🚀 go-pugleaf

Ted Thibodeau Jr wrote:
> 
> Folks --
> 
> I'm local to this woman (within an hour's drive) -- or rather,
> I'm local to the address she presents in all her advertisements
> as where money should be sent.
> 
> I was ready to spend nearly $2000.
> 
> Here's the original ad I saw (the double-quoted bit is what was
> included as an attached document, not as article text):
> 
> > Path: newsflash!news-peer1.tiac.net!newsfeed.xcom.net!
> >   feed1.news.rcn.net!rcn!wn4feed!worldnet.att.net!
> >   135.173.83.225!attworldnet!newsadm
> > From: "webaffiliates" <webaffiliates@worldnet.att.net>
> > Newsgroups: misc.forsale.computers.mac-specific.misc,
> >   misc.forsale.computers.mac-specific.systems,
> >   misc.forsale.computers.mac-specific.cards.misc
> > Subject: Palm III's well below $200 & much more
> > Date: 15 Dec 1998 04:53:26 GMT
> > Organization: AT&T WorldNet Services
> > Lines: 75
> > Message-ID: <754q06$bh8@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net>
> > References: <truong-ya02408000R2911981042110001@news.supernews.com>
> > NNTP-Posting-Host: 12.78.245.173
> > X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3155.0
> > X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3155.0
> > Xref: newsflash misc.forsale.computers.mac-specific.misc:63696
> >   misc.forsale.computers.mac-specific.systems:62972
> >   misc.forsale.computers.mac-specific.cards.misc:19783
> >
> > > From: "webaffiliates" <webaffiliates@worldnet.att.net>
> > > To: "me" <me@wantree.com.au>
> > > Newsgroups: 3dfx.games.glquake
> > > References: <01be1d4e$c199f6a0$bf70a798@davidh.metro2000.net>
> > > <748i8u$ilq$1@news.wantree.com.au>
> > > Subject: Palm III well below $200
> > > Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 22:28:37 -0500
> > > X-Unsent: 1
> > > X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3155.0
> > >
> > > Hello, My wife and I own(ed) a computer business store. We are
> > > closing up, so she can concentrate on her investment career
> > > (she got her Series 7/26) and is now a licensed broker. I am
> > > going to stay home and rejuvenate my website creation and
> > > promotion business.
> > >
> > > We still have some inventory left. As of today, we have 14 Palm
> > > lll's. As you know, they retail for around $350. We are selling
> > > them at exactly what we paid for them, $130 plus $10s&h. We also
> > > have 4 iMACS. They retail for $1,300. We are selling them at our
> > > cost, $610 +$15s&h / We have 6 special order IBM Think Pads 390
> > > 233mhz, 3.2gb hrd drive, 32mgRAM, 56kmodem. These retail for
> > > $1,300. We are selling them for $550ea plus $15s&h. Everything
> > > is brand new, never opened, and come with individual software
> > > designed for each system.
> > >
> > > There are two special order Compaq 400mhz PentII, 10gd hard drive
> > > 120mgRAM 56k modem. 17in monitor. These retail for $1,900. We are
> > > selling them at our cost of $790 plus $20s&h. Please understand,
> > > there is NO NEGOTIATION in price, unless you are buying 2+items.
> > > Also, we are no longer accepting credit cards (we have two used
> > > terminals, if you are purchasing something from us and are starting
> > > a new business, we will give one to you.) First come, first serve!
> > >
> > > We are no longer shipping things COD. People were not home, said
> > > they were going to buy it and blew us off, so unfortunately, we
> > > will not ship COD.
> > >
> > > This is how we've been doing it, and it has worked for us. When we
> > > receive payment we immediately send it out Airborne Express and
> > > e-mail you the airbill# and date it will arrive. Someone MUST be
> > > there to sign for package(s). We will not be held responsible if
> > > someone is not there.
> > >
> > > MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL>>>If you decide you are going to order from
> > > us, you MUST e-mail us at sharonray@salesperson.net and let us
> > > know exactly what you are ordering, so we can remove it from our
> > > inventory. You then have 5 days to get the payment in to us. If
> > > we don't receive the payment in five days, it goes back into our
> > > inventory. Mail check or MO to, Sharon & Ray Hunt, Manchaug Sta
> > > #336, Manchaug, MA 01526. Any questions, call us at our sales#
> > > 1-888-863-5814 or e-mail us. Have a super holiday (we have a few
> > > copies of MS Front Page 98, Excel, Office that we simply do not
> > > have time to promote, if you would like one, please request it in
> > > your e-mail)
> > >
> > > --
> > > Thanks,
> > > S. Hunt
> > > sharonray@salesperson.net
> > >
> >
> > --
> > Thanks,
> > S. Hunt
> > sharonray@salesperson.net
> 
> She was quite cordial and responsive for the first email or two,
> even suggesting that I open, inspect, and test the equipment
> I wanted to buy.  I asked a couple of questions (whether the iMacs
> she was selling were Rev. A or Rev. B, stuff like that), which she
> didn't answer.
> 
> And, now that the time has come to arrange a meeting, so she can get
> the cash, and I the machines, she is suddenly "going away."  She has
> also learned to set "Reply-To" headers.
> 
> > Date: 23 Dec 98 02:33:11 GMT
> > From: educan@usa.net
> > Reply-To: NoFwd@mx02.netaddress.usa.net
> > Subject: RE: hardware for sale...
> > Mime-Version: 1.0
> >
> > I am going away for awhile. I am sorry I will not be able
> > to answer your e-mails. I hope you have a pleasant holiday.
> > Sharon Hunt
> 
> However, she has now posted *another* ad, which incorporates the
> info I was asking for.
> 
> > Subject: 2 Palm III's, 2 iMAC's, 2 Sony Playstation's for sale
> > Author:     vantagepoint
> > Email:      vantagepoint@iname.com
> > Date:       1998/12/21
> > Forums:     alt.computer
> >
> > Hi, Everything for sale is brand new, never opened. Palm III's are
> > $190ea + $8 shipping. The iMAC's are $650 ea plus $15 shipping.
> > The Playstations are $75 ea. All prices are firm, unless purchasing
> > 2+ items. The Palm III's also come with $235 in free software.
> > Overnight shipping is available. First come first serve.
> > (one more thing, the iMACS are the newest version, the already
> > upgraded "b"version. They both come with an additional pro graphics
> > chip.)
> > Sharon Hunt
> 
> This woman has posted several articles in recent months:
> 
> o  asking people to help configure email;
> 
> o  asking people to buy the benefits of a life insurance policy
>    at 50 cents/dollar (she claimed to have 4th, then 5th stage
>    cancer, and not long to live.  In one post, she wanted to buy
>    a car for her daughter; in another, she wanted to buy a new VW
>    bug for herself.);
> 
> o  asking people to email Windows 95 registration codes (so she
>    could put the software bought years ago, on her son's computer);
> 
> o  asking people to buy the 4 iMacs, 14 Palm IIIs, and several
>    other computers that she and her husband had left when closing
>    their store;
> 
> o  asking people to buy the 2 iMacs, 2 Palm IIIs, and 2 Sony
>    Playstations she just happens to have.
> 
> All of these ask people to call her "sales" number (1-888-863-5814)
> which is never answered by a human, only machines.  I don't know if
> the messages are ever heard, for I've never had a return call.
> 
> Brian Rush <bman@napanet.net> wrote:
> 
> > The person that placed this message is a fraud, a cheat a scam
> > artist and a pathological liar. She is now attempting to play
> > on the sympathies of the people she cheated with a web site
> > about her "cancer" and trying to sell her own life insurance
> > policy at 50 cents on the dollar. This, too, is undoubtedly
> > another scam.
> >
> > Those who have been ripped off should band together to try and
> > discredit her and bring her to justice.
> >
> > Home phone is 508-476-1197.
> >
> > Address:     32 Hough Rd.
> >                 Douglas, MA 01516
> 
> That phone number's "reverse lookup" brings you to a Richard Jackson
> (who does not have any current phone listings in Douglas), with a
> different street address (on NE Main Street).
> 
> This number does feed into a voicemail, which answers with the "Hunt
> residence", but no-one ever returns the calls.
> 
> There is no listing for a Sharon or Ray Hunt in Douglas.
> 
> <trout1000@squonk.net> wrote:
> 
> > It is a MAJOR SCAM.
> > LOOK AT THE MESSAGES BELOW WRITTEN BY HER / HIM ??
> > Names used include Sharon, Sharyn, M&S and Margaret Hunt.
> >
> >
> <http://x6.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=411849530&CONTEXT=913737231.1892286495&
> hitnum=1>
> >
> <http://x6.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=411534499&CONTEXT=913737231.1892286495&
> hitnum=2>
> >
> <http://x6.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=415006626&CONTEXT=913737440.1893072953&
> hitnum=0>
> 
> I've read them all, and several more, besides.  Do your own searches.
> "Sharon Hunt", "S. Hunt", "educan@usa.net", "webaffiliates@worldnet.att.net",
> "sharonray@salesperson.net", "vantagepoint@iname.com"
> 
> I had hopes that it wasn't a hoax, that the computers really were being
> sold at dealer cost, that even if she'd been scamming out-of-state or
> other long-distance people it'd work out differently for me.
> 
> No dice.
> 
> So, here's my warning to others.  Complete with copies for all of
> Sharon's various email addresses, and the abuse and postmaster
> accounts at her providers.
> 
> Make no mistake -- I'll be pleased to post an apology and retraction
> if I'm proven to be wrong.  But the only way that will happen is by
> Ms. Hunt's contacting me, and following through on the sale we had
> negotiated.
> 
> This is the earliest article I could find, from early December.
> 
> > Hello, We are Ray & Sharon, Owners of Cyber Place, in Manchaug,
> > MA. We are closing shop to concentrate solely on website
> > creation, promotion, and spending more time with our two kids.
> >
> > This is basically what we have left in inventory. See order
> > instructions below. Do some checking around. You will never
> > find prices like these anywhere. Everything is brand new,
> > never opened.
> >
> > 3-Palm 111's remaining. Retail $350 our price $130+10s&h/
> > 2- U.S. Robotics 56k external modems retail $260 our price
> > $110+5s&h/3-Alpha Online Merchant retail $129 our price
> > $45+5s&h/ 8 copies Windows 98 retail $90 our price $35+5s&h.
> > 3 copies WIN 95 our price $25+5s&h/ 2 copies MAC VERSION
> > Office 98 retail $350 our price $160+10s&h/  3 copies MS
> > Office 97 PRO retail $240 our Price $125+5 s&h/ 8 copies
> > Front Page 98 retail $99 our price $26+5s&h/ 2 HP Scanjet
> > Scanner 36 Bit Color Retail $450 our price $170+10s&h/ 2-
> > 17" Compaq Color Monitors retail $600 our price $240+10
> > S&h/ 6 iMACS!!! You know it retails $1,299. Our price is
> > $850+15 s&h/ 1 Compaq 300 mhz Pent11 8.4hard drive 64mg.RAM
> > 56K modem w/17"monitor retail $1,300 our price - $650+$20
> > s&h!!!!! We also have four never opened, complete IBM Think
> > Pads. E-mail for specifics and prices.
> >
> > HOW TO ORDER. We are no longer accepting credit cards,
> > nor can we ship COD. These prices are less than we paid
> > for them. These are the bottom prices. NO NEGOTIATION on
> > prices. If you are interested, order and then e-mail us
> > immediately, so we may take the item(s) out of inventory.
> > We will put the item(s) aside. Payment is expected in 5
> > days. If we do not receive payment in 5 days, the item
> > goes back into our inventory. Please feel free to call
> > our Sales Dept at 1-888-863-5814 or e-mail us at
> > sharonray@Salesperson.net. NO REFUNDS. Everything is
> > brand new, unopened and cheaper than you will get
> > anywhere! Mail to Sharon & Ray Hunt c/o Cyber Place,
> > Manchaug Station #336, Manchaug, MA  01516 -- DON'T
> > FORGET TO E-MAIL US AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU ORDERED
> > SO WE CAN IMMEDIATELY REMOVE FROM INVENTORY!!!Thanks
> 
> --
> Ted Thibodeau Jr -- MacTed Unlimited -- Mac, PC & Network Consulting
>   202 Crafts Street, Newton, MA  02160-1442 -- news-ted@macted.com
  You have done a rather nice job of documenting her web forays for $$$.
  I strongly suggest that you send the info, with a note concerning the
insurance offer to the state insurance comissioner.
  The comissioner will pull her licence (if she really has one), levey a
fine, and may even consider jail.
  It also may be productive to inform NASD via their hotline
1(800)289-9999.  These actions amy indicate that she also is
mis-representing herself and/or securities.  If so, more fines and
possible jail time.
  I ought to know; at one time I was dual licensed (so that i could sell
Variable Life and Variable Annuties).