Quote:
Originally Posted by SaltERedneck
Just an FYI people are scamming online buyers on EBAY. My relative (whom is very close to me) just got scammed out of 9k. Story goes: Relative looks at boat and places a bid.. he got out bid. Email pops up with elaborate detail on EBAY's second option (elaborate story of how the highest bidder did not follow the rules and guidelines of EBAY). Needless to say the emails are elaborate and have authentication codes, ebay signatures, logos, ebay protection policy. Seems legit. My relative contacts the seller and he proceeds to tell my dad elaborate story of him being out of town and he will ship the boat from Houma to him without payment. Somehow my relative got conned into providing a security deposit or something... After about 5 emails that looked authentic and very trustable my relative looks at the account and calls to see some details about the boat. The original seller says "sorry sir but I sold that boat 2 days ago... you are not bidding on my boat!!!" Relative calls EBAY. They deny authentication of the codes and the emails. now he is out 9k. He did not go through paypal... SUCKS. 
Second verse: I call my father inlaw who was just about to purchase a boat. I say HOLD UP MAN... let me check it out. I go on EBAY website and call the first number. directed to a foreigner who tells me an elaborate way of how he needs to pay ebay before the shipment of the boat. I say WHOA who is gonna pay the shipping. The foreigner seems confused and keeps cutting out... I say "why are you cutting out????? you should be on a land line!!" Next step: we find the other ebay number and call customer service. They say "NO SIR the process you were told was incorrect and that account is fraudulent!!!!!!" at this point I am mother F^&^(* furious! Somebody needs to be held accountable if this fraudulent number is on their home page. This is NOT the first scam I heard of today after tons of research. These people come up with elaborate stories and try to get you to give them Visa #s before shipping. which we all KNOW shipping is a butt load of $$$ and usually covered by the buyer.
Well its off to the better business bureau for my relative. I saved my father in law 12K today by telling him to check out the authentication on the bid. Sad day for my relative. Truly sad. Pisses me off that EBAY will not own up to their fraudulent number on their contact page. Or atleast get their SH## straight with their representatives.
People these emails are elaborate... I would've fell for them if I was in that situation. |
That's some quality points as a son-in-law anyway. Will come in handy at some point, no matter how rosy things might be right now
