[meteorite-list] an easy mark I'm not

From: David Weir <dgweir_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:07:05 2004
Message-ID: <3DBF1728.387C561C_at_earthlink.net>

Hello List,

My highly skeptical self found nothing at all credible in this e-mail,
but if anyone wants to pursue it, whatever "it" is, I'll supply the
author's name and phone number that was attached. Otherwise, have a good
laugh at the lengths some will go to setup a scam.

David
______________________________

> Dear David --
>
> I got your name from the Meteorological Society. I have little or no
> experience in the subject of meteorites. But I am a frequent traveler
> to
> North Africa, and help with humanitarian projects among the Bedouin of
> the
> Sahara. During my last trip, I was approached by a man who had an
> extensive
> collection of meteorites. I was pretty impressed by the scope and
> variety of
> what he had collected. Though I'm not exactly sure of what I was
> looking at,
> he knew and trusted me with some samples which I brought with me. He
> and his
> extended group are interested in developing a direct connection to the
> US,
> and so they approached me to see if I could find an outlet for their
> finds.
>
> What was interesting is their appreciation for the quality and
> scientific
> value of their find. One sample they gave me was done reluctantly,
> because
> it was very curious, not magnetic but obviously possessive of the heat
> effects of earth entry. I don't have the expertise to measure their
> collection, but they seem to know quite a bit about what they have and
> the
> value of Mars and Moon meteorites. It's my sense that they have some
> experience in this area.
>
> They have come to the point where they don't want to simply wholesale
> them
> through the traditional middlemen on the West coast of Africa, but
> instead
> are interested in forming a cooperative of many to look for certain
> types of
> meteorites using a broad and extensive network of their nomadic
> friends and
> family.
>
> I'm wondering if you or someone you know has an interest or
> willingness to
> discuss ways to setup some sort of system to identify prospective
> specimens
> and maximize their income while retaining the scientific value of
> their
> finds? They won't require advance payment for their finds as long as
> they
> feel their efforts are being respected. But once the value is set
> after
> analysis, they would be paid on some sort of value-based method, not
> on a
> wholesale basis. My personal interest is to help these folks, which
> have
> become friends of mine. I am a US citizen and businessman, and so
> they think
> I can help. I'm not sure I'm the right person for this, but I have an
> educational background in oceanography and geophysics, but little in
> mineralogy or geology. I was able to see immediately the typical
> meteorites,
> but was unable to make the more subtle distinctions which might have
> greater
> scientific value.
>
> What do you think? You probably get all sorts of emails like this,
> but I
> hope you'll consider responding, or direct me to a credible authority
> who
> might find this a long-term and valuable concept.
>
> Best regards,

[name and number withheld]
Received on Tue 29 Oct 2002 06:18:00 PM PST