There was a post on Du some time ago about a fraud on Ebay,

[napi21]

and the seller decided to scam the scammer. I thought I bookmarked it, but I just checked and found nothing.

Does anyone have the info on that event?

My son just called, and the description he gave me of someone trying to by a item from him smells very bad to me. I just wanted to send im a copy of that posting.

[KyndCulture]

1. Oh yeah that was the Powerbook scam...

http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/

[napi21]

2. Thanks. n/t

[-..__...]

6. ANUS Laptops makes a much better prouduct.

http://www.anuslaptops.com (it's website to scam the scamers)

http://www.thescambaiter.com

[dipsydoodle]

3. It's a minor variation of the Nigerian Scam

For some bigtime stuff see here : http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/nigeria.asp
and here http://home.rica.net/alphae/419coal/ and many others - just search nigerian fraud.

To spot some of the ebay scams you need specialized knowledge. I'm into banjos and can spot, as can many others, where pictures of expensive banjos have been lifted and re-posted as fake auction items. Within the community we warn each other as soon as we see these scams and also advise ebay whose response is usually at snail pace. It's slightly different in the UK cos I threaten them with a conspiracy charge if they don't react quickly enough to block the sale before some poor schmuck suffers.

[napi21]

4. The problem with this one is the opposite. The prob is the buyer.

My son had an item listed on Ebay (for a friend of his). It was a piece of equipment and he listed it as US Only, and even put in the body of the auction that it would be "to the lower 48 States only, and payments accepted Paypal only." Several people bid on the auction, but shortly before it ended, a bidder from Canada bid on it and won. It's a brand new ebayer, just joined on 5/16/06 and of course has no feedback! My son talked to his friend about this and he said let's check to see what the shipping would be to Canada. It's $350! The buyer emailed him and said they had reached their limit on Paypal for the month and wants to pay via certified check or MO, otherwise, he has to wait for a new month. Now, I never heard of a limit on PAYING through Paypal..unless his credit card doesn't have enough available. Anyway, he's afraid of this whole deal and so am I, but he has 150+ feedback and all are positive, and doesn't want some idiot making negative feedback on HIS account, even if it can be explained away!

So far, I gave him the phone #'s to Paypal and Ebay to see if they have any suggestions.

If you have any, I'd sure appreciate it!

[Neecy]

5. It's definitely a scam

First, there is no 'limit' on PayPal for the month. This alone makes it very suspicious.

It's a common scam on Craigslist for a buyer from another country to ask to pay by cashier's check. The sucker accepts it, puts it in the bank, and finds it's fraudulent. This sounds like a very similar scam.

I'd have your son tell the guy NO, that you only accept PayPal. Then go to the second highest bidder and do a second chance offer - let the non-scamming next highest bidder get the item.

[dipsydoodle]

7. Technically he can't be left bad feedback

and if it did happen I think ebay would lift it for him. If your son stated US - lower 48 states only etc and payment by Paypal then he has accurately specified the rules - it's the buyer trying to break those rules. Having said that I don't see why there would be a problem with a money order based in US$s - I've used those from the UK in the past. As far as I'm aware they cannot be revoked whereas a cheque can be even at a much later date. It's a good idea to specify that the mo is drawn on a major bank.

I've never heard of such limits on Paypal other than the fact they won't insure more than $1000. Maybe it's because the buyer is new to them and/or is using a money/bank based Paypal account as opposed to credit card. You do need to recognise that if the buyer is unhappy with the goods he/she can also revoke a Paypal payment - if necessary by simply lying about the condition of the item.

Whenever the stuff I buy, which aside from banjos also include an almost eccentic number of pairs of Converse sneakere etc, go figure, if a listing says US only I do the following :
Try bidding to see if it is accepted or blocked.
If blocked I contact the seller asking for the block to be lifted and if accepted I then contact the seller anywaY asking that they either accept the bid or reject it.
Because I've got over 400 perfect feedbacks and nil others I've generally found that sellers will play ball with me and ship to the UK. Any rejections I just get the seller to ship to one of the other collectors your side. I've mentioned the above only because I don't know what communications had occured between your son and the winner before the auction ended

The only other intelligent suggestion I can make is that your son makes a genuine second chance offer to whoever bid the next highest below the winner. Hope it all works out ok.

[dipsydoodle]

8. PS !

If the seller offers to pay more than the winning price + mail cost and payment direct into your son's bank account then it's definately a " Nigerian Fraud" You should read though that fraud stuff anyway - it has a nasty habit of popping up here there and everywhere !

[parkia00]

9. Try Western Union

If the seller really wants the item, ask them to wire some money through Western Union. Once you get the money in hand, you're safe to ship the item. I think there is a limit on new PayPal members. I distinctly remember it. There was a per month limit until you got your self verified or something like that. On a side note... open up to international bidders is one good way to increase customers, depending on what you sell. If you sell antiques, collectables, books etc.. it's best. If you sell full computers, modern electronics, cell phones, digital cameras, better not. However computer parts should be fine.