I feel your pain and offer your my sympathies.
These types of attacks happen to me about 2-3 times a year. I attempt to avoid tem by Googling the address. The last attack occurred about 3 weeks ago the creep used an address that mapped to Thialand, but had the Netherlands listed as the country. When I Googled the address I found the forwarding connection, which until you mentioned it didn't make any sense to me. The miscreants phone number Googled to Bangladesh. Here is a copy of the e-mail traffic between the thief and me:
Thank you for your cooperation, of course my country is NL for Netherlands.
Dwi Bintoro,
Pada Minggu, 17 November 2013 4:50, Bill Blake <bill@rockypointcycle.com> menulis:
I hope that your vacation was as relaxing as your expectations.
So, is your country abbreviation NL or IN?
Bill,
Quoting Dwi Bintoro <dwibintoro325@yahoo.com>:
> Hi Bill, Thank you for your confirmation.
> for a few weeks I was on vacation in Bali Indonesia and Thailand.
>
>
>
>
> Pada Sabtu, 16 November 2013 20:47, Bill Blake
> <bill@rockypointcycle.com> menulis:
>
> Dwi,
> You listed your country's abbreviation as "NL" shouldn't it have
> been "IN"? You live in Indonesia, do you not?
>
> Bill.
>
>
> Quoting Dwi Bintoro <dwibintoro325@yahoo.com>:
>
>> Okay, thank you for your confirmation.
>> Then how about shipping cost?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Pada Sabtu, 16 November 2013 6:16, "SALES@ROCKYPOINTCYCLE.COM"
>> <SALES@ROCKYPOINTCYCLE.COM> menulis:
>>
>> Rocky Point Cycle
>> 9 Bonazzoli Ave, Suite 3
>> Hudson, MA 01749
>> US
>>
>> Order Confirmation
>> Order #1714
>> Placed: 11/15/2013 18:16:07 EST
>> Status: Pending
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
>> Thank you for your order. The total listed below does not include
>> shipping costs. Actual shipping costs will be added; we charge no
>> packaging or handling fees. Sales tax will be added to orders
>> shipped within Massachusetts.
>> Please save this email for reference.
>> William Blake
>> Rocky Point Cycle / Northeast Cycle Works here.
>> Feel free to contact us via email or at 978-212-5432 for
>> assistance with this order.
>> Bill To
>> ________________________________
>>
>> Name
wi Bintoro
>> Email:dwibintoro325@yahoo.com
>> Phone:08893008325
>> Address:Tambak Pring Timoer #212
>> Asemrowo, Benowos 60182
>> NL
>> Ship To
>> ________________________________
>>
>> Name
wi Bintoro
>> Email:dwibintoro325@yahoo.com
>> Phone:08893008325
>> Address:Tambak Pring Timoer #212
>> Asemrowo, Benowos 60182
>> NL
>> Code
>> Product
>> Quantity
>> Total
>> 2383 Single 34mm Mikuni carb kit, Atlas 1 $349.95
>> HANDLEBAR: EUROLOW
>> HOMEALTITUDE: UPTO5000
>> Shipping: Actual shipping costs will be added ($1 minimum charge).:
>> Sales Tax:
>>
>> Total: $0.00
>> $0.00
>>
>> $349.95
I used the following Google search string: "asemrowo, benowos 60182 and the Netherlands" based on the address he provided and got some very conflicting results. I have a Skype phone that costs me very little to make global calls. I will not ship merchandise to any foreign country where I cannot verify that the billing and shipping address are the same and are valid and that they jib with the phone number provided, If I get that far and still feel uncomfortable I call Visa/MasterCard/Discover HQ and run the card number.
The scams that are run on me from domestic scum are somewhat easier to spot and avoid. The last one was a jerk that wanted to buy 10 Mikuni kits for R75 /5 BMWs, the phone number had been shut off, the shipping and billing address were different and the recipient (scum bag) and the person paying the bill were different. In that case I was able to make contact with the credit card holder who had no knowledge of the thief.
I do not look forward to the day someone puts one over on me. I blame the credit card companies for making it relatively easy to perpetrate this type of fraud; Target is making big news for the same reason now, if those guys take aim at me I'm a gonner...If I ever catch one I will eviscerate them very slowly.
Bill.