eBay Scammers

[npf1]

I'm listed something on eBay and today got the email below. Sounds just like the "I want to buy your boat" scam that was discussed on the forum in the last week of two. Needless to say, I won't be taking up the offer!!!

"Hello seller,i am interested in the immediate purchase of this item and will be making payment right away,and i dont mind adding $250 for the amount you wish to sell the item,because the item is needed urgently,i shall also be paying you for the item through western union auction payments (MO).i will like to ask if you would be able to ship as soon as your funds is confirmed and approved by western union auction payments,this is due to the fact that its demand is high in my store,and so i will want to complete the transaction in a very timely manner way.if you can do this, email me with your name, contact address and your phone number,so that i can proceed with payment right away.let me quickly say that i will be handling shipping with my (FEDEX) shipping account #,as i will be sending this unit to africa.so if you are intresting in doing business with me, mail me also if u agree with me i will want u to end the auction now cause im ready for immidiate payment now ."

 

[LittleShip]

Ive been contacted several times in the last couple of weeks. Send the email to ebay and let them deal with it.
Have a look under spoofs on the ebay site and follow the instructions. I have also had paypal requests and you can forward themto paypal as well, remember how saftey concious these sites are and help them to keep it that way.

 

[l'escargot]

ebay specifically warn against using Western Union.

 

[charon]

Had the same problem when buying a trailer recently. We bid up to our limit and it went to twice the price and a lot more than it was worth so we let it go. Then we got an E-Mail from the seller saying that it was available again . We pinged on the winning bidder to find a serial scammer. Spoke to the seller to find that he had 2 of them pushing the price up! The guy was an honest seller and didn't deserve that S"""t.
This sort of thing is getting more and more frequent these days. These guys need their fingers breaking

 

[graham]

Very well put. I fully support your suggested punishment but would recommend removal of both hands at the wrist for a second offence.

I guess the only thing we can do is allways report suspicious offers to ebay or whoever or even the police.

Sadly I wouldnt hold your breath on any sort of result though. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[BlueChip]

You can download a useful document from the Westerly Owners Association web site
'Avoiding intenet fraud'

http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/Avoiding_internet_fraud.pdf

These sites also offer useful advice

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/general/scams/index.shtml
http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/