Be carefull using Ebay

[JBuk]

Just a reminder as lately I`ve had a few people trying to scam me lately

the latest scam involved my bid on a 70-200 2.8 L IS lens at which i bid £620

a few hours before the auction was meant to finish I recieved an Email from someone who was making out they were the Seller, asking me to buy the lens for around £600 , Heres the mail

Message from eBay Member *********

Hi there,

If you are interested in my auction and you wish to buy it now the item at this price ?620.00 I am interested in a quick sale and wondering if you will take it for a resonable price. For more details please contact me. Just give me your decision because I am in hurry and need to sell the item A.S.A.P.

Thanks in advance for your answer.

Best Regards!

===================================================

This request is related to item # ***********.

I noticed right aweay that this was not a legit email sent through Ebay , but it got me wondering how someone had my email address though?

It contained a link to the lens auction, so i preceeded to click on it as I was curious, it sent me to a page that was an exact duplicate of the official auction, but I noticed that the address of the page wasnt an offical Ebay one
When it asked me to login I knew for certain it was a scam

I sniggered as I then thought I`d have some fun so I sent a reply to the scammer

ive just bought a 10-22mm lens so now i dont have a lot of cash, i only have
£400, i doubt you would take that amount?


----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2006 5:36 PM
Subject: Question for item #********* - Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM +
Hoya Polarizer Filter

to which I have just recieved this reply

Hi there,

Thank you for answering my reply.
I understanding you, sorry but i dont meet strange people.
I am ready to sell my item at the price that we seat up GBP 400.00 Let me know if it is ok with your budget. I'll handle the shipping, so this will be free of charge for you + I am willing to deduct you with the fee for handling the payment procedure.

Also, a refund policy will be included. Just follow my directions - everything will become clear after you'll receive the instructions set from eBay. Please send me your information for shipping (full Name and Address).

You'll also receive important guidelines + instructions from them. I need the details exactly like I have requested, because I have to forward the email to eBay. In short time, they will contact you with an Invoice in order to complete this transaction!

The transaction will be covered by eBay, we will transaction through eBay and if you agree to purchase it eBay will contact you to confirm you the safety of the transaction.

Looking forward to hearing from you. We guarantee your purchase, if you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, return it within 7 days from time of delivery without any reason. Waiting for your answer in order to close the deal.

All the best!
***********

I`m currently trying to decide what reply to send back, but in the meantime I wanted to remind others to be vigilant on Ebay
This scam has had a lot of work put into it and could be very convincing to anyone not on their guard !

 

[JBuk]

I wonder how they get your email address as well.

I've had scam emails like that, and I don't know how they do it, as Ebay should hide your email address unless you ask for it to be displayed.

I would also like to know how they found out my email address , the only conclusion I came up with is that the guy actually selling the lens is passing on the information from bidders

Send him another reply saying that youhave bought something else and reduce the offer to £300, then £250 etc

How low will he go before he realises that you're onto him??

cmt

I`ve just replied with this

Hi again,

Due to an unfortunate accident I have sustained a nasty crack in my rear end and thus I cannot afford £400 , I`m sure you can understand that it is more important for me to fill my crack at the moment , so the only budget I have now is £350

Please let me know what you think , and also tell me how the payment can be arranged

regards

J

 

[JBuk]

They didnt have your email address , all they did was click on your ebay username, send message, ebay forwards it to you.

You reply , then thats when they get your email addy.

ahh, I didnt realise that
I automatically thought that because the message came through from scammers email address then they must have had mine ....doh!
not to worry, all my replies have been sent from one of my expendable email addresses unconected to Ebay and the like

Just be careful though, knowingly leading someone on to break the law is entrapment and is illegal too in the UK. Its why they can't catch prostitute clients by posing as prostitutes, for example.

I`m just having fun, I dont intend to break any laws or ask anyone to break them


i`ve just got in from work so heres the reply to the earlier mail i sent

Ok J,

I am ready to sell my camera at this price £350. I trust you and i wish that our deal to close as soon as possible.

Please show me if you are satisfied with my choice, and i wish that my deal to end as soon as possible.

If you agree with my decision, and you wish to buy it for this good price, please give me your full shipping address so we can close the deal.

I need the details exactly like I have requested, because I have to forward the e-mail to eBay. In short time, they will contact you with an Invoice in order to complete this transaction!

Cheers
*************

anyone want to think up a reply to the scammer?

 

[JBuk]

I like it, but I decided when i woke up to write my own with a fresh mind

Hi again,

I'm terribly sorry to do this to you,but the most I am willing to pay is £250 (in soiled monopoly money - left over from my cracked rear end).
The fact that I may have to pay to exchange to soiled monopoly money means i simply cannot afford to pay the amount you were asking
Please let me know if what I am offering is acceptable to you as I really like the EF70-200mm lenses and I have no doubt that you love the smell of soiled monopoly money

Please also send me your address so I know where to send any monies

Regards

J

 

[JBuk]

todays reply:

Hi there,

I am ready to sell my item at the price that we seat up £250 with shipping included. Do you want to purchase it, please give me your shipping
full Name and Address. In short time, they will contact you with an Invoice in order to complete this transaction!

Cheers!

I`m not sure how much further I can take this, surely he must have clicked on by now that I`m taking the **** ? his replies seem to be getting a little shorter

anyways I`m a bit brain dead after work so I`ll have to reply to him tommorow