Heads Up: MXP Direct, fraudulent DVD retailer, trying to scam studios

[gaybucks_chip]

For those of you who produce DVDs, be on the lookout for an email from MXP Direct. It's the latest incarnation of what used to be known as either Myracomm or MWE Interactive, and they just sent us another email today.

The scam is to go to a small-to-medium sized producer and convince him that MXP can take huge orders (1000 to 4000 units is what they typically promise). Then they have you send samples. They claim that they "don't like" to deal with distributors and will deal only direct with studios. If you ask them detailed questions they don't like, they stop responding entirely.

Here the stories diverge: A lot of people never hear from them again, and a couple have reported shipping a large order paid with a credit card, where the purchase is subsequently charged back months later.

The place claims to have a 1.2 million name email list of "opt-in" customers, yet it has no website, not even a domain name of its own, no physical address (other than a UPS Store location), and no apparent employees other than one guy whose name seems to change as often as his company name, and no phone number.

So... in case you get an email from them, heads up... it's a scam.

A thread at GWW with details is here (http://forums.gaywidewebmasters.com/showthread.php?t=20451)

[SevereSocietyFilms]

Just a note to say THANKS for this heads up, which came up when we Googled MXP Direct. We produce fetish films, and they just contacted us.

[gaybucks_chip]

Glad to help. Now we'll just have to wait to see what they change their name to next.

I'd really like to see these guys go to jail, but unfortunately, it is probably a low priority for law enforcement.

[gaydemon]

Welcome, glad you joined and found it useful.


Just a note to say THANKS for this heads up, which came up when we Googled MXP Direct. We produce fetish films, and they just contacted us.

[Irene Boss]

Thank you so much gentlemen. They contacted me a few months ago trying to do business too and became nasty when I asked for a reference. I searched the gofuckyourself webmaster board and saw very similar things written then. I am in the Fem Dom niche market (BossDVD.Com)
A woman's voice is on the answering machine when you call them and I believe that she is a dominatrix (like myself) but of the grifter variety (unlike myself - a BDSM educator/ Fem Dom film producer who teaches at events)

He is currently using the email address mxpdirect@gmail.com and IP address 10.126.36.77

I had a phone conversation with him that was decent, but he bad mouthed other distributors during it which is a red flag.

Here is how he starts
Looking forward to working with you Irene, Let me ask you, do you ship all of your titles in box cover packaging? We only purchase titles in box cover packaging. Once we pick out the titles we wish to move forward with, we make a PRE-PAYMENT for that order. Please let me know the acceptable payment methods and location where you ship out for our records. I would need to screen some titles, our email custoemrs are quite finiky and we as a company can never afford to upset them in any way because if they opt out of our email list, we loose that customer for life!
Please send 25 - 30+ different DVD titles for review we can start from there. Pricing is very important to, basically we would start off with small orders(200-300 units) and build from there. We would pick out a MINIMUM of 15 titles to start with. If you can send me a formal price list from about 200 units
to 1800 units that would be a good start.
Here is our address:
MXP DIRECT MEDIA
4919 NW 82ND Ave
Lauderhill, FL
33351
Att: Sean J.
I look forward to doing some business with you, take care.
Kind Regards,
Sean J. ~ MXP DIRECT
239 331 5865

Here is the guilt trip he plays when you go digging for a reference. He will respond with references from companies that have gone out of business or do not exist BTW, thinking you won't check them.
With all due respect Irene, you are starting to act as if you are doing us a favour. I haven't even seen your stuff yet, you are making the assumption that we will DEFINITELY be interested in buying your titles. If there is no interest on your part that is ok, seems there are other companies actually interested in selling their content.
No hard feelings on our part, good luck to you and take care!
Sean

My response:
Dear Sean,
I have believe that good business begins with a relationship built on trust, and something people do for each other. If I can get a positive business reference from someone who does business with you, I would like to do business with you absolutely but I have not been able to do that. I apologize if I have offended you. It was not my intention.

I would normally not be so sensitive about a ripoff artist being so aggressive about trying to get my materials (he contacts me A LOT), but I had a large fire over a month ago and had to rebuild from that so I am VERY SENSITIVE right now. No reseller worth their salt has an issue about giving a business references when asked. It's standard practice in this industry.

Best regards,
Irene Boss
FemDomScene.Com

[gaybucks_chip]

Irene,

Thanks so much for updating with this info. Hopefully as this information gets indexed more and more on Google he will have a harder time scamming other studios.

I wish we could hear from studios that he has actually scammed so we can know more about how the ripoff has evolved over the past several years.

[gaydemon]

Thanks for the info Irene, and for joining. It's good to see scammers are not getting away with it. Far too many of them around.


Thank you so much gentlemen. They contacted me a few months ago trying to do business too and became nasty when I asked for a reference. I searched the gofuckyourself webmaster board and saw very similar things written then. I am in the Fem Dom niche market (BossDVD.Com)

[Irene Boss]

He is still trying - just sent me this.

Irene,
I was about to delete my junk mail box and noticed you emailed us back. I will leave it up to you Irene, you mentioned you dont know any of the people who do business with us so I assume those references to you aren't good enough.
That is fine, I am only looking for 1 or 2 companies who deal in the niche that you deal in to supply us, since our conversation I have spoken to a number of companies that produce similar dvds as you do so maybe it would be best for us to just focus on them.
As a buyer, I have more to worry about with who we buy from. I accept your appology and you seem like a nice woman, since the companies we do buy from are ones you have never heard off(which is a little
shocking but they are not in your adult niche market) then I guess it wouldn't make sense or mean much to you as a reference.
If you change your mind that is fine, but it appears that there are companies that produce FEMDOM dvds(small companies) that interested in broadening their selling options and wish to sell to us.
Thanks and take care!
Sean

[HunkMoneyLuke]

This guy keeps trying and trying, I keep getting these emails every few months and they go directly to my trash bin. Chip, good job giving this heads up.

[mvc333]

Hello,
Just to add to the conversation and warnings. I run Major Video Concepts, one of the largest fetish distributors in the country. I have had 2 vendors TODAY approached by MXP and over the past I'd say 1.5 years I've probably had another 10 vendors approached. One made the mistake of sending samples [A violation of our exclusive arrangement as it is] and he never heard back from them. I actually spoke to the gentlemen on the phone. As our office is about 15 minutes from them I offered to meet with them to discuss the 20+ studios we represent, but of course they were in a big rush to go at that point and promised to call back which they never did. I am 100% sure that when I called them it switched over to an international line. Do not trust them. Really don't trust anyone who says they can move unbelievable amounts of product, pays up front, and just needs a sample.

Best Regards

Jordan

mvc333@bellsouth.net
www.mvconline.biz
www.deviantkinktube.com

[ffmpgs]

It's odd this thread by GaybucksChip gets bumped when he's been MIA for a while and has threads about his program not paying.

[gaydemon]

It's odd this thread by GaybucksChip gets bumped when he's been MIA for a while and has threads about his program not paying.

Why doest it matter who started the thread, its the content of the thread and about a scammer that people need to be aware of. Which is totally unrelated to GayBucks.

[Irene Boss]

Just today (I hardly check my lycos.com account) he (or she) sent this August 20th

mxpdirect@gmail.com

You know Irene, you should really watch what you say on web boards, sometimes it will bite you back in the butt. Apparently our parent affiliate saw your post about us, they have decided to not to consider your titles which they get pitched from time to time from your distributors/wholesalers.
Karma....You gotta love it!

...and I replied
Not interested in doing business. You have a reputation in the industry for doing credit card charge backs against producers. None of my distributors do business with you or even know who you are. Please do not contact me again.

Irene

[Irene Boss]

Just now - one of my distributors in California said they are a pirate ring out of Ireland based in Florida and to stay away from them. He has never done business with them, won't and actually knew of them before they changed their name to MXP.

I spoke to him on the phone too Jordan.
Nice seeing you at AVN a few years ago.
How have you been?

Irene
pittsburghboss@gmail.com

[basschick]

thanks, Irene. anyone who makes such an issue out of giving a business reference or two is not someone i'd consider doing business with ever - even if there aren't posts about them on the boards.

[dzinerbear]

I just received an e-mail from them today as well.

Thankfully I googled their name and this thread popped up in the top five!

Michael