Author Topic: eBay criminal activities  (Read 1136 times)

Offline Yetanotherbike

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eBay criminal activities
« on: April 30, 2022, 10:51:59 AM »
I have moaned to various people and to eBay themselves about criminal activity that takes place almost every day on eBay, yet they deliberately choose to do nothing about it. I rather suspect that there are criminals on the inside of eBay that permit this to happen. I just wanted to draw it to the attention of other members of this forum in case anyone here was caught out with this scam. There is a Honda CB 750 in the listing today so this would be quite close to home. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175261215270?hash=item28ce61ea26:g:EtUAAOSwuMtiawIJ

The scam is quite simple, basically the scammer copies lots of pictures off eBay of desirable cars, bikes, boats, other high value items. A profile is hacked into, quite often one that isn't used too often so the true owner doesn't notice. A picture is unloaded and the object of desire is given a unrealistically low price. Along with the picture there is a short description which usually gives away that it is written by a non European shall we say. The text usually specifies to get the vehicle at the price indicated, DO NOT BID directly on eBay, but to contact the seller directly on a email address which is always shown in another picture. The upshot is that you are asked to wire the money to them and they will deliver the vehicle or give you a bogus address to collect it from.
But surprise surprise there is no address or vehicle and you have suddenly thrown away hundred or thousands of pounds.
I was surprised to see two of my classic cars for sale on there one day, both parked at my home!
The give away's are:-
1. The vehicle is always too much of a bargain
2. If you look at eBay a lot like me, you will see the same pictures over and over
3. They will always ask you NOT TO BID but to contact them via email
4. If you look at what else the buyer is selling, sometimes they have listed literally hundreds of other vehicles of all types

I have challenged eBay over this scam several times and never received a reply, I actually reported this bike and several others over 2 days ago and it is still listed, which makes me suspect criminal activity from within eBay.
The sad fact is, it must work occasionally or crim types wouldn't do it.
If you want a bit of fun that will indicate that the scam is up, put a massive bid on any vehicle of your choice. I put a bid of £32,000 on a Saab 96V4 that's worth no more than £5K. Sadly I was outbid ;D
But make sure you report it.

Hope it stops anyone here getting caught out.



Online SumpMagnet

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Re: eBay criminal activities
« Reply #1 on: April 30, 2022, 01:33:37 PM »
They don't want bids.....as that way, they risk getting a 'sale' and being charged fees.

But you got to be crazy to buy a high priced item by bank transfer outside of E-Bay when you can't stand in front of the thing and get the paperwork and the keys.
E-Bay really disgraces itself when it doesn't just remove obvious scams and practices that are CLEARLY outside E-Bay terms and conditions..... like not bidding and sending money with contact through an e-mail address.

Ignoring the fact the item is bogus and using stolen pics to scam, the thing breaches E-Bay t&Cs even if it was genuine.

They get paid now for motor ads, rather than just getting a commission on sale, so its making them money. Plus, of course, when someone gets suckered, E-Bay will just step away and point out you did not make any transaction through E-Bay and broke T&C rules. Ignoring the fact they made it possible!
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Offline Sesman

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Re: eBay criminal activities
« Reply #2 on: April 30, 2022, 01:53:40 PM »
I know, so let’s bid….

Offline Bryanj

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Re: eBay criminal activities
« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2022, 02:00:06 PM »
Cant its been pulled

Offline Yetanotherbike

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Re: eBay criminal activities
« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2022, 02:08:28 PM »
I should add, one day when I had nothing better to do, I played a little game of reporting the scammers and once the item was removed from the listing, see how long it took them to re-list. I saw them relisting within 20 minutes, so I reported them again and and eBay removed the listing again and within 20 minutes the scammers relisted again.
Scamming is illegal and also breaches eBay's terms and conditions, however they seem content to ignore it when it suits them. So probably the best way to foil them is to treat yourself to a large bid!
« Last Edit: April 30, 2022, 02:10:44 PM by Yetanotherbike »

Offline Yetanotherbike

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Re: eBay criminal activities
« Reply #5 on: April 30, 2022, 10:47:03 PM »
To illustrate my earlier message, this has gone live this evening. I have reported the listing, this evening 20.53 PM  so lets see how long this takes before eBay withdraws the listings.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234533229665?hash=item369b451461:g:zSEAAOSw0tZibZX7

Feel free to put in a good bid for the bike of your dreams.

Offline SteveD CB500K0

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Re: eBay criminal activities
« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2022, 06:42:05 AM »
Still there. Together with 1500+ similar listings from that seller.


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Online allankelly1

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Re: eBay criminal activities
« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2022, 08:43:07 AM »
EBay does not care what is going on

As long as it’s making money it will continue to turn a blind eye to scams like this

As alway it’s a case of buyer beware and if it sounds too good to be true it’s most like is and it’s just a scam


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Offline SteveW

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Re: eBay criminal activities
« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2022, 10:52:31 AM »
Ebay do not give a toss what happens on their site unless it affects their revenue.

I had a load of specialist electronic equipment I use for work stolen from my car. As usual the Police were completely uninterested so I kept watch on EBay and sure enough it all appeared about a month later. Seller was around 180 miles from me in Leeds.
The equipment was pictured with the calibration certificates with my name on them clearly visible.
Contacted EBay, their reply was only a law enforcement official can report stolen items so they were uninterested.
As the Police were also uninterested I was powerless to do anything. I contacted the seller who told me he bought them in good faith. I told him he was now knowingly selling stolen goods but he basically told me where to go so I lost the lot.

Whoever said crime doesn’t pay?
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Offline Oddjob

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Re: eBay criminal activities
« Reply #9 on: May 01, 2022, 01:46:50 PM »
You should have bought them Steve using PayPal, then claimed a refund on the grounds they were already yours so hadn't received the goods you paid for.
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