We received a credit application from Continental Plastic Bag Corporation in Miami FL Dec 22,2009. We checked their references and they seemed ok at first: N-Jap, United Platics in GA and Prmst. Turns out when we looked up the phone numbers for each of these references they were all linked to one guy at N-Jap!
They placed a $6,000 order for equipment with us on January 6, 2010. I called Lisa Monroe the buyer at 305-887-6401. A girl answered on a cell phone and told me to hold a mintue when I asked for Lisa. It sounded like she came right back to the phone and pretended to be someone different. I discussed her P.O. and said that it is our policy that Out of State Equipment Orders be paid for up front. She said she thought she had terms with us. I told her she had never ordered with us before so that is the policy. In that case, she said she would need to cancel the order if she had to pay up front.
She said she would talk to her boss, the owner Jose, and she would call me back if something changed because they really need these machines and chemicals.
Fishy from the start: We are in WI they are in FL. There are several other equipment dealers in FL. Why us? Also, they found the machine on our website and put the order through at list price. Everyone in the industry negotiates these prices so that was strange as well. Their website looked fake and not professional: www.contiplast.net.
Five individuals have been arrested for operating the sham companies of Ocean's Treasures, Dasche Group, Condorito Seafood, and Continental Plastic Bag Corporation. Other sham companies attributable to this group, according to conspirators, include Columbian Coffee Int'l, The Petto Group, Avaiation Parts Depot, Interair Leasing, and Dionores Sporting Goods. Please feel free to forward this information.