I know e-bay is full of scammers, but I think that I ran into a new angle this weekend. i was looking for a Nissan or Toyota 4wd p/u for my son's 1st ride. Found a toy taco, good price, in same state as I and sent info to be "approved to bid" on it. Next morning the item was pulled from bid list and I had a "bill of sale" from e-bay, as well as approval to bid e-mail from e-bay. Bill of sale requested me to wire transfer, via Western Union, a "deposit" to an e-bay representative in Michigan. Mind you that the seller and I are both in Texas. I know about pay-pal and how it works, but this Western Union thing raised a flag. I didn't do it and e-mailed e-bay about the authenticity of the deal. Anyone else ever have this happen on legit sales thru e-bay??

Thanks in advance for any replies,


AWARYGARY

 

Ive never seen that but I have had them try the 2nd chance email after the bidding had ended. I would stay far away.

 

I got scammed on a 2nd chance offer a couple years ago. I learned my lesson!! If you have any doubts, stay away!!!!!
This is definitely a scam.......

 

RUN don't walk away.

There are plenty of fair and honest traders on EBay, this situation does not sound like one of them. Communication is paramount when it comes to on-line buying/selling.

 

Got a reply from E-Bay. It was a SCAM. I am glad that I paid close attention and was not carried away "by the moment". E-Bay soes not take money on any bid, be it deposit or any other thing. I wonder if these meatheads tried to open up an accout in my name at
Western Union? I didn't give up enough info for that to be properly carried through, but then you never know. I have E-mailed Western Union about this situation so maybe they can shut down the perps..

Gary

 

No doubt about that being a scam.

Typically when buying or selling a vehicle on ebay, I like to talk to the potential buyers on the phone. When I sold the last truck I had, The person that well intended to buy it had talked with me about it a few times. At the last minute someone bid over him and that sale was (and still is) a disaster.

As far as Western Union, they need to tighten up their security a little... It seems that this is the route that most of the scammers go to get money....

-Trey

 

Since we're on the Ebay subject, today I recieved 4 emails in "My Messages" from different people asking me not to send them solicitations. All messages were in reference to Gucci purses. I have no idea how this happened and reported it to Ebay. Anyone know what's going on?

 

I had a scammer just yesterday. I thought it was too good to be true but I saw a digitial trunking scanner brand new for $99 bids and the listing said would accept a buy it now for $350(the unit typically sells for ($500 to $600) and to email them to complete the sale to save them in fees. I thought ok the fees are kinda outrageous no biggy. ANd they were listed as being at the Elmendiorf AFB right here in town so I figured gee maybe I can just go pick it up. So I email them and I get a broken english reply which was the first red flag that they would send me the ebay bill soon. Then I got an email from ebay telling me this sellers listings had all been removed and that they'd been banned I then get a email requesting $350 to their western union or mail a payment to some address in the UK however the link isnt western union when you read the address bar By this time Id already reported this to spoof@ebay.com and had received a reply saying it was fake and that theyd notify the proper authorities SO I email the guy back and say hey pal Im not falling for your scams and youve been banned from ebay. Then they emailed me back and said "you are stupid" My response. "Guess you know from experience"

 

I've seen plenty of sweet deals on e-bay and all of them had that little note,stating you had to get the sellers approval before bidding and the story is always the same,send the cash wetern union.The only person I need approval from to bid is my wife. I will not even look at auctions with that side note any more.

 

If any sellers do not accept paypal I always stay away from they like the plague. If they do not accept paypal I have asked if I could used paypal if I would cover the fees, which is about 3%. In theory my credit card company should cover for fraud. If no paypal no sell for me.

 

Try checking at craigslist.org . Still some risk but listings are more local .

 

When ever dealing on E-bay ALWAYS keep in mind....
"There's a sucker born every minute...." P. T. Barnum
"A fool and his money is soon parted...." Unknown
Those words of old will save you from a heartfelt financial separation.

 

and the best one of all, if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is. i have had well over 100 ebay transactions. we got screwed on one. and that was my own fault as i look back on it, the seller had no feed back and wanted to be paid up front with a check. now i make sure if i pay cash i go and pick it up. most everything else get paid through pay pal.
and never send any money by western union, even if you use your credit card. once the money hits western union you have no recourse. it is gone, i have a friend that got poped with this scam about one month ago. i could have killed him, i was on his butt why he didn't call me.

 

Those auctions with the preapporved bidder requirement are almost allways scams. Ebay should stop offering that type sale.

I got an interesting "phishing" message a few days ago. It purported to be from PayPal. It showed a payment to a seller for a golf cart for $28 and a ship to address in New Jerser. I don't play golf nor do I know anyone in NJ. The message had a line in it that said to dispute this payment, click here. I don't follow links in unfamilar emails. Not a good idea. I opened new browser and opened my PayPal account. No payment of $28. I agree with those that have said "no paypal, no bid". If a seller won't sign up, there is something wrong. I'm actively looking for a new Garmin Zumo 550 motorcycle GPS. A seller on ebay has them and they are going for decent money. She doesn't take PayPal, so I don't bid on her auctions! JOIBO!

 

In the past two days I've received two emails from paypal saying that my account has been tampered with and to click on some link to change my password. Funny thing is though is that I no longer have an account with paypal and the one that I used to have is locked up so tight that not even I can get into it.