• Posted 12/19/2024.
    =====================

    I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?

    So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.

    But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.

    Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.

    I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.

    =====================
    Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.

    And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
  • Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

Bad Guy Yi Xu [email protected]

Big Time Reptiles

Big Time Reptiles

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And yet another scammer!


You'd think they'd change their vocabulary by know.



Seller/Buyer Beware...


From: Big Time Reptiles <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: 1.1 2019 C. Conspicuosa
Date: January 8, 2020 at 5:41:57 PM CST
To: Yi Xu <[email protected]>

The final asking price is in the ad.
On Jan 8, 2020, at 5:39 PM, Yi Xu <[email protected]> wrote:

STILL AVAILABLE FOR SALE ? Please get back to me with the final asking price..Thanks



 
I just received the same message, but also asking me for my name, address and cell phone number so they can send me a cashiers check.. I'm glad I saw this thread.
 
Scam!

So how does this play out? He sends the checks. You cash them and it takes time before they bounce. He gets the animals and you are out of luck? Is that it??
 
OP, thank you for this post. This scammer contacted me yesterday and today . Asked me to hold a gecko for him. "He" said he will send a cashier's check ASAP with an extra $50 to hold the animal. Which I never asked for it! A red flag went off, but I continued to entertain him. He wanted me to mark the animal as sold while I wait for his payment. Then I see this post. I should have just went with my gut instinct to begin with...

This is why we cannot let the BOI die. We NEED this. I really missed the days when people actually share and interact on forums not on the these facebook...gg
 
@ Will Bird I am also curious as how it is supposed to play out. Who would ship out their animal before the check clears?
 
Big Time Reptiles said:
And yet another scammer!


You'd think they'd change their vocabulary by know.



Seller/Buyer Beware...


From: Big Time Reptiles <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: 1.1 2019 C. Conspicuosa
Date: January 8, 2020 at 5:41:57 PM CST
To: Yi Xu <[email protected]>

The final asking price is in the ad.
On Jan 8, 2020, at 5:39 PM, Yi Xu <[email protected]> wrote:

 STILL AVAILABLE FOR SALE ? Please get back to me with the final asking price..Thanks
Click to expand...




I have an envelope about an inch thick with checks from scammers, looks like I have another on the way. After receiving a check from one of these, want a be scam artist, I let them know, the jig is up.

Here's more from the want a be...As others have received the same.


Okay and please get back to me with your cell phone ..Your payment will be mail out ASAP please consider it sold.I will appreciate if the ad is taken off the website so i can be sure you are keeping it in my favor.

On Thu, Jan 9, 2020 at 3:47 PM Big Time Reptiles <[email protected]> wrote:
Send it to, and make it payable too:

Big Time Reptiles
P.O. Box 388
Lebanon Missouri 65536

Total $750 shipped to Indiana

Thank You for your business.
On Jan 9, 2020, at 5:40 AM, Yi Xu <[email protected]> wrote:

Am paying by Certified Cashier Check including the shipping cost to Indiana,so i need ur full name, address and cell phone number.I'll add $50 for holding it in my favor.

 
kenske said:
@ Will Bird I am also curious as how it is supposed to play out. Who would ship out their animal before the check clears?
Click to expand...
As a courtesy your bank will "clear" a check in under a week. It may take up to a month for it to get processed and you learn that the check was no good.

It's still worth the time to get them to send you a check, because it costs them time and shipping expenses.
 
I received the same email today as well. Word for word.

"STILL AVAILABLE FOR SALE ? Please get back to me with the final asking price..Thanks"
 
This scam is actually slightly more complicated than it may appear. They don't send you a check for the right amount. They send you way more than you asked for. Then they tell you that their "assistant" made a mistake. They ask you to cash the check and send them the difference. After you've sent the money, the check bounces. So they end up with free money. They never expect to receive the animals, and it isn't about the animals at all. They probably don't even know what the animals are.
 
bcr229 said:
It's still worth the time to get them to send you a check, because it costs them time and shipping expenses.
Click to expand...


Not just that aspect, but it makes them think they hooked someone.

I added up the checks I've received from these want a Be's, grand total to date $83K.


Messing with these people, does my heart good......

 
I got a email from him as well. It’s always the same general info... Starts out with “please get back to me with the final asking price” “Ill send a certified cashiers check including shipping and I will add $50 for holding the animal”. You give him the info and then he asks “if you can take down the ad”. At this point I like to mess with them a bit, and have them send the checks. Then give them to my bank telling them its fraud. I should be getting $800 or so from him soon.
 
Reptilecam said:
I got a email from him as well. It’s always the same general info... Starts out with “please get back to me with the final asking price” “Ill send a certified cashiers check including shipping and I will add $50 for holding the animal”. You give him the info and then he asks “if you can take down the ad”. At this point I like to mess with them a bit, and have them send the checks. Then give them to my bank telling them its fraud. I should be getting $800 or so from him soon.
Click to expand...


Exactly, verbatim....Lets share photos of the checks when they arrive. Too funny.......

 
Here's the latest from Yi Xu, same exact M O as every other want a be scam artist that has sent me a check, for all I know, it's the same person with very short term memory. I'll post photos of the check when it arrives, just to watch it disappear here on the BOI come 2/20/20, but I'll still have the check.......LMAO





From: Yi Xu <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: 1.1 2019 C. Conspicuosa
Date: January 13, 2020 at 2:40:28 PM CST
To: Big Time Reptiles <[email protected]>

Hi,

Your payment has been sent but there is something i think i must bring to your notice. I just found out that my Assistant overpaid you. The payment meant for another item was made out in your name and sent to you.

However I want to believe I wont have a problem with you on this.Once you receive the payment, Please proceed to the bank and cash the payment,

deduct your money and I will let you know what to do with the balance. I hope I can fully trust you with this? I will await your response on this so my mind can be at ease.

Thanks.
 
Same Email

Just got an email.

"Yi Xu <[email protected]>
Jan 11, 2020, 6:52 AM (2 days ago)
to me

STILL AVAILABLE FOR SALE ? Please get back to me with the final asking price..Thanks "

"Am paying by Certified Cashier Check including the shipping cost to Indiana,so i need ur full name, address and cell phone number.I'll add $50 for holding it in my favor."

Stay safe people!
 
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