This has to be legit, right?

[Eric LeVine]

Yeah right, snicker...

From: Paul Clifford [mailto:pc00059@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 4:04 PM
Subject: Champagne

Hello ,
We are interested in purchasing


:- 24 bottles of Armand De Brignac Brut (Ace of Spades)
:- 6 bottles of Dom Perignon Champagne
:- 6 bottles of Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne

Do confirm how soon you can have them ready as we need them for an event on August 6th . I'll wait to read from you with the total cost for the bottles . Do you accept MasterCard or Visa ? . Our Pickup men will come for the cases as soon as the Credit card goes through .
Regards,
Paul

PS : Confirm for future orders , Would you be able to source ACE OF SPADES (Green Bottle) ?

[Veronica Castro]

Yeah, no red flags at all.



(psst Eric, that was sarcasm)

[C. Bowman]

Well son of a gun and I thought I had his biz but I guess you got yours 1 mintue sooner. he's all yours


----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Clifford
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 4:05 PM
Subject: Champagne

Hello ,
We are interested in purchasing


:- 24 bottles of Armand De Brignac Brut (Ace of Spades)
:- 6 bottles of Dom Perignon Champagne
:- 6 bottles of Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne

Do confirm how soon you can have them ready as we need them for an event on August 6th . I'll wait to read from you with the total cost for the bottles . Do you accept MasterCard or Visa ? . Our Pickup men will come for the cases as soon as the Credit card goes through .
Regards,
Paul

PS : Confirm for future orders , Would you be able to source ACE OF SPADES (Green Bottle) ?

[Matthew Brown (Online)]

At least their command of the English language is geting better...

[Roberto Rogness]

I just got that too...I referred them to our outside sales office:

http://1.usa.gov/lUJ0w3

[Eric LeVine]

Veronica, I got the sarcasm!

[Charlie Fu]

I wonder if they are trolling this site for email addresses?

[jdabrowski1027 (Online)]

I am thinking about selling him some of this stuff while I wait for Bill Gates to send me my $1M check for sending those forwards a few years ago... I have no idea where this came from, I am not ITB.

Paul Clifford pc00059@yahoo.com
show details 6:53 PM (13 hours ago)


Hello ,
We are interested in purchasing


:- 24 bottles of Armand De Brignac Brut (Ace of Spades)
:- 6 bottles of Dom Perignon Champagne
:- 6 bottles of Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne

Do confirm how soon you can have them ready as we need them for an event on August 6th . I'll wait to read from you with the total cost for the bottles . Do you accept MasterCard or Visa ? . Our Pickup men will come for the cases as soon as the Credit card goes through .
Regards,
Paul

PS : Confirm for future orders , Would you be able to source ACE OF SPADES (Green Bottle) ?

[Thomas Concilio]

This has been going around for a while. It still give me a chuckle. I'm glad that I don't do much business via the web or email.

[J a y C a i n]

Maybe they need the champagne to celebrate their divorce in Nigeria that netted them $64 Million or their inheritance in Macau that netted them $52 Million or their discovery of Saddam Hussein's cache of treasure.

[Keith Levenberg]

Gosh, how awesome it is that Armand de Brignac, which is itself a scam!, has become the object of scam emails. It's like being caught in a strange loop!

[AAgrawal]

I don't understand the scam. If the credit card they provide is stolen, can't they just be arrested when they come to pick up the wine?

[Larry P]

I don't understand the scam. If the credit card they provide is stolen, can't they just be arrested when they come to pick up the wine?

They will have you pay the 3rd party shipper out of your pocket, and charge their CC for it. Then when the backcharge comes, you're out what you paid to the shipper. The wine likely is never picked up.

http://centralcoastwineblogs.typepad.co ... elson.html

[Poppy Davis]

Ahh... and here I thought I was special. I've received this one two days in a row:

-----Original Message-----
From: Tim [mailto:123wines@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 10:35 AM

Subject: total cost including tax needed

Hello ,
We are interested in ordering 36 bottles of Louis Reoderer Crystal Champagne (In Gift Boxes if available) for an event On AUG 30th but we need them on hand before then .Let us know how soon you can get them . we will get back to you with the Credit Card number as soon as we get the total cost for the cases and we will arrange for the pick up at your location as soon as payment is clear Looking forward to your kind reply Thank You

[AAgrawal]

I don't understand the scam. If the credit card they provide is stolen, can't they just be arrested when they come to pick up the wine?

They will have you pay the 3rd party shipper out of your pocket, and charge their CC for it. Then when the backcharge comes, you're out what you paid to the shipper. The wine likely is never picked up.

http://centralcoastwineblogs.typepad.co ... elson.html

I see. I got confused by "pickup men" in the article. I assumed that was their friends or something... a third party shipper makes more sense.

[Eric LeVine]

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=50599

[Dan.Gord0n]

I got the below yesterday - though it didn't have to do with wine, I got a good laugh at it....hmm, Ben Bernanke moonlighting as an account officer at a Georgia branch of BoA..... I really wonder if anyone ever responds to these crazy emails.....




> From: info@boa.us
> Subject: NOTIFICATION OF CREDIT FROM BANK OF AMERICA.
> Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:15:23 -0700
>
> 1890 Epps Bridge Pkwy, Athens, GA 30606
>
> NOTIFICATION OF CREDIT FROM BANK OF AMERICA.
>
> Attn: Beneficiary,
>
> We have this 22nd day of April, 2011 received a payment credit instruction from the Federal Government of Ghana to credit your account with your full Inheritance fund of US$10.3Million from the Federal Government of Ghana reserve account with our bank, Bank of America
>
> However, you shall required to provide the followings data’s below:
>
> {1}. Your Full Name and Address.
> {2}. Your Confidential Tel, Cell and Fax.
> {3). Your Bank name and address.
> {4). Your A/c Name and A/c Numbers.:
> (5). Your Swift Code / Routing Numbers.
>
> Please do provide the above information accurately, because this office cannot afford to be held liable for any wrong transfer of funds or liability of funds credited into a ghost account.
>
> Thanks for banking with Bank of America while we looking forward to serving you with the best of our service.
>
> Thanks and God bless you.
>
> Regards,
>
> Yours in Service,
> Mr.Ben M. Bernanke
> A/C officer B O A Georgia Branch.
>
> Chairman Federal Reserve Bank New York

[Eric LeVine]

Wow, Mary's Central Coast blog does an amazing blow by blow of breaking down the scam. Huge kudos!

[Charlie Fu]

Wow, Mary's Central Coast blog does an amazing blow by blow of breaking down the scam. Huge kudos!

indeed, just finished reading it.

[M A T T H A R T L E Y]

I always write those people back and quote something like $326,000 just for fun...

[Steve Manzi]

How awesome would it be to be able to set it up where they THINK the credit card went through, and they pick up a box of rigged bottles that are stink bomb booby traps.

With auto camera feed to Youtube??

[PeterJ]

Sheesh! I just got one of these on my personal email account. I haven't been in the biz at that level for 3 years and , when I was, I'd get these at my store email address. Can someone say "hacking the board member profiles"????

Hello Sales,
My name is Darin Martinez and i would like to know if you carry any of these champagnes or could help source for them from your vendors or suppliers.
*Louis Roederer Cristal(Any Vintage)
*Armand De Brignac (Ace Of Spades) Gold or Pink Label It's needed for my daughters wedding and i would appreciate it if you could get back to me with cost/pricing per bottle on any of the above listed champagnes and its availability in-stock. Kindly include in your response email the types of credit cards you accept.
Thanks
Darin Martinez
BlackMotor Corp.
2250 E TROPICANA AVE STE 19679
LAS VEGAS, Nevada 89119-6541
323-472-6509

[L Goldsmith]

A bit of a thread drift, but, if you have not watched To Catch an ID Thief I recommend it. After reading the sleuthing on Central Coast Wine Blog it reminded me of this series.

The show with a banks help sets up fake credit cards and posts the numbers for sale online. The steps and processess that happen to rip off and betray people is pretty broad and quite sad.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=to+ ... FORM=LKVR1

It is a 5 part series and all the parts are at the top of the page.

[PeterJ]

Got two more of the same email this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!

[justinmcinerny]

I just found this in my spam filter from 7/19/11:

Hello Sales,

Am Jesse James, I will like to know the cost for each Champagne including the shipping cost via
DHL,FED EX or UPS and I also want to know the type of credit card you accept
for payment.

I want to know if you have the below champagne in stock or you can make
an order for me so I can add commission when I want to make my payment.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne
2002 Dom Perignon, 750 ml
Ace of Spades Brut Champagne
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I await your quick response so I can tell my needed quantities.

Thank you

[Charlie Fu]

How awesome would it be to be able to set it up where they THINK the credit card went through, and they pick up a box of rigged bottles that are stink bomb booby traps.

With auto camera feed to Youtube??

Too bad all they want is the shipping money =(

[C. Bowman]

I've responded to some of the bogus emails that I've received lately to see what they would come up with for payment and the ones that emailed me back have given us a total of 12 different Cc numbers & billing addresses, they ask that the amounts be divided up until the total is achieved (not quite that literate) . I've turned them over to law enforcement and we've attempted to contact the issuing banks. The fraud/security depts at the banks are such a pain to deal with.

[Ken V]

I just found this in my spam filter from 7/19/11:

Hello Sales,

Am Jesse James, ...

Seriously? Somebody used "Jesse James"?

Anybody who falls for that one gets extra stupid points.

[Bruce Leiserowitz]

I just found this in my spam filter from 7/19/11:

Hello Sales,

Am Jesse James, I will like to know the cost for each Champagne including the shipping cost via
DHL,FED EX or UPS and I also want to know the type of credit card you accept
for payment.

I want to know if you have the below champagne in stock or you can make
an order for me so I can add commission when I want to make my payment.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne
2002 Dom Perignon, 750 ml
Ace of Spades Brut Champagne
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I await your quick response so I can tell my needed quantities.

Thank you

Oooooh, a "commission." How special......

Bruce

[Kris Patten]

Eric, if you really need some Ace of Spades, call me!!! We get these too, and don't sell to the public.

Sucker born every minute.

[Michel Abood]

Oooh I made a sale! Oh, right, wait, I don't do retail... Dumbass.


Message Detail

Subject:
Champagne Order
From:
Sales Rep <ceosales2@gmail.com> (Add as Preferred Sender)
Date: Wed, Aug 24, 2011 11:05 am
To: Info@VinotasImports.com
Hello Sales, We are interested in placing an order Cristal Brut Champagne Item: 2002 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne 2002 Dom Perignon, 750 ml Kindly advise back with the price and current stock availability for this items or you can special order. What type of credit card you accept ... Visa .. Master .. Amex Regards. Jim

[justinmcinerny]

I got the same one, plus another along the same lines. I must have a pretty boring life if this is what I do for fun. I crack myself up sometimes. Here are the e-mails and my responses:

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Champagne Order
From: Sales Rep <ceosales2@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, August 24, 2011 2:00 pm
To: justin@capitalbeerwine.com

Hello Sales, We are interested in placing an order Cristal Brut Champagne Item: 2002 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne 2002 Dom Perignon, 750 ml Kindly advise back with the price and current stock availability for this items or you can special order. What type of credit card you accept ... Visa .. Master .. Amex Regards. Jim

[MY RESPONSE]
Hi Jim,

We have sales of Dom in bottle of 375cl size. Extra small foe small tings. Also cristal in containers of 35L for much big. I like very much big. Do not forget to have Brut Dom, mixed with Cristal with vanilla ice cream and Bombay gin. It makes for cocktail that's good calorie. My doctor says no but I say OK.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Champagnes Inquiry
From: "Jim" <ceosales2@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, August 25, 2011 11:49 am
To:

Hello Sales,

I would like to order some bottles of Champagnes, Please find
below the vintage needed on the champagne:
Item:

2002 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne

2002 Dom Perignon, 750 ml

Kindly advise back with the price and current stock availability for this
items or you can special order.?

What type of credit card you accept ... Visa .. Master .. Amex

Regards.
JIM
[MY RESPONSE]

I have Cristal demi sec extru brut nature. Plus Dom Cremant de Bourgogne. They come in six packs of 50000ml bottles and 1/2 kegs. Like Heniken only better! Whoopee. I accept payment in South African rand only. Lots of rands for these babies. They are quite tasty!

Thank you,

Simon

[Eric LeVine]

Awesome...

[justinmcinerny]

OK, here is another one. I should stop doing this but it was 11:00PM on a Friday night and there was nothing going on at the shop and I was too tired to do anything productive. So I am rationalizing . . .

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Opus, Jensen, Schrader...and more
From: "Craig Stevenson" <craigs@loftblu.com>
Date: Fri, September 02, 2011 2:34 pm
To: <justin@capitalbeerwine.com>

Wine Manager:
Every six months or so I start randomly emailing retailers from Wine Spectator.com hoping to find new sources for vino. Currently Im on the hunt for the 08 Opus and Calera Jensen that’s about to land, 09 Schrader, and 08 Bordeaux’s. Nothing riveting on the list….same thing everyone else wants and cant have.
Let me know if Im on the right track here. If I already harass you for wine, consider this today’s harassing email.
Thanks.
Craig Stevenson

[MY REPLY]

Hi Craig,

Thank you for the note. No worries, it is not Harassing. I understand business as I have been at this for a long time.

At any rate. We do indeed stock the '08 Opus - we have sparkling versions. Lots of bubbles Parker loved it 93-95pts. Plenty of Schrader too, the Cabernet/Viognier/Vermintino blend - incredibly smooth - no tannins whatsoever. Comes in boxed gift packs. Plenty of '08 Bordeaux's on the shelves and more in the pipeline. We are particularly proud of the Nebiolo style Bordeaux that we picked up from a negociant based in Plattsburg, NY USA.

With respect to payment. As always, we accept South African Rand only. Must come by FedEx next day.

Cheers!

Alonzo

[Ken V]

Justin, I hate to break this to you, but Craig Stevenson is a big collector in Southern California, well-known for making large, perhaps somewhat impulsive purchases. He's the president of Quicksliver, Inc, a clothing company:

http://investing.businessweek.com/resea ... ker=ZQK:US