Here is an email I received a few weeks ago. It is a gentleman initating a large wine order for an overseas wedding, while using a shipping company he has used before. It is definitely fishy at first, but one can’t assume everything is a scam (just in case the order is legitimate, an owner doesn’t want to aggravate a customer with a potentially large order), but as the email exchanges progressed it became obvious… broken English, responding erratically to emails, shipping company contact also sketchy. The scam seems to pay the shipping company before they “come pick up” the wine. No way I would do that, easy to avoid. But I also think stolen credit cards may be involved.
Just in case any other small wineries see something similar, I thought I’d post the original email so you don’t waste any time…
“Hello, My name is Xxxxx Xxxxxxx an American I live and work here in Thailand. Actually when I was home last time in NY, I got a bottle of one of your wines from a friend as a Gift and I loved it, Since then I have been Planning on getting your wines for my wedding coming up soon, here in Thailand ,I got your contact through your website and I want to know if you will be able to supply me some cases of those wines.I will be making my payment via my American based credit card . I am Registered with a Shipping Agency in USA, which has other representatives in USA .So you are not to get the wines shipped but the wines will be picked up at your location by this Licensed/Registered Shipping agency. The shipping agency have all the appropriate exportation documents and Permits, Therefore concerning the shipping of the wines , I will refer you to this shipping company that will come for the pick up of the wines in your location once I have made my payment .They have Got like items shipped to me here twice without any delay.Kindly Get back to me so that I can make my orders.”
This is so generic without mentioning your winery or any specific wines. That would be a red flag for sure. Good for you checking the facts!
When I replied, he came back with an order that included specific wines.
Here was email #2
"Hello Eric,
Thanks for your email and efforts to helping out to doing business with me. Please I have carefully taken time to order the following wines below please send me cost and pricing for the total amount of the cases of wines below After you Must have reached the Shipping agency:
Here is my order below,
2008 Sonoma Valley Merlot…7 cases of 12 bottles
2009 Dry Creek “Buchignani” Zinfandel…6 cases of 12 bottles
To avoid the shipping responsibilities and difficulties please Contact : Trinor International Shipping Logistics Company via the email Address below Trinor International Shipping Logistics Company has all the documents and permits required for the exportation of the wines . I am registered with this shipping agency a shipping company that specializes in the shipping of liquid edible products from the US to Bangkok through their representatives in USA.
Contact them with the following information :
(1)Your full location address where the wines will be picked up .
(2) The sizes and weights of the cases of wines.
The shipping company will estimate the shipping cost and there after contact you of the time the wine will be picked up . Let them know that I Xxxxx Xxxxx ,with a Client Registration number (TKCS/77841) asked you to contact them.Trinor International Shipping Logisticss Company. will get back to you with the Estimated Shipping Cost . I will definitely be responsible for the Shipping Cost. They have Got Bottled products shipped out to me here in Bangkok, several times without any Breakages or Damage ,So I guaranty and Rely on their Services . As soon as you have the shipping cost from the shipper , get back to me with the grand total cost so I will be able to forward my USA Issued credit card number to you for the full payment once . Please contact the Trinor International Shipping Logistics Company. now at ( trinorintlshippinglogistics@netzero.net ) As soon as I have made my payment to you the representative of the shipping agency in USA will come to you for the pick up Immediately . Waiting to hear back from you "
Have had this one a couple times, each with a different “shipping” company that doesn’t exist other than on Scam warnings.
I am going to have fun with this one. I emailed back raising the prices to $10,000 per case, and I also want the full set of “Cheers” on DVD. This might throw them off a bit.
Got the same email- was tempted to play with it too but decided to run, not walk in the opposite direction. Quite wide spread and well known wine scam- I posted on here and others said they had been down this same road many times- a few had been scammed.
Dave
ITB Calicaro
www.calicaro.com
Yes I got this one too. I just ignore them but I like the request for the cheers DVD. Make sure it is the Cheers DVD in 3D.
Is the ultimate goal in the scam to get free wine? Am I missing something?
Chris
Ahh, that makes more sense! Thanks!
Chris