Beware eBay scam!

[grum64]

Hi

I've just found that an eBay scam that I 'discovered' last summer has resurfaced.

The scam involves high value Lego (Green Grocer, Carosel etc) & Lego Technic (8421 Mobile Crane, 7888 Batman The Tumbler etc) listed for stupidly low amounts, usually but not always £1.

If you come across anything like this there are tell tale signs to look for.

Firstly, check the Member Since, it's usually the present year.

Secondly, check the Feedback. The it's always 100% but don't be fooled. When you check the Recent Feedback you'll notice that all the Feedcack has been left on the day or day before and all left by 'sellers' with 100% but crucially 0 'score' of their own.

After I found this 'seller' I reported himto eBay and he was removed. Over the following 3 months I spent an hour or so most evenings/nights (I don't sleep ver well) actively scouring the listings for him and found him 12 times each with a new name. Each time I reported him and each time he was taken down.

I've been looking for him every week or so ever since and up until now have found nothing but now he's back.

There are many legitimate sellers on eBay but there are also far too many that are con artists so please beware.

Edited July 1, 2012 by Fugazi
changed all-caps title

[The Joker1]

I fell for this scam some time ago with the carouscel. It is a genuie scam so be aware. Thankfully I got my £39 (I have found this is the usual amount) back.

[KEvron]

good looking out, grum. do you have a link?

KEvron

[grum64]

good looking out, grum. do you have a link?

KEvron

Hi

Good to hear from you.

I'm sorry I've not got back sooner, too busy playing detective. I can't give you a link as the seller & his 'items' have been taken down.

Keep your eyes peeled and remember old adage, if it looks too good to be true, it usually is.

[Sam892]

Thanks for the heads up will certainly keep eye out for this guy.

[AFOL SF]

...I, too, fell victim to this kind of scam several years ago... to make it worst, the seller even gave me a negative feedback after taking my money... never got my money back since I sent him an international money order... he's based in Hong Kong...

[The Joker1]

...I, too, fell victim to this kind of scam several years ago... to make it worst, the seller even gave me a negative feedback after taking my money... never got my money back since I sent him an international money order... he's based in Hong Kong...

Hmm there is somthing strange going on here as the first time I encounterd this guy he was in Hong Kong then later his page says Birmingham Then through greater research he appears to be in Italy?

[grum64]

Hmm there is somthing strange going on here as the first time I encounterd this guy he was in Hong Kong then later his page says Birmingham Then through greater research he appears to be in Italy?

Hi

Yes he came up as Italy based the first time I encountered him.

The listings I've found have had his location in various towns & cities across the UK, Sheffield, Bristol, Margate & Grimsby to name a few.

It seems it's all to easy to set up these fraudulent accounts. Both eBay & PayPal are great companies. How many of us have used eBay to expand out collection and don't you feel safer buying online using PayPal rather than giving your card details. But are they vigilant enough? Surely they can put in place systems to detect multiple accounts set up & multiple feedback comments all from one ip address.

End of Rant!

[barti673]

Like these stories... Always some kind of "mystery" here :]

[SNIPE]

LEGO is made to educational and fun, we don't deserve to be scammed for wanting to seek this...

[88high]

You just have to be careful of these scumbags. I almost bought a 8110 'mog off of some 3rd party site for 139.99. There were no ratings and the seller was supposedly in the US. But, I thought about it, and I guessed that it would be best if I used just $40 extra to be sure I wasn't ripped of. I got my 8110 off of amazon for $20-30 less than the normal price, plus free shipping.

I also bought a 8367 hot flame RC for dirt cheap. The average price for a new boxed 8367 is $159.99. I got mine for $94.99 off of eBay. I wasnt sure if i would get scamed. But, i took a risk and found out that he was just a seller that didn't realize the value of his set!!!

[roamingstop]

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=170836296344&index=8&nav=WATCHING&nid=47575857587

Not sure about this one. 0 feedback, claims to be new, but knows how to write up about negative feedback etc

[spzero]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/srvivbos/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

this is obviously a scam im currently talking to ebay a few people have fallen for this hopefully they can stop money being lost

new seller all feedback is from 0 feedback buyers he is in italy and items in uk, just too good to be true.

if this needs moving please feel free.

Edited July 1, 2012 by spzero

[Ricecracker]

Merged into the ongoing discussion.

[spzero]

Well got the latest account shut down but he sold 6 items or so and payapal wont stop the money going in to his account as they have to abide by there rules and cant interfere till a dispute is opened, I cant open a dispute till the itme has had time to arrive, despite the fact they can see its a scam he wins he will get his money, i will get my money back and so i win, but they lose out by paying him and me, looks like crime really does pay, and paypal couldnt care less!!

[Lego Otaku]

Well got the latest account shut down but he sold 6 items or so and payapal wont stop the money going in to his account as they have to abide by there rules and cant interfere till a dispute is opened, I cant open a dispute till the itme has had time to arrive, despite the fact they can see its a scam he wins he will get his money, i will get my money back and so i win, but they lose out by paying him and me, looks like crime really does pay, and paypal couldnt care less!!

Often time Paypal has auto 21-days hold on any fund being sent to any "new" seller. So unless the buyer sits around doing nothing for more than a month, buyers can start filing complaint.

[LEGO Historian]

I have an acquaintance who inherited (from his grandmother's estate) a late 1940s unused boxed Lionel Train set that is in incredible mint shape and has all the boxes in mint condition. It's worth thousands, but he was wondering if he would be taken seriously by EBAY buyers since he has zero feedback.

I told him that if he wants to sell it there, he could have me sell it for him, since I have good feedback there, and have been selling for years. I also told him that he should start selling some of the smaller more inexpensive items in the estate under his new ID... and that would be the best way for him to start up a sales feedback history. But that expensive train system would send out red flags to serious buyers.

[AudiBobaR5-D2]

Now I don't know if this is a scam, but I recently bought Lego Star Wars 7283 from eBay UK at the price of £60, and the seller has 100% positive feedback, he is from London, but not too sure if i should trust this seller.

Oh and if this helps at all, there is An average of 12 seller ratings

Should i trust the seller or not

Edited July 3, 2012 by AudiBobaR5-D2