The Powerbook Prank Part 1: Building the P-P-P-Powerbook Part 2: Sending it off Part 3: Getting through customs Part 4: The scammer responds The original story (PDF format; 28 pages)

It all started with an eBay auction for a new G4 Powerbook. When a scammer tried to "buy" my laptop using a fake escrow site and an assumed name, we orchestrated an international prank where we tried to "scam the scammer."

The thief wanted me to send the Powerbook to an address in London. Since taxes on international shipments run 27.5%, payable by the receiver, we decided to send him a very expensive fake package. I built the "notebook computer" pictured above, and shipped the prank package FedEx, claiming a value of $2,000. But then I ran into a snag when FedEx posted a "Regulatory Agency Clearance Delay" in getting the package through British customs.

I started to freak.

MyNameIsJeff Joined: Dec 05, 2003 P-P-P-Powerbook.com!

Regulatory Agency Clearance Delay WTF DOES THAT MEAN!!!?? I think I just instantly became diabetic. EDIT: Anyone near north seattle. Please come fast. I am going to be needing CPR.

That's me breathing into a bag, hoping I don't pass out. Or have my heart explode. With our undercover British operatives on the way to the address provided by the scammer, we could only hope that the package would be delivered while they were there.

Starbucks was our first man to post from the barbershop/Internet cafe where the package was to be delivered:

Starbucks Joined: Jul 06, 2002 Strong Coffee Drinking!	THE PACKAGE IS IN THE DEN I REPEAT THE PACKAGE IS IN THE DEN WE HAVE FEDEX DELIVERY
smitz Joined: Nov 05, 2003	Starbucks is upstairs with webcam, he recorded the delivery moment! Im downstairs with the camera, the guy who signed for it IS the barber, but he put it in the back with out opening, d'oh. Updates to follow. This post is coming from INSIDE THE HOUSE

On the Something Awful message board, everyone went fucking ballistic. We all thought that FedEx had sent it out for delivery, and just didn't update the tracking site. Our men left the shop, but not before setting the screen savers on the computers upstairs to scroll: "P-P-P-POWERBOOK!"

But I wasn't quite convinced, so I sent the following email to the scammer:

Hello!

Today is the 3rd day so you should be getting your new laptop!

I saw on the FedEx site and it is delayed! Does that mean it is still waiting to be delivered? I don't know what time it is there, but I hope it gets there today. Or did you get it and FedEx just didn't update their web page?

Did you pay for the taxes? How much did you end up paying? I am sorry again for that. I didn't mean to cost you extra money. But like I said in my other email, we can work it out.

How long will the 'ok' process take? I am eager to receive payment!

Thank you!
Jeff

As it turns out, our package had not been delivered.

MyNameIsJeff Joined: Dec 05, 2003 P-P-P-Powerbook.com!

I HAVE BAD NEWS. The ringer was not delivered. I just called FedEx. It was never paid for. Probably because the jack ass gave me a bunk phone number. I'm too afraid to talk to the FedEx people about it. What do I say? The guy gave me a bunk phone number? Anyone brave enough to call?

User Gizmo_Gun did an awesome thing. Pretending to be my wife, she called up FedEx to find out what was wrong.

Gizmo_Gun Joined: Mar 21, 2004 Pow! Bang! Smack! Kablooey!

Okay, I just called FedEX and told them that my husband and I (sorry Jeff) were concerned about what was going to happen to the package at this point. She said that they were currently waiting for him to call and give them further information. I did NOT, I repeat, I did NOT authorize the ability for him to pick up the package at FedEX. It has to be delievered. She made a notation that we were going to contact him via email and get him to contact the office of FedEx. So, now we wait until he contacts them. We can always call back and check up on the status.

Thanks for doing that ... my dear wife.

So FedEx could not deliver it, because he gave a fake phone number. Quite simply, they couldn't have him pay the taxes if they couldn't find him. For more than a week, the FedEx tracking page remained frozen on "Regulatory Agency Clearance Delay." And with no further emails from the scammer, we thought it was over. The P-P-P-Powerbook was to sit in the purgatory of FedEx customs for ever.

And then, something happened.

Gizmo_Gun Joined: Mar 21, 2004 Pow! Bang! Smack! Kablooey!

JEFF! We have a situation! FedEX just called me (I gave them my number on the spot to contact, since yours was MIA) and asked if we had gotten a hold of the receiver. I obviously said no, and said that we were very concerned. Well, FedEX wants to know if we will pay the dues and have it delivered anyway, or we will be charged a storage fee. I told the woman at FedEX that I would confer with you and have you contact them.

I still have the mark where my head hit the desk. The prank was backfiring: because the scammer wouldn't pick up the package, FedEx wanted to charge me.

With this information, a new email was in order.

From: MyNameIsJeff [mailto:mynameisjeff@bootsix.net]
Sent: Tuesday, May 04
To: 'scont06@yahoo.com'
Subject: Package cannot be delivered!

Hello!
I received a call from FedEx saying that they are unable to get a hold of you to deliver the package. I really need payment for my laptop, so the sooner you get it and approve of it, the sooner the escrow can release my money to me. They said that they will have to charge me to hold it if they cannot deliver it. If that is the case, I will just pay to have it sent back.

Do you have another phone number? I was going to try to look you up by address maybe, but I don't think that will work, so I thought I'd ask you first! Please respond as soon as you can! I am very eager to complete the transaction!

Thank you!
Jeff

I hoped this would do it ... and it did. The next day he replied:

From: Gianluca [mailto:scont06@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 05
To: MyNameIsJeff
Subject: Re: Package cannot be delivered!

Hello

I call to fedex and he tell me tomorow or of friday will send me the package to my address.The money is ready in my hand to pay the taxes.What insurance do you put for this?

I will email you when I will pick up the laptop. Thank you and sorry for this incovenience.

Gianluca

Everyone was very excited, and even more so after this follow-up email:

From: Gianluca [mailto:scont06@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 06
To: MyNameIsJeff
Subject: Re: Package cannot be delivered!

Dear sir,

Today I have made the payment for the duty taxes.I went personal to Fedex and made the payment.Everything now is ok and they told me that they will deliver it to me tomorrow or latest at 10 o'clock in the morning on Monday.Sorry for this delay but Fedex told me that this is the best they can do.Anyway they will deliver it till Monday aftrenoon and will be fine. Next week we can finalize the deal.

Thank you for your patience and hope to be ok now.

It took several days of further patience, but the FedEx tracking site was finally updated with the fantastic news:

May 10
6:10 pm
Package status
STANSTED GB
Released for Delivery

6:10 pm
Package status
STANSTED GB
Package available for clearance

HE FELL FOR IT! HA HA HA HA HA HA! THE SCAMMER PAID $550 FOR A NOTEBOOK AND SOME OLD KEYS! The thread is once again flooded with posts of happiness and glee!

Eager to hear from our friend, I sent out the following email:

From: MyNameIsJeff [mailto:mynameisjeff@bootsix.net]
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 9:56 AM
To: 'scont06@yahoo.com'
Subject: Ready to complete transaction

Hello friend!

It sure took a long time, but it got there! I was worried for a while! I thought I had lost my powerbook for good in some kind of scam. I wish I didn't pay for such fast shipping, now that I see how long FedEx takes. Please let me know when you are done checking everything and making sure it works. I packed it pretty well. I hope shipping didn't bang it up. You will see I included some extra books. I didn't really need them now that I got rid of the powerbook.

Anyways, I still cannot log onto the escrow site. Will payment still be sent even though they are having connection problems? I realized I never gave my address or any bank account information for payment. If I were to give that to you, would you be able to get it to them so they can send the payment? That would be great. I need this money to pay my rent.

I am curious ... What did you end up paying for the taxes? I wanted to know because I still want to refund some of the money to you.

Thanks!
Jeff