How To Spot a SCAM

[vintage-car-magazines]

Hey eBay!!

Since we seem to have this question posted several times a day, can we have this post pinned to the top?

If they buyer wants to.....

• Pay more than the asking price .....it's a SCAM (Nobody does that. The scam preys on greed)
• Have you include gift cards for an extra fee....it's a SCAM (this is what they're after)
• Text you regarding payment and shipping....it's a SCAM (they can message in eBay)
• Email you regarding payment and shipping....it's a SCAM (they can message in eBay)
• Pay outside of eBay because they don't have PayPal and want to use a credit card....it's a SCAM (you don't need a PayPal account)

These scams a FULL of red flags. Did I miss any?

[3eyedfishcatcher]

Posting the same thing serval times a day to keep the topic on the top of the page is spamming and not needed. When ever someone replies to a post it is moved to the top as if it were new. All that is really needed is a user to comment in the post to move it back up.

[gwzcomps]

If you click options you can sort by topic date.

[femmefan1946]

Then there is the somewhat old fashioned post  "bump".

But that worked better when the Boards were not as busy and there were fewer buyers and sellers.

About "kindly" it's very much an Americanism.  Like being unable to pronounce "mature" properly.

The rest of the English speaking world uses "politely" where Americans use "kindly".

On the other hand, I was very happy to learn how southern Americans use "Bless your heart" and have made it a part of my everyday  curses.

[ittybitnot]

 Did I miss any?

Did anyone mention the phony "redirect the shipment" scams that come in via eBay messages?  

There are two types:

First is from a user that is not even your buyer.  They have a heart wrenching emergency that requires they go out of state such as relative has had a (heart attack, car accident, needs serous surgery, etc.)  It is not uncommon to get more than one of these from different user accounts post sale.  The addresses are that of reshippers, with Delaware being the most common. 

Second is the buyer that actually pays and asks for the redirect.  They subsequently, do a chargeback or reversal via the Pal, and since delivery is NOT to the address provided they get refunded from the seller's proceeds, and get to keep the item. 

The "text me" and "giftcard " scammers are now using the "make an offer" feature.  They make decent offers, but the seller does not know they have a crook on the hook until the offer is accepted, and same old "text me" messages start rolling in.  

[ittybitnot]

I have also thought that ...everything a scammer needs to know is on these forums, step by step, what they can get away with and how to do it.

Actually, the information is available all over the net.  The scammers are already at work, and I think educating members about what to do to protect themselves far outweighs  the chance of a "newbie" scammer taking lessons here. 

It always reminded me of some parents who refuse to let their children have any sex education, when actually that information might just serve to save their lives.  They think the "knowledge" will make them go out and 'do it'.  

[vintage-car-magazines]

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@3eyedfishcatcher wrote:

Posting the same thing serval times a day to keep the topic on the top of the page is spamming and not needed. When ever someone replies to a post it is moved to the top as if it were new. All that is really needed is a user to comment in the post to move it back up.

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Are you saying that responding to another poster....as happens in a discussion on a discussion board...is spamming?

Is this spam?

[prabutfa0]

* Asking to change the ship-to address after payment (clear INR win later).

[luckythewinner]

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@bearswatching wrote:

Lucky, may I add a 3rd possible reason? I believe, and it is just my opinion, that under no circumstances does eBay want a seller or buyer know there is the potential for fraud (scams) to occur on the site. Not ever. IMHO

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That is exactly what I meant when I wrote "giving new sellers that information would be admitting that scamming is a problem on eBay".

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@femmefan1946 wrote:

On the other hand, I was very happy to learn how southern Americans use "Bless your heart" and have made it a part of my everyday  curses.

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Bless your heart is one of those phrases that can be totally sincere, or pure sarcasm. It just depends on the context and tone of the conversation.

"The baby is sick? Bless his heart, I hope he feels better soon." - sincerity at its finest

Or

"Bubba broke his leg jumping off the barn roof with a parachute? Well bless his heart." - implying that Bubba is dumber than a bag of hammers.

As to kindly, the only time I've ever heard it used is in the phrase, "Thank you kindly." Otherwise we just use please - "Kindly Please pass the butter." "Could you kindly please include a $300 gift card with this, it's for my deaf and blind grandmother who broke her leg parachuting off the barn roof, bless her heart."

[bearswatching]

Sorry, totally overlooked that statement. My bad.

[prabutfa0]

I personally enjoy saying "thank you now" as well, I say it all the time, both good and bad and always in the exact same way... You never can tell from the tone of my voice what exactly I meant with it, and that's the whole idea.

Love it.

Super passive aggressive expressions.

Southern courtesy isn't always what it seems.

[vintage-car-magazines]

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@prabutfa0 wrote:

I personally enjoy saying "thank you now" as well, I say it all the time, both good and bad and always in the exact same way... You never can tell from the tone of my voice what exactly I meant with it, and that's the whole idea.

Love it.

Super passive aggressive expressions.

Southern courtesy isn't always what it seems.

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My favorite...

Thank you for your suggestion. I'll be sure to give it all the consideration it deserves.

[vintage-car-magazines]

Bump....

[vintage-car-magazines]

Bump

[rjtjum]

I've had to start pretty much all over because I'm separating. I'm going from 1913 feedback to 4. Scammers are after me this week. Guess they pick on people they think are newbies. 

1. Wanting me to email them directly because they have questions. Two days and no payment and they have their feedback "private". I blocked them and cancelled their order.

2. Making a Best Offer that is only a few dollars off asking price. Happened three times in two days. Declined offers and blocked them. 

3. Bidder's bio says they live in France with an Arizona address.

Warning signs:

Private feedback.

No purchase made in almost a year.

Member for many years with hardly any feedback.

Making Best Offers for only a few dollars off the asking price.

Conflicting shipping addresses. 

REPORT THEM and BLOCK THEM.