Hi all,
I recently set up an EBAY account mainly because I have quite a lot of stuff that I wanted to flog but also because there's some bargains to be had.
I wanted to see if others were aware that the site seems to suffer from scams and fraudsters. I know EBAY try their upmost to combat this but the lastest one seems to come from Nigeria.
The scam is prominant with anyone selling a mobile phone which I recently did. I had someone with several hundred transactions, all positive with excellent feedback contacting me to buy the phone.
All sound good so far?
Well I was then asked by the person, who lived in the states, to send the phone to an address in Nigeria as a gift for a relative.
I obviously was'nt happy and did'nt bother having anything to do with them. And sure as luck would have it. EBAY just contacted me saying that some poor EBAYER in the states was subject to identity fraud and had their logon and EBAY ID cloned so that the fraudster could use their ID and thus appear genuine and trustworthy.
The cloning usually is undertaken when e-mails or PAYPAL transactions are completed.
Not an egg sucking exercise here folks. Instead just a note for us to be on our guard as I know many of the members use EBAY and if anything appears dodgy, then get the hell out! :tuttut:
I wonder if anyone else has had this or similar experiences?
EBAY Scams
Moderators: Guru's, The Ministry
EBAY Scams
I suffer from paranoid amnesia. I can't remember who I don't trust.
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DaveB
- The Ministry
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Well done for not completing mate. Like you, I'd not send anything to Nigeria as it immediately smacks of something illegal. That doesn't sound very PC but sadly, this is the world we live in.
I know of one Paypal scam.. not exactly like yours and the net result was the loss of more than a reasonable amount of cash. A bid had been placed for a camera and nothing looked unusual. The bid was lost and in a short space of time, the seller contacted the bidder saying that although he'd lost that bid, more cameras were available and would he like one. The company concerned was based in Germany and needed either a bankers draft or the money wired to an account, details of which were provided. I'm sure you can all smell what comes next.. the money was paid (and taken) and the camera never appeared despite repeated emails. Ebay were contacted and the buyer was told this particular company were being investigated for fraud :roll:
This isn't a 'heresay' story btw.. I know the person concerned and lost money in the transaction myself as the same person ordered a compact flash card on my behalf. I couldn't let him lose out even though the transaction had nothing to do with me personally so I bought him a DVD recorder for his pc to the same cost as the CF card.
I've never personally been stung (though as you can see, I've been indirectly involved in a loss) and I always buy from UK sellers.. all of which I've been more than happy with
ATB
DaveB :tab:
I know of one Paypal scam.. not exactly like yours and the net result was the loss of more than a reasonable amount of cash. A bid had been placed for a camera and nothing looked unusual. The bid was lost and in a short space of time, the seller contacted the bidder saying that although he'd lost that bid, more cameras were available and would he like one. The company concerned was based in Germany and needed either a bankers draft or the money wired to an account, details of which were provided. I'm sure you can all smell what comes next.. the money was paid (and taken) and the camera never appeared despite repeated emails. Ebay were contacted and the buyer was told this particular company were being investigated for fraud :roll:
This isn't a 'heresay' story btw.. I know the person concerned and lost money in the transaction myself as the same person ordered a compact flash card on my behalf. I couldn't let him lose out even though the transaction had nothing to do with me personally so I bought him a DVD recorder for his pc to the same cost as the CF card.
I've never personally been stung (though as you can see, I've been indirectly involved in a loss) and I always buy from UK sellers.. all of which I've been more than happy with
ATB
DaveB :tab:
Old sailors never die.. they just smell that way!
Hi Dave,
Just goes to show. Even with good feedback, there are people who can easily make a buck out of other peoples mis-fortune.
Thankfully I would like to think most of us are no fools when it comes to things like this. But even today, its astonishing how some people can lack basic security measures and I'm not just talking EBAY here.
I just wonder how many people fall foul when it comes to scams like this though. :sad:
Just goes to show. Even with good feedback, there are people who can easily make a buck out of other peoples mis-fortune.
Thankfully I would like to think most of us are no fools when it comes to things like this. But even today, its astonishing how some people can lack basic security measures and I'm not just talking EBAY here.
I just wonder how many people fall foul when it comes to scams like this though. :sad:
I suffer from paranoid amnesia. I can't remember who I don't trust.The id cloning sounds like someone responded to one of those "please fill in the form with your bank details, ebay details, credit card details because we need to check them" phishing e-mails.
I work on the principle that if they need to ask me, there is something wrong with their system and send off the e-mail to the appropriate people instead.
Humans are still the weakest link.
But once it is cloned, beating that as Eddie did is keeping your wits about you. After all, who is the buyer going to complain to?
I've had a few morons who simply sold items then didn't deliver - got some of my money back and then kept an eye on them to see if they did it again. One numbskull started again about 4 weeks later - soon got him close down based on his record.
But I always check back to see what type of items have been sold before. Lots of cheap items and then an expensive one rings alarm bells. Also the same buyer on frequent occasions suggests a scam if only to push the price up - got one of those stopped as well.
I work on the principle that if they need to ask me, there is something wrong with their system and send off the e-mail to the appropriate people instead.
Humans are still the weakest link.
But once it is cloned, beating that as Eddie did is keeping your wits about you. After all, who is the buyer going to complain to?
I've had a few morons who simply sold items then didn't deliver - got some of my money back and then kept an eye on them to see if they did it again. One numbskull started again about 4 weeks later - soon got him close down based on his record.
But I always check back to see what type of items have been sold before. Lots of cheap items and then an expensive one rings alarm bells. Also the same buyer on frequent occasions suggests a scam if only to push the price up - got one of those stopped as well.
Never having had any dealings with online auctions such as E-Bay and not knowing much about the setups of these sites, I am surprised that there isn't some safe guard put in place so that when a buyer or come to that a seller agrees to a transaction, the money paid for an item is not released to the benefactor until the goods are safely in the hands of the buyer.
Maybe it would cost too much money to oversee, I don't know, but surely there should be some safeguards put in place to protect the innocent, or is it that if one wishes to sell or buy they do so at their own risk? :sad:
Maybe it would cost too much money to oversee, I don't know, but surely there should be some safeguards put in place to protect the innocent, or is it that if one wishes to sell or buy they do so at their own risk? :sad:
I used to be an optimist but with age I am now a grumpy old pessimist.
Nigel
There are some arrangements for "escrow" which is what you have described. But this is rarely available, and the additional cost would make it uneconomic for small value sales.
There is definitely risk involved in trading on Ebay. You have to do your research on the transaction, perhaps even reading nuances into the descriptions that are not really there. If I have any doubts, I walk away. Ebay's approach is that it is just introducing buyers/sellers and takes no responsibility- COP OUT imho.
I currently have 100% positive feedback of 305 on Ebay, so I have been involved in at least that many transactions, mostly as a buyer. While I have lost out to a few shysters, I reckon that I am ahead compared to retail prices at the moment. There are safeguards where one's loss is limited to £15 if the worst happens.
And of course Ebay allows one to find items that would not be readily available elsewhere (eg an old EP of Dire Straits for my wife). But I will only buy things that I have researched or already know about - you need to have an understanding how much an item is worth. For instance I would not buy furniture since I know nothing about the value of an item. PC stuff, though, is ok for me.
You do see people getting carried away by the auction and bidding more than a quick Google would show is more than the item costs new. I always set a maximum price before I start - of course that can be revised at the last minute, but not to silly values.
Ian
There are some arrangements for "escrow" which is what you have described. But this is rarely available, and the additional cost would make it uneconomic for small value sales.
There is definitely risk involved in trading on Ebay. You have to do your research on the transaction, perhaps even reading nuances into the descriptions that are not really there. If I have any doubts, I walk away. Ebay's approach is that it is just introducing buyers/sellers and takes no responsibility- COP OUT imho.
I currently have 100% positive feedback of 305 on Ebay, so I have been involved in at least that many transactions, mostly as a buyer. While I have lost out to a few shysters, I reckon that I am ahead compared to retail prices at the moment. There are safeguards where one's loss is limited to £15 if the worst happens.
And of course Ebay allows one to find items that would not be readily available elsewhere (eg an old EP of Dire Straits for my wife). But I will only buy things that I have researched or already know about - you need to have an understanding how much an item is worth. For instance I would not buy furniture since I know nothing about the value of an item. PC stuff, though, is ok for me.
You do see people getting carried away by the auction and bidding more than a quick Google would show is more than the item costs new. I always set a maximum price before I start - of course that can be revised at the last minute, but not to silly values.
Ian
Thanks Ian.
Yes, I suppose many could get caught up in the 'I must have at all costs' syndrome and possibly pay more for an item than they would have if the adrenaline remained at normal operating pressure!!
Don't think that I would be all that happy about using on-line auctions somehow, think I might stick to the local ads instead!!!
Yes, I suppose many could get caught up in the 'I must have at all costs' syndrome and possibly pay more for an item than they would have if the adrenaline remained at normal operating pressure!!
Don't think that I would be all that happy about using on-line auctions somehow, think I might stick to the local ads instead!!!
I used to be an optimist but with age I am now a grumpy old pessimist.
I think with EBAY it all boils down to the old trust element. Building up feedback is the foundations for doing well.
Like already said however, check what the seller has feedback for to make sure its not nonsense.
There are some bargains to be had but the main reason I use it is because like the saying goes, People always want other peoples cr*p!
The only thing that I don't like is the rather ridiculosly expensive PAYPAL fees's. But I guess thats a captive market for you.
Like already said however, check what the seller has feedback for to make sure its not nonsense.
There are some bargains to be had but the main reason I use it is because like the saying goes, People always want other peoples cr*p!
The only thing that I don't like is the rather ridiculosly expensive PAYPAL fees's. But I guess thats a captive market for you.
I suffer from paranoid amnesia. I can't remember who I don't trust.-
thehappyotter
- Concorde
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The golden rule with ebay is NEVER spend more than you can afford to lose, my limit is about £20... 
Use Paypal too if you can, with a credit and not debit card as they are often insured.
There are so many other more secure ways of getting a bargain, look at the prices at some online shops and they often compare well.
A lot of bargains aren't actually bargains anyway, I brought a little LED torch for work on ebay, cost 1 penny form Hong Kong. Plus £6.99 p&p, then two Lithium batteries at £5.99 a pop... Not such a bargain after all.
Anything from Nigeria is a big no no as already stated. It may hurt the odd genuine buyer but is it worth the risk???
Use Paypal too if you can, with a credit and not debit card as they are often insured.
There are so many other more secure ways of getting a bargain, look at the prices at some online shops and they often compare well.
A lot of bargains aren't actually bargains anyway, I brought a little LED torch for work on ebay, cost 1 penny form Hong Kong. Plus £6.99 p&p, then two Lithium batteries at £5.99 a pop... Not such a bargain after all.
Anything from Nigeria is a big no no as already stated. It may hurt the odd genuine buyer but is it worth the risk???