[starman]

What do you think? My auction CLEARLY stated PayPal payments only. A generic email AND a Nigerian address when I CLEARLY stated US only.

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Hello Seller ,
Sorry for the delay i am happy to be the buyer of your ebay item above.I would have love to pay with paypal but recently my account was hacked by fraudlent member from ebay ,i presenting the item to a relation oversea so it will be better if i use my dhl account to ship the item after i have sent the payment .Here is the Address the item will be shipped ===================

EX int'l ltd
plot <removed> area <removed> zone <removed> 'm' world bank
housing estate new owerri,
imo state
23483

i can pay DHL to come to your house to come pickup the package and ship it for me as i have an account with DHL.
as for payment i will be paying you with a westernunion money order.
its the fastest payment method by which i can pay you.
the money will be delivered to you at your address by westernunion agents after its been approved. you can cash the money order at any westernunion office or at any bank in your area.what i just need from you now to make the payment is the final cost [including shipping cost] and your full name and address where you want westernunion agents to deliver the money to you at.i can pay you today if you mail me the required informations to make the payment.
Westernunion will notify you via email immediately i make the payment .
Please get back to me as soon as possible.
Regards...
Mrs Jessy

[C.A.T.S. CEO]

Any thing on ebay that has to do with Nigera is spam.

[jrands]

It's a scam for sure. Yeah like CATS CEO said, basically anyone either from or have a shipping address to Nigeria is most likely a scam. Other signs to look for are as follows:
1) Very bad grammar
2) Are willing to pay over the asking price
3) They have a FedEx account and will pick up the item from you.
4) Will want an "intermediary" involved in the transaction who will oversee the sale. That is they will send their "payment" to the intermediary, then they'll ask the seller to ship the item and then the intermediary will send the "payment" to the seller once the seller sends the tracking number.
a) They will send you an email purporting to be from the USPS Online Money Order program giving you the directions
above.
b) The email address will be some USPS@freemail.com or something like that. Basically they will make it seem like they are
from the USPS or whatever company, but the account will be from some free email host.
5) They live overseas
6) They are buying it as a gift for someone else, usually a family member who has some sort of project or is starting school.
7) Will pay send you a check that is over the asking price and will ask you to just detract your asking amount plus a bit extra and send the rest back to them along with the item.
8) Will want payment through Western Union or MoneyGram or some kind of wire program.

Anyway, these are just some signs that a scam is taking place.

[starman]

It just sucks because now I have to go through the bullsh*t of filling out the forms, sending negative feedback, relisting the item, getting my listing fees back. *sigh*

[rickey939]

http://forums.macnn.com/89/macnn-lou...y-scam-artist/

[Person Man]

That's why I watch my auctions like a hawk and if someone from outside the United States bids on a "US Only" auction I go in and cancel their bids and say "Bidder can't read. US Only." for the reason.

[starman]

/boggle.

I sent this, thinking I'd never get a response:

You must pay for this item with PayPal as per the CLEARLY listed instructions. Failure to do so will result in negative feedback.

And I got this in return:

I will s end the payment ..

[itai195]

Anything regarding electronics I list only allowing bids by those with PayPal accounts. Seems to be working so far.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by itai195

Anything regarding electronics I list only allowing bids by those with PayPal accounts. Seems to be working so far.

I list money order/cashier's check only, with other payment options available by request. I'm not giving PayPal a cut of the profits unless the buyer whines about it. Then I let them pay with PayPal.

[KeriVit]

Call me ebay naive, can you cash a payment and THEN send?

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by KeriVit

Call me ebay naive, can you cash a payment and THEN send?

Some people clearly state in their item descriptions that checks must clear before items are sent.

[KeriVit]

I have only sold a few items and I am just trying to learn a scam. I know all the Nigeria stuff. But, if someone sends you money, you cash it, they pick up the item, then hoe is it a scam. I feel so dumb. (Regarding this.)

PS- I happen to know for a fact that many Nigerian pilots are making a mint as contractors in Iraq. So, I am wondering....

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by KeriVit

I have only sold a few items and I am just trying to learn a scam. I know all the Nigeria stuff. But, if someone sends you money, you cash it, they pick up the item, then hoe is it a scam. I feel so dumb. (Regarding this.)

They send you a bogus check that looks real enough to pass. Some international money orders take 10 days or more to clear, and many banks will give you the money up front until the check clears. So, you get check, deposit it and send the item to Nigeria (or wherever). Then 10 days later, check bounces, and you're out the money and the item. Scammed.

That's why I wait until things like money orders have cleared before sending items. 419 scams are also the reason why my auctions are US only, and clearly state that multiple times in the item listing. As in "I will only sell to people in the US. If you are outside the US then DON'T BID!"

Every single auction I find myself cancelling non-US bids, and leaving comments like "Bidder can't read. US ONLY."

Oh, and people in the US don't say sh*t like "Greetings of the season to you. I am Bob from Kentucky, stationed in Nigeria."

[KeriVit]

gotcha.