[meteorite-list] Mr. Kramskoi & Meteorite Offers from Russia

[Notkin]

Dear Listees:

Greetings all.

Thank you to those of you who replied off-List to my post inquiring 
about a Mr. Kramskoi.

The following information may be of interest to to any List members who 
have received a recent offer from Russia about meteorites for sale:

1) A significant number meteorite dealers and collectors, around the 
world, have been contacted by email by a person representing himself as 
Mr. Aleksandr Kramskoi supposedly of Kramskoi Law Firm in Moscow. He 
states he is selling meteorite specimens in order to raise funds for 
the Kanatnaya Doroga Charity Foundation (supposedly an orphanage) in 
Russia.

2) Mr. Kramskoi has offered for sale Lunar specimens from the Russian 
Luna missions, and some very attractive Sikhote-Alins, apparently from 
an old collection. He has emailed photos of these specimens to numerous 
people. Mr. Kramskoi offered to send me 4.5 kg of Sikhote-Alins, "so 
you can inspect it carefully and give a fair price for these items." 
Once I agreed to receive the specimens for inspection, he then emailed 
me an elaborate contract and asked for $800 in advance as a "contract 
fee."

3) Mr. Kramskoi stated that after receiving the $800 from me, he would 
ship the Sikhote-Alins by UPS or Fedex and that upon receipt I would 
have 180 days to pay the balance. I found the length of time allowed 
for payment to be suspicious.

4) A well-respected List member, and professional colleague of mine in 
Europe, was offered the same pieces and the same contract, at the same 
time, though for a different price.

5) My colleague has a reliable friend in Russia who has established 
that the address provided by Mr. Kramskoi for his law office does not 
exist.

6) My colleague and I both declined to enter into any form of 
transaction with Mr. Kramskoi, and I post this information so anyone 
else who is thinking of doing business with him will be able to form 
their own conclusions before sending any money to Russia.

Anyone wanting more detailed information, please contact me off-List. I 
can tell you about another great offer I received from Nigeria  : )


Sincerely,

Geoff N.
www.aerolite.org