Can anyone figure out this latest eBay scam?

89911 · 02-26-2006, 12:50 PM

I'll be as brief as possible: I'm looking to buy a lcd monitor. I give a best offer on one and the seller replies through my email outside of eBay that the offer is ok and they will send it to me first and I can pay later. I tell them that I want to buy this through the eBay check out and I will postpone my PayPal payment after I inspect it. No reply. My best offer expires from the auction as everyone elses (about 10). This was last night. Today I get this email that my address and information (I gave it to them prior to them not completeing the eBay checkout) was forwarded to their "partner" (this was not an individual as originally thought) and I should receive the monitor by weeks end. This thing cost about $900 by the way. I replied that I am not interested and if they send it, I will be keeping and not returning it. I emailed a few other in the auction who's best offer also expired and the same story.

What's the scam? The longer you are on eBay, the scarier it gets.

Here is the item:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8770590166&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

stevej37 · 02-26-2006, 01:12 PM

I had almost the same thing happen. Was contacted by email that a camera I bid on would be sent to me, and I was supposed to send a cashiers check to a post office box after inspecting it. Before the camera arrived, I was contacted by a Sony dist. and told that if I accepted the camera, I would be charged with postal theft. Turns out the seller had purchased the camera with a stolen cc and offered it for 25% off. After refusing delivery, I was contacted by an FBI agent asking for copies of the email. Never heard from the seller again.

89911 · 02-26-2006, 01:19 PM

Did you have to sign for this? I guess my only worry is make sure someone in my office is forwarned. Something doesn't seem right anyway. Thanks.

stevej37 · 02-26-2006, 01:23 PM

No, I didn't accept delivery after the Sony rep called. If I had, I'm not sure what they could of done, but I didn't want to be any part of an internet theft.

competentone · 02-26-2006, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stevej37
I had almost the same thing happen. Was contacted by email that a camera I bid on would be sent to me, and I was supposed to send a cashiers check to a post office box after inspecting it. Before the camera arrived, I was contacted by a Sony dist. and told that if I accepted the camera, I would be charged with postal theft. Turns out the seller had purchased the camera with a stolen cc and offered it for 25% off. After refusing delivery, I was contacted by an FBI agent asking for copies of the email. Never heard from the seller again.

You should have told that "Sony distributor" to take his threat and shove it someplace where the sun doesn't shine. There is NO way you could be charged with postal theft, or any crime, by accepting mail that is addressed to you. Keeping something sent to you that you did not order could eventually lead to criminal charges if you did not return it, but the simple act of accepting it could not.

I'm guessing you were not really talking to a Sony distributor, but someone involved in the scam. I'm not sure how this scam is working, but am guessing they might be placing the order, getting you to refuse to accept it and intercepting it on its return trip. If I were in your situation, I would have accepted it, not opened it and turned it over immediately to your local Postal Inspector with an explanation of what happened.

pwd72s · 02-26-2006, 06:54 PM

I've decided to never bid on an ebay item again. I consider myself lucky that I was never burned. But, it was only a matter of time until the scammers and petty thieves moved in. The rules there seem to be that there are no rules.

89911 · 02-27-2006, 03:19 PM

Stevej37 was right. Got a call from Dell today about the monitor I "ordered" for $1100 with my MBNA card. Problem is, I don't have an MBNA card. They used my name, address, and phone number and then with a bad card ordered it posing as me. In Dell's eyes, I'm the one that used the bad card. I guess they hope to get paid before you get informed from Dell. Dell intercepted the item and cancelled the order. I'm not sure how the other 14 bidders faired. I sent most of them a warning that should help.

stevej37 · 02-27-2006, 04:46 PM

Yep, that is exactly how it happened to me also. Was contacted afterwards by an agent of the US Secret Service- Electronic Crimes Task Force, who said the suspect uses deposit-only "internet banks" that make it very hard to trace.

89911 · 02-27-2006, 05:05 PM

Fortunately one of my patients works with the internet crime branch of the FBI. I frequently ask him about scams when he comes in. I called him today and he pretty much figured it out. I forwarded all the messages that were sent, but I doubt much will come of it. I'm surprised Dell called me. Something didn't match on the order I guess. I still don't know how they got my private email? They contacted me first.

HardDrive · 02-27-2006, 09:42 PM

I think you should get a nice big ass Dell monitor box, and leave it on the front porch. Let the the local cops sit inside and wait for the bastards to show up.