The Ped is tied to the dollar (US) £ sterling is low against $ so while a few months ago it was £1=$2 now its around £1=$1.50 they do the conversion + the bit they grab off for transfering
It doesn't, the ESI loses 10% of its value but if your putting skills ono a larger chip and receive another ESI all your skills go onto the chip, apart from 1 skill point.
My only problem with this is the niggling feeling at back of my head, suppose the scammer is "connected" or actually works for MA? That would explain the lack of help given in this and all other huge scamming cases. I think if I owned MA I could create a few ava's that go around skimming profits...