This was posted in a thread I started http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=68063 by kvinbrwr (kevin)
I thought It was more than worthy of it's own thread and header and is the best discription I've seen on how to spot a scam!
Thanks Kevin and lets play safe !!
Bill
This formula gets used for cues quite a bit for some reason. The scammers have saved auction pictures and descriptions from old eBay auctions. Then they purchase hijacked eBay accounts obtained by phishing. The less recent activity on the account the better for them, less chance the owner of the account will notice an auction being listed, he probably doesn't even use the account anymore. The hallmarks of this particular scam ring are:
1) The auctions always have low transaction 100% feedback seller who has no eBay activity, buying, selling or bidding in the last several months.
2) The auctions always have a new PayPal account registered to it. That's why the buyer protection is only $200. The PayPal account was set up recently, with minimum verification, although there has been no recent eBay activity. One might think that the seller joined PayPal to service this auction, but the scammers have added wording in the description that they don't take PayPal. The only reason they have the PayPal account is for the logos and the legitimacy that gives their auction, then they turn around and ban Paypal payments. This using the logos and then not taking PayPal is against eBay regulations and in and of itself is enough to get the auction stopped, although not within 3 days, which brings us to:
3) They are always 3 day auctions. This auction will probably run to the end before ebay can stop it.
4) They are always Private Auctions. eBay has taken steps to protect bidders IDs from fake "2nd chance" scammers, and there's really no reason to have a private auctions anymore (bidders IDs blocked from view), what it does for these scammers is prevents someone from contacting the bidders and warning them.
5) These particular scammers always put something about the product in the location area, in this case it's Joss Pool Cue, United States. That's their trademark, their little joke I suppose, but every time I see it, the other 4 "tells" are also present and its a scam.
Let me know if anything isn't clear. On a related note, one can buy with complete safety on eBay. If you use Paypal and pay through a bank credit card, you can never be scammed, and can always be in the best position in any discussions or negotiations are necessary after the product is received.
Kevin
I thought It was more than worthy of it's own thread and header and is the best discription I've seen on how to spot a scam!
Thanks Kevin and lets play safe !!
Bill
This formula gets used for cues quite a bit for some reason. The scammers have saved auction pictures and descriptions from old eBay auctions. Then they purchase hijacked eBay accounts obtained by phishing. The less recent activity on the account the better for them, less chance the owner of the account will notice an auction being listed, he probably doesn't even use the account anymore. The hallmarks of this particular scam ring are:
1) The auctions always have low transaction 100% feedback seller who has no eBay activity, buying, selling or bidding in the last several months.
2) The auctions always have a new PayPal account registered to it. That's why the buyer protection is only $200. The PayPal account was set up recently, with minimum verification, although there has been no recent eBay activity. One might think that the seller joined PayPal to service this auction, but the scammers have added wording in the description that they don't take PayPal. The only reason they have the PayPal account is for the logos and the legitimacy that gives their auction, then they turn around and ban Paypal payments. This using the logos and then not taking PayPal is against eBay regulations and in and of itself is enough to get the auction stopped, although not within 3 days, which brings us to:
3) They are always 3 day auctions. This auction will probably run to the end before ebay can stop it.
4) They are always Private Auctions. eBay has taken steps to protect bidders IDs from fake "2nd chance" scammers, and there's really no reason to have a private auctions anymore (bidders IDs blocked from view), what it does for these scammers is prevents someone from contacting the bidders and warning them.
5) These particular scammers always put something about the product in the location area, in this case it's Joss Pool Cue, United States. That's their trademark, their little joke I suppose, but every time I see it, the other 4 "tells" are also present and its a scam.
Let me know if anything isn't clear. On a related note, one can buy with complete safety on eBay. If you use Paypal and pay through a bank credit card, you can never be scammed, and can always be in the best position in any discussions or negotiations are necessary after the product is received.
Kevin
