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