[NHCOLL-L:4330] RE: Fraudulent requests for specimen donations from nonexistent musuem in India

[Bentley, Andrew Charles]

Joan

 

Yes, I have reported on this on numerous occasions.  There are two names (Rehman and Haq - possibly the same person) who regularly send this request (in varying formats) to museums in the US (have not seen it appear in Europe or elsewhere).  Through investigation we have ascertained that there is no such Museum (validated by an Indian scientist who visited the address) and that it is a biological supply house selling specimens for profit.

 

DO NOT BE TAKEN IN BY THIS SCAM.

 

Andy

   A  :             A  :             A  :
}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>
   V                V                V
Andy Bentley
Ichthyology Collection Manager/Specify Usability Lead
University of Kansas
Natural History Museum & Biodiversity Research Center
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561
USA

Tel: (785) 864-3863
Fax: (785) 864-5335
Email: ABentley at ku.edu       
                                                
   A  :             A  :             A  :
}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>
   V                V                V 

________________________________

From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Herrera, Joan
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 11:42 AM
To: NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:4329] Fraudulent requests for specimen donations from nonexistent musuem in India

 

I received the following 

email requesting the donation of specimens.  Upon further investigation, I 

have learned that the museum does not exist and that this party is soliciting 

specimens in order to sell them for 

profit.


> First of all, I would 

like to give you my own introduction. I am Dr.
> Shaikh Taufique Rehman, 

Director of the Museum and The Museum of
> Life-Science is an Educational 

and Scientific Research Institution in
> Northern India.Besides the 

research activities, we also teach
> extensive courses in world Zoology 

whereby every students can have a
> comprehensive knowledge of the World 

Zoological Fauna before
> obtaining a Master of Science Degree in Zoology. 

Our Museum is also
> open, Free of Fee ,for general public so that they 

could understand
> about the Animals world.
> 
> Presently, we 

have displayed an extensive collections of
> Amphibians,Reptiles,Fishes, 

Mammals and Invertebrates specimens. 
> Total 2387 specimens.
> 


> For Taxonomical representation, we are in need of some of the 
> 

following Preserved Fish specimens which could be useful to the
> present 

and future generations for the generic and families 
> representations at 

our collections & for our B.Sc. & M.Sc. Zoology 
> students .We 

would highly appreciate to receive the following 
> Preserved specimens 

from you ,with data ,as per availablity in your 
> collection:
> 


> Lepisosteus osseus, 8"-12" Size... Preserved...5 Specimens 
> 

Lepisosteus platostomus do- ... do- ...3 specimens Lepisosteus
> spathula 

... do- ... do- ...3 specimens Amia calva;Bow-fin, Male..do-
> ... do- 

...3 specimens Petromyzon marinus,Sea Lamprey ,Adult... do-
> ...5 

specimens Ichthyomyzon sps.. do- ... do- ...2 specimens Myxine
> glutinosa 

do- ... do- ...3 specimen Ammocoetes larvae ... do- do-
> ...5 

specimens
> 
> Please consider my request and fulfill the genuine 

educational need
> on humanitarian ground VIA AIRMAIL (Priority 

International)
> PARCEL.The Damp-Packed specimens can be sent through US 

Postal
> System.Kindly acknowledge the request and oblige.Thanks. 

Respectfully
> yours,
> 
> Dr.Shaikh Taufique Rehman Director 

Museum of Life-Science Institute
> of Higher Education 1066 Civil Lines 

Jhansi-284001, U.P. INDIA

 

Joan Herrera, Ph.D. 
Curator of Collections

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 
100 8th Avenue SE 
St. Petersburg, FL 33701-5020 
727-896-8626, ext 1206 
E-Mail:  Joan.Herrera at MyFWC.com 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/private/nhcoll-l/attachments/20090526/26fb3261/attachment.html