BEWARE - Possible detector scam on Ebay

[Anonymous]

Here's a link to this auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5748202885&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
Here is a transcript of my emails with this seller:
Q: Are these units new or used? Thanks
A: The units are brand new come with warranty ,bought them last week and now I am selling them on ebay for a profit.I will provide my customers who buy in bulk, a very generous discount. So rest assured that when purchasing from me, you are getting the most competitive price along with a seller that has customer satisfaction as a number 1 priority. My price for these units is $2745 The price includes shipping and insurance to your door. If you want 1 or 2 units please do not email me back because here I try to sell a lot. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to a continuing relationship with you. I am waiting for a confirmation if you intend to buy them now
Q: Would it be possible to pick the 5 units up from you so as to verify the condition of the units when paying for them? Alternatively, would you accept PayPal or escrow on these units if I pay the fees? I live close by in California. Thank you.
A: I'm not asking for any advanced payment so I can receive the money first and not you the product that you have bought or a deposit, all i need is a proof to see if you're really serious about this.I have something safe for you and in this way you'll
pay me the money only after you'll receive my item.So,all you have to do is to make the payment for the total amount using money transfer-western union for the receiver's name you'll use whatever name you want( brother's, father's, neighbour's) so you can be 100% safe that the money won't leave, and after you'll receive the package, Once payment is made and I can check the order status of the transfer, I will have the package delivered to your door fully insured. Once you receive the package, you can then call western Union and tell them your friend was not able to pickup the cash and simply re-route the funds to my own name. This is how you will send the funds at the Western Union office.
Name: (your own pick)
City: Sacramento
State:CA
Country: USA
Q: I will purchase if you will accept Ebay escrow and I will pay all fees. Here is a link describing the escrow service:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/escrow.html
A: Escrow takes to much time for me to complet it, if you will consider my option, I would be more then happy to sell it to you.
George
Q: Sorry George, since you will not accept escrow, PayPal or face to face payment and pickup I'll have to pass. Sounds like some kind of scam to me.
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[Anonymous]

I've already had several calls about this. Let me promise anyone interested; this auction price is WAY below even the Distributor price on these detectors. In the past there have been scams and rip offs on Explorers. Some dealers broke contract and shipped overseas via credit card sales, only to lose their Explorers to bogus credit card scams. These detectors were then sold around the world; but are STOLEN any way you look at it. Myself and other dealers would jump all over this if it were legit, but number one, it is a violation of Minelab's contract. Having been a Minelab dealer since 1992, I do not intend to jeopardize that contract. Western Union payment is also another "Red Flag." Nothing wrong with Western Union, but once your money is posted, you have no control over where it goes, and too bad if you lose it. Flag #2 is the suspicious way in which the seller chooses to do business. As Ebay warns its members: "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." Minelab is well aware of this auction. Dealers are prohibited from selling ANY new Minelab detector on Ebay, (and no sane dealer would lose this kind of money). Only used: and those must state the serial number and say NO Warranty! Seller has refused to give the serial numbers of the 5 Explorers. This is another flag. He may indeed have 5 Explorers. But if they are found to be stolen they can and should be seized by the FBI (over State lines would result in a felony). Buyer beware; I would take Michael's advice. Also, notice the bidders ID is hidden (private); another red flag. Hope no one gets hung on this. Good hunting, David @ Dixie

 

[Anonymous]

I would tell him you agree with his terms. Make up a story that you need the serial numbers because there was a bad batch of Explorer II's and you want to make sure these are not in the serial number range of the defective units.
He may ask what is the range of serial numbers, tell him your brother is the one that has the list and he is on a business trip. But you can give the serial numbers to his wife and when he calls her at night she can tell your brother to check the serial numbers of these against the list.
He may want you to give the serial numbers so he can tell you that these units are not in that range, so you need to plead ignorance of the exact numbers.
This sounds very hinkey to me, but then I'm just a former cop so I am suspicious of everyone.
Take care!
DOC

 

[Anonymous]

Dealers unfortunately go out of business for various reasons and they may have been bought in a lot. One wonders if the warranties are still good being hey were not bought from a dealer and you won't receive an invoice????..Anyway being a retired Cop myself like the idea of checking serial numbers and indeed dealing with a faceless public can be a venture.Basically on local classifieds have had good luck dealing with fellow treasure hunters, but E-bay has con men, general dealers, estate dealers and the like and have seen my friends get burned as they don't know a detector from a broom. Am sure there are reputable people also but do be careful on auction sites..

 

[Anonymous]

I feel that if the guy was on the up and up, he'd allow you to pick the detectors up. Also,this guys grammar and the odd use/choice of words indicates that he is from some foreign land.
The article below was in our paper just this morning:::
He's too embarrassed to give his name, for he fell victim to one of the nation's fastest-growing scams.
"I got hit hard," the 38-year-old Lower Southampton resident said Thursday as he recalled how he got taken by a woman in Italy who sells U.S. real estate on eBay, the Internet auction site.
He's out $6,170, and still doesn't own the 62 acres of rolling Virginia property that he bought Jan. 31. The woman cashed the money order he sent and then disappeared, according to police.
"I should have trusted my gut," the man said Thursday. "You know what they say, 'If it seems too good to be true ...' "
In a report, Lower Southampton police Officer Jeffrey Wilson said the man called police Tuesday because he had been unable to contact the woman. Her phone had been disconnected.
Reached at home, the man said he had convinced himself the sale was legit. He said he owns other bargain properties bought on eBay, including 20 acres in Texas and parcels in Arizona and New Mexico. The man, who works in construction, said he's holding on to the properties in case he wants to develop them someday.
For the deal in Virginia, he said he researched the seller's background and found she owned other properties in that state. Others who have dealt with her in the past reported no problems, the man said.
He sent the Western Union money order to a shopping center in Northern Italy. According to Western Union's Web site, the recipient was paid.
When he tried to contact her about the money, he couldn't get through to her because her phone was disconnected.
"I don't think it's a lost cause, but it looks bleak," he said about his hopes of getting his money back. "I feel like flying to Italy."
Hani Durzy, a spokesman for eBay, couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.
Scams perpetrated on Internet auction sites have grown tremendously over the years, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Reported problems with Internet auction sites have grown 93 percent since 2002, according to the Trade Commission, which on Tuesday released its 2004 report on consumer complaints. Problems included buyers who never received merchandise or who received merchandise worth far less than what they paid.
Nationally in 2002, the commission's database received 51,003 complaints against auction sites. Last year, the number increased to 98,653. Internet auctions rank No. 1 in the Top 5 consumer fraud complaints for 2004, the commission said, accounting for 16 percent of the 635,173 complaints filed with the agency last year.
Internet-auction fraud claims accounted for 26 percent of Pennsylvania's total of 14,786 complaints, the commission said.
Fraud complaints from Pennsylvania consumers in 2004 totaled 14,786
Complaints Percentage
1. Internet auctions 3,858 26
2. Shop-at-home and catalog sales 1,967 13
3. Prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries 1,519 10
4. Internet services and computer complaints 1,387 9
5. Foreign money orders 1,020 7

 

[Anonymous]

He obviously net shopped for his pictures because he has an EX1 in the mix. The auction says 5 Explorer 2s. The guy likely doesn't know the difference.
I just skimmed over everything so maybe I missed something.

 

[Anonymous]

from almost all buying.
that's a red flag to me.
make some small purchases, get a good feedback, then scam sell for thousands?
<img src="/metal/html/confused.gif" border=0 width=15 height=22 alt=":?">
don't get any ideas now. <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol">

 

[Anonymous]

To my knowledge only 3 explorers, s model, xs model and 11 model...

 

[Anonymous]

<img src="/metal/html/cry.gif" border=0 width=40 height=15 alt=":cry"> I Emailed him on Jan. 31, when the Auction first came out! George or (whatever his name is) offered them to me for $1869.00 Shipping included!
Told me if I will send him the money thru 1-800-CALL-CASH and pay with CREDIT CARD, he would end the AUCTION EARLY! PAYMENT to GEORGE JONES, C.A.
I ask him for a telephone number, because I could not link his name with the address thru the White Page Telephone Search!
I called Minelab about them on Wed. ( Feb.2 ) and told them about the AUCTION!
For more than 2 days, no response from GEORGE, then last night he Emailed me AND ask if I still Wanted them for $1,869.00! SAME PRICE... THE AUCTION WAS ALREADY AT $2,550.00!!
DUH!!!!!!!!!Smells Like a SCAMMING TO ME!!!
I even offered to have them picked up! NO CAN DO..
BETTER LEAVE IT ALONE, SOMEBODIES GOING TO GET HURT REAL BAD!! OUCH.............. <img src="/metal/html/cry.gif" border=0 width=40 height=15 alt=":cry">

 

[Anonymous]

sent it to ML and they notified ebay about it being a scam overseas I guess <img src="/metal/html/shrug.gif" border=0 width=37 height=15 alt=":shrug">.. ML knows about this now tho for sure

 

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty familiar with these guys, and ANYTIME you hear "Wire me the money via Western Union and I'll...." RUN LIKE HELL it's a scam. Once you send the money to the scammer, and he/she/it picks up the cash, you have virtually no recourse to get your money back, and the chance of you ever seeing anything for your cash is approximately the odds of finding a snowball in hell.

 

[Anonymous]

It's more likely he got it through "phishing". This technique involves sending a phony email designed to look like it's from eBay to a user with good feedback. The "sucker" if they haven't heard of this one goes to the URL thinking it's eBay but it's instead the scammer's site where the user is asked to "verify" their userid and password. Now the scammer has this info and proceeds to change the password and lock the legitimate user out of the account and use it to rip people off, and the buyers see the good feedback and think it's an "honest Joe".
You gotta be careful out there. Remember if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, no one is out to give you a free lunch, think with your head instead of your greed and you'll be ok. Also if you get emails like this, DON'T enter personal information of any sort at any site, go directly to eBay (or any other legitimate company) and contact them about it.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think too many could be taken if we bid the auction... to say $1,000,000 <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol"> I'll throw the first $10,000 if you're interested. <img src="/metal/html/biggrin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">

 

[Anonymous]

but if not, tomorrow blast on the bids. <img src="/metal/html/biggrin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">

 

[Anonymous]

i've received those emails myself from ebay, paypal, cable company, and some banks i never even heard of.
the internet has turned into a scam to some extent.
people better be careful, because it's getting worse and out of control.
the safest and best thing to do is, never respond to those emails.
just for kicks, i forward them to ebay and the likes, and they send back an email explanation of how the scam works every time. but, they also want you to forward these emails to them so they can try to stop the crooks.

 

[Anonymous]

Look at his only negative feedback. Hello!! <img src="/metal/html/nono.gif" border=0 width=22 height=19 alt=":nono">
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedbackFromBuyers&userid=george1583tui&items=-1&item=-1&de=off

 

[Anonymous]

Well, the auction ended for a selling price of $4251. Just think of the poor buyer that finds out he has just lost that much money! Heck, he could have bought a GP 3000 and an EXII with money to spare!
If you notice the seller switched the auction to a Private one so that the buyers ID was hidden. There is no way to tip off the buyer to do their homework before payment is sent.
A few tip-offs that other have flagged . .
1) Western Union only (no recourse if it is a scam)
2) Feedback is totally unrelated to the high dollar item he is selling
3) No local pickup offered
4) No phone number provided
Feel for the winner . . . .

 

[Anonymous]

Emailed this seller for serial numbers and he never responded. Guys like this should be locked up!

 

[Anonymous]

[No message]