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From eBay Trust & Safety (Safe Harbor)
Today's Scams In Progress
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?threadID=2000304195&tstart=0&mod=1169594248663
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pi_r_square (11 ) Jan-23-07 14:15 PST
Pi's Postoffice Wall
Here is a list of some scams recently pulled on eBay members
Protect yourself against them!
(There are several variations on these scams, so be vigilant!)
Partial List of Ongoing Scams:
- Spoof eBay Email Encounter
- Unsafe Safety Board
- Hijacked Account
- Fake Escrow Account
- Indonesian Credit Card Scam
- The Western Union Wiggle
- Win A Car Contest
- UPS Exchange Collect Confusion
- Counterfeit "Second Chance" Offer
- Company Check Crumbles
- Deceptive Double Whammy
- ICQ, I Scam U
- Buy-It-Now, But Off eBay
- Spoofed eBay Pages
- Drippy Drop Shipper
- Dangerous Questions
- Phony escrow.com
- African Adventure
- Weird Wedding
- Uninsured "Insured Payments"
- Reverse Western Union Wiggle
- Fake Money Orders
- Compromised Credit Card
- FedEx® Follies
- Empty eBay Endorsement
- Tempting Triangle Toss
- Counterfeit Cancellation
- Phony FAX Verification
- Phony PowerSeller Proposal
- Dangerous Dispute
- The Great Gift Gyp
- Where's The Warehouse?
- Compromised Cancellations
- Play it Again, Sam
- Double Signin Signin Scam Scam
- Email Me to Get Scammed
Handy links to visit to arm yourself against scams or learn what to do if you were scammed.
Scenario:
Fraudsters frequently forge "email from eBay", and ask recipients to click on a link to update their ID info. Some time after, the scammed eBayer finds his/her account hijacked, or his credit card used.
Protection:
NEVER click on a link in an email message that supposedly takes you to an eBay ID page. eBay never asks for sensitive information in an email! If you want to go to that page, MANUALLY enter the address into your browser.
Remember, all official email from eBay will be found in your "My Messages" section of your "My eBay".
If you see one of these emails
FORWARD the email, with full headers, to [email protected]
Click on eBay's official info on Spoof emails for information about emails similar to yours.
If you think someone has stolen your eBay ID or password, read these pages for valuable information:
More examples of spoof emails, and some help in case you were spoofed may be found at:
Remember, there are many variations of these scams.If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
- eBayer bids on a too-good-to-be-true auction, and soon gets an email supposedly from the seller, offering the buyer an unbelievable deal if buyer sends money (usually by Western Union Money Transfer) right now.
- eBayer replies to email, asking for some kind of protection if money is sent..
- Fraudster fakes email from eBay, claiming eBay will cover any losses from their $40,000 Safety Board reserve. (Alternately, the faked email promises protection via "Square Trade" or "Trust and Safety" or some other trustworthy name)
Protection:
- NEVER succumb to an off-eBay "deal", particularly one for expensive widgets.
- NEVER use Western Union instant cash transfers to a stranger
- Neither eBay nor Square Trade are escrow companies. See Fake Escrow Account for more information.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
Fraudster obtains an eBayer's ID and password, and starts posting phony auctions using the "good name and feedback" of that eBayer.
Protection:
- Protect your own account by observing the warning given above, and by checking your "My eBay" page frequently, even if you are not a seller.
- Remember, ALL official email from eBay will be in your My Messages section. Don't fall for a "phish" email from a scammer! That info can be used to hijack your account at a later date.
- Protect your pocketbook by being vigilant. If a seller that usually sells inexpensive widgets is now selling expensive digital cameras, beware! If the seller's previous feedback shows activity only as a buyer, and is now selling Harley Hogs, beware! If the seller's eBay registration is in the USA, and the auction page indicates the seller is now in Europe, beware!
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
Fraudster offers eBayer a too-good-to-be-true deal. eBayer intelligently asks that the transaction be done through an escrow account. Fraudster agrees, indicating he doesn't know the eBayer, and an escrow account will protect him as well. Fraudster gleefully offers a fake escrow account, and eBayer sends money.
UPDATE
eBay now recommends ONLY escrow.com. The fraudsters have already switched tactics. Click here for more information.
Protection:
You can learn more about good and bad escrow services here:
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Indonesian Credit Card Scam
Scenario:
eBay seller receives email from overseas buyer (usually from Indonesia or the Philippines), offering to buy the widget immediately, using PayPal or other money transfer service. Buyer usually offers an additional inducement to quickly send the widget to Indonesia, and to get sale completed soonest. Seller does so, only to find the card number was stolen, and PayPal or other card handler takes the money back.
Seller thus loses the item, the payment, and possibly additional fees.
Protection:
Beware of such offers. If you use PayPal as your credit card handler, make sure you follow ALL of the requirements of the PayPal Seller Protection Policy.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Western Union Wiggle
Scenario:
eBay bidder sees a great offer for a very expensive widget. Listed payment methods might be Western Union Money Transfer, certified check or "contact seller". Bidder may receive email from "seller", stating extra widgets are available, and free shipping might be available, but bidder must use Western Union Wire or Money Transfer to send money right away, or offer will disappear. Bidder pays by Western Union Wire. Item never arrives. Money disappears, as does the supposed seller. (Can be a precursor to the "Unsafe Safety Board" scam)
Protection:
NEVER, never, NEVER use Western Union Money Transfer to send money to somebody who is not your relative or VERY well known to you! Read what the Western Union folks have to say about this problem.
Update:
As of Jan 15, 2006, eBay began enforcing its policy of forbidding sellers to solicit cash, Western Union, Moneygram, StormPay, Greenzap, e-gold and some other means of sending money. Read their updated policy here.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
eBayer gets email supposedly from eBay, announcing the recipient's eligibility to win a Ford Explorer (or other desirable car). eBayer is invited to click on a link to fill out a form to confirm eligibility.
eBay doesn't offer such a prize. The information is used for later scams.
Protection:
NEVER click on a link in an email to log into eBay!!! Instead, manually log in to your My Messages account to see if the email was REALLY from eBay. (You can also forward the suspicious email to [email protected] to get an answer)
Also see the The Great Gift Gyp
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: UPS Exchange Collect Confusion
Scenario:
This is another escrow service scam. Fraudster offers a service whose name is similar to that of the real UPS Exchange Collect service, and points the eBayer to a website whose name is similar to ups.com. eBayer is fooled into thinking United Parcel Service of America, Inc. is insuring the transaction, and sends money to a scammer site.
Protection:
UPS does indeed offer an escrow service called "UPS Exchange Collect". The service is "a fast, secure, simple payment alternative for financial settlement of international trade". If you are offered this service, manually enter the ups.com site into your browser rather than clicking on something in a potential scammer's email.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Counterfeit "Second Chance" Offer
Scenario:
Soon after losing an auction, the second place bidder gets an email, supposedly from the seller, stating the highest bidder pulled out of the sale, so the item is available. Second place bidder replies, and gets another email, telling bidder to transfer money, usually by Western Union Instant Cash. Sometimes the second place bidder gets an email from "eBay" stating the auction is "insured", or "guaranteeing" that the seller is honest.
The buyer sends the money. The widget doesn't arrive. The buyer learns it was a scam, and the money did not go to the real seller.
Protection:
Legitimate second chance offers exist. They can be offered if the high bidder backs out of an auction, or if the seller has multiple, identical items. Second chance offers will ALWAYS go through the eBay mail system, and will always be handled through another eBay auction -- a Buy-It-Now, set up solely for you.
- Second chance offers are NOT conducted directly via email or via auctions on which other people are bidding.
- If the offer is genuine, these second-chance offer auctions will be visible in the second-chance bidder's MyeBay pages. You can see Second Chance Offers that you have received in the "All Buying" section of My eBay Views, under the "Didn't Win" section. You can also see Second Chance Offers that you received in the "Buying Reminders" section or directly in the Closed View Item listing.
- Second Chance Offer emails with the subject of “Message from eBay Member” are fake.
- Real Second Chance Offers come directly from eBay and appear in My Messages with a blue background and subject that states: "eBay Second Chance Offer for Item..."
If you suspect you may have received a phony second chance offer, forward the email to [email protected]
Remember, there are many variations of these scams.If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Company Check Crumbles
Scenario:
Winning bidder informs seller that bidder doesn't have personal checkbook handy, but is willing to send seller a recently-issued company check. The company check's dollar amount is much greater than the auction amount, but the bidder tells seller that the bidder will trust him to refund the difference with a money order or Western Union Instant Cash, after check clears.
Check appears to clear seller's bank. Seller ships widget and money order. Soon thereafter, bank informs seller that the check is fraudulent, and has not been paid to the bank, so the money is deducted from seller's account. Seller loses widget, money order, and full amount of check!
UPDATE:
Scammers now sending a "certified check" or phony money order for much more than the auction price. Use same safeguard to protect yourself -- check with your bank to assure the bank on which the check or MO is drawn exists, and the account has sufficient funds before proceeding. Assure check is PAID (not merely cleared) before proceeding.
Protection:
- Do not take third-party checks! If you do accept checks, and if the dollar amount is high, wait for the check to be PAID rather than just to CLEAR (talk to your bank representative for definitions of these terms). Do not exchange "good as gold" money orders for possibly fraudulent checks!
- Try to limit accepting money orders to those issued by USPS only. They are harder to forge.
- Suspect ANY bidder who wants to pay more than you asked, and wants some kind of refund of the difference.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Deceptive Double Whammy
Scenario:
eBayer with PayPal account gets email from total stranger located overseas. Stranger says he cannot handle PayPal because of his location, but wants to sell to people who use PayPal. Stranger offers eBayer a deal: eBayer will receive a percentage, if eBayer accepts funds from stranger's auctions in his PP account. eBayer is asked to wire money to stranger, after the PayPal deposits are made.
(Optionally) Suspicious eBayer wants some protection, so accepts the deal, but on the condition that money will be sent only AFTER copies of tracking numbers are sent to eBayer.
The scam can go in any of several directions at this point.
- The auction winners pay with fraudulent funds. PayPal notifies eBayer that the transfer has been cancelled, AFTER the eBayer wired funds to the stranger. eBayer is unprotected, because he is not the seller of record or for another failure to follow seller protection rules. eBayer loses all the money. eBayer cannot recoup money that was wired from his bank. eBayer loses real money equivalent to the value of the auctions plus Western Union fees.
- The winners pay with money from hijacked accounts or other illegal gains. eBayer wires money to overseas stranger, thus laundering the money for the scammer. eBayer enjoys his percentage, until tall men in trenchcoats knock on his door, with federal warrants.
- The stranger ships a brick. Buyers complain to PayPal. PayPal agrees a brick is not a widget, and reverses the payment. Seller again out the money he wired to stranger, in trouble with PayPal, and may be in trouble with the buyers and eBay.
- The stranger ships a counterfeit or stolen widget. Buyers detect fraud and complain. eBay, PayPal and local police pound on eBayer's tender head, after extracting real money from his account to reimburse buyers. eBayer loses double the auction value (since he already wired the money to the stranger), and may find himself talking to a judge.
- Stranger and buyers are in cahoots. Buyers claim nonreceipt of widget and stranger says wired money never arrived due to eBayer's fault. Buyers complain to PayPal and eBay, and win their case. eBayer owes buyers a refund. Stranger tells eBayer that Guido and Salvatore will visit eBayer at next opportunity, unless eBayer wires the money again. eBayer pays again. eBayer loses triple the money and double Western Union fees.
Protection:
Do not pretend to be an escrow service. Do NOT wire money to strangers. Do NOT get between two possible sharpsters.
PayPal says:
Do not use your PayPal account to collect and transfer money for someone else, or to list or purchase goods on behalf of someone else on a shopping site (e.g. eBay). These types of activity are often conducted as forms of money laundering or mail fraud, and may result in significant criminal penalties.
If someone contacts you with any of the above requests, you should deny the request and Contact Us immediately.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
eBay / PayPal member receives an email from an overseas location, offering the member 20% of proceeds if member joins the overseas money exchange or escrow organization. Email promises lots of money, as (they claim) many overseas users can't use PayPal. Rather than use email for further contacts, the scammer tells prosepective member to use a specific ICQ address.
Member joins, and soon starts receiving money in their PayPal account. Member sends 80% of the received money to the overseas address. Member is happy until tall men in trenchcoats carrying FBI badges knock on door and accuse member of money laundering.
Protection:
There are plenty of legal ways to send money to overseas locations. Don't put your PayPal (or bank) account at risk by pretending to be an amateur / private escrow service.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Buy-It-Now, but off eBay
Scenario:
eBay seller has a "click here to buy it now" link in the auction, but it is NOT the official eBay Buy-It-Now button. Buyer clicks on link, and is invited to buy / pay for the widget. Transaction takes place off-eBay, and buyer is unprotected in case of nondelivery.
Protection:
If you Buy-It-Now, make sure you are clicking on the official eBay button, and your transaction takes place ON e-Bay.
Help prevent this scam from happening again, by reporting the problem to eBay.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
eBay buyer bids on a camera or other expensive widget. Buyer gets email, apparently from an honest eBay seller, telling buyer that seller will set up a special, private Buy-It-Now on eBay for that widget. Seller includes a link to the auction page to make things easy.
Buyer clicks on the link, and sees the auction page. Everything looks great. Buyer clicks on the BIN icon and begins the financial process.
Unfortunately, the "eBay page" is spoofed. Although some browsers show the page as being hosted at eBay, the link takes advantage of a bug in some browsers, and doesn't show ALL of the link ... which really takes the buyer to some non-eBay site. The page looks EXACTLY like an eBay auction page, and the beginning of the address says "cgi.ebay.com/" but the page is NOT at eBay, and the payment goes to a scammer.
Protection:
Get the latest patches for your browser. If you click on a link to go to an eBay auction page, look hard at the address block in your browser. Look harder at the last part of that address. It should NOT be your login name! Now look in the middle of that address. It should NOT be some other website name! Try clicking on the "watch this item" link in the spoof page. It might not activate.
Help prevent this scam from happening again, by reporting the problem to eBay. Click HERE to go to the report page, or to learn more about how to make sure you are visiting an eBay page.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
eBayer gets an email from a "wholesaler", asking the eBayer to sell the wholesaler's goods. Wholesaler states he is new in the market, and doesn't have an established eBay feedback record, so would prefer the established eBayer sell the widgets because more purchases would be made from somebody with a good FB record. Drop shipper promises to send goods soon after payment, directly to the auction winners.
eBayer is offered 20% - 50% of the final bid, or maybe all the profits after some minimum is met. eBayer happily lists dozens of the wholesaler's widgets, and is even happier when most of the auctions close at very good prices.
eBayer then sends money to the drop shipper, and awaits positive feedback from the buyers. Unfortunately, eBayer receives complaints of nondelivery, and starts making excuses on behalf of the wholesaler. Eventually, eBayer realizes no goods will be delivered, gets booted from eBay, and suffers financial loss from PayPal and/or credit card companies. eBayer's credit rating is ruined.
Protection:
There are many honest drop shippers and wholesalers that will offer decent deals to eBay sellers. Be vigilant, and verify any "offers" from supposed wholesalers / drop shippers. Check the history and background of such companies. Always be suspicious of an unsolicited proposal to make money!
Also see the Tempting Triangle Toss scam.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
eBayer gets an email, supposedly via the eBay Mail Forwarding System, with a title something like "Question from Buyer". The email contains a question about an auction, and a link to an auction page. eBayer may note that the auction is NOT something they are selling; but, to make sure, eBayer clicks on the link and seemingly is taken to the eBay signin page or a supposed auction page.
Phony signin page is used to get eBayer's ID info for later scams.
Phony auction site loads a Trojan or keystroke tracker on the eBayer's computer. Some of these programs have been known to disable antivirus software. Later, nasty things happen to the computer or the eBayer's account.
If the eBayer answers the email rather than clicking on the auction link, the scammer then has the eBayer's real email address, and can add it to a list of future potential scammees that may get "email from eBay" telling them to verify their eBay and PayPal data.
Protection:
- If you get a "Question from Buyer", do not click on any embedded links unless you are ABSOLUTELY SURE they go to an eBay page and refer to one of YOUR auctions!
- NEVER click on a link to log into your eBay or PayPal accounts.
- If you do visit one of these phony sites; make sure your antivirus and antitrojan software has not been compromised, run the programs and change your passwords. If you think your antivirus program has been affected, go to http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp and allow their program to scan your computer.
Also see the Spoof eBay Email Encounter
Counterfeit Cancellation scam
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario #1:
eBayer inquires about an expensive widget. Seller returns email, stating that there are lots of "unserious" buyers, and he would prefer to be paid through escrow.com, because it is recommended by eBay. Seller claims he has sent the widget to escrow.com for inspection and storage. Seller requests buyer's home address, and payment via Western Union Money Transfer. Soon thereafter, buyer gets an email from "escrow.com" stating the widget is in their warehouse, and it is OK to send the seller the money.
The seller sends money as requested, but never gets the widget.
Scenario #2:
eBay buyer wisely chooses escrow.com to help assure a good transaction on an expensive widget. Buyer manually logs into escrow.com, reads all the information, and deposits the money.
Some time later, buyer receives an email from "escrow.com" asking buyer to "click here to log in" to verify some information. Buyer clicks, enters ID data for confirmation.
A little later, buyer learns that escrow.com released his money, even though the widget was not received! The "confirmation" email was a spoof!
Protection:
The REAL escrow.com does not store items. Neither do they send transaction emails with shipping instructions. They do NOT accept money via Western Union or MoneyGram. The REAL escrow.com will collect your money, but the widget is sent directly from the seller to the buyer. All parties sign into escrow.com for more info or tracking (again, escrow.com does not send transaction emails).
Copy and paste this link into your browser's navigation box, OR type it in yourself:
That is a safe way to get to escrow.com. Don't click on a link in an email to get there. Read their FAQ and other information.
UPDATE:
Some scammers use nasty software that makes your computer think it is going to escrow.com when the site is something else. (Tecchies: it modifies the HOSTS file). Remember: when you visit escrow.com, the address window should show the letters "https" at the beginning of the link. The "S" is important! It shows you are on a secure link.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
eBay seller receives email from a bidder or potential buyer claiming to have a store (or a relative) in Africa (usually Nigeria). "Buyer" offers to use his own UPS or FEDEX account to ship the widget to Africa, and offers guaranteed payment with Western Union, PayPal or a money order. (Sometimes, the "buyer" does not bid on the item, but encourages an "off-eBay" transaction.)
The seller soon gets a "confirmation email" from the "payment service", stating money is on its way. Seller also gets an emailed UPS or FEDEX label, and a very near term date the truck will arrive to pick up the shipment.
Seller believes all the emails, and is further convinced when UPS or FEDEX arrives to pick up the shipment. Since all seems to be going well, the delay in receiving payment is ignored; after all, the payment was confirmed!
A few days later, UPS or FEDEX notifies the seller that the shipping label was charged to a stolen account or paid with a stolen credit card, and the seller is liable for full payment of the shipping costs! In addition, the supposed payment is proven to be fraudulent, and the money doesn't appear. Seller loses the widget, AND has to pay for its shipment to Africa!
Protection:
- Don't engage in "off-eBay" deals.
- If you receive a money order or cashier's check under the circumstances listed above, take it to your bank for confirmation. Ask them to check with the Department of Justice.
- If you receive PayPal payment, be aware that the Seller Protection Policy will not cover this transaction (PayPal Seller Protection Policy is invalid for US sellers whose buyers are not in the USA, Canada or the UK). Consider clicking on the PayPal REFUND button. (The PayPal payment is fraudulent, and will be withdrawn from your account in any case)
- Call UPS or FEDEX to cancel the pickup, and bring the label (and hardcopy of accompanying emails) to them for further investigation.
- Make sure your eBay Selling Preferences are set to block bids from countries to which you do not ship.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
eBayer gets an email, telling a story about an upcoming wedding (or birthday or other event). The sender wants to surprise the bride and groom with a gift, but doesn't want them to know who sent it. The sender asks the eBayer to send the auctioned widget (or money via Western Union Cash Transfer) to the bride and groom. In return, the sender says he will not only reimburse the eBayer, but will add a nice cash sweetener for the eBayer's troubles.
The eBayer agrees, and awaits a (check, money order, PayPal payment). The payment appears, and the eBayer sends the widget or Western Union Cash Transfer to the bride and groom.
A few days later, the payment is found to be from fraudulent funds, and the eBayer's bank (or PayPal) retracts the deposit. The eBayer loses his money.
Protection:
- Don't engage in "off-eBay" deals.
- If you receive a money order or cashier's check under the circumstances listed above, take it to your bank for confirmation. Ask them to check with the Department of Justice.
- If you receive PayPal payment, be aware that the Seller Protection Policy will not cover this transaction (PayPal Seller Protection Policy is invalid for most overseas locations). Consider clicking on the PayPal REFUND button.
- Even if you get the money, money laundering is a crime. You may find large men in trenchcoats ringing your doorbell.
Also see Company Check Crumbles for a variation on this theme.
Remember, there are many variations of these scams.If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Uninsured "Insured Payments"
Scenario:
eBay buyer gets an email from a seller that states the seller paid extra money for "eBay Insured Payments". Supposedly, since the seller is a member of "The eBay Purchase Protection Program", the buyer will be refunded up to 100% or $10,000 if anything goes wrong with the transaction.
The eBayer agrees, sends the money to the seller, and waits ... and waits ... and eventually sends an email to "eBay Purchase Protection Program".
The email bounces. There is no such program. The seller scammed the buyer into believing there was an escrow program other than the one eBay approves.
Protection:
- Don't engage in "off-eBay" deals.
- Use ONLY safe means of transferring money. eBay states that escrow.com is the only "approved" escrow establishment.
- Also see Fake Escrow Account for a similar scam.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Reverse Western Union Wiggle
Scenario:
eBay seller gets an email, supposedly from some payment system, stating that a buyer's bid is pending. A little while later, a similar email states the buyer's bid has been approved, a money order is being prepared, and it is OK to ship the widget to the buyer. Additionally, in order to receive the money, the seller must send certain personal identification info to "Western Union" (or the payment system).
The seller agrees, ships the widget and fills out the personal information.
The money never arrives, OR a fraudulent money order does. The seller soon gets hints that his/her ID has been stolen.
Protection:
- If any payment system notifies you "the money is on the way", wait for the money to arrive, and exchange the paper for cash before shipping the widget!
- Also see African Adventure for a similar scam.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
eBay seller-of-expensive widget receives message from successful buyer, asking if seller will overnight express the expensive widget, if buyer quickly sends a money order with extra funds for the express shipment.
The seller agrees. Money order appears quickly. Seller ships the widget immediately after receipt of the MO.
The money order is later found to be fraudulent, and the seller loses both the expensive widget and the money
Protection:
- Consider accepting ONLY USPS money orders, since they are more difficult to counterfeit.
- If you accept a NON-USPS money order, call the issuing bank to make sure the document is legitimate.
- Cash your money order, and ship only after you have the dollars in hand.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Compromised Credit Card
Scenario:
Credit-card holder gets a phone call, supposedly from his/her bank or credit card company. Caller states that an online ecommerce site was hacked, and many credit card numbers were stolen. Caller asks credit card holder to read the credit card number, to see if that number was compromised.
The holder reads the numbers, and the caller confirms that number was compromised. The caller then asks the holder to verify his/her identity by reading the security code on the back of the card.
The holder does so. The caller thanks the holder, and states that the old card will soon be cancelled, and a new one will be sent soon. Meanwhile, the cardholder should not use that card, but should await delivery of the new one. "Don't worry if you see some unexpected charges on your invoice, we will take care of them".
Protection:
- If you are unsure of the identity of the caller, call your bank or CC company by using the number on the back of your credit card. Do not call them back using a number given by the caller, unless you can independently verify that number belongs to your bank or CC company.
- If you received one of these calls, and answered the questions, call your bank or CC company NOW and tell them what happened.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
An eBay auction's Terms of Sale include PayPal payment and shipping by USPS within 48 hrs of payment clearing. The auction is won by some bidder. The seller receives an email from buyer, stating that PayPal will be used to pay, but seller must use buyer's FedEx [or other shipper] account to immediately send the widget overseas to a third party.
Seller sees PayPal deposit, uses emailed FedEx shipping numbers, and ships widget.
A few days later, PayPal notifies seller that funds were fraudulent, and PayPal Seller Protection does not apply because shipment is overseas. About the same time, seller gets note from FedEx that account number was stolen, and seller owes FedEx all shipping costs.
Seller loses widget and must pay shipping company.
Protection:
- You spent some time developing your Terms of Sale. Follow them! Buyers should not be able to change YOUR Terms of Sale after auction close!
- Make sure you are familiar with eBay and PayPal Protection Policies. It is not their fault if you don't follow them!
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Empty eBay Endorsement
Scenario:
USA eBay buyer gets an email offering him/her a fantastic deal on an expensive, slightly-used (tractor, car, motorbike, etc) that happens to be located overseas. Email sender states the item is licensed for use in the USA, is in really prime condition, and can be shipped from the overseas location in a matter of days.
To sweeten the pot, the "seller" may even include free shipping, and state that the deal will go through eBay, and eBay will guarantee satisfaction. Some of these sellers even state that eBay will hold the money, and give you 15 days to inspect the widget before releasing the money.
The seller then asks the eBayer for his/her email and street address, to start the transaction.
The eBayer happily sends the email and street address, and soon gets an "email from eBay" guaranteeing the performance of the "seller". "eBay" asks for the money (or a large down payment) in the form of a certified check, Western Union Instant Cash, or other easily-cashed method. There might even be a clickable link that will take the buyer to "eBay" to see the auction page.
The eBayer, believing in the trustworthiness of eBay, quickly sends the money, and waits for delivery of the motorized widget.
And waits ... and waits ... and eventually sends unanswered emails, and finds that clicking on that old link to "eBay" results in an error message.
Protection:
- If it is too good to be true, it usually is. USA-type motorized vehicles, particularly if they are made in the USA, are NOT cheaper overseas, particularly if transportation is included, specially if it is air transportation!
- eBay is NOT an escrow company, and neither holds your money nor makes guarantees of satisfaction.
- Make sure you are really on the eBay site if you clicked on a link in an email to see an auction.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Tempting Triangle Toss
Scenario:
- eBay seller gets an offer from a "wholesaler", offering to supply well-known, high-quality widgets for the seller's eBay store and auctions. "Wholesaler" promises 10% - 30% discounts.
- eBay seller lists a few widgets, which are bought quickly. Payments start rolling in. Seller gets good feedback from the first several sales, so increases the orders from the "wholesaler".
- eBay seller discovers deliveries are in Amazon, Sears or other store boxes; marked as gifts to the buyer. Seller asks "wholesaler" what is happening, and receives answer that "wholesaler" has friends in or special deals with those stores.
- eBay seller starts receiving letters and phone calls from stores and credit card companies, accusing seller of engaging in fraudulent credit card practices.
- eBay seller learns that the widgets were credit card purchases, billed to total strangers. eBay seller is accused of credit card theft.
This is an example of a not-uncommon "triangulation scam", in which the scammer uses stolen credit card numbers to launder money by buying widgets for the "winners". The scammer collects clean money from the eBay seller. Since the scammer used the eBay seller's ID info to buy the widgets, the scammer can easily hide, while the eBay seller suffers acute financial embarassment.
Update: Some scammers are dropping the "middleman", and try to deal directly with the eBay buyer. In these cases, the buyer may get the goods (as described above), but is asked to pay using an eBay-unapproved method (Western Union, MoneyBookers, etc). Sometimes these scammers ship BEFORE payment, to strongly entice the buyer to send them clean money for items paid with stolen credit card numbers. Since the buyer's name (rather than the scammer's name) is on the company invoice, the buyer may be liable for redress.
Protection:
Be VERY careful if you are offered special deals for your eBay stores or auctions! If the "wholesaler" has such good offerings, why can't he/she sell the widgets with his/her own auctions? If you are a buyer, and are asked to pay with eBay-unapproved methods, don't complete the transaction!
Also see the Drippy Drop Shipper scam
Remember, there are many variations of these scams.If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Counterfeit Cancellation
Scenario:
- eBayer (either a buyer or a seller) gets an email, informing him/her that an auction in which they were involved was cancelled. The email has a clickable link to get more information.
- The eBayer clicks on the link, and is brought to an "eBay login page". eBayer logs in, but does not recognize the auction.
- Some time later, the eBayer learns that he/she has sold very expensive widgets, and the buyers are complaining of nondelivery. It is evident that the eBayer's account has been hijacked.
Protection:
- ALWAYS log into eBay or PayPal manually, or through a "safe" link in your favorites.
- Make sure the login page address starts with "https" (note the "s" at the end)
- NEVER click on a link in an email to log in
Also see the
Spoof eBay Email Encounter
Dangerous Questions scam
Compromised Cancellations
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Phony FAX Verification
Scenario:
- Member receives an email from "eBay" or "PayPal", stating the account has been compromised, and the member must FAX certain information to "eBay" or "PayPal" to verify their account.
- The member collects the requested info, and FAXes it to the phone number given in the email.
- Some time later, the eBayer learns that his/her ID has been stolen, and nasty things are happening.
Protection:
eBay does indeed request FAXed information to verify members who have certain account problems. Unfortunately, some scammers do too. If you receive such a verification request,
- Make sure the email is legitimate. It should contain your real name. The underlying code of the email should show it is from eBay or PayPal. If the email is from eBay, it should also be in your My Messages section on eBay.
- If you are in doubt, contact eBay LiveHelp or phone PayPal Customer Service to see if the phone number is one of theirs.
Also see the following:
Spoof eBay Email Encounter
Dangerous Questions
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Phony PowerSeller Proposal
Scenario:
- Fairly new eBay seller with very good feedback receives an email from "eBay" inviting member to join the exclusive group of Power Sellers. All member need do is "click here to sign in" and accept the offer.
- The overjoyed member signs in, identifies him/herself, and leaves some other ID info.
- Some time later, the eBayer learns that his/her account is now listing plasma TVs, Kubota Tractors and cellular phones instead of the handcrafted widgets normally sold.
Protection:
If you receive such an invitation,
- Double check the eBay criteria for PowerSellers. Do you REALLY qualify?
- Forward the email to [email protected] to see if it is really from eBay
- Never click on a link in an email to log in to eBay!
Also see the
Spoof eBay Email Encounter
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
Member receives an email from "eBay" or "PayPal" or a supposed transaction partner, congratulating them on winning a widget (or complaining the widget was not sent or not paid). Member KNOWS (s)he has nothing to do with that widget, and clicks on a link that invites buyer to dispute the transaction. Member signs in, and fills out a "dispute form".
Some time later, the eBayer learns that his/her ID has been stolen, and nasty things are happening.
Protection:
NEVER click on a link in an email to log into eBay or PayPal!!! Instead, manually log in to your account to see if the claimed transaction really took place.
Also see the
Spoof eBay Email Encounter
Dangerous Questions scam
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
Member receives an email from "eBay Gift Services" (or similar name) congratulating member on qualifying for a free gift. All the member has to do is click on the link to get the gift.
Member clicks, logs in, and happily awaits delivery of the gift.
Some time later, the eBayer learns that his/her ID has been stolen, and nasty things are happening.
Protection:
NEVER click on a link in an email to log into eBay!!! Instead, manually log in to your My Messages account to see if the email was REALLY from eBay. (You can also forward the suspicious email to [email protected] to get an answer)
Also see the
Spoof eBay Email Encounter
Win A Car Contest scam.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Where's The Warehouse?
Scenario:
Bidder receives an email claiming the widget won is in the eBay warehouse, ready for shipment to the bidder. All the bidder has to do is send money and identification information to the sender of the email. Sender claims the transaction is fully protected by eBay, Trust & Safety, Square Trade or some other guaranteeing organization. Sometimes, the bidder is told that he/she will have up to 30 days after payment to inspect the widget, and there is a full money-back guarantee.
Bidder sends money to the supposed seller.
The widget never arrives.
Protection:
eBay does not have a warehouse where sellers' items are stored. The abovementioned companies are not escrow organizations -- they do not guarantee shipment or satisfaction.
Also see the
Spoof eBay Email Encounter
Unsafe Safety Board scam
Fake Escrow Account
Phony escrow.com
and a multitude of other scams purporting to store items in the eBay warehouse.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Compromised Cancellations
Scenario:
eBay seller suddenly notices that high bids on his/her auctions have been cancelled in the last few minutes of the auction, with no notice from eBay. eBayer is upset that this happened, and wonders why the bids have been cancelled. eBayer notes that low bidders will now win the auction, with bids significantly lower than those made by the cancelled high bidders.
Information:
Cancellations can be made only by the seller or by eBay. (Buyers can retract bids under limited circumstances, and not in the last few hours of the auction). When bids are cancelled without the knowledge of the seller, it usually means the seller's ID was hijacked, and the hijackers cancelled the bids. The hijackers then make phony second chance offers to the bidders, and entice them to send money to the hijackers rather than to the real seller.
Protection:
The best protection against this scam is to prevent one's account from being hijacked. The most frequent method scammers use to hijack IDs is to send a phony "email from eBay" to the ID. The ID owner then clicks on a link in the email, and signs in at a phony eBay site. Thus, the ID owner gives his/her account information to the scammer.
Also see the following:
Hijacked Account
Spoofed eBay Pages
Dangerous Questions
Counterfeit Cancellation
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Scenario:
This might better be called the "Pay Me Again, Scam". In this scenario, an eBayer bids and wins a widget. eBayer pays quickly, and awaits delivery.
Soon, the buyer gets an email, stating the payment has not gone through (the check or money order hasn't arrived, or the payment was sent to the wrong PayPal address). The buyer doesn't want an Unpaid Item Dispute, so re-sends the money to the address provided in the email.
Eventually, the buyer realizes he/she has paid twice, and has not received a return of the supposed incorrect payment. Emails to the seller disclose the "Pay Me Again" emails were not from the real seller, but from a scammer.
Protection:
Assure your payments go to the REAL seller! If you send PayPal payment to an email address not associated with the auction, you have no protection from PayPal. Similarly, if the "seller" wants a second check or money order, make sure the first isn't cashed before sending the second.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Double Signin Signin Scam Scam
Scenario:
Ebayer logs in to eBay, and starts searching for good deals. Finds something interesting, and clicks on the link (or something in the auction). eBay signin page reappears, so eBayer logs in again, and continues to wander around the eBay fairgrounds.
Not long thereafter, the eBay sees some strange auctions appearing in his/her ID! Expensive cellulars, Kubota tractors, mountain bikes, plasma TVs, lots of high-priced stuff. The eBayer might even see some purchases he/she does not recognize.
A little investigation shows the eBayer's ID was hijacked. The eBayer knows he/she did not answer any phishing emails, so how did this happen?
Protection:
NEVER sign in to eBay, then sign in again while searching or viewing an auction. Some scammers are now placing code in the auctions that presents a phony eBay login page. Unsuspecting eBayers log in again, thus send their ID info to the scammer. There are several techniques to do this, some almost unnoticeable. Almost all look like real eBay login pages!
The safest way to sign in is to manually enter https://www.ebay.com in the browser window.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
The Scam: Email Me to Get Scammed
Scenario:
Ebay buyer finds a particularly good deal, but the auction states potential bidders must email the seller to get the "Buy-It-Now" price, and get approved to bid. Since the buyer really wants a good deal on the widget, (s)he emails the seller.
Seller replies. The scam can go in either or both of these directions at this point:
1. Seller asks for immediate payment -- but states his/her PayPal account is temporarily having problems, so buyer must send a money order or Western Union payment instead.
1a. Buyer sends money
1b. Item never arrives. Since it was a NON-eBay deal, there is little recourse for the buyer.
2. Seller's return email has a "click here to bid on my auction".
2a. Buyer clicks, and logs into "eBay".
2b. However, it was not really eBay. Buyer just left private ID info at a scam site, and later learns his/her ID was hijacked.
Protection:
NEVER click on a link in an auction to get the BIN price.
NEVER click on a link in an email to go to eBay.
If the message you receive is at all similar to these, be wary!
Handy links
Read more about scams on eBay, how they are proliferated, and how to protect yourself against them here. Remember, eBay is merely a venue, and although they try to keep the fairgrounds free from undesirables, some do sneak in!
- See the posts pinned to the top of the Trust and Safety Board for late breaking news.
- Think your PayPal transaction partner did you out of some money? Read the PayPal Security Tips
- Have a problem with an eBay transaction? Visit the eBay Security Center!
- Have a problem with a PayPal transaction? Visit the PayPalSecurity Center
- Jenny_lake's 13 RED FLAGS To Warn a Bidder of a Fraudulent Transaction
- Pi's Personal Page, with links to the most current updates of this document.
- Got scammed? Try these pages for more help on what to do both before and after the scam:
- mioka's Favorite Links Tools & Services, Resources, Fraud Complaint Links and more.
- couldabinworse info on hijacked accounts (and the recovery thereof) as well as phony eBay emails.
- nss Sherlock help fight email spoofs and other criminal scams
- Marni999 help for email scams and identity theft
Remember:
The first line of defense against being scammed is YOURSELF! Be vigilant! If you suspect a scam, report it to eBay, using this form. If you see an ongoing auction with fraudulent activity, CLICK HERE then click on the appropriate choices in that page.
The three "Gs" of getting scammed:
1) Greed 2) Gullibility 4) Gormlessness
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