Anyone know the details of this scam? 1DS for $1699

[NetGuySC]

I am just wondering if anyone is fimiliar with this at online auction site. My frst thought is that it is a scam but with 1060 feedbacks and 99.8% approval rating .. well how is it possible?

I know if it sounds too good to be true then it usually is, but more than one thing about this auction isn't adding up here.

[deztoys]

I don't know the details on that auction, but I am in the process of filing a claim against a seller on ebay that had 3054 reviews with only 69 negatives. Guess it goes to show some things just aren't the sure thing you expect. In my case it was only $254, I'd be really pissed if I got taken for over $1K. Good luck.

Scott

[SoCal69]

There have been a recent set of hacks at ebay where someone will hack into a reputable seller's account and list a big ticket item (like digital cameras) and collect the payment, but the buyer never sees a camera. Beware.

[NetGuySC]

No I'm not going to buy. I just want to know of anyone falling for these. There is absolutely no way possible that this camera can legitimately sell for $1699. But the high/good feedback does have me wondering but
I am also seeing that his feedbacks are all small value items and I don't see where this person has sold anything before, but now he is selling four 1DS's ??

[SoCal69]

netguysc wrote:
I am also seeing that his feedbacks are all small value items and I don't see where this person has sold anything before, but now he is selling four 1DS's ??



There's your big tipoff...its probably someone else using his account fraudulently.

[Slow]

deztoys wrote:
ebay that had 3054 reviews with only 69 negatives.

Scott
"ONLY 69 NEGS"!!..... I wouldn't have touched someone with 69 negs with a barge pole no matter how many positive comments they have...No smoke without fire! (True as it unhappily looks as though it turned out!)

Someone has obviously stolen a legit identity and is using it fraudulently... I once informed a legit user that I suspected that their screen name was being used this way and after it was settled I was abused by e-mail and blamed for them having loads of paperwork to fill in and told to &%*@ of for my troubles...No helping some folks!

[SoCal69]

Slow wrote:
I wouldn't have touched someone with 69 negs with a barge pole no matter how many positive comments they have

I absolutely agree!

No helping some folks!

I also let someone know their account was being used fraudulently. I got a different response however...they were very grateful.

[bluebomberx]

Some food for thought... My parents have been avid eBay shoppers for a long while now. It now comes with experience that a user's e-mail address should not be his eBay user ID. Back in February, they recieved an e-mail from eBay requesting a change of password for verification. Of course, my father filled out the form and clicked 'OK'. This was a scam to harvest eBay accounts with outstanding feedback for shady auctions. Within hours, my parents' user ID was selling Canon 1Ds, 1D, and D60 bodies. Once the scam artists are in control of the account, they can do whatever they wish. My parents have since regained control of their account, but at a tremendous cost of credibility to other eBay sellers. Buyer beware!

[brunz]

netguysc,

Tell the guy selling these (1Ds) that you may be in his/her city and would like to pick it up personally. You will not get an Email back proving that it is a scam. They don't have a camera body and they don't want to see you. I sometimes do this for fun.....no one has ever emailed me back offering to meet me in Spain or whereever.

[bfallona]

I have been looking for a Canon D10 on Ebay. I spotted over 40 scams this week alone. Yes people have been taken ( check the discussion forums). Some tip offs:

1. Too low a price ( not always though)
2. High feedback but for non camera items
3. Country of origin ( sometimes listed)

Always email your seller with questions and read carefully. I have had a bunch of offers to buy off Ebay with a money order to Spain, Russia etc. I turned all of them in and show a ton of invalid items now in auctions. Be very carefull.

[jambo]

A wise man once told me:

if it sounds to good to be true then it probably is

[SoCal69]

bfallona wrote:

I have had a bunch of offers to buy off Ebay with a money order to Spain, Russia etc.

Never buy in response to emails to sell off-ebay. Payment requests by Western Union is a huge tipoff. Also, many people will come up with some elaborate schemes to "assure" you that your money is safe until you receive the camera. None of these schemes protect you. Bottom line, as has been repeated here several times... BE CAREFUL AND BEWARE!

[Chrisc]

Found this on Ebay UK...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2937689132&category=30020

[SoCal69]

Very funny. Also very sad. Unfortunately, anyone can be scammed, no matter how careful you are. I applaud theis guy for getting the word out and trying to recoup some of his money!

[ebann]

This is how I do business:

1) Proof of merchandise existence. I ask for a picture of the product with today's newspaper beside it.

2) Prior to sending money I ask for proof of residence. Usually a phone bill with the seller's address and phone number. I call the number to comfirm the destination.

3) Payment is with a check for *deposit only* destined to the person's name. This way I can track him down. If he is using fake name, then he is more fraudulent than you think (fake IDs to open bank account etc.)

[CyberDyneSystems]

There is also "Escrow" as an option.

I am in the process of possibly buying a $1600.00 dollar item via E-bay.

At that price,. if they refuse to do escrow (at my expense mind you) I will NOT make the purchase.

If anyone has a problem with someone wanting to guarantee the furture of a large payment, then forget about it.

[NetGuySC]

This camera was being sold from germany .. I told him that i would be traveling to Germany next week and to leave me his number so we could meet. He didn't write back.

You were right Bruntz

I do have to wonder how much he has made doing this though.

[brunz]

netguysc.......good job on telling that you may meet him. I've never had anyone take me up on the meeting either...a sure sign of a scammer

[boyhowdy]

Well, if it's too good to be true.......

I very RARELY ever buy anything from someone with an AOL email because I've heard of too many scammers using AOL as their phony front. Is he using AOL? Also, I can't imagine a person who is considering buying a 1DS would fall for this. After all, they know what they cost and for that amount of money, you would want to make sure it is legal and legitimate. I could see maybe $500 lower than street cost and even THAT would worry me. I buy from reputable firms only and if I have to pay more, at least I know they will be around in a month or 6. Check his auction history and see what he has sold in the past and whether or not he has sold any of these 1DS's. I've even seen it where after the auction ends they say, "oh, sorry, it was a 10D, NOT a 1DS!" and things like that.

Patrick

[deztoys]

As it turned out, my ordeal has come to closure. I finally got the cards from the seller. I had to file a fraud claim, initiate arbitration and threaten to show up at his register address before he even sent an email back. I don't doubt that he would have just pocketed the money if it weren't for the continuous attempts to contact.

Scott