Another E-bay Scam ?????????

Johnny Harris · Post by **Johnny Harris** » 29 Mar 2005 3:59 pm

Has anyone recieved one of these E-mails through the E-bay mail system?

***Do not reply to this email . Contact the seller at this e-mail address : junk77matt@yahoo.co.uk *** You expressed interest in an item titled " SUPER RARE VINTAGE 1969 EMMONS D10 PEDAL STEEL GUITAR" (Item 7309149192) by bidding, however the auction has ended with another member as the high bidder. In compliance with eBay policy, the seller of that item is making this Second Chance Offer to you at your bid price of US 1,075.00 .The seller has issued this Second Chance Offer because either the winning bidder was unable to complete the transaction .If you accept this offer, you will be able to exchange Feedback with the seller and will be eligible for eBay services associated with a transaction, such as fraud protection. To purchase this item, don't reply to this mail, just contact the seller at junk77matt@yahoo.co.uk Thank you, eBay, Inc ***Do not reply to this email . Contact the seller at this e-mail address : junk77matt@yahoo.co.uk*** Regards , checkingitout123

I bid on that guitar and was imediately out-bid. The auction closed with a bid of $1875.00 with the reserve not being met.Also, there were six bids, including the high bid that were higher than my bid.I have to wonder if all thirteen bidders will have an offer to buy this same guitar. What will come next?

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 29 Mar 2005 4:05 pm

There is an easy way to check it out. Go to the closed auction on Ebay. Click on "contact the seller" on the right hand side. You can send an email through Ebay to the original seller's email, and they can tell you if it is for real. And Ebay has a record of it all if you send it through the website. [This message was edited by Keith Cordell on 29 March 2005 at 04:05 PM.]

J Hill · Post by **J Hill** » 29 Mar 2005 4:21 pm

No one won the bid because the reserve wasn't met. It's unlikely the seller would sell it for less than what his reserve was. That email smells fishy to me. It didn't make sense..."The seller has issued this Second Chance Offer because either the winning bidder was unable to complete the transaction."

There was no winning bidder. Ebay's emails make a little more sense than that.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 29 Mar 2005 4:52 pm

I've gotten those before. They're fake. Ignore.

Larry Hicks · Post by **Larry Hicks** » 29 Mar 2005 10:45 pm

Thank You!!!!
Thank you for all your recent posts about fraud and deception on eBay (et al).
I currently have an item listed on eBay and have received the following e-mails (among others) about it.

I apologize for this long post, but you might find it interesting.

(Following the advice of the posts on the SG Forum) After each “question” I replied that I would only ship to the lower 48, or that I would only deal with/ship to the bidder himself.

They were, however, persistant!
-------------------------------------------------

“Hi! Will you ship to denmark, europe? i WILL OFF COURSE COVER ALL THE SHIPPING COSTS VIA UPS!! regards Nikolaj”

“Hi! I think I asked you once, but....will you ship to denmark, europe?? I will pay you promptly using PayPal! will prefer UPS airmail all covered by me off course!thanks Nikolaj, denmark”

“ok! Is it ok for you to send it to a friend of mine in California?? regards Nikolaj”

“But I'm the buyer --It's just another shipping address !! Please check my feedback...I'm a reliable customer! OK, kindly Nikolaj”

“Hi, I live in Ireland but will be in Connecticut later this year. If I win this item would you be prepared to ship to a Connecticut address? Thanks, John Guthrie”
-------------------------------------------------

You know, guys and gals, I might be dealing with folks here who are as honest as the day is long, and i might have just treated these folks very unfairly . . . but you can’t take the chance now-a-days.

Here is my blanket response (I hope I did the right thing):

“I’ve had quite a few requests to ship this guitar over seas, and/or to ship it to addresses in the U.S. other than the bidder’s residence.
Unfortunately, of late, there has been a high number of fraudulent transactions reported involving this sort of activity.
I am not saying that any of the folks who have contacted me are attempting to be fraudulent . . . I am just not willing to take the chance.
Therefore, I will only ship this item to the lower 48 states. Additionally, I will ship any item only AFTER the funds and shipping costs have properly cleared.
Thank you for your interest.”
-------------------------------
What do you guys think? Did I do the right thing?
Larry

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I. IV, V (and sometimes II & VI)
www.tonemarkspeakers.com

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 29 Mar 2005 11:17 pm

Larry.

This Nikolay dude looks like a buyer you can trust.He is persistant to buy it.He did send a reply 4 times....and he did it in a way that looks legal to me.
Don't forget that if you want to buy a steelguitar (a P/P D10 for example) you almost got no chance buying one on E-Bay.Also the man is willing to pay by PayPal.So your item is insured.I understand that most of you don't ship to Europe unless it's a forum member.

Ron

Archie Nicol · Post by **Archie Nicol** » 30 Mar 2005 2:46 am

On the news yesterday there was a report about `second chance` scams.

Dave Diehl · Post by **Dave Diehl** » 30 Mar 2005 4:34 am

I've received those "second chance" messages several times recently. Made me wonder who I was bidding against in the first place and if the seller had any part in running up the bid.[This message was edited by Dave Diehl on 30 March 2005 at 04:34 AM.]

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 30 Mar 2005 4:44 am

A usually intelligent member of the biab forum wanted a certain keyboard so bad that he went for one of these, and lost $2300.00. Be careful!

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3
http://www.Charmedmusic.com

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 30 Mar 2005 5:39 am

This explains a lots,i was bidding on a pro1 and stopped,i knew the man who bought it,then here came a 2nd chance to buy it for less. same scamm. gotta be careful huh

Jeff Hogsten · Post by **Jeff Hogsten** » 30 Mar 2005 6:23 am

I recieved on of these on a carter I bid on about a year ago they were asking $1450 and I bid considerably less but I was the high bidder I received a second chance offer and took it and it was total ligitament I did talk to him of the phone, you can usually tell if someone is for real, I got the best deal Ive ever got on a guitar, I think a good alternative is COD with fed ex you get you money the next day, I mean really sending someone a couple of thousand dollars is a leap of faith I ship thing cod all the time, I can see the problem, then everyone is portected, I know you could be out the shipping if no one accepts the package but what are the chances of someone telling you to send it cod if they arent going to take it

Jeppe Grangaard · Post by **Jeppe Grangaard** » 30 Mar 2005 12:31 pm

Interesting discussion
Larry, I perfectly understand your concern about dealing with a guy as far away as Denmark. Of course, I couldn’t say weather or not you can trust him. But one thing for sure; it’s extremely difficult for us to get hands on a pedal steel guitar in Denmark. The US is the closest to some, before learning about the harder to find Europeans, Ron

But I see your point Larry, please mail him to get in touch with Danish steel guys. Or at least to get on the Forum Jeppe

Jim Landers · Post by **Jim Landers** » 30 Mar 2005 1:55 pm

When a seller has an item listed and sold on Ebay, if the winning bidder does not pay or backs out of the deal the seller can offer the "SECOND CHANCE" offer to the next highest bidder. There is a icon on the seller's page for doing this.

The e-mail that you recieved looks like it is "PROBABLY" legit. The way to make sure one way or the other is to simply "FORWARD" the e-mail to SPOOF@EBAY.COM. You will recieve an answer very shortly from Ebay as to whether it is legit or not.

I would suggest that anyone that is going to Buy or Sell on Ebay should take the time to learn how it works. Go to the Ebay site directory and read the security section. Ebay is a great resource but, take the time to learn the in's and out's 'before' you buy or sell.

Jim

Herman Visser · Post by **Herman Visser** » 8 Apr 2005 7:20 am

Hi Dave Diehl, I have always thought the same thing.I really dont like buying anything on Ebay any more.

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 8 Apr 2005 7:43 am

These e-bay scams do a normal buyer no good.Let's say I am willing to buy a steel guitar here on the forum.I might not get it because I am from overseas.Or are our forumites not so scared when it comes to a forum member?Quiet often I see a steelguitar on "the Instruments for sale" section.I am looking for a nice and clean rosewood D10 Emmons P/P.When such an instrument pops up and it's at the right price 9 times out of 10 it says ship to the lower 48 only.

I can understand that people are getting scared with so many scams going round on e-bay.But isn't it normal to give a guy from another continent a chance to bid on that guitar?O.k...there are people that don't like the paper work.I know it takes a lot of paper work because I send stuff across the ocean quiet often.

Push Pull steel guitars are rare over here.I just want one.
Normally the Push Pulls on E-bay are from forumites.And it seems that those scammers know that those P/P's are wanted.And that people from over here bid on them big time.
The only way I'd ever buy a P/P will be right here on the forum.
So maybe one day I might get lucky.

Ron[This message was edited by Ronald ! on 08 April 2005 at 08:45 AM.]

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 8 Apr 2005 8:19 am

Ronald,

Why don't you have a friend in the states act as your intermediary. Actually there is probably a business there somewhere.

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 8 Apr 2005 8:28 am

Bill.

I have several friends in The States.But that's not the issue.What I am trying to say is that people got scared with al these scammers running 'round.And that people that are selling steel guitars not always take the time to find out if a buyer is o.k or not.Some of my friends would love to help me out if I want a Push Pull that's for sale.But I'd rather do it myself.That way if something happens I only have to blame myself.

Ron

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 10 Apr 2005 1:26 pm

I have to say that I myself sell over 100+ items a month on ebay and out of those 100+ items 85 of them goes international. they pay with pay pal once the money is in your account its yours. if you have a pay pal debit card you could go to a atm right at the moment and get your money. one may ask what i sell well I sell records. one might say that oh records thats not worth what a guitar may be well truth be known If got more out of some records than most people gets out of there guitars. Im 100% for ebay. and if you watch what your doing nobody will scam you.

John Coffman · Post by **John Coffman** » 10 Apr 2005 3:27 pm

Kevin Raymer was selling his MSA. I was runner up bidder got same type bull----. I call Kevin and we both reported it to ebay. Sad these people are to lazy to get real job