Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 20:55:53 -0500
Reply-To: Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject: Re: Buying Vans on e-Bay
In-Reply-To: <011801c836dd$50bec110$f23c4330$@net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Hi Leslie,
I agree with your points. My issue in the case in question is that
eBay refuses to even TALK to the victim, or to the RCMP. They don't
even disavow responsibility; they just hang up.
That's rude, and a bad business practice if you ask me. YMMV.
Eventually the RCMP will do the paperwork, and their investigation
will cost thousands of dollars to taxpayers on both sides of the
Canada/US border. Whereas if they simply took the time to talk to the
customer or RCMP it could be easily avoided.
Surely eBay knows the ip address of the person who ran the auction.
That data could help the RCMP in their quest to help the victim of
this fraud. Their lack of communication isn't being helpful.
Happy Trails,
Greg Potts
1973/74/77/79 Westfakia "Bob The Tomato
www.pottsfamily.ca
www.busesofthecorn.com
On 4-Dec-07, at 8:22 PM, Leslie Schwartz wrote:
> I think there are two parts to this and the questions seem to be;
>
> 1) if you get spoofed, can you rely on Ebay to bail you out, and
> 2) can you trust Ebay because it attracts the schemers
>
> So, for myself the spoof emails are pretty unconvincing, and I get
> bogus emails along the same lines for Washington Mutual, Bank of
> America, Credit Unions I do not belong to etc.
>
> I am not sure what BofA would do if I was deceived and lost money
> some how in a spoofed email using their logo and graphics. The
> police and the FBI would be interested though.
>
> But I do know that if I get scammed on Ebay its not Ebay's doing,
> and they probably can't make their site totally idiot proof just
> for me.
>
> Now if (when) someone actually used an Ebay auction to
> intentionally scam people I am very confident that the local police
> and the
> fbi would take action on any claim of substance (i.e. grand larceny
> > $250) or multiple instances of fraud.
>
> But as someone already said, you just may be out of that
> "investment" and never see it returned.
>
> On the other hand for normal transactions which in my view are the
> ones you really have to watch out for since in contrast the scams
> are obvious, Ebay uses a feedback system, and it's a pretty good
> indication of what the seller / buyer is like to deal with.
>
> What I mean is the Vanagon that has a lot more rust that was
> indicated in the auction, etc. So I am very wary of average just
> slightly dis-honest people and I consider that a greater risk to me
> personally that straight out scams.
>
> So my conclusion is somebody sending in $20k to a spoofed escrow
> site is not all that perceptive and again I am not sure Ebay could
> do anything to help him.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of Don Spence
> Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 6:49 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Buying Vans on e-Bay
>
> E Bay is fast becoming a place to avoid IMHO.
>
> Their security is degrading rapidly as the hackers and crooks get
> more clever. I received two copies of a scam email today that
> appeared (very accurately i would add) to come through ebay
> including the usual
>
> "eBay sent this message on behalf of an eBay member through My
> Messages. Responses sent using email will go to the eBay member
> directly and will include your email address."
>
> It described a 4 Gb Mp3 player that I ostensibly had sold to an
> unhappy buyer and include the message:
>
> Hi,
>
> I have e-mailed you several times and you didn`t answer my letters
>
> Please tell me what we will do because I'm going to contact bank to
> take measures against you .I think you don't understand my
> desperate situation.Just send me my money back!
>
> Their was a link to the offending item which opened up a very ebay
> looking page inviting me to sign in with my user id and password.
> It was complete with all the requisite graphics and the verisign
> symbol.. Did someone say phishing?
>
>
> Anyway, forwarded it to spoof@ebay,com who replied
>
> "Hello,
>
> Thank you for writing to eBay regarding the email you received.
>
> The email you reported didn't come from eBay.
>
> Emails like this one are fakes, commonly referred to as "spoof"
> messages. They're sent in an attempt to collect your personal or
> financial information.
>
> ***Important***
>
> *Never* reply to a spoof email or click on any links in the message.
>
> If you ever receive an email that looks like it's from eBay about a
> problem with your account or requesting personal information,
> check My Messages first. If the email is genuine, a copy will also
> be found in My Messages. You can also forward the email to
> spoof@ebay.com and we'll investigate. Don't respond to the spoof
> email, or click any of the links in the message. Please don't
> remove the original subject line or change the email in any way.
> "
>
>
>
>
>
> So.... be careful out there. The crooks are getting cleverer as
> they go.
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