Am I being scammed?

Venom of God · #1 05-09-2011, 02:34 AM

Some of you may have noticed a thread I made earlier about my Hartke and selling it to someone in the US.. anyway, alarm bells have really started to go off now and I think he's trying to scam me. I put the amp up on a local for sale site and got a text asking me the best price I'd be willing to do on the amp, here is the email communication after that:

Me: Hey mate! Regarding the amp, I'd love $1200 as I listed but would accept $1100 in cash right now. If it sits for awhile without selling I'd go down to $1000, I'm reluctant to go any lower than that though. Where are you based? I'm happy for you to come and have a play sometime if you'd like to check it out. What sort of application are you planning on using it for?

But yeah, I'd take $1100 today or if you want to wait awhile and it doesn't sell I'll go down to $1000.

Cheers!
-Theo.

Him: Thanks for the response, i will take it for $1300 including PayPal surcharges since i am interested in an immediate purchase. Let me know if my offer is accepted because I just moved to the United State where this is needed and i will be making use of a shipping company to have it picked up from you and have it delivered to me. Further arrangements will be made with you in regards to the pick up once i have paid you.
I would appreciate if you email me with more pictures (if available) too since i won't be able to come over to see this in person. What is your PayPal email to send funds to in order for me to make the payment out to you and your phone number because i would prefer to pay via paypal as a secure mode of transaction. Hope to read back from you ASAP.
Thanks..

Me: Thank you for such a generous offer! That really helps me out! A few things I feel I should say first though.. music gear is less expensive in the US than it is here, I'd feel really bad if you paid me that much and then found one cheaper over there! Also I believe power is a bit different in America to Australia, I don't want you to get it over there and have trouble running it. If you're still interested though I will go over and take some more pictures of it for you now (it is at my guitarists house) and then give you PayPal info!

Thank you for your interest and again for such a great offer!

Me: Hey again, regarding what I said in my last email about different power levels between the US and Australia, disregard that with this amp! I did some research and it can be an issue with some older amps but it isn't with this model. It does require the fuse to be swapped around, but I'm happy to do that before sending it over if you want or I can send you instructions and you can do it yourself. Either way it's a simple, two minute job (if that).

Cheers!

Him: Its very cheap over there paying in AUD than paying in USD in here.
Also, the power is not a problem dear. I'll be waiting for your paypal account.

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I'm not wrong in thinking this is suspicious, am I?

ninepoundjammer · #2 05-09-2011, 02:56 AM

Totally suspicious, though I don't quite see the angle on this one. But there's gotta be one.

gumtownbassman · #3 05-09-2011, 03:09 AM

Suspicious to me, the shipping alone would be expensive.

I bet they accidently over pay you by x10 and ask if you can refund the difference via the shipping company (which probably is based in Nigeria).

But I guess if they're paying also for the shipping and insurance up front and the transaction is through a legit system like an eBay auction, well..

meRTKendrew · #4 05-09-2011, 03:09 AM

give him the paypal, if he pays, great, if not, all is well, you havnt sent anything to him.

-RTK

Venom of God · #5 05-09-2011, 03:14 AM

My main fear is a dodgy credit card or something that ends up bouncing.. not sure if PayPal covers me for that? It just seems too good to be true.

phatbass · #6 05-09-2011, 03:23 AM

I'd be 99.999% positive it's a scam of some sort. He's offering more than you advertised it for?

T-Bird · #7 05-09-2011, 03:27 AM

Hi.

If You dig around a bit, You'll discover how the scam works and why it's a PITA to be the seller on a PayPay transaction.

Regards
Sam

jordie65 · #8 05-09-2011, 03:30 AM

Scam, it would be cheaper and easier to buy from US, also he cites the difference between currencies as being beneficial for him...not the case!

also him offering you more than you asked, scam.

scam! though i am interested in how it works once he pays you on paypal and you ship it? does he dispute it with paypal??

Febs · #9 05-09-2011, 03:34 AM

Definitely a scam. Don't do it.

byronkowalski · #10 05-09-2011, 03:41 AM

Scam beyond any doubt.

T-Bird · #11 05-09-2011, 04:47 AM

Hi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordie65

does he dispute it with paypal??

BINGO.

PayPay always sides with the buyer. Shame really, since PayPal made the international trade between individuals a reality rather than the hassle and gamble it was BPP (Before PayPal).

There is also more elaborate ways to get both the item and the money, but those usually involve more work.

Regards
Sam

baileyboy · #12 05-09-2011, 05:09 AM

Any time there is a "song and dance" type of story or anything that requires tons of effort to make the transaction, there's fraud involved somehow. I would end communication with this guy pronto.

Venom of God · #13 05-09-2011, 05:15 AM

Yeah, I'm just going to not reply and ignore any other emails he sends! It sucks how unethical some people can be, especially after my almost trying to talk him out of it for his own sake.

Oh well, thanks for making me 100% sure of my suspicions, I feel better not going through with it now!

EpiRipper · #14 05-09-2011, 05:53 AM

Big scam... the Hartke Kilo when released will be just shy of $1000 in most online stores. Why would the buyer pay $300 more for 650 less watts plus shipping. And if that is $1300 Australian it will be about $1400 US at todays exchange rate. Scam is they get the goods, file a claim with Paypal and get the money back. You're out 1 amp and $1300.

stflbn · #15 05-09-2011, 06:00 AM

IMHO the definition of Paypal = Local cash transactions - unless someone inside the country is willing to send me a USPS Money order and trust ME to ship the item to them.

Venom of God · #16 05-09-2011, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EpiRipper

Big scam... the Hartke Kilo when released will be just shy of $1000 in most online stores. Why would the buyer pay $300 more for 650 less watts plus shipping. And if that is $1300 Australian it will be about $1400 US at todays exchange rate. Scam is they get the goods, file a claim with Paypal and get the money back. You're out 1 amp and $1300.

It's the head plus a really nice LabSystems 410, but yeah, still too good a price especially considering how much cheaper gear is in the States at retail!

BBox Bass · #17 05-09-2011, 06:35 AM

"i will be making use of a shipping company to have it picked up from you and have it delivered to me."

This exact line showed up in a response I received to a Craigslist ad a couple years ago, though my scammer wanted to give me a cashier's check. Stay away!

prd004 · #18 05-09-2011, 06:39 AM

Scam 100%. Deal only with people who show up, pay cash, and take the item home themselves. Otherwise you are being scammed.

whitedk57 · #19 05-09-2011, 07:21 AM

One way to test him on this is to ask him to send the PayPal payment as a gift. Explain that you just can't afford the fees associated with goods-based transactions. See if he falls for that. If he sends it as a gift, then he can't come back on you and say you didn't send the merchandise.

Tampabass · #20 05-09-2011, 07:24 AM

scam? yes. Don't engage in any financial dealings with this person. Report his emails as scam/fraud to his service provider.