Ebay paranoia

[Splee]

I've just listed some computer components on ebay - I'm stripping down my old machine and selling off the usable bits. I had the following e-mail from someone interested in bidding...

"Hi, I have some question of your unit before I will bid. I reside in the USA and I got the business partner who have electronics retail shop in Ukraine. I have an ability to resale the electronics even if it used, but in good condition. I would like to make a large purchase... Unfortunately his address is unconfirmed with my paypal account so I would like to inquire if you could ship to him directly to Ukraine. Will that be ok if the shipping address will be mine (confirmed) when I send paypal payment but you will ship to him to Ukraine directly? Please respond asap so that we will have a great deal! One more question - could you ship my purchase as soon as receive payment or you need time for get it from stock or would you have any other reason for the delay? Answer all of my questions carefully and if all is OK... I will be happy to put my bid on. I will consider all of your counter offers. I would appreciate a response ASAP!!!"

I initially just thought "yeah, fine, pay me and I'll send the goods wherever you like"...but then I got a little paranoid...given that computer related crime is absolutely endemic in the former Soviet Union, is there anything here I should be careful/wary about?

Further to this, the guy has only been on ebay since Monday and has zero feedback.

Lee

[skyliner]

According to my Russian friends anything sent by ordinary mail is unlikely to get to its destination anyway, they don't even send letters but all e-mail for the family.
There are several scams, one of which is to overpay you then demand money is returned via a different route (opening up your own bank details in the process) so if you get too much money deposited beware.
There is one guy selling cameras from the ukraine but taking payment in the US (they want dollars not roubles) and he has a good record on e-bay. Is there no feedback profile for your man?

[Cranium]

Well, if the "red" flags "scare" you, then I'd stay away.

There'll be others than will pay you.

[Cranium]

Missed Skyliner's post...

I'm bought a few Agat half-frame cameras from the Ukraine, and I had no problems with that. Paid a US address, got the cameras fairly quickly. I'm not against dealing that way.

I'm just saying that if something feels funky, then stay away. Trust your instincts.

[tangent]

What you should be concerned about is that someone in Russia is using a 'stolen' or 'hacked' paypal account to send you money - thats why he wouldn't want it shipping to the confirmed address (the person they're stealing from), instead to some other remote location...

I'm not sure if paypal will withdraw payment from you, but I think its possible. I'd be extra concerned because of the buyers interest in how FAST you can ship (ie before the owner of the account reports it as fraud).. . I've heard of people ONLY shipping to confirmed addresses because of this exact setup...

just my 2cents, but stay away...
jt

[Splee]

Thanks everyone - it is all ringing alarm bells, and as a result, I have e-mailed the person (who has not yet bid) and told them that as they are zero-rated, I will not ship anything until 14 days after getting payment to ensure all is in order. If you're right about the possibilities here, I think this action on my part will probably put them off bidding.

Lee

[DriveIn]

Further to this, the guy has only been on ebay since Monday and has zero feedback.

Been on since monday, wants it shipped other than where he resides right now, unconfirmed paypal address which means unconfirmed paypal account. This is a classic fraud all set out nice and neat for someone to fall into without looking. That is definately one worth reporting to ebay as overly suspicious. Last one I reported was booted within an hour. You'll find that he is removed and listed as unregistered within a day or so after you report it. Then you'll get another email from a buyer with the same speal in the near future. Whatever you do, don't reply to the buyers email address. You'll be instantly listed as an ebay seller on the scam and spam lists. Next will be the fake ebay and paypal emails, and so on and so on......

[Splee]

Well, I've made the mistake of replying to his e-mail address, so...I'll have to be very wary of things coming in...

I just read this -

https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/websc ... ed_address

- and yes, it rings all the bells. The Ukraine is not on the approved countries list. I'm reporting him now.

Lee

[Steve P.]

Thanks for posting this.

I probably would have been duped.

[skyliner]

Also he is likely Russian himself as the use of "I have the business partner" instead of "I have a business partner" is one of the grammar errors they are prone to make.

[Splee]

Just got the following reply from ebay...

"Hello,

Thank you for sharing your concerns with us about the hidalg0rr account.


In investigating the matter, we have been unable to reach the account
holder or verify the accuracy of the account holder's registration
information. As a precaution, we have temporarily suspended the member's
ability to trade on eBay until further information can be obtained. Our
difficulties in reaching this user may be the result of a mistake or
typographical error, and no negative inference should be drawn from this
suspension.

We appreciate your assistance in keeping eBay a fun and safe place to
trade."


Jolly good - it may not be much, but I'm glad they're doing something.

Lee

[jean]

Until now, the only risk I saw in ebay was paying for mint and receiving junk. Now I'm in the market for a new cellphone, and a dslr.. and guess what, I *almost* got scammed. For certain items you literally wade through scam auctions and have a hard time finding the real ones.

In my case the seller had almost 200 positive feedback, was registered for several months. The buy now price was low, but within the known price range. I inquired for the shipping costs, and got alarmed only because he was giving all prices in US$ while the auction was based in UK. I checked his feedback, all from different persons. Looking closer, all items traded were 1$. Then his account was suspended.

Well, I kept my €, but i have to admit that was almost ready to close the deal, and feel that common sense is not enough anymore to recognize a scam.

Western union payment seems to be the last red flag to spot a scam, i hope they won't find a way around that, too.. The ridiculous low prices and generic descriptions will soon be cured, I'm afraid.

This could be serious for ebay, as soon as this gets out of control- and in certain segments this has already happened - ebay will not be a trusted place anymore for trading..

[super8man]

One idea I had (I am sure I am not the first) is that the feedback should simply be based on the value of the item. So, you sell a 200 item, you get a plus 1 feedback plus a second indicator on value of goods bought and sold...this would help a long way on all those people in college that get 30 "buddies" to do simple $1 transactions...

THanks for the heads up...I too read through feedback and look at the value of their past purchases/sales, not to mention their item category to see if they are savvy with things or not...

The clues are out there...

[Splee]

What's the deal with Western Union payment? I'm assuming that it's something along the lines of no refunds possible, and difficulties tracking the recipient.

Do any genuine people use it, or is it universally a scam indicator?

Lee

[Patrick]

Lee, as you well know, that response that Ebay gave you above was merely one of their typical automatic responses. What may happen is this seller could be suspended for 30 days and then afterwards, he will be back in business again. Investigations have shown that Ebay doesnt take fraud as seriously as their elaborate warnings and safeguards suggests. Alot of the time, they seem to turn a blind eye to all sorts of activities that occur on their site.