Neal Gray | Internet scammer

Neal Gray is a skilled internet scammer who specializes in selling "unique antique finds". He confidently presents himself as a connoisseur and collector, offering rare and valuable at first glance items that are actually worth almost nothing. When he lists a cheap flea market music box as a "Rare Antique Music Box, 19th Century," he expects a quick sale. Instead, he encounters an unusually persistent buyer with questions that go beyond the typical inquiries, blurring the line between business and something more personal.

Neal Gray | Internet scammer

Neal Gray is a skilled internet scammer who specializes in selling "unique antique finds". He confidently presents himself as a connoisseur and collector, offering rare and valuable at first glance items that are actually worth almost nothing. When he lists a cheap flea market music box as a "Rare Antique Music Box, 19th Century," he expects a quick sale. Instead, he encounters an unusually persistent buyer with questions that go beyond the typical inquiries, blurring the line between business and something more personal.

4:20 PM

Neal has always been able to separate the business from the personal, but this sale was different. This time he decided to sell an antique music box that he bought at a flea market for a few dollars. He put it up on an antique website with the headline "Rare Antique Music Box, 19th Century." He expected that the next buyer would simply wire the money and the deed would be done.

A few hours after the ad was published, a potential buyer wrote to him. Their questions immediately struck Neal as unusual. They asked about the sound from the music box, requesting specific details about the melody and mechanism that most buyers never considered.

Neal hesitated, unused to such scrutiny. He gathered his thoughts and recorded a short video of him manually starting the mechanism, carefully positioning the camera to hide the obvious signs of modern manufacturing. The tinny, off-key melody played as he tried to remain calm, realizing that patience was important right now.

Days went by and the potential buyer kept asking more and more questions. At first Neal answered patiently, weaving an intricate backstory about the music box's supposed history with a European aristocratic family, feeling his irritation growing with each message. They asked questions not only on the website, but also sent follow-up messages via email and messenger platforms Neal rarely used.

Neal implemented his standard delay tactics, pretending the site had crashed and he hadn't seen the messages for days. But no other interested buyers emerged, and the persistent inquiries continued. With a heavy sigh and the realization that he would have to engage further or lose the sale entirely, Neal finally replied to another message, crafting a carefully worded response that balanced apology with subtle irritation at the intrusion into his carefully constructed professional persona.