SCAM WARNING: "Sharon Hunt" and her aliases....
Ted Thibodeau Jr
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" <webaff...@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 $200 & much more
> Date: 15 Dec 1998 04:53:26 GMT
> Organization: AT&T WorldNet Services
> Lines: 75
> Message-ID: <754q06$b...@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net>
> References: <truong-ya02408000...@news.supernews.com>
> NNTP-Posting-Host: 12.78.245.173
> X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3155.0
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> 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" <webaff...@worldnet.att.net>
> > To: "me" <m...@wantree.com.au>
> > Newsgroups: 3dfx.games.glquake
> > References: <01be1d4e$c199f6a0$bf70...@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 shar...@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
> > shar...@salesperson.net
> >
>
> --
> Thanks,
> S. Hunt
> shar...@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: edu...@usa.net
> Reply-To: No...@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: vantag...@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 <bm...@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.
<trou...@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", "edu...@usa.net", "webaff...@worldnet.att.net",
"shar...@salesperson.net", "vantag...@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
> shar...@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...@macted.com
Robert Baer
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).
Brad Rogers
That sounds like a scam alright with a good pitch, but why dont you let the local
district attorney do some of the searching?
If its a scam, they will steal from anyone they can, and thats still illegal. If
they are lying, there are numerous laws that apply, unless they have good
lawyers, and can redefine what they said in the email, and just apologize for
misleading you and the American people.
better hurry to file your complaint, next year there might be some legal
precedent for saying that everyone lies and its ok, as long as you sort of
apologize and make a long face.
Nicole K
any kind of deal with anyone, check the web address of the email... like the
usa.net one, it gives away free e-mail accounts.... Plus theres a place
that does transactions for a small 5% fee called iEscrow, check them out
Ted Thibodeau Jr wrote in message ...