Is this for real?

Hambone · Mar 3, 2004

Well, then are you free this evening 

That might work. You might not be too far from him after all /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Bob_Skurka · Mar 3, 2004

OK guys, just had a longer talk with my police officer.

Here is his take. The guy is smart enough NOT to use the post office as he is requiring Western Union it takes it out of the hands of the postal inspector/mail fraud. That also makes it harder to track.

If money actually goes to Chicago, then they would have jurisdiction over the fraud charges. But only if the money goes there.

If the guys computer is in Virginia, then the internet fraud is committed in Virginia. We know the telephone number is a Virginia phone number, but if it is a "prepaid" cellular phone, the guy could have picked it up with a Virginia area code to throw off any trail and he could live somewhere else.

Basically until actual fraud is committed, no law enforcement agency will likely investigate. It is a shame, but it is reality. Hopefully EBAY will shut the guy down before anyone gets screwed.

Gatorboy · Mar 3, 2004

He used to answer fairly quickly, now that I said I wanted to meet this evening, he seems to have clammed up.

I just did a Trace Route (TRACERT) from my PC on his originating IP address (that came from his email to me) of 213.157.182.40, and I believe that the guy is actually in Romania.

I just wrote him again saying that I think it is much longer than 20 minutes from Romania to Chicago.

rockyridgefarm · Mar 3, 2004

dotcom.rdsnet.ro

Good shot, gatorboy!

Bob_Skurka · Mar 3, 2004

How long do you think it will be before this guys is shut down by Ebay?

Gatorboy · Mar 3, 2004

Did anyone report it? I didn't.

You can do so using this link.

Bob_Skurka · Mar 3, 2004

I reported it to Ebay about 7am CST today.

California · Mar 3, 2004

The auction is still up as of late afternoon with two bids. Five days to go.

If ebay won't close it then this might save someone from losing his money:

Anyone here who does business with a Caterpillar dealer should ask them to to email catused.cat.com, and ask CatUsed to modify that photo with a banner saying the tractor is only available through licensed Cat dealers.

Apparently the general public can't write to CatUsed directly. I filled out their 'feedback to webmaster' but I doubt anyone reads that.

Ebay sellers often have a problem with others linking to their photos. I've heard one poster to alt.marketing.online.ebay has a *special* picture he swaps in after his auction closes, if he finds his photo used by a competitor. I leave it to your imagination....

Inspector507 · Mar 3, 2004

The area code was one thing I didn't pay attention too /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I also noticed today that you have to have a valid credit card or complete the ID Verify process to bid.


To place a bid of US $15,000.00 or more, you'll need to provide a valid credit card or complete the ID Verify process ($5).

This is a private auction. Your identity will not be disclosed to anyone except for the seller.

Does that mean that at least 2 eBay'rs are now going to get shafted on their cards?

KiotiJohn · Mar 3, 2004

( The Properties of that tractor photo lead to:
http://catused.cat.com/equipment/view-equipment-detail.html?equipmentPK=Eq1.2A9339T# )
The properties I see listed for this photo on Ebay leads to:
http://usediron.point2.com/Photo/Equipment/241219-1-M.jpg
Did he change the photo or something? Where did the Catused come from? It's the same picture on all three, Ebay, Catused, and usediron. Different file names for the photo on usediron. John