Onsite Blues

Nigeria fisaco: part 1

2007-05-23T13:11:00.000-04:00

Some time back I was trying to sell my DSLR. I put up a post on a local website for Quinte County in Ontario. Couple of days later I received a mail enquiring about the camera and I was amazed and happy. All the while I expected the person to be in the same county. As it turned out he turned to be in Nigeria, Africa, a continent away. He wanted it to be well packed and sent via DHL. Expecting the person to be a Canadian and really looking for a camera must've contacted, I replied. However, he said he'd use the Nikon-D50, which is a low end camera, to be used for modelling purpose and will be displayed in international shows. This put me in doubt. Nevertheless, I was overwhelmed and persued. He was never bothered if he was paying in CADs or in USD. This was my second doubt about the buyer. He said he'd send me a cheque for 950$ (which was for the camera + 200$ for shipping) but eventually sent a cheque for 2000$. Surely leads to doubt. The cheque came from Florida, US in from "", who are into real estate business. I found their phone number over the net and called them. They said there was someone who was issuing cheques in their name and is fradulent. He wanted me to hold all the money for the camera and shipping and send the rest of the money via Western Union to someone in US who, apparently, was his furniture maker. Did he intend to get his furniture shipped all the way from US to Africa? Crazy ain't it? I wasn't going to send any money or even try encashing the cheque. However I asked if he could give me the number of the receipient of the western union transfer so I could confirm the receipt of the money that I would transfer. Which wasn't going to happen. This was when he changed the address of the receipient to someone in Nigeria. Quite a network, isint it. Following is the mail exchanged for the same.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Anantharam V <>
Date: Mar 16, 2007 6:46 AM
Subject: Re: I am intrested in your for sale Nikon D50 and 2 lenses 28-80mm, 70-300mm
To: willy james <willyjames12244@yahoo.com>

Hi,

I've located the nearest Western Union and I'll do the transfer tomorrow. I haven't done this type of transfers through WU before. Are there any chargers included? In which case, should I deduct from the cheque?

Will you take care of confirming the transfer to Pearl? if you want i could do that through phone.

I'll be shipping the item on sunday.

regards

On 3/15/07, willy james <mailto:willyjames12244@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hello thanks for the mail,Yes the cheque was issued $2000. The rest of the funds will be sent to my furniture man in lowa. I will like you to send the the package as soon as possible today and send me the shipping tracking number so i will farward it to the receiver.i want you to deduct the $950 out of the funds and have the balance send by western union outlets to the address below.And also i want you to send the funds today so that the furniture man will get the funds today . hope this is clear .I am hoping to hear your swift reply.
Name: Pearl Griffin
1743 W 54TH ST
Davenport
Iowa
52806
USA
We await the following information or scan the reciept given to you at the western union store.
1. Sender's name and address:
2. MTCN#:
3. Total Amount sent:
4.Text Question and Answer
AMOUNT CHARGE AND SENT.
Hope to hear back from you.
Regards
Williams .J.

Anantharam V <> wrote:
Hi,
I received the cheque today. The cheque is for 2000$, not 950$. How is that?
I'll make the parcel as soon as possible.
regards
Ananth

On 3/13/07, Anantharam V < > wrote:
Hi,
I haven't received your check yet. I'll let you know once its been received. Please let me know which carrier have you used to send the check.
regards
Ananth

On 3/13/07, willy james <mailto:willyjames12244@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hello ,
I will like to know if you have received the bank draft? Make sure you check your deleivery letter box if it has been dropped.Notify me immediatly with the shipping tracking after sending the package . hope to hear from you.

Anantharam V <> wrote:
Hi,
No, I haven't received the draft yet. I check it up again on monday. By which postal carrier have you mailed it?
I shall ship the item immediately after i receive the draft.
regards
Ananth

On 3/10/07, willy james <mailto:willyjames12244@yahoo.com> wrote:
Dear Anantharam,
i will like o know if you have received the bank draft for the Nikon D50 ?IF NOT.i want you to check your letter box if it has been deleiverd and check around for it.Hopefully you will get it by monday.Let me know when you get it.Kindly have the item shipped when you receive it because the Nikon d50 will be used immediatly ,thats is why i ask you to shipp it by express international. Send me the shipping tracking number so as to farward it to the receiver .Hope this is clear.Hope to hear your swift reply.
Williams.

Anantharam V <> wrote:
Hi,
Thanks for the info. Do you have an approximate date when the bank draft reaches? I shall send the package right after receiving the draft.
Be assured that the D50 is great working condition and the packaging will be done good.
regards
Ananth

On 3/6/07, willy james <mailto:willyjames12244@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hello Anantharam V,
i which i will be transfring the funds with a bank draft including $200 shipping funds ,all the total would be $950 to the receivers destination and i want the item ship via DHL EXPRESS INTENATIONAL. hope this item will get to the location in a good condition?The Nikon D50 will be used for modeling concept and it would be presented at the world class fashion show. i hope it is woking fine and it as no faulty?
Here is the shipping adress below:
Name...AFOLABI ABIODUN
Adress..No,4 BANJO STREET SURULERE
BEHIND TOTAL FILLING STATION
CITY...SURULERE
STATE:LAGOS
COUNTRY:NIGERIA
ZIP CODE..23401
hope to here back from you.
Regards
William lee james

Anantharam V <> wrote:
Hi,
Here is the information requested.
Anantharam Sastry
29, Elgin St,
Apt 102
Belleville
ON - K8P 4B1
Canada
Home: 613-968-2906
I do not have a mobile number but my office number is (613-967-500 ex 3443).
I'll pack the items in the box it originally arrived.
Are you arranging for DHL to pick up the item? Or do you want me to ship?
regards
Ananth

On 3/5/07, willy james <mailto:willyjames12244@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hello thanks for your mail, Nikon D50 and 2 lenses 28-80mm, 70-300mm. i will be sending the payment to you after receiving your name and address where the cheque would be sent to and pls include your mobile number .i want the Nikon packed and ready for shipping via dhl express courier. i hope to hear back from you as soo as possible .
may i have the following information.
Name.
Adress.
CITY...
STATE:
COUNTRY:
ZIP CODE..
MOBILE NUMBER..
HOME NUMBER..

Anantharam V <> wrote:
Hi,
Good to see your response.
I had got this for a total cost of 800$ including the customs and got it in 2nd week of January. I'd like to sell it for 750$. If you wanted a combination of items like camera with either of the lenses, I can work that out but I would prefer to sell them all together. I also have a 2GB Kingston SD flash. It also comes with a cleaning kit and subscription for a photography magazine that I haven't subscribed used.
I have clicked a few photos. You can check the photos at onsiteblues.blogspot.com. (The photos are result of experimental aperture and shutter settings)
Please let me know.
My contact phone -
offc: 613-967-5000 ex 3443
home: 613-968-2906
Thanks again for your response.
regards
Ananth
On 3/2/07, willy james <mailto:willyjames12244@yahoo.com> wrote:

Goodday.
Am intrested in the puchase of your Nikon D50 and 2 lenses 28-80mm, 70-300mm. i want you to get back to me with the last asking price of the Nikon D50 and some recent photo.get back to me as soon as possible.
Regards
W.James.
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Nigeria fisaco: last part

2007-05-19T14:24:00.000-04:00

And finally it was over. I had found it was a fraud now. He called me up at home at 5am in the morning and spoke with a thick african accent. "Hi I'm Willy James. Have you sent the camera?". I was so sleepy that I put the phone down. Not once but couple of times. At last I told I had found it was a fraud. There are no mails or calls since then.

On 3/17/07, Anantharam V wrote:
hi,

That was an invalid check. Did u send that? Good that I checked before shipping.
If you think the check is valid, please cancel it at your bank. In any case, I'm not shipping the camera.

and 5am is not a time to call home.

ananth

On 3/16/07, willy james wrote:
Hello i will like to make a change on the name address where the balance of the funds will be sent to.. I want the funds sent to this address below . hope this is clear. Let me know if you got this right. hope to hear back from you..

Name...MARIAM DIN
Adress..No,65 LISABI LANE
OFF BARIGA AVENUE
CITY...SURULERE
STATE:LAGOS
COUNTRY:NIGERIA
ZIP CODE..23401

Regards
Williams

Anantharam V wrote:
Hi,

I received the cheque today. The cheque is for 2000$, not 950$. How is that?

I'll make the parcel as soon as possible.

regards
Ananth

Nigeria fisaco: part 2: Continuation of mail

2007-05-19T14:19:00.000-04:00

On 3/16/07, willy james wrote:
Hello thanks for the mail.I want the $1050 sent today to the furniture man,The western union charge fee will be deducted out of the $1050 sent and the balance will be written on the western union receipt given to you.I want you to send me the informations below after sending the funds today with the scan copy of the receipt .
I want you to know sending the package on sunday will be delayed and i dont want that to happen.i want the package sent todayLetme have the DHL shipping tracking number so the receiver will have it by monday ,the show is starting by wednesday,i want them to have the Nikon so that they will use it for some otherthings before the program will start on wednesday. i dont want any delay from you.

We await the following information or scan the reciept given to you at the western union store.1. Sender's name and address:2. MTCN#: 3. Total Amount sent:4.Text Question and Answer
AMOUNT CHARGE AND SENT.

Hope to hear back from you.

Regards
Williams .J.

2007-05-19T12:12:00.000-04:00

Belleville dramatics association. Now playing Sholay.

Ratnagiri - 58 k.ms from Kozhikode . Kerala. India ……

2007-04-17T02:56:00.000-04:00

Discalimer: None of these are my photos nor was I part of this trip. Thanks to whoever clicked them and to those who forwarded them.
However, I it has come to my reckon this place Rathnagiri does not exist in Kerala, atleast not near Kozhikode but there is such a place in Maharashtra. If someone thinks otherwise or comes across this place, please let me know by leaving a comment. And I'll be very greatful.

Winterfest

2007-02-25T16:12:00.000-05:00

fast shutter

2007-02-25T16:06:00.000-05:00

Outside my window

2007-02-25T15:51:00.000-05:00

The traffic lights. with the 70-300mm.

A foggy evening.

Pics from around.

2007-02-25T15:34:00.000-05:00

From the first few clicks, inside the apartment.

That'll be you-know-who.

space and time

2007-01-11T23:57:00.000-05:00

After a long time, today, I spoke to my call center friend, who works at night. I was wondering how I hadn't spoken to him in a long time in Bangalore but here i was speaking to him. This is not a note to whine but just the concept of space and time applied to personel.
Now, what was not possible because of time even when spatially possible is now possible because of time while space is not even a constraint. Well, thanks to western economy, time difference and telecommunications.

New year resolutions

2007-01-01T23:48:00.000-05:00

All these years and I haven't been any serious about resolutions, whether or not made on a new years eve. But, here I am again, making new resolutions which probably will make life worse.

1. No more TV. Or draw the line. (Saying this right in front of the TV turned on).
2. More regular to the gym. (Its been a week since I went to gym).
3. No extra frequent snacking. (not that i'm too fat but my belly is growing to fit in a baby).
4. Talk more (sense).

Keep the list small so it is easy to follow. In case you are serious.

12am, 1 Jan 2007

2007-01-01T01:17:00.001-05:00

Its the new year. The moment. The clocks moved from 11:59:59 to 12:00:00. I wasnt watching the clock but the boom box. Movie: Shiva. Which sucked for a RGV film. Had absolutely no fun what so ever. But continued to watch another movie - Umrao Jaan. Pretty bad choice for a new years eve. And elixir - Bailey's chocolate drink. I absolutely can see how my 2007 will be.
Are you listening? Give me a life. Or...

2006-12-29T23:27:00.000-05:00

11:27pm, Fri, 29/12/06.
watching the 3rd movie of the day. Certainly becoming a boom box addict. I should stop watching TV now. Just ost 25$ trying and registering with a fake movie site. Shit. And bought a D50 while I intended to but a D70. Altough cheaper, and contains pretty much the same features, a D70 would have been excallant. And my fish eyed lens or PCI arch book havent reached me yet. It has been about 2 weeks now. Looks like I'm loosing my money and patience. I also got a 2GB pen drive but now want to buy a 1GB MP3 player for double the cost.

2 days to 07. No resolutions to be made for the new year. It goes with out saying that I should resolve to stop investing in insecure places. However luring and glamorous it may seem. All that glitters is certainly not gold.

http://zephyrim.org/

2006-12-11T19:42:00.001-05:00

http://zephyrim.org/

war of the worlds

2006-12-10T23:36:00.000-05:00

I wanted to watch Spielberg's War of the worlds. I did yesterday but was quite disappointed. The movie has all these aliens who land on earth for no apparent reason other than drinking blood. The main characters contain 3 psychos, Tom, who is a bad father, the son, who is just trying to run away. The daughter who keeps screaming in high frequency to break a mirror at the slightest hint of danger. All three keep running around escaping a 30ft alien tripod, in which they are pretty successful at (because they get to live). And in middle of all this there is tim robbins who is another psycho. In the end, its all over because the aliens die by themselves because earth's air and water arent suitable for the aleins (like it is for humans). With technology years ahead of humans, they would not infer that but just go on to kill as many humans as possible.
They should've asked the humans if the air and water are good for the humans.

2006-12-06T23:30:00.000-05:00

Consider this.
Life and after life are represented in different domains. Where as practical life can be explained in x,y,z,t, death and whatever is after that should be explained in something else similar to the x,y,z and t. There should be very little interface between the domains of life and that of after life.
Now if God is worshipped on this part of life while Satan is not but is more associated with death (in eventuality atleast), it could exactly be the other way on the other side. Satan could be very well be worshipped on the other side. Like mirror images that translate from time and space to something equivalent. (I've no idea what that can be).

The Truth!

2006-12-04T10:47:00.000-05:00

Most of the blogs here are on trips and photos and other materialistic things. That was not the only reason this blog was started. I have gone through many blogs where people write about what they feel. The truth. Something that happens. Not necessarily who murdered who and who was tried. I want to do exactly that here. Somehow, we tend to write all that here so some stranger who you've never met can read this and feel absolutely nothing instead of talking to the person right next you who you've known for the last n years. Strange. I've tried hard to understand this, and justify, in vain.

2006-12-01T01:12:00.000-05:00

And eventually, we got internet at home. And (digital) cable. So here I am writing this piece while watching Aeon Flux on cable. Beutiful Charlize.
See how the digital age is screwing us? Only a iPod plugged into my ears is the only missing piece. And we could have something digital that connects with the tongue and nostrills that'll provide pleasure of some sort.

linkollection.

2006-11-28T10:24:00.000-05:00

google groups vxworks work q fundas

vxworks from stanford -

Blue Donkey - vxworks web book

cross compiler/vxworks/bsps

posting.

2006-11-24T11:00:00.000-05:00

Not many posts these days for my ennui has not haunted me for a while. Not after the reactive depression medication. Shit.

8 hrs per movie

2006-11-13T18:58:00.000-05:00

Its been a hectic week end. Because I had myself watch 6 movies in 2 days, thats a neat 120$s. And all quite good. Except 4 of them had a pale climax. And none had an impressive story line. But none vere boring. - The prestige, gaurdian, stranger than fiction, illusionist, good year, departed. While "The Prestige" and "The Illusionist" were magic (or similar), "The Departed" was a chinese movie remade like ditto, except speaking english.

BLR-LHR-YYZ

2006-11-07T10:54:00.000-05:00

To YYZ via LHR. Thats 18 + 3 hrs. Which includes all of the airline meals and the one during transit. I tried to watch 5 movies inside the plane. The 15 hrs flight time with initial 1 + 1 hrs wasted away woth all the BBC news and stuff, there was 13hrs of movie time. Assuming 2hrs per movie, one could easily watch 5 movies. Pretty cool eh? No. Most of the time, ur drowsy. And the cranky air hosts and hostesses make your time worse. In effect, what saves the day are the movies.

Home Bound

2006-06-12T06:39:00.000-04:00

Date: 06.06.06
Day: Tuesday

Finally, its time to say adios to sweet other-home. Time to leave Bachanalia behind. The day coincides to the number of the beast. 666. Not that I believe in the devil but then I've had recurring thoughts of my plane crashing down. Well, I wore socks of different pairs though out my journey. Now, if that is not the work of the devil, then what is. And trough out the flight, there was a lot of turbulence which just put me in foreboding mode.
Well, here I'm. All in one piece. Writing this from my little office cube with no one around to chat with or pass time with or eat chocoltes and chips with.

on our way to the Flower pot Island

2006-06-03T01:56:00.000-04:00

The sandy shores,rocks and green...Niagara Escarpment
Should be pretty good to stay out here, almost in the lake, but it gets pretty cold and windy...
All this, part of the Niagara Escarpment, was under water untill 10000 years ago. Then the water level dropped creating these islands.
Its a Provincial park, starting from Bruce peninsula and covering the islands in the lake.

Bonnechere Caves

2006-06-02T15:13:00.000-04:00

http://www.bonnecherecaves.com/index.php

Julius' Travels in the South

2006-06-02T15:12:00.000-04:00

Julius' Travels in the South

One more in the Crowd

2006-06-02T01:57:00.001-04:00

One more in the Crowd

New YorkDailyPhoto

2006-06-02T01:57:00.000-04:00

New YorkDailyPhoto

Scenic caves

2006-05-30T22:30:00.000-04:00

trip to Collingwood and Bruce Peninsula

2006-05-30T21:58:00.000-04:00

Breakfast leftovers - orange rings
Daring the hail storm; so like me.
Ipinder trying to kill himself;

fateful

2006-05-26T12:01:00.000-04:00

Fateful? Yes, for the car. Altough 2 back seat passengers had minor injuries - one with a bleeding nose and other with a deep little cut in the finger. The driver and the front seat passengers had seat belts on and didnt budge after the crash. We dropped off a friend at the airport and were returning when the diver asked if he could try a hand on the highway. It had snowed nicely and made the road soft. With speeds reaching 100 kmph when it should've been 80 or 90. The car had stated to get off the road on to the shoulder. In the process of getting back on track, the car swirled to right a little too much and back to left a little more to get on track which was when it hit the railing at 100 kmph. The car stood in the reverse direction when all was over. Cool eh? None seriously injured. Apparently, the air bags didnt come off even after a head on collision.
We drove to some gas station on country road off 401 and reached this gas station shown. This gas station turned out to be in port hope that falls on the highway. Thats when the cops were called and car was towed away. We had to wait 2 hrs for out friends to pick us up.

2006-05-24T15:39:00.000-04:00

Kopi is no longer available.We currently do not plan to restock this coffee.
The Kopi Luwak Story
The Luwak (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) denizen of the coffee (kopi) plantations of Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi, eats only the ripest coffee cherries.
Unable to digest the coffee beans the Luwak graciously deposits them on the jungle floor where they are eagerly collected by the locals.
The stomach acids and enzymatic action involved in this unique fermentation process produces the beans for the world’s rarest coffee beverage.

2006-05-12T00:31:00.000-04:00

2006-05-12T00:25:00.000-04:00

NB - L to R: Girish, ash, anuj, sachin, Anurag, Ananth (2004)

Quebec - Canyon
Hanging bridge, Canyon falls

More NB

2006-05-12T00:22:00.000-04:00

More NB

2006-05-11T23:26:00.000-04:00

Trip to New Brunswick

2006-05-11T23:06:00.000-04:00

Photography unleashed

2006-05-11T22:45:00.000-04:00

Transit passtime

2006-05-11T22:43:00.000-04:00

2006-05-11T22:39:00.000-04:00

Office, Ash and shibu
snowy Sidewalk
Apartment walkway
Apartment backyard

Belleville

2006-05-11T22:35:00.000-04:00

In courtyard, hurling snow balls
My D'day
Manmath's D'day
Preparing for just another inhouse party

Rd's farewell

2006-05-11T22:27:00.000-04:00

L-R: Manmath, Girish, Jaggu, Rd, Ananth, Ash

2006-05-11T22:21:00.000-04:00

Skating on ice on bottoms.
Trying to stand on ice or skate??
Supporting the tree - Ash and Manmath
Wide angle

The Falls

2006-05-11T22:14:00.000-04:00

Alley in International hostel

2006-05-11T22:12:00.000-04:00

International hostel

2006-05-11T22:07:00.000-04:00

Adventures to Niagara

2005-02-26T12:18:00.000-05:00

One more trip to the Niagara. Left B'ville at around 11:30. Thats pretty late for a 3hrs drive. We had 2 large vehicles. One missed the other right in the beginning when taking a stop for gas. The other got off the highway to take the gas break. Now, I always thought the other car always was ahead of me but actually was behind. I looked for all red coulored caravans if it belonged to our group. Never found.
This car had an adventure when thier tyre was punctured on the highway, they had to stop right on the shoulder coz, the car was swaying. First, they waved hands to stop a vehicle so they could use their phone. Called up a garage to fix the tyre. No use. They stopped another car so they could call the rental company for help. They did call, but gave the wrong location for help. Even if the rental company's help turned up, they would have gone to the wrong spot, found there was no car, and returned.
The only option left was to fix the tyre themselves. They had spent like 3 hrs by that time. To change the tyre, they need to find the spare (stepni??). This wasnt easy to locate because we dont own the car. This spare tyre called the donut wheel (called so because it is smaller than the other tyres and is used only to get to nearest help spot) was located under the chasse under the driver's seat. It is not possible to get under the car to pull the tyre out. Now, they had to find how to remove the tyre. One of my friends ripped open all the floor mattress in the drivers seat and found a little screw. When unscrewed, slowly dropped the tyre to the ground. Another friend found a jack in the car (call this serendipity). Ultimatley, they fixed the wheel, had lunch and came back to b'ville.

hypnosis

2005-02-20T00:26:00.000-05:00

And today again, we been to toronto. Watched movie called "BLACK". Any weak person should have cried all through. Great story, great actors and acting, and great direction. Best part - no singing and dancing around the trees. So, its been like we've seen some good number of good movies after a stint of good number bad ones.
It was snowing when we were on the highway. The wind and snow taking us head on. Cool sight. Whats cooler is what I call drive way hipnosis. There's a layer of snow on the road, so it dosen't look like we are going any where because theres nothing ahead of thats moving. Ya, except the snow thats hitting us. Its like driving the car on a tread mill at 100kmph with snow flakes pumped against you. Blame the car, it dosent shake a little but theres the hum of the engine. The harder you concentrate, more hypnotic you get. I never had hash, but probably it would feel equally good.

Niagara "Falls"

2005-01-30T09:49:00.000-05:00

Etched into the memory was one more fantastic weekend, starting with the encounters of the canadian cold on friday night, cozy bunk beds and to warm our hearts was the gorgeous ,majestic niagara plunging and you know what....she just keeps "falling" down from the cliff side. The wise have rightly said NIAGARA "FALLS ". The frozen walkways, the lamp posts, the trees, the warmth, usually the falls are roaring and scary,but niagara is not. Standing by her side and watching those air bubbles forming feet before the jump, riding away into the gorge, bursting on their way down and breaking down into tiny droplets and away they get swept into the air and when they land onto your face, you smell life.