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We sell tile and tiling materials. We ship to other countries. The request was simple and common, by e-mail. "I am interested in blah tile. Do you have it in stock?" "Yes we do. you can view it at blah website. Please let us know what color and the quantity you would like." (Next day) "I went to the web site. That is exactly what I need. The color is blah and I would like to purchase 1500 sq. ft. Please quote me a price." "The price would be blah plus shipping." (Next day) "Is that the best price you can offer?" "That is the best price we can offer. We gave you a discount for the 1500 ft. quantity." (Next day) "My client has accepted the price. Can you ship to Swedan?" "Yes we can ship to Swedan. We will get the shipping cost and add it to the price of the tile. We will not be able to process the order until the money is in our account." "That is acceptable. Below is the name and contact # of the international shipper I prefer. They pick up and deliver door to door. Can I do a wire transfer?" "No. we do not do wire transfers. We prefer credit card payment. (We contacted the shipper for cost. We were e-mailed a very long itemized list that totaled $4200.00 dollars.) We have added the shipping cost to your total. The total will be $9600.00." (Next Day) "The price is acceptable. Here is the credit card info." "We will need a credit card form filled out for our files before we can run the card. Where can we fax it?" (next day) "Please fax the form to this number." The form was filled out and faxed back to us and we ran the card. The $9600.00 was in our bank the next day. We contacted the shipping company and told them we were ready to go. They requested that the money be sent by money gram. We were already questioning the sale, but this was a big red flag.

   You guessed it. The credit card was stolen. We talked to the card holder and Bank of America to return the money.

   Here is what got me. I contacted local law, state law and federal law and told each of them that we were, at that moment, on the phone with the crooks. I was told by each level of law that I needed to go on line and fill out forms. WOW!! I guess I watch to much TV about catching crooks.