Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I have been reading the various blurbs you have posted about the Nigerian scams, and thought I’d show you another one that is going on. Recently, I noticed on cycletrader.com that there was an incredible amount of late-model sportbikes for sale at ridiculous prices. Like a 2002 R-1 listed (from London) for $3200, or another R-1 with custom paint, (again in London) for only $3000. There are many more examples I could quote here, but for brevity’s sake I will not.

Knowing full-well that anything that sounds too good to be true usually is, I thought I would send an e-mail to a guy that listed a 2002 R-1 for sale for only $4000. The ad said the bike was in the western part of the U.S. so I sent the guy an e-mail asking why he was selling the bike, and why was it so cheap? I received the following e-mail back from him:

“Hello,

“My name is Marco Mazonne and I’m from Rome, Italy. I am 35 years old. I am a private doctor and my wife is a nurse at a local hospital here
in Rome. I am the first owner of this bike. I sell it because I want to buy another bike and I need cash. About the bike I have to tell you that it’s absolutely perfect, never had any accident and never been repaired. The bike have USA specs, so is not a problem to register this bike in USA!Please send me your shipping details,so I can talk for the shipping of the bike! I want to use for shipping DHL services because they work fast and safe! The bike will be in your town in 4-6 days! Please let me explain to you how I want to make this deal in the following steps: First if you decide to buy the bike you must deposit the total price in USD using an Escrow company! This deposit it’s a guaranty for me that you are a
reliable person and really want to buy this beautiful bike. When the payment is confirmed the bike will be shipped to your location and
when the bike arrives in your town I will be there and personally meet you to set up the deal. If when I will arrive with bike at your place and you will decide not to buy it, I will give
you your cash back! Hope this option it will not be necessary! Please let me know if you want to make this deal with me because I have many offers and I want to make this deal fast and easy. So I will wait for your answer ASAP! Thank you.”



As you can see, anyone who believes a man would fly from Rome to my hometown to “set up the deal” probably needs to have his money taken away! I just wanted to point out to you what is going on here, and I think it would be a great idea for you to do an investigative article about this rash of fraud schemes that seem to abound around here lately. Thanks for the ear, just wanted to bring this to your attention. Check out cycletrader.com and see what I’m talking about. It’s simply crazy.

Stan Simmerson, RN
Holly Springs, North Carolina



And another…

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

It is important for everyone to know that credit cards are not sure payment for international sales, either. I was lucky enough to be late in a delivery to Indonesia or I would have been out some $2000. I just held back on an order to Mexico that apparently was fraudulent. A sure clue is anyone you have never dealt with, or heard of, in a real big hurry.

Jim Lindemann
Lindemann Engineering
Campbell, California

From a press release issued by Marcus McBain:

Racing Performance Services is now accepting sponsorship applications for the 2004 racing season. RPS is a leading provider of suspension, engine, and rider training services and trackside support in the Colorado and Texas regions.

Sponsored riders and customers won over 100 sprint races and 25 championships during the 2003 season. RPS will be providing no less than eight sponsorship positions for riders in the Colorado and Texas regions and is also accepting sponsorship applications from the New Mexico region.

Racers may send their resume and a one-page overview of their 2004 season plans to [email protected]. More information about RPS can be found at www.roadracinghelp.com.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Tuner Dan Kyle and racer Owen Weichel have taken over U.S. distribution of Arata Exhaust Systems, according to importer Sam Yamashita of Moto-Liberty.

In a phone call to Roadracingworld.com today, Yamashita said that Kyle Racing Engines will handle distribution west of the Mississippi River and that Weichel’s new company C.O.G. (Center of Gravity) will handle distribution east of the Mississippi River. Former distributor Street & Competition will continue as an Arata Exhaust System dealer.

Kyle and Weichel will also man an Arata Exhaust Systems/OGK Helmets booth at most consumer trade shows this winter, Yamashita said.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The FIM has issued a revised 2004 World Superbike schedule which includes a round at Mt. Tremblant in Quebec, Canada on July 4, one week before the U.S. round at Laguna Seca. The schedule has “tbc” behind the Mt. Tremblant listing, signifying “to be confirmed.”

The event promoter is Daniel Levert, who has been involved in car racing but has had no known motorcycle racing involvement.

Significant problems will have to be addressed for the race to happen. For example, the only way for spectators to get into the Mt. Tremblant paddock is to walk across the racing surface, and the fast first turn lacks significant run-off.

FIM officials have scheduled a track inspection for Thursday, November 13, when the track may be under snow.

Canadian motorcycle road racing insiders, who have had no contact with Levert, said that they doubt the event will happen.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Hey!

Let’s have some fun with this. Everyone advertise
your bike, then we’ll see who can amass the biggest collection of fraudulent checks suitable for framing!

The one with the most checks wins!

You can also have fun by screwing with these guys. When you get the check, send them an e-mail back to let them know you got greedy and decided to keep the whole amount yourself. This can be very entertaining. In other words, SCAM THE SCAMMERS!

Always remember: These checks are FAKES! NEVER
deposit one. If it’s too good to be true, then it is. Besides, in all reality, who in their right mind would trust someone half a world away with $5000 OVER the cost of your motorcycle if it wasn’t a scam?

Michael Paul
WMRRA #118
Burlington, Washington

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

RM-Z450 TO MAKE ALL-JAPAN MX DEBUT



Suzuki’s all-new RM-Z450 four-stroke motocross machine is to make its world debut at this weekend’s final round of the All-Japan MX Championship series.

The development program on the prototype RM-Z450 machine will continue throughout the winter and then make its international debut in the World MXGP class next year in the hands of multi-world champion Joel Smets.

The new RM-Z450 features an all-new, high-tech DOHC, four-valve, 449cc, liquid-cooled motor, housed in a new-concept aluminium frame, utilising various race and championship-winning technologies from the ultra-successful GSX-R development program. New technologies from the multiple-world championship winning RM motocross development program have also been incorporated.

The production version of the new RM-Z450 will become Suzuki’s flagship model in its expanding four-stroke motocross range and will be ready to hit Suzuki showrooms in August 2004.

Team Suzuki’s All-Japan MX Champion, Akira Narita, will debut the new RM-Z450 at this weekend’s final round of the 2003 series. Narita secured his second title in a row at the previous round of the series and is aiming to give the new machine a winning debut.

From www.cdnsuperbike.com:

The Canadian motorcycle industry lost one of its own last week when journalist Piero Zambotti was killed in a motorcycle crash.

Zambotti, who worked for Cycle Canada Magazine, passed away Friday, October 10 after crashing a Honda Gold Wing during a road test.

Zambotti was also an accomplished road racer and competed in a round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship this season.

I had the opportunity to work with Piero last January during Honda’s CBR600RR press launch in Las Vegas. Although I didn’t get the chance to know him as well as others, it was a pleasure to ride with him both on the track and on the street.

Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Piero Zambotti from cdnsuperbike.com.

Rob O’Brien
Editor, cdnsuperbike.com

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I saw the “racer who lost money to a Nigerian scam” article and the reply from the gentleman from Morgan Hill, so as a road racer/Michelin distributor/bank manager, I thought I might be able to shed some light on the subject.

A LOT of banks give their good customers immediate or next-day credit for checks they deposit. This is a “good-faith” practice and really like a short-term loan since it is physically impossible to process a check and collect the funds in such a short time. Cashier’s checks in particular often receive special treatment either due to the bank’s policy or state banking regulation since they are supposed to be “guaranteed funds.” At the end of the day, the customer is responsible for depositing “good checks”, not the $10/hr. college student/teller. There is no bank procedure that I’m aware of that can mitigate the risk of depositing bad checks (either insufficient funds or fraudulent), so often times it may be best to accept that “hold” on the check and not use the funds until that check clears the other institution. If the bank called in the afternoon that the check was bad, their risk/fraud department had probably already blocked the funds early that morning based on information they had received the previous night, so that’s probably the reason they didn’t hand over another $4200 (which incidentally the customer would’ve STILL been responsible for when the check was eventually returned).

There were also some major red flags in that transaction: Buying a bike sight unseen, sending a cashier’s check for significantly more than the sale price, asking to wire money right back and a $1500 “gift” for changing his mind about the purchase. There is quite a bit of bank fraud out there, so if something seems too good to be true, it’s best to go with your gut feeling and walk away.

Alex Florea
AFM #49
AF Motorsports Michelin
San Jose, California


(Additional information on Nigerian check frauds is available from http://www.scamorama.com, and thanks to reader Stuart Gregg for the tip.)