Is this Ebayer trying to scam me?

NickMilo

NickMilo

Well-known member
Saw an auction on ebay for a piece of film equipment, real good deal. The only thing is that they didn't offer paypal, so I fished them out and said that I had a cousin that lived nearby and I could have him come and pick up the item w/ cash in hand just to spare me the shipping costs. This is what they came back with:

"Hello,

I have a very good friend who works at the shipping company and the shipping is free for me that's why i have told you that the shipping is my responsability. I am moving right now and don't have much time. If you agree with the price send me your full address and contact info in order for me to start the shipping procedure. You will inspect it 2 for days and if the description made by me doesn't match you will not buy it and the shipping company will return the payment to you but I assure that this is a great deal.

Best Regards!!!"

I was planning on bidding, but this last email seems like a textbook scam to me. Please let me know what you guys think!
 
Yeah it's a total scam... I'd forward this conversation to ebay. Funny thing is what you said is brilliant either way... If I'm ever looking at some big ticket ebay item I'm going to give the same story and see what they tell me... all you have to do if you win is then say your cousin can't do it and they gotta' ship anyway... but oh yeah... uh Paypal ONLY on stuff like that dude. Paypal ONLY.
 
saturnin said:
it still is sometimes......
Click to expand...

Yeah, totally. I just got a great set of Bogen 3068 legs with a 3066 head to use with my Kessler Crane for $256.00 bucks...WITH a bag. I mean, come on. Thats a steal. So, ebay is still the FIRST place I look to when I want a great deal on used gear.

Rick
 
You really hve to be careful. I recently bid and won an auction for 2 Tota lights. The auction was super fast and I couldn't believe that I had won 2 totas that appeared to be like new condition for $42.00 US. I contacted the seller, who happened to be in Vancouver BC, where I made my home for 20 years and suggeted that I could have a buddy come by and pick them up. The email I got back was similar to the above one except it offer me a $20.00 rebate if I did a direct bank to bank transfer of the funds rather than a money order and ther ewas not a paypal option available.
I decided to wait a bit before paying and risk negative feedback. It just seemed too good to be true so I waited a week and had decided that if there was no negative feedback on the seller I would gamble the 50 buck. The next day when I checkeed my email there was a TKO from ebay telling me that a persons id had been compromised and that I should not pay or if I had I should contact the bank. Whew!
It turns out that the same seller had three other auctions for pairs of Tota Lights and a bunch of other things.
I now contact everyone selling before bidding unless there is enormus feedback or they are a store. But there are still good deals to be had on Ebay just the old saying holds true: "Buyer Beware!"
 
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