Scam artist starting to contaact WA members?

[Lignemaginot]

I received the following email message today from an email address that says the sender is a certain Tomasz Nowak:

"Hello:

I have some German Insignia/Medals from WWI and WWII and a few German
helmets from WWI and WWII in a good condition. I have also a few
bayonets
and swords for sale: japanese arisaka, and three french bayonets:
Chassepot,
Grass and Lebel. I would like to sell them for a reasonable price. I
also
have a japanese swords (katana and tanto) with the blade from XVIII
century.
If you could have an interest, let me know.

Regards."

I did a quick yahoo search and found the following information:
http://www.budoseek.net/vbulletin/pr...ead.php?t=7069

So, just be aware that if you get an email from this guy, and you follow up on it, it'll probably end in tears.

Clive

[John-M]

Thanks

I received this as well. Great detective work by the way and thanks for the warning.

[Ken B.]

He was banned over at GDC for doing the same thing. Maybe Sebastian needs to be alerted.

[jerryrehr]

GET A ROPE!! Jerry

[Adrian Stevenson]

I had an email from him too. Thank you for the heads up Clive.

Cheers, Ade.

[Fred Green]

Greetings All,

I am a member of the Bayonet Collectors Network and he is working through their email address' also!! I recieved an email and so did a few others. Maybe a few of these forums can get together and for a Posse! I will be passing this info posted here to the BCN. Thanks for the update.

Fred Green

[Fred Green]

New Name and Address

Greetings All,

Our friend is now using the name Tomek Nowak at Archival_research@hotmail.com . Same nasty creature just under a new rock! A few guys at BCN have been taken.

Fred Green

[Lignemaginot]

Here's an even more interesting link to a story about this Tomasz Nowak person:

http://www.jref.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-7412.html

Clive

[Fred Green]

Greetings All,

Impressive link! It is nice to see somebody at least waste his time. It would have been nice to see a picture of him with the sword. Hopefully he can be stopped but that last link is from 2004! This guy never quits.

Fred Green

[Bob Lyons]

And thanks too, for the heads up, yes I had an e-mail from him as well, was wondering where the hell he came from!

Bob

[Shenkursk]

Got this same email announcing that he was referred to me by Tom B. at Militaria International magazine. He sent pictures of his "credentials", and wanted to sell these same helmets, bayonets and sword. $400 for all.

Because Tom had referred him, I was inclined to believe he was legit, but when he would only accept bank transfers or western union... told him that I would pass.

He went so far as to offer "you send half, I will send the stuff, then you send the other half!" Also offered to pick up the shipping. What a great guy!

I guess stealing $200 is better than nothing...

NO SALE, PAL!!!

[Øyvind]

Also got this email. Scary that people easly can get our addresses!

Best
Øyvind

[hmsbrinmaric]

Hi Everyone,
I got the same email but he was down to $350.00 on the lot.
His "Credentials" were very impressive. All were from the early 1990s and were replies to letters he received from various museums in response to his letters.

When I told him to send me the stuff and I would pay him as soon as I got it I stopped hearing from him.

I am going to post a warning on my website about him also.

Take care,
Keith

[Jon Fish]

I had the same mail but now never reply to anyone I do not know who they are

[Matthew S.]

I can picture him now: shady character wearing several days growth of facial hair, beat-up Yugo parked behind a tattoo parlor, walking around in a trench coat and wispering to unspecting passers-by "Psstt, buddy. Wanna buy an Iron Cross my pappy found in the Fuhrerbunker during the war?" I liked it better when these creeps sold used cars.