Quote:
Originally Posted by wayne mox  Mmm... I think we may be misunderstanding our points being made. When I say it's not a security issue, what I mean is that Ebay cannot be held liable. I think we tend to agree on most points. Common internet misunderstanding the way I read it.
My entire point is that Ebay is responsible for many scams because they do not police the category of auctions that need policing more than others. Car auctions do not need policing as much as expensive jewelry auctions, audio auctions, etc... due to the NATURE of the auction.
Scenario #1:
I am using a hijacked account from a seller who sold audio equipment. The sellers last transaction was only 6 months ago. I use photos and description of a 3-year old audio auction. I take Paypal for payment. I am in the USA. I respond to your emails, and provide additional photos you requested. You still feel uneasy, so you ask for a phone number. You call me on my cellphone. We talk, I sound cool and informed about the item. You hang up the phone feeling comfortable. You buy the item, make payment via Paypal, and I run off to the bank laughing all the way.
What did you do wrong?
What did Ebay do wrong?
1) What did you do wrong?
You didn't drive 1000 miles and pick it up directly.
2) What did Ebay do wrong?
They failed to have a searchable database that only THEY are able to access. A database of previous auctions for the last 3 years. A database where they can cross-reference old auction listing with current auctions.
They failed to maintain a random contact verification check with current users.
They failed to respond to a couple of GS users who thought they recalled that auction from 3 years ago. They only responded with automated Safe Harbour emails.
So I guess, if you feel everyone purchasing a $1000 item should be required to drive and pickup locally, then I can't argue with you.
The point is, people who have used Ebay a loooong time, and who are very cautious, HAVE been burnt by scammers on Ebay.
Ebay's system sucks. It's total crap. And no, I have never been burnt on Ebay. |
Again we agree to disagree (but it sounds like we are on part of the same page, the written word can suck for sure).
In the above scenario there are other options open to you to check out the seller and the item before you send the money.
Did you try cross referencing the phone number with the guy's address? Maybe ask him for a work number and then verify that he is really employed there? You can ask him some specific studio questions and see if the answers
feel right. Did you open a case with PayPal? They are VERY forgiving on the side of the buyer and they will investigate the matter, you will probably get some or all of your money back. Did you use a personal credit card? Some credit card companies will let you make a claim against the purchase and open a fraud investigation. Did you call the police in his area? They have to investigate it and if it was for $1000 or $2000 they will be interested, so would the FBI.
Also your scenario is not 100% accurate. I have NEVER seen an Ebay scam that meets all your criteria. As a good example of this, the auction that started this thread at the top of the page here...
1) The microphone is WAY WAY over priced, current bid is $15099.00. 99 times out of 100 scammer auctions are very distorted in price, either way high or way low.
2) The seller will take "Payment via check, money order ONLY."
3) The sellers Ebay account has shown no activity since Apr-30-00, that is 6 years ago.
4) The "seller" in this case looks to only have a 28 feedback but all (or most, I did not look at the 2nd page) were for items he or she bought, they never once sold an item.
5) The seller's account name is "elarry46130s5a" That is a little strange in it's self but I would send a question about the mic to him and see if there is anything to do with the name "Larry" in the reply. If the original email account was hijacked then that might not help but I would also look up "Larry" in the cross reference to the phone number / address search from above.
6) The auction is a private listing. Not a dead giveaway but it is unusual and with all the above weirdness I would say that the private listing is very strange indeed.
All of this I was able to glean from the info that is provided on the Ebay listing. I did not have to dig too far to figure any of this out and, again as a buyer it is my responsibility to check into the auction. Buyer beware! The more money the auction the more weight I will put on the points above, over about $500 any one of these things feels strange to me and I will save my money, I have plenty of other things I can and need to buy.