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Pickpocket magician, James Freedman writes:

I placed a Wanted Ad recently for some old pickpocket posters. Maybe I shouldn’t have used the phrase ‘cash waiting’ which prompted a suspicious email reply. The whole saga is told here…
The original advert said:
WANTED Any pickpocket posters, photos or other ephemera & pickpocket themed effects. Cash waiting…

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From David Balgetti
5 Nov 2010, at 11:52
I am DAVID BALGETTI, from MADRID,SPAIN,i came across your advert on website that you are in need of the above subject stated,i just want to used this little words of mine to let you know that i have it for sale,and still in a good condition,and i will need your complete address for shipping purpose, please i only need a serious buyer and i do accept international money order and western union money transfer,Money Gram money Transfer and also let me know what method of payment you prefer… or send me an email for further discussion.

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From James Freedman
Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 1:21 PM
Thanks for your email.
I’m delighted that you have ‘Pickpocket Posters’ for sale. Do you have the wooden one or the cheaper plastic model? What colour is the flight case? Is the sprottle nib intact and as new & what is your price? I have a maximum budget of $3500.
Thanks again

James

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From David Balgetti
5 Nov 2010, at 20:06
Thank, i got your mail with the content well noted,i will be happy to inform you that i have both the wooden and the cheaper plastic model and the colour is black and red and the sprottle nib is very intact and very new as well you have nothing to worry about ok.
and the price of the pickpocket posters is $3000usd
thanks
balgetti.

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From James Freedman
Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 10:11 PM
Thanks for getting back to me.
OK so I would like to buy just the wooden pickpocket poster please, with black and red flight case plus sprottle nib of course. I do NOT want the cheaper Japanese plastic version at all because they are all spherical and I really prefer corners.
I don’t suppose you have the ORIGINAL warple flanges as well do you? So many of the pickpocket posters I have seen have these missing or badly damaged. If you do have these too, I could increase my offer depending on the condition.
So please let me know if you have the warple flanges and if you do, what colour & condition are they and are they fitted with bongo nut or wibble tacks?
How much do you want for them?
Please reply quickly. I have a show soon and want to put these in the act.

Thanks again
James
PS Did we meet at FISM last year? Your name seems to ring a bell.

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From David Balgetti
5 Nov 2010, at 21:51
thanks for your mail  i want to give you the full assurance that it is not the Japanese product ok it is the Spanish product and it has corners. i have the original warple too and it is in a perfect condition that i can assure you too. The colour of the warple flanges is white and black ok and the condition is good as well. u have nothing to worry, the wibble tacks are on the warple flanges and i am giving it away for $2500usd

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From James Freedman
Sat, Nov 6, 2010 at 12:52 AM
Great. Thanks David.
So just to confirm, you are selling me pickpocket posters made out of wood with black and red flight case and a new and very intact sprottle nib manufactured in Spain. You are also offering the original warble flanges in both black and white in good condition and fixed with wibble tacks. That is great – I didn’t even know they ever made the flanges in white!
I will probably never find another one with all these features but my budget is limited. Can we agree $3,500 for all this including shipping to London please?
How would you like me to pay you? I’d like to arrange for quick delivery if possible.
James
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From David Balgetti
6 Nov 2010, at 02:16
thanks i got your mail. ok you can go to any western union nearest to you to make the payment, below is the payment information needed as soon as you do you sent me the details of your payment and and i will commerce shipment of your product and i will give you the shipment tracking number ok
www.westernunion.com and click on send money online then enter my account officer information below
Receiver Name..Denis Clark
Address.. Avda Del Rosario 8 50410 Cuarte De Huerva Zaragoza SPAIN
As soon as payment is made,you are to forward me the following details below
Sender Name
Address
Mtcn Number
Exact money sent
As soon as i get this information,i will package and  i will ship and i will forward you the shipping tracking numbers.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,

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From James Freedman
Sat, Nov 6, 2010 at 11:06 AM
I’d like to finish this matter soon so I can share the wonderful entertainment of the ‘pickpocket poster’

I could go to the nearest Western Union on Monday to pay you. I am busy today dealing with a muppet.
A magic friend has told me that some of the wibble tack fitted warble flanges on the wooden poster can rub the cillit bang off the sprottle nib. If course, this cannot happen with the plastic Japanese copy but as your posters were made in Spain, would you please inspect under the Morton fittings and just check that the booby threads are OK? I’d really appreciate it if you could check that or if you could send me a photo of your boobys that would be great. It would be expensive to repair them if they are not OK.
I really want this item quickly. Could you ship it to me today if I PROMISE to go to Western Union on Monday? My shipping address is:
Yoobin Planning
2 Conme Avenue
Nochance
Sorrey
PI55 0FF

Let me know if you need any more intelligence.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
James

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From David Balgeti
6 Nov 2010, at 10:31
My dear friend i am so sorry i would have love to ship before payment but they are standard procedures as regard shippment matters, i will commerce shippment when i get the details of your payment ok
i assure that the morton fittings and the boobly thread are in perfect order u have no need to make any repair that i assure you ok, sorry i can”t sent you photo cos my scanning machine is bad for now but you have nothing to worry about i promise you that.
regard
balgetti.

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From James Freedman
Sat, Nov 6, 2010 at 2:19 PM
Dear Balgetti
I completely understand why I must send you my money first. Of course you must be cautious, there are some bad people out there but I can assure you that I am not a fraudster.
I’ll go to Western Union on Monday to send you the money
Thanks for checking the Morton fittings. One small thing, you mentioned BOOBLY threads but I need boobys not booblys. Was this a mistake? Do you have boobys or booblys? You can check this easily by examining the grunge capstan. If it says ‘WTF’ then you have what I want BUT if it says ‘OMG’ then they are boobly threads which is nonsense. I want boobys.
 
Let me know.
 
Your new best friend
James

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From David Balgetti
6 Nov 2010, at 14:26
oh my friend it was totally a mistake i miss type ok very sorry for that,it is the boobys i have ok, u know u are very lucky,  i checked the grunge capstan it is WTF you have nothing to fear

once again i am so sorry for the mistake,let me assure you are buying the best product you will not regret i promise you.

thanks my new best friend James

regard
balgetti

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From James Freedman
6 November 2010 22:29
Dear Balgetti

I went online to my bank to get the $3,500 to send you by Western Union and I discovered some very bad news. I’d been the victim of a scammer who had taken all the money from my bank account!

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I was going to pay you but when I turned on my computer I had some very good news.

A lawyer in Sierra Leone has contacted me concerning his client who recently died leaving over $200,000,000.00 (TWO HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS) in trust for me. Unfortunately it is in a foreign bank so all I have to do is send him my bank account details, sort code, account number, $150 for his legal fees and a copy of my signature and he will make a bank transfer of $200,000,000.00 to me.

As soon as it clears, I’ll be in touch.

James

… to be continued!