Possible Scammer - Amy Carryington/Nelson Mhongo

[butterflygirl]

I enquired about the ad below via the given email and asked the seller for the price per cocoon and a picture with today's date on it. They sent me pictures with today's date from a completely different email than the one listed in the ad. Not only that, they sent photos of what appear to be African Moon Moth cocoons (see the first picture attached). I have never known A. dubernardi cocoons to have sporadic holes as seen in the ones pictured, and was wondering if I'm correct in my assessment.

[kevinkk]

This just gets better and better.
Yes, those are Argema mimosa cocoons depicted.
In America, we also write dates differently, we write 06/20/25, not 20/06/25
While you may ship them in the USA, it is illegal since they are non natives
They spelled the species incorrectly
Member just joined, along with the apparent legit buyer
These "possible?" more like probable scammers should hook up with the ones selling Stag betels

While warnings about and praise for sellers are appropiate in the classified ads, there are a lot of experienced individuals here using this site, I cannot be scammed, and neither can most of the other users here.
I have seen a number of new persons using the classifieds, it's nice to see, but I know who is legit, and who is not just from reading your ad most of the time.

Ok. one more thing. Those Actias dubernardi cocoons in the classified ad? They look familar. maybe they aren't mine, but a few years ago, I raised a batch of a lot of the moth and sold most in bulk. I used peat moss in boxes and the larva spun those whitish nearly perfect orbs. Anyway, that's how to make a egg shaped dubernardi cocoon.

[wollastoni]

Thank you for your vigilance, I have deleted his accounts.

[butterflygirl]

Thank you for your vigilance, I have deleted his accounts.

No problem!

This just gets better and better.
Yes, those are Argema mimosa cocoons depicted.
In America, we also write dates differently, we write 06/20/25, not 20/06/25
While you may ship them in the USA, it is illegal since they are non natives
They spelled the species incorrectly
Member just joined, along with the apparent legit buyer
These "possible?" more like probable scammers should hook up with the ones selling Stag betels

While warnings about and praise for sellers are appropiate in the classified ads, there are a lot of experienced individuals here using this site, I cannot be scammed, and neither can most of the other users here.
I have seen a number of new persons using the classifieds, it's nice to see, but I know who is legit, and who is not just from reading your ad most of the time.

Ok. one more thing. Those Actias dubernardi cocoons in the classified ad? They look familar. maybe they aren't mine, but a few years ago, I raised a batch of a lot of the moth and sold most in bulk. I used peat moss in boxes and the larva spun those whitish nearly perfect orbs. Anyway, that's how to make a egg shaped dubernardi cocoon.

While not as experienced as you, I am learning very quickly and saw all the massive red flags. No price in the main ad. No shipping info. Suspiciously familiar picture, I swear I've seen it in the past. A vastly different second picture with a non-American dating structure. If you look at the picture zoomed in, the date appears to be spliced in.

[kevinkk]

I am learning very quickly and saw all the massive red flags.

There are more flags, but sometimes I wonder if posting them is undermining our efforts. The simplest thing is that the scammers are usually out of their element. I do want to clear up a comment I made about using peat moss- spaghnum is the moss I like using for a substrate.
I also have to admit I have been tricked, and it was from not following my own advice, and there are different kinds of "scammers", for some, apparently it's a job, for others, they just can't follow through, good intentions don't make a road.