FRAUD EBAY ALERT: Complex EBAY scam explained! (Reason for all those email hoaxes)

[kvizbar]

Originally posted by: manko
Is this a scam too?

Why don't scammers ever speak english??

 

[ReiAyanami]

because they're from 3rd countries where 1 scam dollar is worth a billion pesos/rupees/rubles/yuan/or whatever their currency is

its as if ebay stopped caring about fraud. i notified their safeharbor department about a $5k refurbished xbox/ps2 scam and they did absolutely nothing. i even specifically stated why the auction needed to be removed (pre-selling items before having them with 2-3 month lead times); that is the fake seller with low feedback selling 200 xbox/ps2's at less than $25 each (can't beleive that many morons fell for it though) and then they actually expect to receive an xbox after 2+ months, well beyond paypal's 30 day limit. i guess safeharbor is a decoration when your stock is at 52 week highs.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ecn?s=ebay
(that's $108 split adjusted from aug)

 

[imported_Pablo]

Ebay has alot of scams like this on ATVs as well, as in 2003 models "Brand New Condition" for about 40% of what the retail price is. They usually use "pre approved bidders only" as well. Just 411.

edit: Here is the email just for fun...

hi,
I'm from tx, US. but right now I'm in europe with my familly. the item is here with me and it will be shipped from here. in fact is already packed, prepared for shipping. if you are interested, for $3300 I'm willing to pay for shipping and insurance(prefer ups)to your door for any location in States.


I set the auction this way (restricted to pre-approved bidders only) because I´ve had some problems in the past with some non-paying bidders. I don´t want this happent again so here´s how will sound this transaction for me:
1. you will set a $3300 transfer on western union for your wife´s name and for my address. I choosed this method because of my location here and also because I don´t have a bank account in my name here and i can´t use clasical payment methods such as paypal or escrow. I even tried to make one but they ask for to many papers and documents i don´t have here with me....I guess it´s not that easy as it is in states...
2. as soon as I will check the transfer on the western site, I will send this for inspection to the address you will give me. as i said before I would like to use ups for shipping because as far as know they have a very good reputation with the shippings. of course you have other options you are welcome...just let me know..
3. you will have the item for inspection 36 hours.also you will receive once with it all the documents and accesories I have for it. I can assure you it´s perfect ...mint overall condition...if you want this kind of item I can tell for sure this one will be the one for you...trust me I know what I´m selling.
4. if you decide to keep it you will change the western transfer in my name.
5. about the fees...as I told before I will pay the fees for shipping and insurance(just in case something goes wrong over the shipping), and you will pay the money transfer fees.


if you agree my terms for this sale let me know the details about the western transfer in order for me to proceed to shipping.


should you not agree that, I´m sorry...this is the only way I will be able to complete this transaction and I will have to wish you good luck in finding another item. thanks and let me know asap your decision.
ps:
my address for setting up the transfer is


address: calle del mar, 88
city: madrid
state: madrid
country:spain
zip: 28010


thanks,
jeremiah

 

[gwlam12]

ok im clueless. how can they take ur money if they dont know the name and password?

 

[ReiAyanami]

on CNN yesterday they said an auctioner was caught in europe for mailing people bricks instead of cell phones...

 

[MadCool]

Good to know.. but when i saw western union, i knew it was a scam. I especially didn't like the whole friend name change too.

 

[TekDemon]

Ebay has gotten filled with a LOT of scammers lately...the number is absurd...I almost got taken for $900 with a laptop someone bought FROM me.

They apparently managed to hack some poor guy's ebay account and paypal account AND e-mail account. So essentially they paid me with someone else's money and wanted it shipped internationally. I figured it wasn't likely to be a scam since it was a non-CC payment. Well I was still suspicious at any rate so I didn't ship out the laptop for a while, waiting until the funds cleared into my bank account from paypal(that way you can then fight paypal over the cash lol). Of course it turns out that newer accounts have some clause where PayPal can basically take the cash out of your bank account or sue you if you don't let them. Jerks.

I have an older account but this time it was paid to my newer (fee fre) personal account...at any rate I get an expletive filled e-mail before the cash gets into my bank account, from the guy whose real account it was. I write back a relatively pissed off e-mail since he was accusing me of hacking and stuff like that, and I told him that I would be the world's stupidest criminal if I hacked his account then paid myself. What kind of a moron would do that, really, give the police all the info needed to bust them. Anyway, I resold the laptop later and all is good now, but no more international shipments for me except canada...*sigh*

 

[ReiAyanami]

well obviously foreigners benefit from the currency exchange rate and just wanted to pass on the savings...

 

[sygyzy]

Thank you for being so scrupulous. There have been so many of us on Hot Deals falling for these ebay scams left and right.

 

[wsmith5]

All your Laptops are belong to us..........

 

[SgtZulu]

ALERT: EBAY IS A FRAUD

 

[Bad Dude]

I was bidding for the Swiftech MCX4000 two days ago and I was winning with $20 bid. Then the last 5 seconds, my bid was beaten by some one else. In 5 seconds. This is a scam too I would say. I contacted the guy and he's said the thing is brand new. But he had no box, he also said he's not liable for bend pins and scratched bottom. So I asked him does it come in the box, then he said no, but they all come clean and polished. So if it's new why does he needs to clean and polished them.
Scam dude.

 

[smw]

Here's an article from a supposed ebay scammer who explains how it's done:

www.msnbc.com/news/957191.asp

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
I might have fallen for this scam. Yeah, too good to be true usually is, but sometimes it really IS true. IE: I just bought a 17" 16ms LCD for $175.

Come on, tell us how!

 

[edfcmc]

The problem here is that the scammer is more knowledgable about Western Union procedures than anybody else. As soon as the scammer receives the details and most important the MTCN number, the scammer can pick up the money anywhere. Yes, anywhere. Often, the scammer then picks up the money in the States... at a grocery store where security is lax.

 

[PrimeRisk]

This reminds me of some of the earliest scams on the net. Spam would lure people into sending a $20 or $30 money order to Canada promising a job for a Canadian advertising firm that wanted to mass-mail people in the United States. The basics were that the company would send you a piece of software that would print out directed marketing materials and you would receive weekly lists of people to mail. Upon which the company would send you a check for the mailing. An offer that wasn't a get rich quick deal, but nice for some side money. Of course, people would send their money orders to Canada and never hear from the scammer again.

An interesting side note to this scam: About 6 months after a couple friends got taken on this scam, the scammer (or one with the same MO) got his just rewards. The scammers use PO Boxs in Canada, so if you were interested enough you could take a trip and get up close and personal. One of his rubes got pissed off so bad that they went to Canada and waited for him to pick up his mail....This is where said rube revlieved the scammer of about 30 IQ points with a baseball bat. The news story came out because the stunted-development scammer was from the US and liked to document and track the people he had sucked in, complete with e-mail addresses, real names, and amounts taken. The Mounties found the log book and started and investigation into their hospitalized foreigner. After release from the hospital he was returned to US authorities.

Scammers beware, some rubes take it personally.

 

[dnuggett]

We have a tens succesfull deals and want to continue trading with using World Wide Web. Our notebooks was confiscated on customs house beacouse its was tracking without payment of taxes.

OMG!! Tens of them? WOW. If their notebooks was confiscated how they still gots them?

 

[gibster]

Originally posted by: Bad_Dude
I was bidding for the Swiftech MCX4000 two days ago and I was winning with $20 bid. Then the last 5 seconds, my bid was beaten by some one else. In 5 seconds. This is a scam too I would say. I contacted the guy and he's said the thing is brand new. But he had no box, he also said he's not liable for bend pins and scratched bottom. So I asked him does it come in the box, then he said no, but they all come clean and polished. So if it's new why does he needs to clean and polished them.
Scam dude.

This is actually the only way to get a good deal on eBay - by sniping at the last possible moment. That way you don't give anyone a chance to outbid you - I mean, bidding wars are for noobs only, didn't you know that?

 

[cartier]

© Alpha computers® All rights reversed 2003.

 

[nietsni3]

a couple months back a guy on Ebay tried to appeal me to his offer of $500 for a VX900 2nd day shipped. the scam was nearly the same with this, he told me to send money via wwestern union to bungaria with the same method - send with my friend's name then switch to his. luckily i didnt fall for that. now with this thread, i have known for sure it was truely a scam

 

[marvdmartian]

Of course, you could always tell him you sent it to one name, and in reality send it to another completely different name, right?

When he e-mails you to complain, just tell him he'll get the name when you get the merchandise.......or is there a way they can check for any payments sent by you?

Anyways, thanks a lot for the heads up!

 

[tommytran]

Originally posted by: gibster

Originally posted by: Bad_Dude
I was bidding for the Swiftech MCX4000 two days ago and I was winning with $20 bid. Then the last 5 seconds, my bid was beaten by some one else. In 5 seconds. This is a scam too I would say. I contacted the guy and he's said the thing is brand new. But he had no box, he also said he's not liable for bend pins and scratched bottom. So I asked him does it come in the box, then he said no, but they all come clean and polished. So if it's new why does he needs to clean and polished them.
Scam dude.

This is actually the only way to get a good deal on eBay - by sniping at the last possible moment. That way you don't give anyone a chance to outbid you - I mean, bidding wars are for noobs only, didn't you know that?

Exactly. I usually fresh the windows until it is about 25 seconds before the ending. Just enough time to outbid the price (and add couple more dollars if you really want to win)
BTW, thank for the infor.

 

[AmericasTeam]

I'm sorry but LAME POST.

Who would be dumb enough to buy computers from overseas?
The Western Union thing is a give away, but so is the fact the seller is in Germany.
You don't have to buy American, just buy in America.

Yes there is a lot of fraud on ebay, but there would be a lot less if people would buy (bid) with intelligence.

 

[Greg03]

There was a simpsons episode where homer was at a car dealer ( I think) and he got his credit checked and heard an alarm. He asked if that was good. The reply, "Is an alarm EVER good?"

Here, whenever you mention eBay and WesternUnion, RUN FAST from the deal. Western Union and ebay are never a good combo.

 

[Greg03]

Originally posted by: AmericasTeam
I'm sorry but LAME POST.

Who would be dumb enough to buy computers from overseas?
The Western Union thing is a give away, but so is the fact the seller is in Germany.
You don't have to buy American, just buy in America.

Yes there is a lot of fraud on ebay, but there would be a lot less if people would buy (bid) with intelligence.

Agreed, this thread is really off off topic and I get a chuckle out of the people who post off topic with the disclaimer "I know this is off topic, but I knew it would get more traffic here..."

Who are these idiots? Probably the same ones who send money to the nigerian email scam...they deserve the scam as a warning.