Bike For Sale on eBay...BEWARE - SCAM

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Graham Smith

Guest
This bike has just gone on ebay for sale for only £3,000!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290154509635

Beware, this is a scam, as this bike was sold only a couple of weeks ago, and went for just over £18k. You'll see that the seller only registered a couple of days ago - it's a classic example of an eBay scam. The seller will probably contact you to say that he wants a deposit of £1000 or something. You'll send £1000 to him, and you'll never hear from him again.

If you also checkout the following link...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170138440413

This was the real ad that someone placed. As you can see - this seller has got good feedback and has been registered since 2003.

Don't forget the old adage - if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is!
 
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Graham Smith

Guest
To prove the point that this is a scam, I'm going to play this person along and will let you know what happens. Before you consider playing this game as I am, make sure you know what you're doing and that you don't give away any personal details etc.

Firstly, I have contacted the seller and told him that I'm really interested and that I'm prepared to travel anywhere in the country to have the bike. This is what they rely on - a bike that's far below the market value, and the potential buyer is blind to reality, as all he can see is a bargain.

The seller' just sent back this reply...

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Hello,

I am selling this Vincent for £3,000.00 including delivery anywhere in UK.I set at a "very, very low" price to guarantee a sale. The only reason is that I need cash for a family emergency. I have to tell you that I'm currently out of town with some major problems so pick up/view isn't an option. If you want to buy this vehicle email me back with your full name and address to start the official procedure trough eBay. They will send you a notification with ALL the info regarding delivery, purchase protection and refund policy so please provide your details before more questions. You will find 90% of answers in that notification from eBay!

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I'll let you know what happens from here in due course!
 
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Graham Smith

Guest
They seller has contacted me again with an e-mail which looks exactly like it has originated from eBay.

They say that if I pay via something called 'Money Gram International', they will take care of shipping, insurance and everything.

Now, imagine if you think you're really getting a Vincent Twin for £3k. You may well be so excited that you've bought a bike for far less than its market value, you may lose control of your senses - and that's what these guys rely on. Once you pay via 'Money Gram International', you'll have no comeback via eBay or anyone else, because as far as they are concerned, the deal has taken place outside of the eBay system.

As I said previously, if the deal looks too good to be true, then it probably is. If you're ever in any doubt as to the authenticity of an eBay sale, then please do ask someone for their opinion - otherwise you could lose out in a big way!
 
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rapcom

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Absolutely right, Graham. Far too low a price, refusal to allow viewing or even collection, no cash in person or a cleared cheque, but demanding payment via a suspect payment system-this has to be wrong. Shouldn't this be passed to the police as attempted fraud ? At the very least it should be notified to eBay to get the sale withdrawn, and the seller blocked.
Rapcom
 
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Graham Smith

Guest
I did pass the details onto eBay, but they always take ages to remove a suspicious item. The police probably won't be interested, as no crime has taken place - yet!

The point is, if you pay for it via PayPal, then you've got some sort of comback on the item. The problem is, these guys know that, and because of this, they insist on other forms of payment.

You've got to think about this. If some 'bloke' phoned you up out of the blue that you've never heard of before, never met and didn't know where he lived. He then told you that he had a bike for sale and that if you sent him £3k in cash, he'd deliver it to your front door. Would you trust him? I know I wouldn't.

They also 'hide' behind various e-mail addresses etc, so it'll be incredibly difficult to trace them.

Just remember when you buy something on eBay from a seller with little or no rating/feedback - 'buyer beware!'
 
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Graham Smith

Guest
eBay have finally removed the listing after I e-mailed them about it two days ago!

I have just received another e-mail from the seller. Bear in mind the seller can still get in touch with me even though the listing has been ended, because he now has my e-mail address...

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Sir, Please read the notification from ebay to find the payment instructions .The payment must be sent via Moneygram money transfer. Cash on delivery is not available because the shipping company doesn't have this service .
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If you ever pay for anything on eBay using MoneyGram or WestUnion Money Transfer, then you're a fool. These methods of payment are to be avoided at all costs.

Needless to say, I have now sent the seller a reply that casts doubt on the marital status of their parents! :D

If only one person reading this thread has learnt something, then that can't be a bad thing.
 
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Graham Smith

Guest
Now the seller realises I'm not interested in paying any money and that I've been playing him along, he's sent an e-mail (the contents of which I can't include here for obvious reasons).

As it's an e-mail that he's had to write himself, it's perfectly obvious English isn't his native tongue, and without appearing racist, I wouldn't be surprised if he was based somewhere in Africa (Nigeria perhaps?).

If you ever come across a blatantly fraudulent item for sale on eBay, they have issued me with a telephone number that they can be contacted on for instant removal of an item. The phone number is 020 8080 2100.
 
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