Ebay Scam or Overcautious?

[Rodt]

All looking for some thoughts or experiences and to advise.

Have been keeping an eye on Ebay for some items and have noticed that there are new sellers popping up advertising the item I am looking at. They have no other items and have no feedback % as it is their first and only item. They also don't appear to be in locations that are what you would call major centres.

I sent a message to one about some further information and got no response and within a couple of days the item was withdrawn. I have now seen a very similar listing from somewhere else with all the above. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/201459559478_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

No doubt in my mind that it is a scam but am interested to know if anyone else has come across this.

Rod

[slcs78]

That listing has already been withdrawn. Sounds sus

[#jonesy]

What was the item?

I always use PayPal and rarely spend ore than $20 at a time to be safe  (except with autoelecau)

[Rodt]

What was the item?

I always use PayPal and rarely spend ore than $20 at a time to be safe  (except with autoelecau)

Mate it was a Coleman 8P instant up tent and the value is in the $200s. Others are low $300s.

Interesting that it has been withdrawn so quickly and I am wondering if it only happens when someone asks a question

Rod

[rockinj]

Yep scams, I actually bid on one item similar to what you have mentioned, seemed legit etc - ebay itself actually approached me and told me that they have cancelled the bid and item.
A couple of days later the seller tried again, I asked them a question asking for proof of item eg photo not taken from a catalog, and never heard from them.

[Rodt]

Thanks rockinj,

It looks like they don't allow you to bid anymore either ie: a straight 'buy it now' listing.

As I was told once if it smells like b***sh*t it probably is 

Rod

[ATC]

 Just saw this on the online news, through it was relevant for this thread.

How scammers use eBay as a personal ATM

Here's the first few paragraphs, worth a read.....

How do fraudsters "cash out" stolen credit card data? Increasingly, they are selling in-demand but underpriced products on eBay that they don't yet own. Once the auction is over, the auction fraudster uses stolen credit card data to buy the merchandise from an e-commerce store and have it shipped to the auction winner. Because the auction winners actually get what they bid on and unwittingly pay the fraudster, very often the only party left to dispute the charge is the legitimate cardholder.

So-called "triangulation fraud" — scammers using stolen cards to buy merchandise won at auction by other eBay members — is not a new scam. But it's a crime that's getting more sophisticated and automated, at least according to a victim retailer who reached out to me recently after he was walloped in one such fraud scheme.

The victim company — which spoke on condition of anonymity — has a fairly strong e-commerce presence, and is growing rapidly. For the past two years, it was among the Top 500 online retailers as ranked by InternetRetailer.com.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/consumer-security/how-scammers-use-ebay-as-a-personal-atm-20151103-gkq3aq.html#ixzz3qZTKlPA9
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