West Africa Export-Import Scam Part 1

I want to write this blog using English (not in Indonesian language) this time because it's related to my experience that I had in early November in Export-Import Business. I don't want you or any of us in this world to be a victim in this business so I wrote this post. Because it's gonna be very long story, I will make some parts so you can read it carefully one by one. This is Part One.

I work at two companies right now and both of the business lines are exporting. We've exporting so many things to the globe. Because I'm a Marketing Director in PT. Organik Sejahtera Indonesia, then I am responsible to look for the buyers from anywhere around the world. I looked at some export websites such as https://go4worldbusiness.com/, http://trademap.org/, and https://www.tradekey.com/ to find buyers.

Actually it was going very well and smoothly until I found one buyer that replied to my email with a very fantastic offer on September 17, 2022 from Ubione Investment Company <ubione2@hotmail.com> represented by Mr. William Smith in Lome, Togo, West Africa.

"Now, I want to let you know that there are three companies combined as one company. They want to buy the Coconut Charcoal Briquette for BBQ. on a Contract between : 150, 000 and 250, 000 MT for the period of 3 years before they can renew the Contract to all your company to continue with the supply."

Wow! I stayed calm (like I always did), and I even thinking about why three companies combined as one company? Is it really exist in this world? I told my CEO about this project and I asked her to pray istikhāra (It is a Sunnah Muslim prayer of two raka'at with the intention to seek guidance from Allah s.w.t. on whether to proceed or to withdraw from the matter). She prayed then we rejected this project. We're afraid we can't fulfill their really huge quantity. It's super huge right?😨

In October, we went to the Indonesia Trade Expo held at ICE BSD City, Tangerang. We speak with many charcoal business owners (suppliers) and asked them how many quantities they can fulfill within a month. I wrote down the production capacity of each company one by one until I said to my CEO, "I think we can fulfill 250,000 MT for 3 years which means 7000 MT per month. We have so many fellow suppliers now."

I sent an approaching email again to ubione2@hotmail.com, stating that we've looked over the suppliers across Java island to fulfill their needs and now we're very confident with our capability. Just few hours later (it's fast), I've got a reply:

"Dear Meutia Halida Khairani,

How are you doing today? I hope you are fine and doing very well. I'm fine and doing well also. Thanks for your mail again.

I strongly believe that your company is very ready and capable to handle the Contract Supply of the products to the three companies under one company with their required quantity for the period of 3 years.

I have been discussing with the companies today since morning I received your mail. They are saying that they don't know whether your company is capable to meet up and to complete all their Contract Terms and Conditions which shall only lead to the transfer of your advance payment into your bank account.

They were telling me that, there is a company they want to award the Contract to. I begged them on behalf of your company not to give the Contract to another company. They said the way you disappeared without hearing from you again for such a long time made them to decide to give the Contract to another company who can handle and finalize the Contract Project.

I answered them that you went back to arrange things to make sure that your company shall be able to meet up with their required quantity of between : 150, 000 and 250, 000 Tons for the period of 3 years. I told them you have agreed with assurance that, anything which their Contract Terms and Requirements and Conditions shall require from them, they are ready and capable to do and to provide it, then, they agreed to listen to your company again.

Please, if you know your company can't meet up with their Contract Terms and Conditions, let me know now so that, they can go ahead to give the Contract to another company because, I don't want any problem at all.

If you are okay and sure that your company can proceed to meet up with their required quantity, Contract Terms and Conditions, go ahead and send me the price for me to submit it to them so that, they can let you know their Payment Terms and Contract Terms and Conditions.

I hope for your reply as you get this mail with the prices.

Best regards,

Mr. Williams Smith

Ubione Investment Company

Tel :+22 8 90 85 10 18"

Such a long narrative right? And it seems a bit weird🤔. But I replied to him with the catalog. We have 5 different items on the catalog and the suspicious thing is, they buy it all without asking any kind of the characteristics of the product. The usual buyer is gonna ask the Ash Content, the Burning Rate of the briquette and so on, but him? He bought all of our products without asking, without bargaining the price.  What? Really? 

If you can't read my screenshot, here's I copy and paste the email to you:

Dear Meutia Halida Khairani,

How are you doing today? I hope you are fine and doing well. Thanks for your mail with the prices of the products. I have received it and as well, I have been to meet the Chairman and Secretary of the three companies which come under one company.

I have shown the prices of the products after I added extra $20 per Ton on top of the prices. They have concluded to buy the products from your company as long as your company is able to comply with their Contract Terms and Conditions by providing all that their Contract Terms and Conditions shall require from your company to do and to provide.

Meanwhile, below is the summary of what they want to buy from your company for your confirmation before I shall proceed to submit the prices to their General Board of Directors today:

 1.COCO BRIQUETTE : COCONUT SHELL CHARCOAL - $1520 / Ton Qty. 50 000 Tons = $76 000 000

2.COCO BRIQUETTE: COCONUT SHELL CHARCOAL - $1220 / Ton Qty. 50 000 Tons = $61 000 000

3.COCO BRIQUETTE: COCONUT SHELL CHARCOAL (Silver) - $1420 / Ton Qty. 50 000 Tons = $71 000 000

4.COCO BRIQUETTE: COCONUT SHELL CHARCOAL (Gold°   - $1520 / Tons Qty. 50 O00 Tons = $76 000 000

5.COCO BRIQUETTE: COCONUT SHELL CHARCOAL (Diamond) - $1620 / Tons Qty.50 000 Tons = $81 000 000

Total Contract Order : 250 000 Tons for the period of 3 years.

Contract Amount: $365 000 000.

So, when your company confirms her ability to handle, finalize and execute this Contract, I shall officially, submit the prices to the Board General of Directors for their study and confirmation.

The above is for your company whether your company can handle the Contract. I hope for your reply as soon as you get this mail for me to submit the prices to them.

Best regards,

Mr. Williams Smith

Honestly I really don't believe that, but my mind have to be positive. I reply to his message and asked him to scheduling the phone call or a meeting with my team using Zoom, but he replied me to confirm that I can fulfill their needs.  I was wondering, "Is the confirmation statement should be written in the email?" I just follow him then I wrote,

Ok, I read your email at my gmail and Our company can confirm the stated quantity.

In the next, please let me know:

1. Payment term

2. Shipment term (how many MT per month to send)

3. The specification of the briquette. The size you need, the packaging, the ash content, and so on.

4. The container size. 40 feet container fits 26 ton of 25x25x25 cube briquette.

5. If there's any, please let me know.

After this, he replied me with super long contract email. I read the contract with my team carefully. I asked him to schedule a meeting via Zoom or Google Meets or anything to discuss about this contract and he never wanted to. I asked him to schedule the phone call, he always ignored me. Ok, my common sense said this is a scam but I really wanted to know, which part they will ask us for money. Then I've got a plan. Will continue to Part 2 and I will post about the contract. Stay tuned!