would send the balance today and now you are changing your words how do you expect me to now trust you with the other units.
if the items arrive in singapore and you do not send the balance i will not have it delivered to you
And I replied Haji that the shipment has still not yet arrived
27th March, reply to Haji Nurfadilh via gmail@18:54pm
Hi Haji,
as to your previous email, I understand that you will deliver when the items have arrived in singapore and I have transferred the balance.
I have checked with the singapore customs once again and they report no such shipment has arrived.
As agreed the items should at least arrive in singapore by 27th March. If there is still no news from the Singapore customs I will take action.
Kylie
This email was followed shortly by a phonecall from Haji. yet again demanding for payment, and he mentioned in the conversation that the shipment will not pass through Singapore customs I mentioned to him that it is impossible that there is no contact available for verification of shipment arrival in Singapore, and that the Singapore customs have reported no arrival of shipment and that I will take action if the shipment did not arrive as agreed upon.
Haji then replied with the following:
27th March, reply from Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@19:02pm
which balance have you transfered?
we made a deal that you send the balance today which you have not yet sent itit seems you want to pay another custom charges by letting to singapore custom know you have a package coming in .any way like i said the package will be in singapore today you should know that is is still 11 am here in uk the shipping company works with uk time and not your country time
My last email to him was as follows
27th March, reply to Haji Nurfadilah via gmail@22:41pm
Hi Haji,
The deal was that the balance will be sent by me the moment the shipment arrives in Singapore and I will post back to you the balance items when the order is sent to my address. I've maintained throughout this email that I only want what I've paid for, which is one unit of camera. There was never a request from me to add on any other items. The Singapore Customs has reported that there is no shipment arriving from the address that you've provided. I do not understand when over the phone you said that the shipment will not go through Singapore customs.
As a customer I have paid in full, 550usd for one unit of camera, and another 200usd for this nigerian import warranty that you've mentioned. In your previous email you have also mentioned that you will not allow the delivery if I do not transfer the balance to your friend. Which means that you will still have your items back anytime you want. In another email you've also mentioned that there is no way you can take your items back as it was already registered at the shipping company. So which statement is true?
Any shipment that arrives in Singapore will have to go through a checkpoint, which means the Singapore customs will have a record of your shipment when it arrives on shore. But so far they have reported no shipment.
Most of the money has already been transferred to you (550usd 200usd), with a balance of 99usd. Why is it that you are threatening to stop delivery when the customer has already transferred most of the funds to you?
I will check with the Singapore customs again the the next morning since you mentioned that the shipping works according to UK time. If there is still no contact from the customs or the local delivery service notifying me that the goods have arrived in Singapore, and if the item that I have paid for (which is one unit of camera, nothing else) still has not arrived in the stipulated delivery time (which is today, 27th March), this will equate to a case of internet fraud, as I did not receive the item that I have paid for, to which I will take agressive intervention against.
Kylie
Along the way of this exchange, I have noted down numerous discrepancies. I will list them down one by one.
1. Contact number coming from Nigeria but said dealer supposedly stays in UK
Contact number provided on the website starts with a 44, but on several occasions I have received calls with the country code 234, which is from Nigeria.
2. Dealer asked for unit price and then informed of hidden charges after.
If Haji Nufdilah has been dealing since December last year (which was indicated on the website), there is no way he would not have known about this possibly bogus import warranty, and should have informed the customer before any money exchange is done.
3. Forcing in extra units without the buyer's consent
Haji did not get actual consent and put in the so-claimed extra units of camera and phone, and threathened to stop shipment if another sum of money has not been transferred.
4. The scanned copy of the import warranty and invoice are obviously photoshopped
5. A check at the courier website (http://www.pargofly.com) with the tracking number 934192009811 indicated that that item was shipped on 25the March with the estimated delivery date of 27th March. Items declared in the package content is stated as 02 units of Nikon D80 and 01 unit of Blackberry Storm 9500 Shipment process is on transit. A discrepancy that I've found was the weight, which was stated as 1.2lbs
A quick check online shows that 1 unit of camera already weights approximately 1b. 5oz.) without battery, memory card, body cap, or monitor cover. 2 units of camera and a blackberry storm smartphone will most definitely weigh more than what was stated in the pargofly website.
6. Checking the tracking number after sending the email, there was a change of status.
The location was now stated as Singapore, activity in transit and now 2 new labels has appeared as Location Singapore and Info contact sender for details. There is a high suspicion that this courier website (http://www.pargofly.com) is bogus as well and the information within can be manipulated by the dealer himself.
7. I then attempted to trace out the IP address of pargofly's website as I suspected this to be another bogus website which can be manipulated by the dealer himself anytime. Pargofly's website is registered under 17 Salvation, Isolo Isolo 23401 Nigeria with a possible contact number of 07025298453 and was registered on 28th November.
Currently its the evening of 27th March, and there is no shipment reported at all, hence I have decided to draw up this report to create awareness of the fraudulant actions of thise man, Haji Nurfadilah, and his possible accomplice David Olawale.
This detailed account is to bring to your kind attention that this person, Haji Nurfadilah is still actively placing advertisments online and may be performing more fradualant transactions.
His modus operandi appears to be knowingly excluding information on hidden costs, forcing his customers to purchase more than what was originally ordered plus threats to put the shipment on hold. He may also be operating from Nigeria with an accomplice in UK.
Another quick check into the web forums (http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/messageboard/The-Rojaks/index.php), and (http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php? t=72198) appear to have other users complaining about his fraudulent activity.
It will be a great help to the community if some form of aggressive investigation can be conducted to look into this matter. I will be more than happy and willing to provide any other information you may need to conduct this investigation
I have saved several pictures of the zammylink's website, bogus import warrant, invoice, the bogus tracking number and different versions of the airway bill, and finally the ip address traced for pargofly's website for your kind perusal should it be needed for evidence collection
Thank you very much for your kind attention!
Kylie
Singapore
Singapore
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