Possible scam.... need advice

1pRoscoe

1pRoscoe

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Ok - here's the deal...

I bid on a Southwest about a week ago, with a very modest price at the time. The seller is in the UK and claims to have a Franklin era SW cue on auction. The auction ended at $1825. My high bid was only $1352.

Via email, I just received a second chance offer for almost $500 less than what the final price of the cue was. I was wasn't too skeptical until I looked at the bid history, with SEVERAL bids above mine...

Here is the auction.

Note that there are 10 bids above my high bid.

What would you do?

Ross
 
Well I believe the best way to see if this guy is legit is to ask him/her if they are willing to Escrow the cue for authenticity. If cost is an issue assure them you will pick up all cost associated with the Escrow (@$50 – Check Proficient Billiards) and the money will be delivered upon verification.

With that said I doubt the seller will agree to this as this looks to be a common ebay scam. Good Luck
 
I would RUN the other way.

1) No way to know if the cue is really a Franklin.
2) No way to get your money back if it is a fake.
3) No way to go beat the *#%6^ out of the seller without buying a transatlantic air ticket.
4) No way to know the condition of the cue. Was it stored properly or are the inlays swollen and raised? Is it the original shaft? How do you know?

Plus, cues are like shoes. How do you buy one online without even holding it in your hand? Even the best cuemakers make SOME cues that any given individual may not care for. The balance and hit are not always the same from cue to cue. But, Franklin WAS pretty darned consistent.

-Jerry
 
1pRoscoe said:
Ok - here's the deal...

I bid on a Southwest about a week ago, with a very modest price at the time. The seller is in the UK and claims to have a Franklin era SW cue on auction. The auction ended at $1825. My high bid was only $1352.

Via email, I just received a second chance offer for almost $500 less than what the final price of the cue was. I was wasn't too skeptical until I looked at the bid history, with SEVERAL bids above mine...

Here is the auction.

Note that there are 10 bids above my high bid.

What would you do?

Ross
Click to expand...

I don't know. The seller's feedback looks real good. It could be that the winning bidder bailed on him and he didn't get response from the other bidders above you. I went back and looked at the bidders that bid on this cue and the ones that left feedback for him and didn't see anything that looked like it said "scam" to me. Why don't you email him and ask him what's up? It may be on the up-and-up.
 
I think I know whats up...

I think we have a money conversion problem here...

First off, this guy seems legit...way too many positive feedbacks with ZERO negatives. A scamer does not go to this much trouble to build that good of a feedback to take off a mere 1300 bucks.

I think the guy may be thinking in 1300 pounds or euros...which by the way comes out to about 2600 bucks american. I would email him back and double check saying 1300 american is what he meant...just double check.

Me personally...I would not think the guy would scam ya...I been an ebayer for a long time and this seems to be on the up and up.

Shorty
 
Jerry Forsyth said:
I would RUN the other way.

1) No way to know if the cue is really a Franklin.
2) No way to get your money back if it is a fake.
3) No way to go beat the *#%6^ out of the seller without buying a transatlantic air ticket.
4) No way to know the condition of the cue. Was it stored properly or are the inlays swollen and raised? Is it the original shaft? How do you know?

Plus, cues are like shoes. How do you buy one online without even holding it in your hand? Even the best cuemakers make SOME cues that any given individual may not care for. The balance and hit are not always the same from cue to cue. But, Franklin WAS pretty darned consistent.

-Jerry
Click to expand...

There's no way to know if it's a Jerry Franklin SW just from looking at the picture, that's true. It's definitely a SW, though. Any SW with 2 original shafts (if it's straight) is worth that kind of money. The pin number can be verified and you'll know if it's a Frankin era cue or not.
 
GeraldG said:
I don't know. The seller's feedback looks real good. It could be that the winning bidder bailed on him and he didn't get response from the other bidders above you. I went back and looked at the bidders that bid on this cue and the ones that left feedback for him and didn't see anything that looked like it said "scam" to me. Why don't you email him and ask him what's up? It may be on the up-and-up.
Click to expand...

see, that's exactly what I am thinking. I have sent him an email, awaiting reply...

Shorty said:
I think we have a money conversion problem here...

First off, this guy seems legit...way too many positive feedbacks with ZERO negatives. A scamer does not go to this much trouble to build that good of a feedback to take off a mere 1300 bucks.

I think the guy may be thinking in 1300 pounds or euros...which by the way comes out to about 2600 bucks american. I would email him back and double check saying 1300 american is what he meant...just double check.

Me personally...I would not think the guy would scam ya...I been an ebayer for a long time and this seems to be on the up and up.

Shorty
Click to expand...

It's USD. I really don't think someone with that type of feedback would be all bad. I looked into his history, Erik Lee got something from him and left great feedback... I'll see what he says.
 
GeraldG said:
There's no way to know if it's a Jerry Franklin SW, that's true. It's definitely a SW, though. Any SW with 2 original shafts (if it's straight) is worth that kind of money. The pin number can be verified.
Click to expand...

Yup, there is a pic of the pin - 368-96
 
If it were me, I'd follow the advise listed above and find out whether the $1300 is in American currency or not. If it is and he is still willing to deal, find out if he is the original owner. If he is, see if he is willing to either allow you to send the cue to Laurie for authentication. If not, tell him you'd be happy to buy once he has it authenticated. Personally, if it is autheticated to be a true Southwest, (Franklin-era or not) $1,300 is a helluva buy for a Southwest if its in good condition. I say go for it.

BUT, don't just judge it by the pin. I know a guy who has an Ariel Carmeli cue with a Southwest pin. Get it authenticated.
 
From the guy's feedback, it is obvious he is ok. But, one scam possiblility is that someone stole the legitamete seller's user ID, and could be offering several of the high bidders second chance offers. Or they could be sending you an email that looks like his, but really isn't (meaning they didn't steal his ID).

Make sure the email with the second chancce offer is actually from ebay, and from the seller's account. In that email, did the person state they want a money transfer, or payment other than Paypal? THat would be a big clue, as the seller listed Paypal on the auction as the preferred payment method. I would also email the winning bidder, and see what happened with him. Possiblly even some of the bidders who bid higher than you.

I think it is best practice to make any high dollar cues private auctions. THat way, scammers cna't email all of the top bidders for fake second chance offers. I had a Lambros on ebay that didn't meet its reserve. After the auction, I had a few of my bidders email me stating they had recieved second chance offers (but not from my account).
 
This just in...

I just emailed the guy who had the auction and he says someone is trying to scam money off people...someone stole the bidders list and trying to make a quick buck with a switch-er-roo.

I emailed the guy through Ebay...so therefore I know I got the seller of auction.

Shorty
 
Shorty said:
I just emailed the guy who had the auction and he says someone is trying to scam money off people...someone stole the bidders list and trying to make a quick buck with a switch-er-roo.

I emailed the guy through Ebay...so therefore I know I got the seller of auction.

Shorty
Click to expand...

I contacted ebay and they verified the same...

Damn scammers... :mad:
 
Sent an email to the address in the "second chance offer" and here is his reply...


This deal will be done truh eBay so we have them protection ! The payment will be made with money order on my name !I have seen that you have bid on my item from eBay ,The action was been clouse with an winner but he have not complet the action so i have offer you a Second Chance on the same item where you have bid .Because this is a Second Chance and is offer by eBay the price for the item is your last bid from my action .So if you are still interested on this item at that price please email me back and i'll give you more information about this Second Chance .
Thank you and have a nice day !

Any ideas on how to mess with him? How can I make this COST him something?
 
Why Bother

There are schmucks everywhere. If you want to screw back with them, it will be a full time job. Don't waste your positive energy.
Purdman
 
Donald A. Purdy said:
There are schmucks everywhere. If you want to screw back with them, it will be a full time job. Don't waste your positive energy.
Purdman
Click to expand...

Because I have plenty of time while I am here working and doing my job. Might as well have a bit of fun! :D
 
1pRoscoe said:
Ok - here's the deal...

I bid on a Southwest about a week ago, with a very modest price at the time. The seller is in the UK and claims to have a Franklin era SW cue on auction. The auction ended at $1825. My high bid was only $1352.

Via email, I just received a second chance offer for almost $500 less than what the final price of the cue was. I was wasn't too skeptical until I looked at the bid history, with SEVERAL bids above mine...

Here is the auction.

Note that there are 10 bids above my high bid.

What would you do?

Ross
Click to expand...

Ross,

The Diamond is a legit dealer in the UK, he's fine and the cue is probably fine. The "second chance notice" offer is not being sent through E-Bay's mail system. They have your screen name and direct e-mail number. They probably communicated with you at some point. It looks legit but if you look at the URL you will see it is not to E-Bay.

There are several ways to scam you on this.

- One is signing on through the "notice" - they can get your screenname and password, then change your e-mail address with E-Bay and take over your identity. If that's the case, change your password. They can sell stuff with your name, collect the funds, and disappear before caught.

- They can link you to Paypal, get your password and start buying stuff with your funds. Nasty.

- They can sell you the cue with a cashiers check and never send it to you.

The message is, be skeptical of any e-mail. Don't assume it's from E-Bay or your Bank or anyone.

I had a situation where a buyer wanted a cue to go through his escrow company. At first glance it looked legit, but it looked too vague - then I tried to call and realized it was a phony site. I would have shipped a $2000 cue to a phony escrow site, probably a post office drop, and never have seen a cent. I tried sending threatening (turned into the FBI) e-mails. They just put me on a spammers list and laughed.

Chris
 
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1pRoscoe said:
Sent an email to the address in the "second chance offer" and here is his reply...


This deal will be done truh eBay so we have them protection ! The payment will be made with money order on my name !I have seen that you have bid on my item from eBay ,The action was been clouse with an winner but he have not complet the action so i have offer you a Second Chance on the same item where you have bid .Because this is a Second Chance and is offer by eBay the price for the item is your last bid from my action .So if you are still interested on this item at that price please email me back and i'll give you more information about this Second Chance .
Thank you and have a nice day !

Any ideas on how to mess with him? How can I make this COST him something?
Click to expand...


Ask for more, different pics.
 
Tate:

Thanks for the heads up, I have changed info on both ebay and paypal. I appreciate you taking the time to respond!

vballmike:

I did, he completely sidestepped the question. He asked for my full name and address, I gave him that of the chief of police of Austin, TX - name, phone, and address!

:D
 
Scam update:

If anyone is interested, I just got an email from "safe harbor ebay services" (url with a parent directory of geocities/yahoo account) that wants me to mail payment to the following address:

Heinrich Weingart
18-39 69th street
Woodside
NY 11377
US

His AOL account is Mortu85@aol.com

Wonder how I can burn this guy.... :D This is felony attempted fraud..
 
Why to get into the mud and later try to find water to clean the feet!!!!!!!!!
Vagabond
 
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