[comp.os.cpm] Cheap modems and other delights

bobmon@iucs.UUCP.UUCP (08/14/87)

I recently posted a request for info about a company offering a modem for
$122 (at least two other people posted similar queries).  I've since seen
the following bulletin, which I am passing along...


Message #1951
  To ALL                                    08-11-87
>From STEVE LEON (SYSOP)                     Subject WARNING
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is an ad appearing in BYTE, INFO WORLD, Compuserve's ONLINE and
perhaps other places (it may be scheduled for PC WORLD). It is a full
page ad by an outfit in Beverly Hills California called Compuscan.
Prices are absurdly low - in fact - they are below wholesale.
To make a long story short - the whole thing is a scam. We have the
postal authorities on it. INFO WORLD will have a front page story next
week on it.
In the meantime, don't fall for it. If you already have - RUN to the
bank and stop payment on the check. (Get to the bank in person and get
it from them in writing that you told them.) If you already sent money
and your check was cashed - next time remember the old -but true fact -
that if sounds too good to be true - chances are it is not true.
Please pass it on through the BBS networks.
                                         STEVE LEON

cmpuchm@lll-winken.UUCP (Compuchem) (08/17/87)

The ads referred to in the warning issued on the net last week were placed
by a company called Compusystems in Beverly Hills, NOT Compucscan. I don't
know if Compuscan exists, but they did not place the ads. We have relayed
the warning on our BBS. Caveat Emptor...

 
**************************************************************
Bill Buckley, Compuchem, Inc. , Hayward, CA.
ATT : 415/489-6514
BBS : 415/487-0310 (1200 baud, 24 hrs)
NET : cmpuchm@lll-winken.arpa
      {lll-lcc,wucs1,uwvax,pryamid,isis,princeton,uunet}!lll-winken!cmpuchm
**************************************************************

symon@unc.cs.unc.edu (James Symon) (08/17/87)

In article <KPETERSEN.12326748627.BABYL@SIMTEL20.ARPA>, bobmon@iucs.UUCP writes:
> I recently posted a request for info about a company offering a modem for
> $122 (at least two other people posted similar queries).  I've since seen
> the following bulletin, which I am passing along...
> . . .<stuff about ads for cheap modems>
> Prices are absurdly low - in fact - they are below wholesale.
> To make a long story short - the whole thing is a scam. We have the
> postal authorities on it. INFO WORLD will have a front page story next
> week on it.
> In the meantime, don't fall for it.
> . . . next time remember the old -but true fact -
> that if sounds too good to be true - chances are it is not true.

Right, be careful, but also don't pay too much. I got a 1200 baud
modem for $109 from an ad in COMPUTER SHOPPER. That catalog was full
of ads with stuff in that basic price range. I also just got a 1200
baud modem from the C.O.M.B. catalog for $79, $83.50 with shipping and
handling. Both work fine and have Hayes command compatibility,
auto-dial, etc., etc. I don't know how to tell the scams from the real
but my guess is that the scams are not prevalent and will be short
lived. I hope so anyway. 

Sorry if you just bought your Hayes at the local store for $475. I'm
not a dealer so don't write to me to get you one. These deals are not
unusual if you check out BYTE and COMPUTER SHOPPER (I find it in the
supermarket with the other mags). 

				Jim Symon

UUCP:decvax!mcnc!unc!symon
Internet:symon@cs.unc.edu