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DavisH · Jan 19, 2006, 06:09 PM

PowerMac Ebay scam?

Hey guys I need your opinion this doesn’t feel right. This guy has about 7-8 products all ending at the same time. All high-end apple stuff (ultra cheap) and he has no feedback and absolutely no track record on ebay. He wants a Western Union Money Transfer for payment.

Any thoughts I really want to bid. I need your advice… I’m a student is it worth the risk?

Here is what I want to bid on:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Apple-PowerMac-G5...QQcmdZViewItem

Here is a link to all of his stuff:
http://search.ebay.ca/_W0QQsassZpeterseric12QQhtZ-1

If it is a scam I feel I have to warn all the people bidding

Thanks so much for the help!

MovieCutter · Jan 19, 2006, 06:19 PM

Scam........probably. Very fishy.

It should be obvious especially with wire transfer and money order. Broken english, no location. Internation, says he can be in London anytime? Not in USA. Lemme guess, the guy is Nigerian?

mduell · Jan 19, 2006, 06:39 PM

Scaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaam.

He's not even a registered eBay member, which means he cancelled his membership (rather odd when you're trying to sell stuff) or eBay suspended his account.

Mister Elf · Jan 19, 2006, 07:38 PM

If you have to ask, it's probably a scam.

Madrag · Jan 20, 2006, 03:34 AM

Don't buy!
looks very bad!

Eriamjh · Jan 20, 2006, 06:08 AM

It's always a scam.

Love Calm Quiet · Jan 20, 2006, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by DavisH

PowerMac Ebay scam?

...he has no feedback and absolutely no track record on ebay. He wants a Western Union Money Transfer for payment.

Sounds like he has all the references of ANYbody selling in a dark back alley.

Risk? Uhhhh... Depends on your back-alley skills.

meelk · Jan 20, 2006, 06:48 AM

any time you see western union for payment, it is undoubtably a scam.

ghporter · Jan 20, 2006, 08:28 AM

Someone selling this sort of stuff who can't even afford a cheap car so he can sell out of the trunk in a K-Mart parking lot has all the halmarks of an unsuccessful scammer. I hope he lives up to that.

<sessamee street>"Pssst. Wanna buy a.....Power Mac?"
"A Power Mac?!?!"
"SHHHHHHH!"</sessamee street?

besson3c · Jan 20, 2006, 10:21 AM

I personally wouldn't feel comfortable buying anything of substantial value over eBay, but that's just me.

turtle777 · Jan 20, 2006, 10:44 AM

Ok, so, if that's not a scam, what would be ?

andreas_g4 · Jan 20, 2006, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

I personally wouldn't feel comfortable buying anything of substantial value over eBay, but that's just me.

secondatinated.

mdc · Jan 20, 2006, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by meelk

any time you see western union for payment, it is undoubtably a scam.

exactly

Chuckit · Jan 20, 2006, 11:27 AM

Knife him and take his junk.

Love Calm Quiet · Jan 20, 2006, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

I personally wouldn't feel comfortable buying anything of substantial value over eBay, but that's just me.

I, personally, am not an eBayer, but my bro-in-law got a fantastic deal on a used car via eBay. It was actually from a NEW car dealer in Florida. I forget why he said the economics of eBaying worked well for him - maybe it's the national audience.

Bro-in-law drove the 1500 miles, vacationed in FL, and had himself a great car, dealer warrantee, etc. Still driving & loving it 2 years later.

BUT: You gotta know the dude/dudess you're dealing with. (Or see lots of reliable ratings from others as a substitute.)

DavisH · Jan 20, 2006, 12:13 PM

Well this whole thing got better when I emailed the guy a list of questions. Questions were simple and straight forward and included things like, Is the machine fully functional, what is the model #, why do you not have an ebay account, etc

He replied with the following not answering half the questions. It was sent exactly as is:

Hello,

the reason that they temporary suspend my user is because
i use an credit card that has expired today and i forget about
it i'm sorry for this.The product is new with full warranty.You will get the product with all the accessories that you need and be sure that it will be a fast and, of course,safe way to ship it . If any damage appears during the shipping I will support them all and if necessarry. I will give you the money back or the same product new, too. Regarding shippment and payment here are the details :
1. SHIPPMENT :
This is the options of delivery services this is very fast :
- UPS 2 days air insured.
2. PAYMENT :
For payment, the fastest ways to send money worldwide are Western Union wire transfer.To arrange the transfer, you must go in person to an Western Union office. From Western Union , you will receive a number (MTCN Money Transfer Control Number), you must send me that number as soon as you have arranged the payment so I can go to www.westernunion.com <http://www.westernunion.com/> to see if the transaction is arranged. As soon as I have verifyed the transaction,I will ship you the package with all the accesories. For
the reason that you will pay some money for the Western Union wire transfer fee, I will cover shipping and insurance.
3. INSURANCE :
The package will be insured at the delivery service for the amount of the money.
If somethig happens on the road,you will receive the insurance from the delivery service.
4. RETURN POLICY :
As soon as the package arrives, you will test the product and if it does not matches 100% to your expectations, you will return it in max. 5 days sience the arrival date. In this case I will send you the full amount back and you will send me the product in the original box and you will pay the return shipping and insurance.
The shipping will be with UPS 2 days air service and I will pay shipping and insurance
charges.
I will wait your reply.
Have a nice day and best regards...!!!
00447040119829

I replied with the following
(Sent as is)

Thanks for the reply

You didn’t answer all my questions (You just want to take my money)

Is there anything wrong with the machine?
What is the model number (Serial #)?
Any cosmetic issues?
Why are you selling it?

Davis

Note: You feel “dodgy” I would feel a lot better if I could use PayPal. I’m a student at can’t afford to be scammed on ebay.

He replied with the following after all of the items ended.

IF it is new seald in the box why do you ask if it has Any cosmetic issues.I sell it because i have a shop in Mornore Michigan and i sell this is what i do.It is new so is nothing wrong with the pc.Some people dont understand how to make bussines fast.i specified that you will test it for 7 days if not money back nd still lot of stupid questions.i recived 45 questions today and sold 15 pcs and you are frist to ask me this stupid questions after i specified in my first email that pc is new with full warranty.

Awesome deal if your willing to take the risk!

Thanks for all the replies

turtle777 · Jan 20, 2006, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by DavisH

Any thoughts I really want to bid. I need your advice… I’m a student is it worth the risk?

Don't do it. Being a student is no excuse for acting stupid. You are suspicious and have all reason to be. Don't let the greed take over.

-t

euchomai · Jan 20, 2006, 12:23 PM

If you aren't going to go for it I am!

turtle777 · Jan 20, 2006, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by euchomai

If you aren't going to go for it I am!

-t

DavisH · Jan 20, 2006, 01:11 PM

I never bid on it, but someone else did. If this person actually gets a computer then he got one sweet deal.

Look at the specs
Apple PowerMac G5 Dual 2.7Ghz LOADED w/ EXTRAS! 2.7 Ghz_5.5GB of RAM / Nvidia 6800 Ultra Graphics / 2x250GB HD _This PowerMac has been upgraded hardcore, so check out the specs below for all the details.
COMPUTER SPECS:
-Dual 2.7 Ghz G5 Processors_-Upgraded to 5.5GB of RAM (4 x 1GB sticks, 2 x 512MB sticks, & 2 x 256MB sticks)_-Upgraded to Nvidia 6800 Ultra Graphics Card (Fastest AGP Graphics Card On the Market!)_-2 x 250GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drives_-8x Dual Layer SuperDrive_-3 USB 2.0 Ports, 2 Firewire 400 Ports, 1 Firewire 800 Port_-Gigabit Ethernet, Optical and analog audio in/out_-Airport Extreme ready (requires Airport Extreme Card)_-56k Modem_-Mac OS X Tiger w/iLife 05 (iTunes, iMovie HD, iDVD, iPhoto, Garageband)
WHAT IS INCLUDED & CONDITION OF ITEM:
-PowerMac with all upgrades listed above._-Original Keyboard and Mighty Mouse_-Original Apple Box and Manuals_-Original Apple Software Restore DVDs (Mac OS X Tiger Install DVD w/ iLife 05)

Went for $1475 including shipping! The computer was at one point $5 grand.

Madrag · Jan 20, 2006, 02:04 PM

I like his english and the negotiation technique!

andreas_g4 · Jan 20, 2006, 02:25 PM

This PowerMac has been upgraded hardcore, so check out the specs below for all the details.

euchomai · Jan 20, 2006, 07:34 PM

I feel ripped off because I never got to bid on it. Does anyone else have a $5000 computer they sell me and not ever ship to me?

DavisH... THERE IS NO COMPUTER!

Cubeoid · Jan 20, 2006, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

Knife him and take his junk.

Step into my office, we should talk.

Chuckit · Jan 20, 2006, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by DavisH

Went for $1475 including shipping! The computer was at one point $5 grand.

The computer was at no point real.

ghporter · Jan 20, 2006, 08:56 PM

Having grown up in the area, I can categorically affirm that the native language of Monroe (or as the non-scammer put it, "Mornore") Michigan is indeed English. With that said, it's also quite possible that this person is not originally from there.

However....

Apple lists only one authorized dealer in Monroe:
COMPUTER WORKS INC
1429 N TELEGRAPH ROAD
MONROE, MI 48162
734-242-4539
Give 'em a call and see if they know anything about this auction.

(I bet they don't...)

meelk · Jan 20, 2006, 10:17 PM

Its a scam.
end thread plz.

turtle777 · Jan 21, 2006, 12:56 PM

end NOW !