TreeWalker Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 In the past two weeks I've been looking for some good deals on optics....both binos and a new spotter. I accidently happened upon a disturbing pattern and have spent some time tracking ficticious auctions that are undoubtedly scams......after alerting Ebay officials the auctions have quickly disappeared........but there are new ones under new users that keep popping up.........here's the format to watch out for.... (1) The items are normally priced so low it almost seems to good to be true....ultimately they are (2) They are quick auctions......normally listed only for one day (3) The auction listing asks for contact to be made with the seller via e-mail, and often before the auctions end.......all so far have been AOL accounts (4) Either the auction states a fixed price, or the returned e-mail states the fixed price, and asks for it to be made via Western Union..... (5) The listing states that the item is located in the US, but when contacting the "seller", it is said the item will be shipped from overseas.... (6) The "seller" does show feedback, so most liekly somebodies ligit account has been hijacked for these false listings just so contact can be initiated via the AOL account (7) I've contacted seveal of these sllers just for giggles, and they all reply with the same from letter, so far all have asked for $500.00 (which is normally a fraction of the items actual value) along with the other info i already mentioned above... BE CAREFUL PEOPLE.......this crap is coming fro many different angles......get an actual address you can verify, and phone number to boot before you even start trusting in anything anymore...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hookedonhunting Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders Thanks for the heads up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeWalker Posted June 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders Just for the heck of it, I started looking at other items as well......like digital cameras and even furnishings.............it is pretty widespread, and I think Ebay has got a huge problem on their hands.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders I've always been a bit suspicious of those great deals too. I'm really leery about buying anything on ebay these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeWalker Posted June 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders A guy has just gotta do his homework.......here are several responses from some of these "sellers'.....see if you notice any similarities, LOL HI First I want to tell you that my Swarovski STS 65 HD Spotting Scope is brand new, unopened box all accessories included and also an international warranty. The invoice will come at the same time with the package. My price is the best you could get: 500$/unit, including the shipping and insurance taxes. We will pay them because the package will be delivered from Europe.I have 5 units avalaible. As delivery service we use UPS 2 days air service or overnight (with insurance and 15 days return policy), because it's the faster also free. And if you will have a quick payment, we must also have a quick delivery. So that's why we use as a payment method Western Union money transfer, the fastest and also very secure way of sending money. So, if you agree with my terms I'm sure that we can close the deal as soon as possible. Waiting your quick answer right now, THANK YOU Thank you for understanding and mailed me beofre takeing any auctions on ebay. First thing i want to tell you that all my units are brand new in sealed box and come with all accesories included. I'm a authorized dealer and i provide original warranty maded directly from the factory.The best price that i can give you for this unit is 500 US Dollars. I have more than one unit available.I can provide big discounts if you will buy more than one unit. To be 100% protected we will make this deal under ebay and if something goes wrong, you will receive all your money back including western union fees. Shipping will be made from Europe by UPS and in 40 hours you will have it. I will pay the shipping and handling fees. Do not bid on it because I have more units available and I do not want to make more listings and pay more fees to eBay. So if you are interesed please let me know asap and we can talk more about the discounts and your security if you will buy from me. Best regards Thank you for understanding and mailed me beofre takeing any auctions on ebay. First thing i want to tell you that all my units are brand new in sealed box and come with all accesories included. I'm a authorized dealer and i provide original warranty maded directly from the factory.The best price that i can give you for this unit is 800 US Dollars. I have more than one unit available.I can provide big discounts if you will buy more than one unit. To be 100% protected we will make this deal under ebay and if something goes wrong, you will receive all your money back including western union fees. Shipping will be made from Europe by UPS and in 40 hours you will have it. I will pay the shipping and handling fees. Do not bid on it because I have more units available and I do not want to make more listings and pay more fees to eBay. So if you are interesed please let me know asap and we can talk more about the discounts and your security if you will buy from me. Best regards First I want to tell you that all my units are brand new and comes with The Manufacturer's International Warranty(2 years).All accesories included. I'm selling them for 500 USD . Is very important for me to protect my clients. I have 5 units available .I have big discounts for buying more than one unit.The transaction will be made thru Western Union with the ebay protection. To be 100% protected we will make this deal under ebay and if something goes wrong, you will receive all your money back including western union fees. Shipping will be made from Europe by UPS and in 40 hours you will have it. I will pay the shipping and handling fees. Do not bid on it because I have more units available and I do not want to make more listings and pay more fees to eBay. So if you want to make a 100% protected deal under ebay, with feedback let me know. If you are not satisfied about my product, you have 15 days to send it to me back as I will send you all your money back (15 days refund policy). If you are interesed let me know asap . Thank you ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HaDeRonDa Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders Thanks for the homework. I too have looked and said, "come on!" Really?? OOOhhhhh! Maybe I should just hold off. I did report a local family for scamming ebayers. Ebay shut them down and fast. We all should be on the lookout for scams and report them to each other here as well as Ebay itself, Including the honest good deals. Thanks again for passing this dishonest auction info along. I have seen Nikon scopes at pretty cheap prices on there. Now if only people would stop bidding six days out!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bond Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders If I see just one of those signs, I always back out immedieatly. Number 3 and 6 are dead give aways. I only buy from people with feedbacks 99% or higher and always make sure they have a good amount of items sold. I don't buy from people with 100% that have only bought 1 or 2 items and that's it. I've only had one bad experience with ebay and got my money back through paypal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doughboy1956 Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders Thanks for the heads up. Will be more careful on there now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeWalker Posted June 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders Bond, some of these "sellers" have had over 500 feedbacks with 100% positives.......these crooks have been apparantly hijacking honest folks ebay accounts as well............... From the dozen or so times I've screwed around with these guys, the minute I ask for a phone number to reach them at, I don't hear back from them......I'm screwing around with one of these scam artists right now while I'm at work cause I'm bored, LOL........he keeps avoiding my questions, and I've been calling him an idiot and moron in my replies trying to get a rise out of him, LOL....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders The Send Money Western Union is the dead giveaway. I insisted a guy selling a camcorder (for a price too good to be true) send the unit COD, but he said the only way he could do the deal is with me sending money first by western union. I figured out the address and it was a vacant building in Chinatown, NYC. I emailed him telling him that the deal was off and he responded by threatening to report me to ebay. Little did he know that I reported the scam first. I never saw his username on ebay again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders If you get one of these offers.........go into eBay's search function and do an advanced search by username on the seller. If it's a scam, the username you're given along with the feedback number will not jive with what the search results find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeWalker Posted June 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders Strut.......how do the manage to get all of that info, like large number of feedbacks and previous auctions, etc.....under these usernames.......I mean their so called usernames have tons of information under them, and it's all under Ebay's noses.....makes a guy wonder how they accomplish all of it....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders Iminrut.......... If I knew......I'd probably be an eBay scammer instead of a UPS man!!!!! LOL!!!!! I really have no idea..........just goes to show that the dumb people of the world gotta work for a living and all the brilliant ones turn crooked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders [ QUOTE ] I've always been a bit suspicious of those great deals too. I'm really leery about buying anything on ebay these days. [/ QUOTE ] This is the reason I dont shop on Ebay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders Buy nothing and sell nothing unless you use COD. It will cost a few bucks extra for the seller, which can be negotiated ahead of time. It protects both sides and ferrets out the weasels. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders Lately I've been seeing a lot of things like $35,000 bass boats with a Buy It Now of $5,000 or ATV's that should be $5,000 and they're asking $1,200. Obvious scams. There's a button at the bottom of every listing that you click on to alert eBay if you think the item is a scam. I've been doing a lot of clicking lately... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders Thanks for the warning here Clay. Have not bought anything off of ebay in a long long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointing_dogs_rule Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders They often do this with tractors on EBAY. Normally $15,000 tractor with bucket and low hours will "sell" for $4,000. It is in storage in Michigan and you can pick it up after you have "wired me" the money. This is because I was suddenly called out of the country for business reasons. they are often humerous to read. Hope that no one falls for these scams. the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bond Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders Take a look at what people who sell their homebrews on ebay have to deal with. Pretty interesting read. http://hagshouse.ipbhost.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18767&hl=EBAY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmunster Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders I helped a friend buy a spotting scope a couple years ago that turned out to be a fraud. Luckily, the postal inspectors and local PD where the money went to shut him down and we got our money back. This guy had hacked an account and had a bunch of stuff for sale. My sister also had her account hacked a few months ago (she responded to one of those fake emails). She went on her "my ebay" page and found that there were a bunch of expensive bikes being sold under her name. She got them shut down before they ended, but that could have been bad. I've started looking at a sellers other items and if there is a lot of the same thing ending at the same time for a low price it is usually a scam. They try to get as many auctions finished as possible before they get shut down. It is also a dead give away if this is a sellers only recent activity and they suddenly have a bunch of items. I also always pay with paypal or a credit card, I don't even look twice if they want a check or money order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeWalker Posted June 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders That's what I've thought Smalls....that honest folks have been having thier accounts hacked into.....would certainly explain the feedbacks looking legit, because they are, under the appropiate owner of the account....... I've watched several of these lately, and I'm shocked to see so many people bidding on so many of these auctions........I guess as long as there is unsuspecting folks out there, the scam artists will have somebody to pray on..... It won't stop me from shopping on Ebay......just gotta do your homework and ask lots of questions.....not necessarily about the item, but about the seller...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted June 6, 2006 Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders Ive bought all my reloading gear and several used video games on Ebay...I always pay with paypal and communicate through the Ebay linked email to ensure I have the person who actualy registered that account. So far I have not had any problems! As for the reloading equipment I only buy it if it has a manufacturer lifetime unconditional gaurantee like RCBS equipment. That way any missing or broken parts are replaced no questions asked by the manufacturer. I doubt I would buy anything like optics on there, and definitly not outside the safeguards of Paypal and ebay channels for all payment and communication. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane G Posted June 6, 2006 Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 Re: WARNING: Ebay bidders another thing to watch for on ebay. Last year I purchased locally here in my home province, an 8 wheel argo ( cost was $14,600) Later on ebay there was one just like it for $6,900 in ohio( this unit had less hours on it than my new one) I emailed the guy and said I was interested and wanted more info. He then told me that he was overseas and he had delivered the argo to ebays warehouse. He said for me to forward him all my info and mailing adress and he would then forward that to ebay. I would then receive an email from ebay. I was then to pay ebay and they would hold payment until I had received the argo and was satisified. I had 3 days to use and inspect the argo, after 3 days i was to tell ebay to forward the payment to the seller. Now this all sounded good, cant get screwed no how right? Then the seller told me for an additioal $150. he would have ebay deliver it. I then wondered how an argo, ( and this deal included the trailer as well) could be shipped for only $150.? I emailed ebay and asked how this could be and give them the details to the whole agro deal. You can imagine my surprise when ebay emailed me back saying that THEY DONT HAVE A WAREHOUSE where people can drop off stuff. I then asked ebay what will happen to the seller? they informed me that he would get a warning? what good does that do.These scammers have things figured out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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