Beware of EBay Fraudsters

Megan Forbes

Well, so far I've been lucky with EBay. I've bought a couple of filters, got a good price and delivery within a few days. My boss bought a camera last week for £550. A damn nice one too (I paid £800 last September for the same camera from Jessops), but the price didn't seem absurdly cheap - I have seen others going for around the same price on EBay the last couple of months. Anyway, the guy who was selling the camera doesn't exist. Well, he does - he's a little old man in the Midlands who doesn't know what EBay is, or how to use the internet. What do you know - identity theft is more common than we realised. This guy is pretty smart, he seems impossible to track down. Fortunately my boss is pretty smart too when it comes to tracking hackers, so this may help to track down the online fraudster. Also, a number of other people have been had by this guy in the last 2 weeks, so hopefully the police will take it seriously. Abbey National say that because it is an internet account their fraud department can't do anything about it. :mad: Abbey National will never be getting my business I can assure you. Anyway, just to say, beware of EBay sellers. He is still selling stuff believe it or not, and EBay don't seem to want to do anything about it. :mad:

But I am fantastic in bed! And there are gorgeous women in all the houses I pass. And it would be wrong to leave them unsatisfied! So spam is the only way... - Paul Watson

Debs 0

I've bought a few things via ebay. I've never had any problems either, but always been under the impression that ebay had some sort of guarantee for if things went pear shaped. If the guy is operating fraudulently, but that isn't covered then the so-called guarantee isn't worth a lot, is it? How did your boss pay, though? Surely there are ways of tracking fund transfers? I mean, it must have been going somewhere? Did the guy open up a temporary bank account or something? My bank (Halifax) claim to provide protection against online fraud, but I've never had to put it to the test so couldn't vouch for it. Debbie

Megan Forbes

Debs wrote: but that isn't covered then the so-called guarantee isn't worth a lot, is it? Well, the maximum you can get from EBay in such a case is £105, which is something, but not enough in this case. I must say, it's made me look twice at the whole idea. He has spoken to EBay, and apparently they aren't prepared to do much about it. Debs wrote: Surely there are ways of tracking fund transfers? That's what I thought. He put cash into the guy's account, but still, you would think the bank would have some control over accounts held with it. But Abbey National just say that as it's an online account the address could be bogus and the fraud department don't investigate transactions through such accounts. Sounds like utter crap to me. Banks like that shouldn't be allowed to be in business it seems. I've always felt pretty secure about online transactions (as you say, if there's a bank account involved, surely the recipient should be traceable). Suddenly I'm going to think twice before buying online again, although it won't stop me completely.

But I am fantastic in bed! And there are gorgeous women in all the houses I pass. And it would be wrong to leave them unsatisfied! So spam is the only way... - Paul Watson

Debs 0

Hang on, so the thief's account is with the Abbey National, yet they won't investigate it as it's an internet account? Am I understanding that right??? That is entirely bogus, surely. I thought that if you wanted a bank account (internet or otherwise) you needed to have a valid, checked UK address. ISTR this being introduced to prevent money laundering? OK, it could be a bogus address, but to refuse to do anything is very naff, I guess they would ahve to if the police got involved? I guess you are more protected if you pay be credit card or Paypal? But hey, maybe I'm just naive ;) Debbie

Megan Forbes

Debs wrote: Hang on, so the thief's account is with the Abbey National, yet they won't investigate it as it's an internet account? Am I understanding that right??? Apparently that's what they say. As I said, Abbey National will not be seeing any business from me. Debs wrote: you needed to have a valid, checked UK address Certainly when I opened an account with HSBC that was necessary. But it seems the address on this account belongs to the little old man in question. Bloody ridiculous. Debs wrote: I guess you are more protected if you pay be credit card or Paypal? It seems that way, then your credit card insurance can kick in. I guess warning bells will start sounding now from anyone who won't accept these methods. Not a problem for me - I'm too lazy to bid on an item where PayPal isn't accepted :-O

But I am fantastic in bed! And there are gorgeous women in all the houses I pass. And it would be wrong to leave them unsatisfied! So spam is the only way... - Paul Watson

Debs 0

Megan Forbes wrote: But it seems the address on this account belongs to the little old man in question. I can understand that the Abbey National wouldn't get involved without police intervention, but to say they can't do anything full stop is just criminally negligent. btw, I've never used paypal: is it ok? Debbie

benjymous

I've never bought anything from eBay that's costed more than about £20, but yeah, I'd never consider buying anything on the internet in any way other than my credit card. I did have a bit of a problem with the last thing I bought, as the seller had accidentially enabled the ebay payments option (which gives a direct credit card payment option) I just paid by credit card as soon as I recieved the "auction won" email, without thinking about it, but got a confused email a few hours later from the seller who didn't have a clue how to get the money, and wanted me to pay by cheque instead. Cancelling the payment seems to be hugely complicated, but thankfully they worked out how to get the money, so everything was fine. But I guess the moral of the story is to check that the seller wants you to pay by credit card first :-O Did your boss not pay by credit card then? If he did then it's the credit card company's responsibility to refund him and then chase up Abbey National themselves -- Help me! I'm turning into a grapefruit!

Megan Forbes

Debs wrote: I can understand that the Abbey National wouldn't get involved without police intervention, Luckily the police are getting involved now as quite a few people have been taken for the same ride. Hopefully there will be a result. Debs wrote: I've never used paypal: is it ok? PayPal seems to rock (although who knows - I'm feeling a little shaken about the whole idea right now). It's probably not so nice for the seller, as I believe PayPal take a percentage, but from the buyer's point of view it's great. Managed directly from your credit card account, and fully intergrated into EBay. :)

But I am fantastic in bed! And there are gorgeous women in all the houses I pass. And it would be wrong to leave them unsatisfied! So spam is the only way... - Paul Watson

Megan Forbes

benjymous wrote: I've never bought anything from eBay that's costed more than about £20, Me too - £11,95 was the top in fact. And I only use PayPal so my credit card is involved. benjymous wrote: Did your boss not pay by credit card then? Sadly no, he put the cash into the guys account, thinking wrongly that Abbey National would have some responsibility for their account holders.

But I am fantastic in bed! And there are gorgeous women in all the houses I pass. And it would be wrong to leave them unsatisfied! So spam is the only way... - Paul Watson

Debs 0

I've just bought something from someone via ebay that isn't an amount of money I'd like to lose! The guy has lots of recommendations in his list, from others who have lots of recommendations etc. So he isn't a fly by night (unless he's hacked ebay?!) I can imagine it would be easy enough to set up a few bogus ebay accounts and recommend yourself a few times, but not that many? Debbie

Megan Forbes

Debs wrote: The guy has lots of recommendations in his list I'm pretty sure transactions from people with good recommendations must be fine. Sorry, didn't want to worry anyone, just warn them against purchases that seemed too good to be true off new EBayers. Certainly my transactions were from people with recommendations and the goods arrived swiftly. Good luck! Debs wrote: I can imagine it would be easy enough to set up a few bogus ebay accounts and recommend yourself a few times, but not that many? Seems like it must take a lot of work, and also, I think you actually have to complete a purchase in order to rate a buyer. As such he would have had to waste time trying to bid from himself in order to set these ratings up. The guy my boss bought off had zero ratings, claiming to be new to EBay. I guess EBay will become like the job market - need references to get a job/sell an item, need a job/to sell an item to get references, etc.

But I am fantastic in bed! And there are gorgeous women in all the houses I pass. And it would be wrong to leave them unsatisfied! So spam is the only way... - Paul Watson

benjymous

Megan Forbes wrote: I'm pretty sure transactions from people with good recommendations must be fine I've heard scare stories of sellers who've been great traders for years, and have racked up thousands of positive feedbacks, yet sudden;t just snap, and start being fraudulent. I guess it could be getting back at a relative / ex-partner -- guess their ebay account password, and set up hundreds of fake auctions :~ -- Help me! I'm turning into a grapefruit!

Debs 0

Don't apologise - it's as well to be aware of the possible pitfalls. :~ Surely if someone was committing frauds like your boss's guy he's only going to be able to do it until the heat starts closing in? I mean, ok, so you can set up a bank account with a false address to, say, accept money and take it out quickly to stash it in a proper account, but that only works for a short period until you get rumbled. I've sent people cheques in the past, but that's been to actual addresses. I've never put money directly into a bank account and I think I'd get suspicious if someone suggested that. Your fraudster would also need an email/isp account to do the nasty. I wonder if the police would get the ISPs involved for such a case? I suppose he could be using a cyber cafe. Debbie

Lost User

When you open an account these days you need strong proof of identity - drivers license, passport etc. I suspect AN haven't followed these guidelines correctly..... Elaine The tigress is here :-D

Megan Forbes

Debs wrote: I wonder if the police would get the ISPs involved for such a case I think they would have to, certainly my boss is trying to do that privately to give the police the info. Sounds like he doesn't have too much faith in them... :)

But I am fantastic in bed! And there are gorgeous women in all the houses I pass. And it would be wrong to leave them unsatisfied! So spam is the only way... - Paul Watson