Scammers are at it again on E-bay!

[MikePA]

While we focus on the scammers, i.e., the seller, they can't succeed without a buyer who is looking to get something for (almost) nothing. A fool and his money are soon parted. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[DAP]

Touche Mike.

eBay has always had its share of bottom dwellers, both buyers and sellers.

Pipe down junkman.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TC18guy]

A few weeks back, I found a couple of original Boss 302 Mustangs for sale for $5K ea. They had pictures, matching numbers, etc. Had to be pre-approved. Cars were somewhere in U.S., Sellers location was U.K. It was obviously a scam, I went to check on them later and EBay must have pulled them. I bet Ebay spends alot of $$$ to patrol the auctions.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> A few weeks back, I found a couple of original Boss 302 Mustangs for sale for $5K ea. </font>
Dang, imagine what they'd charge for a Boss 429! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[TC18guy]

it seams like they might have a little more success if they at least tried to be realistic.

 

[Inspector507]

They want a quick sale.........

 

[California]

Ebay is inconsistent in shutting down obvious scams. As these scam offers become routine we need a routine method to stop them.

Here's what I did when I saw a Cat D-7 with 200hp new engine for $2,999 Buy-It-Now.

I looked in the seller's feedback and found some prior customers. I sent each the following email through ebay:

-------

"Subject: [whatever this customer bought from seller]

I see you in [seller]'s feedback. He presently lists a D7 Caterpillar
for $3,000 Buy-It-Now including new 200 hp engine. This is
unreasonably low and I don't see any tractors in his prior sales.
I think someone hijacked his ID including revising his contact email
to the scammer's address. Could you look in your records and send him an
email at the *old email* that you used in your transaction with him, and
ask if this is real? I would appreciate hearing what he replies!"
-------

This ebay listing showed a business so I found an email address on Google and sent them the following email. Two prior customer provided his old email, so I sent this email again to that address:

------
"I can't believe you are really offering a D7 Caterpillar with new 200 hp engine for $3,000 Buy-It-Now price.
I think someone has hijacked your ID including revising the contact email to the scammer's address.

Could you look at your auction
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=40108&item=4132952302
and confirm it is real?

If your account was hijacked - I suggest notify ebay immediately so they can notify everyone who emailed to be a preapproved bidder - before those bidders lose their money.

If you really have a D-7 with new engine for $3,000 I'll buy it right now."
-------

Monday morning, and that auction is gone. Ebay returns 'Invalid Item'.

We wouldn't have to play detective if Ebay would immediately shut down obvious scams.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> We wouldn't have to play detective if Ebay would immediately shut down obvious scams. </font>
Given the number of auctions, how would they determine this automatically?

 

[BobReeves]

Ebay does not monitor auctions, the only way they find out about a scam is because someone reports it. They depend on the users to keep it clean.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Where do you report E-Bay scams???