Another e-bay scam tactic?

[Jim Holden]

Folks:

I recently bid unsuccessfully on some Porsche wheels on e-bay. Following the close of the bidding I received an e-mail indicating that the sender had wheels that were identical to just what I was bidding on and would sell to me direct at a more favorable price. The following e-mail (the sender's name, etc. is omitted) exchange followed:

I received the following e-mail:

Dear sir i have the same Porsche 944 Turbo Fuchs Alloys 8 inch 1986 excelent conditions at only 300$.If you are intrested reply my at a........@yahoo.com.


I responded:
I am interest provided you're not located in Africa (or some other foreign local).
Where are you?
Given all the nonsense on e-bay these days...
Jim

They responded:
Dear Sir,
The product I try to sell you is brand new, sealed and will come with warranty papers. I am sorry
but I will not accept any COD's or escrow. It is the same item as the one listed on the site, brand
new - same specs!
I am located in UK and in case you want to buy it now, you have to pay me cash via Western Union,
here are my details where payment should be sent:
First name: F..... G......
Last name: P......
Address: 76........... RD
City:H.....
Postal code: H.....H
Country: ENGLAND
If you want it, I expect your payment info from Western Union: sender's full name and address and
also the transfer number for the amount (if you decide to pay me as I requested). You can
pay me online with your credit card at , so you will be assured that this is a
real sale and you will receive the goods in good terms.
Please also reply with your complete shipping address so I can prepare the package. I will send it
via UPS and I will pay the shipping charges. This is my last price. Or you can pay me from an
Western Union Office, by cash.
Regards!


So, what does anyone think? Anyone else get this sort of nonsense?

Jim

[Excaliber]

Sure sounds like a scam to me!!

Ernie

[clayfoushee]

Again, ebay specifically recommends against instant wire transfers, like Western Union!! Login to ebay under your account name, click on the security center at the bottom of the page, and report that the seller is insisting on a wire transfer if that is the case.

If he will also accept a credit card, then you do have recourse (you can always protest the charge), but I would only pay by credit card on a "secure site." That way he doesn't have access to your card number.

Do not send money by wire, unless you don't care if you lose it.

[Turk]

Jim,
Offer to have someone locally in England to exchange funds for the wheels and see what reaction you get.

TURK

[SPEEDEAMON]

While I have purchased many items on ebay from foreign countries like UK, Australia, Hong Kong, I was very careful to review the seller's feedback rating. Sometimes the seller may have a 100% rating on things he has purchased but not something he sold. This is a red flag. Also I always did a bank transfer to a known account. Obviously in this case the seller is offering free shipping which is questionable especially from overseas. I would wait for the wheels to show up on ebay sold here unless these are the ultra rare ones like on the Carreras.

Shin

[mrmustang]

Scam all the way.....


Bill S.

[Jim Holden]

Thanks guys for the input.

After all I don't want to get "Fuched"

Jim

PS: And Turk my ancestors left England in 1624 and haven't looked back.

[terry lee]

This sounds like the same scam I found on eBay when I was trying to purchase both a Polaris Ranger and Yamaha Rhino. Same exact format!!!!!!!!!!!!
DO NOT GET SUCKED IN!!!!!!!!!!!!
These guys steal someones good account and rating and use them as their own. EBay is pretty good about catching and stopping them, except they just keep popping up with a new scam a few days later.

Ending up buying the Ranger and Rhino from dealers at better prices than on ebay.
TL