Beware of fraudulent seller

[BluErf]

Hi,

Just to inform everyone - there is this guy from Russia who emails people pictures of very good keris hilts, stating that the hilts are for sale. He would send one picture of each hilt, and would send more upon request. He even sends proper invoices.

This guy is stealing pictures off internet auctions and possibly from collectors' websites.

So beware.

[Rick]

Thanks for the heads up Kai Wee !
I've also copied this to Swap .

Any more infos you can offer ?

[BluErf]

Hi Rick,

Here's one of the initial emails he sent. Ok, so he doesn't just offer keris-related items, but other ethnographic arms like tulwar, dhas, etc.

The name he used in the current scam is Philip Rostov or Philippe Rostov, and the email addresses used are nkodagidze1095@yandex.ru or artgallery78@inbox.ru. However, he probably changes his email regularly.

Attached below also is a copy of his "invoice". He is using somebody else as the beneficiary, claiming that he/she is the owner of the items being sold. Come to think about it, the account holders are probably 'mules' who get paid to receive the money and have no idea who the scammers are.

*********************
Dear Colleagues,

Sorry for this letter, if you would not like to receive our offers,
please let us know.

We would be very much appreciate your information about the kinds of
art and antiques, you mainly deal in. We would be able, then, to
provide you some detailed information of what we can offer in this
field.

We do have organize weekly and monthly auction and would like to
invite you to participate.

We a large collection of antique frames of 18th-19th century (141 frames), which we would like to sell.

We sell from our stock and on behalf of our clients, we are able to
offer interesting examples of

1. antique jewelry
2. WWII Memorabilia
3. antique literature,
4. antique toy
5. antique furniture
6. antique silver, mostly massive cups and sets
7. Asian antiques
8. antique textiles
9. antique clocks, watches and instruments
10. antique armour and firearms.
11. antique china
12. art deco art
13. drawings and artworks of contemporary art.
14. old master artworks

Please contact us for catalogues and more information.

My warmest regards,

Philippe


Philippe Rostov
The owner
"Siyanie" Antique Shop
Universitetskii pr. 10a
Moscow, 119330
Russia
007 (495) 980-04-28
Please contact us for driving instructions.