Ebay Naim Scammer at it again!!
Posted by: effinity on 02 September 2003
I feel a very deep sense of frustration and anger that this is happening again - this time under a different Ebay username but with 99.1% positive feedback over 440 trades!
SO POTENTIAL BUYERS BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!
Beware!!
The scams continue!!
These 135's for auction on Ebay are not the seller's to sell, nor are they in his/her possession.
The seller/con man has basically lifted the photo's and wording from an auction that ended unsold on 02/08/03
I do know the owner of those serial numbers and this is definitely not his auction!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3044753541&category=3280I have informed ebay (after an excruciating trip through their feedback procedures!) and hopefully they will pull the auction, but in the meantime I felt it right and proper to issue this warning to fellow Naimistas, not that I think any of you are daft enough to fall for it, especially considering this ebayers feedback!
Add to that the fact that he/she is pre approving bidders/buyers (cheeky git), for no other reason but to keep tabs on whistle blowers, particularly the bona fide seller of the auction ending unsold on 02/08, but at least you could warn friends/colleagues etc who may be seeking your advices.
A source of wry humour is looking at 'sellers other items' and imagining where, (it may just be my imagination of course!)and how, the 'grand auto' haul came from.
Because it is No Reserve someone's desire may just get the better of them.
For example if you enquire about shipping costs etc (these people are not in the UK although the auction listing says that)
this is the type of response you may get:
here is the email reply received from my friend who actually owns these amps when he emailed the previous conman seller( dvdman60 ), who was using the same photos and wording on the initial scam attempt, to ask about shipping costs, here goes.
"Reply 21/08/03
"I am located in Spain now. I moved across to Spain last year when the
company i work for offered me an assignment in Madrid. Please let me know if you ar
really interested because i can end the auction more early for you. How can
you prove me that you are a serious buyer ?
Also i need to know how much do you want to spend on it. If you will give me
a good price i will support the shipping costs.
Thank you and i waiting your reply
Have a nice day! "
There must be a connection, I was reading something earlier, probably on the internet, but can't just lay my eyes on it now, about a recent case of a 400,000 dollar ebay fraud over a period of time where someone was able to create different usernames at will to perpetrate the crimes and was eventually caught and imprisoned.
Anyway, reluctantly, I just thought I would let you know again, although I'm sure a lot of people will realise it's the same scam. Maybe people coming back off holiday etc did'nt see it the first time round.
I use Ebay a lot and have had no problems whatsoever but this really gets my goat.
Steve D
Posted on: 02 September 2003 by prowla
Somebody selling some Meridian kit had a great idea - they've marked their photos with a blue cartoon carrot.
Should prevent copying...
Paul Rowlands
Posted on: 02 September 2003 by garyi
Although I see you know its a scam, I don't see whats wrong with his feedback? 4 complaints out of 400 dosn't seem to bad to me?
Posted on: 02 September 2003 by effinity
Exactly Gary, that's why this one has a better chance of succeeding, people do cut and paste each others ads, that is e acceptable i suppose but in this case (again) the text is matching the photos where the s/n's are shown and those amps are owned by someone else and are definitely not for sale, so what the hell is going on?
Steve
Posted on: 02 September 2003 by quickie
It's a hijacked account,check out their buying/selling items.
Paul.
Posted on: 02 September 2003 by long-time-dead
Deja Vu ?
As a very regular eBay user, I decided to write to the seller of the auction to see what happened......
<hr>
The Question
>From:
>To: mollyandme@insightbb.com
>Subject: Question for seller -- Item #3044753541
>Date: Tue, 02 Sep 2003 12:48:41 PDT
>
>Hi there - how much to post to Glasgow ?
>
>I also have friends all over the UK so I might be able to have them
>collected.
>
>Where are you located ?
>--------------------
>
>
>Question from:
>Title of item: Pair of Naim 135 Power Amps - Absolutely NEW
>Seller: peggers1933
>Starts: Sep-02-03 06:13:40 PDT
>Ends: Sep-12-03 06:13:40 PDT
>Price: Currently GBP 0.01
>To view the item, go to:
>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3044753541
The Reply
I am located in Spain now. I moved across to Spain last year when the company i work for offered me an assignment in Madrid. Please let me know if you are really interested because i can end the auction more early for you. Also i need to know how much do you want to spend on it. If you will give me a good price i will support the shipping costs.
Thank you and i waiting your reply
Have a nice day !
Where have we seen this reply before............ ?
I just thought it would be worth posting this as to warn everyone.
FYI - my feedback rating is 300+ with ZERO negs. I am still suspicious of all activity on eBay, regardless of rating.
Remind yourself all the time :
a) If it looks too good to be true - it is !!
b) If you believed you were getting an awesome bargain from a hifi shop - you would travel. If you win, go and pay C.O.D.
Posted on: 02 September 2003 by effinity
thanks Long Time Dead,
Thank ****! I thought it was just me in some Kafka nightmare!
Will you send that reply off to Ebay to augment and support information re the seller already sent?
S
Posted on: 02 September 2003 by long-time-dead
Done it already !!!!
Easiest way is to use the eBay site map to report to Safe-Harbor - bookmark the page for future use !
Let's hope the vast morality of us save the few who jump at the bargains.
Posted on: 03 September 2003 by effinity
hello all,
this suggestion was put forward over on PFM by Colonel Mad :-
"Would it be worth someone here in the know setting up an Ebay account and putting huge bids on such items?
Say the bid for these 135s gets up to 1 million pounds doesn't the seller have to pay a percentage of that closing amount (1% would be a fee of 10 grand) even if the buyer doesn't shell out?
Even though the 'seller' obviously wouldnt pay it, it would at least piss the crook right off and get ebay on their case for non payment of fees.
Maybe there's a flaw in this idea? Just a thought."
The response to that idea from my 'E' guru is this:-
"the flaw is that he would then go and buy some 135s and you would have to
buy them for a million pounds
don;t forget this probably is not his account (pirated) so someone else who
probably hasn;t logged on for a while would be billed"
Add to the knowledge/idea base!
Steve
Posted on: 03 September 2003 by prowla
"the flaw is that he would then go and buy some 135s and you would have to
buy them for a million pounds"
Not really, since they would be different items to those advertised.
Paul Rowlands
Posted on: 03 September 2003 by effinity
Passing on further insights from 'E' Guru:-
"Yep they are using a number of technical methods to impersonate geniune
users (possibly by pirating accounts or setting up bogus accounts and
associated trading history) in order to defraud buyers. They use high value
desirable products to lure them in and at this point the trust ethic of ebay
will occasionally mean they succeed in persuading someone to send a cheque
or cash to an overseas or other non-traceable address.Don't rely on Paypal
either they cover themselves well.
High value desirable objects - basically if it seems to good to be true - it
is.
Be aware that buyer scams are totally separate and equally virulent eg. fake
credit cards (Paypal offers no protection outside the US)."
__________________________________
Prowla - you said 'Not really, since they would be different items to those advertised.'
Imagine submitting the 'Non Paying Bidders' report to Ebay on that!
IHK - Amazing! wonder if it's the same crowd?
Steve
Posted on: 04 September 2003 by effinity
Just to say thanks to all forum members who took time and trouble to alert Ebay with details of email interaction with suspected fraudsters and general info regarding user id's etc.
Ebay do seem to have responded fairly quickly and i'm sure this is due to your concerted efforts.
here are a couple of extracts from emails received from Ebay:-
"Thank you for your report. We will review the user ID's you have brought
to our attention and will take appropriate action."
"Please be assured, if a violation of eBay policy has occurred, we will
take the appropriate action in accordance with our site policies. Such
action may include issuing a warning, temporary suspension, indefinite
suspension or terminating the membership"
Thank you for taking the time to contact us with this information. I
have reviewed the information that you have provided and wanted to let
you know that the member that you alerted us to is suspended from eBay."
So thanks to all again, until the next time!
IHT/bobdad, have replied to you over in babylon!
Steve
"
Posted on: 04 September 2003 by Greg Beatty
The WORST he could get is suspension of (pirated) privaleges???
Isn't this a CRIMINAL offense???
I know eBay are not the Police, but shouldn't it be reported???
- GregB
Insert Witty Signature Line Here
Posted on: 04 September 2003 by andy c
Greg,
have you asked ebay if they have reported it to the police?
I speak from knowledge that there may well be offences committed here...
Posted on: 04 September 2003 by long-time-dead
Do we have Forum Member's in Madrid ?
Anyone able to knock on the agent's door and ask to check the equpment ?
Could be a really fun afternoon !!!!
And we all know Spanish Police are armed............
Posted on: 04 September 2003 by effinity
Ring New Scotland Yard Computer Fraud Dept for some surprising feedback.
Steve
Posted on: 09 September 2003 by effinity
Babylon calling!
IHT see your PT's or check over 'there'
S
Posted on: 11 September 2003 by Bernard Paquet
And another one
quote:
Dear sir,
I see that you bid for the Naim CDSII with XPS, MINT! Gene Rubin Audio
and I have the same product at only 2580$.The product is brand new in
his original box.If u are interested please reply me ASAP.I want only serious customers.Please ceck my feedback I am seriouss.
Thanks.
BYe
I've asked for SN, pics and wich escrow they want to use...since no reply!
Bernard Paquet
Posted on: 13 September 2003 by effinity
Certainly forces a complete re-think of 'caveat emptor'. There is a surreal feel to all of this, so many people who use the internet are experiencing melt down in the sense that it (www) speeds processes up so fast that the legal/consumer rights/sale of goods & WHY are being totally transcended by fraudster career options bolstered by the anonymity of working through the internet.
To look at it positively, these people are presenting us with the opportunity to become educated in 'real time' to potential threats and the pushing of boundaries, because that is what cons are, just taking one more step forward, seeing how far they can take it, always with a bolt hole to run down, and if no one stops them...fair game! That's where predator and victim's motives of greed, want, gotta have, gotta do, can't help myself, gel for that second it takes to say 'yes' to an online 'business' education. How much we pay for that 'education' depends on how much we want that 'thing' that ain't there!
These links may be of interest to some:-
http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/index.aspand at a community level I found this insightful:-
http://www.traderlist.com/Steve
Posted on: 14 September 2003 by Emil F
Ultra Violet
Same thing happened to me. A guy responded to my offer for selling a new 250. He offered me a brand new unopened 250 at 60% of the price?!
Different story with the pictures. I have to admit that I'm using pics from naim sites: german and english. I do this for new equipment only.
Emil
Posted on: 15 September 2003 by Chris Metcalfe
Am I right in thinking EBAY isn't a very good place to sell kit right now?
If not, what's best. The mags seem a bit passe these days.
Posted on: 21 September 2003 by Ian R
Yes Im interested in where the best place to advertise Hi Fi is too. As i recall there is discouragement from advertising on this forum but we tip one another off about good kit here and there.
Im about to advertise 2 B139's for Isobarik rebuild porpoises! Having rebuilt and or got my older Mk1's rebuilt ....and having bought newer replacements (thank you young edinburgh james) I now want other enthusiasts or dealers to have a chance to keep these increasingly rare units doing what they do best .... If not Ebay then where is square and kosher for us to sell of the detritus of our passion!
If no one has any recomendations I may write briefly in the forum in a dedicated thread.
(I find topica naim a bit suspect too)
Ian
Scotland
Posted on: 21 September 2003 by andy c
I recently advertised on hififorsale.com and sold my 3.5 to a very nice chap from scotland. I knew he was genuine 'cos he travelled all the way down to mine to listen to it (after a few security checks).
You cannot be too careful re advertising...
I have sold stuff on e-bay before, and you can frighten the baddies off quite easily by asking for ID, security checks etc and asking them to send you a cheque by recorded delivery etc.
But at the end of the day it's not 100% safe...
Posted on: 21 September 2003 by Rich Jerskey
A guy apparently located in Spain offered me a great deal on a CDS2 that i wasn't highest bidder on. I instantly became suspicious since several months ago a guy from Madrid offered me a gold coin that I had bid on from a different dealer in the U.S.. He was trying to sell the exact same coin (certified) that had been sold several days previous. I contacted the original seller who confirmed that the piece was still in his safe awaiting payment. The guy in spain was offering me about a 40% discount on a rare piece. I played with him awhile before I told him what scum he was and then blocked his email. Madrid must be the popular Ebay fraud locale. Buyer beware indeed as Ebay is constantly made aware of all these scams.
