SCAM ALERT Shipping company scam?

[peppystrings80]

Looking for a little advice. I ordered from a vendor for the first time, I was looking for MOTS C in a US warehouse and I connected with Rui Chen at Peptides/Anabolics worldwide. I had never ordered from them before, but the sales rep was really responsive and they had COAs for every product. Luckily I just ordered one thing, but the shipping company that the vendor selected is really trying to pull a fast one. They are telling me that I have to pay a 99 dollar deposit (using Bitcoin) or they won't deliver my package. I told them to shove it, I'm not giving them any Bitcoin and they can return my product to the sender. The vendor seems nice and apologetic and said earlier that he would reship my product using USPS, but this whole thing just feels like a scam. The shipping company has texted things like "your package is illegal in your state" (it's not) and "we would hate to see someone in law enforcement get it." I'm not falling for it, I won't give them any money. I'm just bummed because I didn't have much BTC anyway and now I have no product either. Here's the shipping company, complete with typo in the name of the company. I'm thinking I'm just going to have to write this one off as getting scammed, but what would your next steps be if you were in my shoes? Anything? Or just chalk it up to experience and move on?

 

[ZippityDooDah]

the sales rep was really responsive and they had COAs for every product.

Being "really responsive" is a key part of any scam.

the shipping company that the vendor selected is really trying to pull a fast one. They are telling me that I have to pay a 99 dollar deposit (using Bitcoin) or they won't deliver my package.

This is always a scam.

Rui Chen at Peptides/Anabolics worldwide.

Never heard of them. This is how people get scammed, "finding" dealers nobody has ever heard of, or worse, letting dealers find them.

 

[peppystrings80]

Being "really responsive" is a key part of any scam.


This is always a scam.


Never heard of them. This is how people get scammed, "finding" dealers nobody has ever heard of, or worse, letting dealers find them.

Thank you. I assumed as much. I appreciate the input. I won't make the same mistake again.

 

[peppystrings80]

Being "really responsive" is a key part of any scam.


This is always a scam.


Never heard of them. This is how people get scammed, "finding" dealers nobody has ever heard of, or worse, letting dealers find th

Being "really responsive" is a key part of any scam.


This is always a scam.


Never heard of them. This is how people get scammed, "finding" dealers nobody has ever heard of, or worse, letting dealers find them.

No, I reached out. Should have done better. It's ok, it wasn't much money and I didn't fall for the "shipping deposit" angle. I'll be much more cautious going forward. Is there anything else I should do to keep others from falling for it? Post about it someplace else? Thanks for the advice.

 

[ZippityDooDah]

You don't mention where you got the contact information, but regardless it reinforces the importance of where and how people obtain vendor contact information.

NEVER rely on contact information that anyone else has posted, linked, or shared!

NEVER rely on contact information from a vendor who has contacted YOU without you first contacting them!

Instead—ON YOUR OWN—find that specific vendor's posts/pages/groups/etc. where that vendor is directly sharing their contact information (and in multiple places and over the course of several weeks or months), and even then it's still important to check multiple venues to confirm that info. (Checking sites like Alibaba, Made-In-China, Global Sources, and Echemi can sometimes help corroborate contact info, while at the same time understanding that you should NEVER rely on any of those sites as the source for contact information either!)

Even with the best "due diligence", because of the prevalence of imposter scams, no method can be 100% foolproof by any means. PeptidɘStore99 can easily look like PeptideStore99 to someone who is not paying attention.

The all-too-common afflictions of people being too lazy or in too much of a rush is how scammers are able to take advantage of them.

 

[peppystrings80]

Thank you. I appreciate your responses.

 

[Airborne Daddy]

Being "really responsive" is a key part of any scam.


This is always a scam.


Never heard of them. This is how people get scammed, "finding" dealers nobody has ever heard of, or worse, letting dealers find them.

The deposit is an absolute NO GO.... no need to go outside of here. 4 or 5 vendors have been solid well over a year, 2 or 3 upcomers showing promise and 1 or 2 trying to make their way... constant feedback and updates right here daily .... everyone wants a stranger for some reason. Puzzling, cuz if a vendor goes south it's all printed and debated here. Risk reduction at no charge.

 

[Airborne Daddy]

No, I reached out. Should have done better. It's ok, it wasn't much money and I didn't fall for the "shipping deposit" angle. I'll be much more cautious going forward. Is there anything else I should do to keep others from falling for it? Post about it someplace else? Thanks for the advice.

Mostly, everyone knows. That's why we flock together, run testing and speak freely here... always plugged in and updated with the latest information. Some sites delete anything negative with sponsors to protect them but I feel here they stand on their own merits and get no protection or favor. Flourish or burn.