[Leica] OT: eBay Scams on high-dollar items

[jshul at comcast.net (Jim Shulman)]

This sort of scam is becoming quite frequent with high-dollar items.  I've
seen it regularly with expensive restored antique cars.  Most often, the
bidding will start (with no reserve) at something silly, like $10.  There
will be a notice in the description that there's a "buy it now" price at a
well-below-market rate, but only if you contact the seller though a separate
e-mail address.

Bottom line: if it's too good to be true, that's exactly right.

Jim Shulman
Bryn Mawr, PA



-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of John D.
Sluss
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 10:46 AM
To: leica users group
Subject: [Leica] OT: eBay

Yesterday,19 March 07 a DMR and a R8 with a DMR were advertised for 1,000
GBP (2,000 US) each. The individual "selling" the items refused to accept
bids, rather he wanted to be contacted by e-mail. Needless to say it was a
scam. The "seller" had a 99.1% positive responses with about 1,000 sales. I
believe that someone had gotten a hold of this persons eBay sellers password
and was using his site for the scam. The items were only listed for 24
hours. An eBay confirmation was sent from a msn address.
I wish it were true because I really want a DMR but alas.

John