eBay

taojessy · ‎10-20-2020

Beware of this scam. I was wondering how it worked, and so I took the time to reply to a scammer and find out.

"I would like to purchase (your expensive listing) for the full asking price. Just text my number at 916-xxx-xxx with the eBay item number only". So I did. I gave them information that can be easily obtained from a phone book or a simple Google search. My name, address, they already had my phone number. So I'm not worried about identity theft. They sent a check to me in the mail. The check was for more than $5,000, almost double what I was asking for my listing. They asked me to deposit the check through an app and no need to go to the bank. After I deposit the check I would pay half the money to a "mover" who would come pick up the item I was selling plus the "moving fee". I heard that if you deposit a check online it will take a couple of days to clear and in that time the scammer would push me to give me the money and item. So I thought if I just cash the check and the bank doesn't turn me away and actually cashes the check and gave me the Benjamins I would be fine.

But no. After doing some Googling, I find out that FAKE CHECKS are a thing. And that you can cash the check, but it will be several weeks to SEVERAL MONTHS before the bank realizes the check is fake, and then hold YOU accountable for it since YOU cashed the check. They will put a black mark on your record and ask you to PAY THE MONEY BACK TO THE BANK.

Thankfully I didn't cash the check. But I had no idea fake checks were a thing that banks would not take responsibility for if they cash them and instead hold you, the bank customer, accountable rather than the entity that issued the check! Terrible.

But just a warning to watch out for fake checks, and don't respond to those "I'll buy your item if you text me" scams.

dbfolks166mt · ‎10-20-2020

So funny. I had a close friend who was a cyber security expert. When he retired he used to buy cheap old computers and load them up with every virus he could find naming them things like banking information, passwords.......... and wait for a call from a scammer telling him his computer was infected and or needed fixed immediately. He calmly replied O my gosh, plugged one of the junk computers in and allowed the hacker to take control. He always told me after a couple of minutes there was a statement something to the effect of O (biological-waste) followed by the phone going dead. He never got a repeat call and after time he never got anymore calls at all. He used to have so much fun doing this. Sadly he passed away a few years ago.

sin-n-dex · ‎10-20-2020

I got a call at 7am on Sunday morning from someone telling me my computer is broken.

I asked "what time is it?" She didn't have an answer. I got the impression the call originated overseas.

No normal person phones people at 7am (not if they're calling from the same time zone).

C.

bargainnation · ‎10-20-2020

I realize it is not just the elderly who fall for these scams. I just feel particularly sorry for those who are elderly as some of them might have limited income and it might take them longer, if ever, to replace the money they were scammed out of.

sin-n-dex · ‎10-20-2020

@bargainnation wrote:
I realize it is not just the elderly who fall for these scams. I just feel particularly sorry for those who are elderly as some of them might have limited income and it might take them longer, if ever, to replace the money they were scammed out of.

Sadly my partner, who is of retirement age, but not very elderly, falls victim to scams because he believes what people tell him.

I think he's aware of this flaw because he frequently contacts me for my advice on a situation where he might be scammed. A while back he was hawking an engagement ring on CL and the scammer offered to buy it right away. I went and looked at his add, he'd forgotten to show a picture of the ring or the appraisal verifying what it was. I told him only a scammer will buy your item sight unseen. (The transfer was to happen with Paypal, at that time I didn't know there were fake emails, I just told him the scammer can do a chargeback because that's the only thing I could think of... I wasn't selling on eBay or reading the forum back then).

A few months ago he got involved with trying to buy something online that I think was a bit shady... I suspected it to be a scam when they were promising the impossible. Then they asked for payment by Bitcoin. He deposited the funds into the Bitcoin machine and I had to explain to him that basically what he did was an ATM deposit, there's no way for the seller to know who paid them. This was confirmed when his purchase never showed up. At least this lesson didn't cost too much, for for him it was enough to lose.

C.

taojessy · ‎10-20-2020

No need to be a condescending jerk, I posted this to warn people.

taojessy · ‎10-21-2020

I guess you must be old, I had to "Google it" because seriously who uses checks anymore?

soh.maryl · ‎10-21-2020

And, again, limited income is not limited to the elderly.

jayjaspersgarage · ‎10-21-2020

Now that is poetic justice served. Sorry he passed away.

pow556029 · ‎10-21-2020

It can get a lot worse than that...
Once the bank finds out the check is fake YOU can be accused of presenting a forged check...

And for the amount in question, be accused of a felony!

Yes, you could potentially end up doing time in a prison for a crime you had no knowledge of and did not intend to commit. Granted, since you really weren't trying to swindle it is possible after much sweating and fast talking and a change of underwear and shorts you will most likely be sent on your way without ever seeing a judge, but it may cost you attorney fees as well.
Scary.

pow556029 · ‎10-21-2020

@taojessy wrote:
I guess you must be old, I had to "Google it" because seriously who uses checks anymore?

In real life I just deposited $4,831 worth of those paper pieces of handwritten money last night.
Granted, I cater to consumers who still use checks.

But seriously, more than a few people still do.

minnmooch · ‎12-10-2020

Thank you all for warning me and other ebay sellers about the 'text me' scam.

I just received such an offer on one of my current listings. I almost fell for the scam myself just now. I texted the person making the offer and they sent several texts that raised many red flags, including wanting my PayPal account address. They were very pushy, too. I did some digging and the user joined yesterday! I don't feel comfortable giving out that kind of information. So, I deleted their texts and declined their offer after googling ebay scams. Don't, I repeat, don't give out your PayPal account. Or, any personal information. Period! Another red flag: the person wanted me to purchase a gift card and they promised to send me payment for that gift card. That alone sent up red flags. That was their reasoning for wanting access to my PayPal account. Thanks again for warning me and other ebay users about the 'text me' scam. Always trust your gut! Thank goodness I trusted mine. Have any of you been asked to purchase gift cards in the 'text me' scam? As for the fake checks, scammers target Avon representatives with fake checks, too.

dbfolks166mt · ‎06-30-2021

This is a common Craigslist scam also. I have had some fun with this and had them send the check which I never opened and shredded. When they keep asking if I received the check I simply say I never saw the check, which I didn't because I never opened the letter, and suggest they may want to put a stop payment order on the check which if they do cost them $25+ dollars and send another check. I usually never hear from them again but I have had people send me a second check and simply repeat the process.