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Is this the latest eBay scam?

rogerbmiller

rogerbmiller

Gold Supporting Member
Sep 16, 2003
7,103
5,920
NYC
#1
So I had to read this a number of times before I realized what this guy was even talking about.

I.D. Label For Heartfield DR-5 Bass, black sparkle finish, no fret wear, etc. | eBay

The gist of it is that the seller doesn't claim to sell the bass but intimates that he will ship it to you after you purchase the "ID tag" and you were payment has been held by him for several weeks.

His assertion is that PayPal can yank money from a bona fide seller anytime within the first three weeks for a little reason.

But if you look a little more carefully, it appears that what he's trying to do is 1)get you to send him the purchase price for a bass without actually ever explicitly and therefore without contractually mentioning that he is selling you a bass and 2) he holds your money until the PayPal window of protection elapses so if he doesn't even want to send you the bass he doesn't have to. And if he actually does intend to send it to you, you have no buyer protections.

So beware everybody!
 
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#4
Gorn said:
At least it's new. The same old scams get boring. P
Click to expand...

Yeah. When I first read this, I didn't know what to make of it.

Then I assumed it was his way of encouraging people to reach out to him privately. So I sent him a message on eBay saying hey look, I'm not interested the labels but I like these bases and if you ever use talk Bass here is my handle.

Then he joins TB and tries the whole thing with me here via p.m. So I say look, every time I've ever done a transaction, I send money, seller signs the bass. And vice versa.

So then he goes on the whole tirade about "hey look if you can't wait just six weeks or whatever it is from the time of payment to get this base and maybe this transaction is in for you."

That's when it finally clicked.

Actually a somewhat sophisticated scam yet amateur because no one in their right mind would look past the listing to sell an ID tag. He even refused to send me a PP invoice for the bass when I asked.

People are amazing.
 
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#5
This ad is for a label you can use to identify your Heartfield DR-5 bass. After your payment clears PayPal in 21 days I can offer you a bonus item FREE! Contact me for details. You will receive 1 printed label you can attach to an item of this type so you can know what it is =D You can even print up the label yourself if you contact me with details how to access the 'print' command in a text editor, etc.

If U R a creative type U may also choose to write the same information on a post it note & attach it to said item if you happen to have it. There are many options for you with this flexible labeling system and you will never be confused about what is what =D

Because Ebay ONLY allows payment via PayPal & they do not release funds to me until after 21 days from when the buyer gives the funds to PayPal, it would seem this is the only way I can sell you a label with a freebie bonus. Remember, you can get a bonus item for FREE after your payment clears in 21 days = SWEET!

Contact me for any details you may require for verification purposes and such. The label is expensive, but worth every penny ~;-) BTW: there R no returns or refunds on the label or N E associated freebie item you may receive afterward. Contact me before bidding if you want more details on it. I have two available.
roversync





So if I'm understanding this correctly he's not saying anywhere that your money will get you a bass, just a label?
 
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#8
Actually, if you wanted to win this auction you could easily win in court. If you notice under the item specifics you read "type: electric, wood & composite materials" among other things. If you received an I.D. tag that would not constitute the item you purchased give the listed specifics. You would have to go through the hassle of taking this clown to small claims court though.
 
#10
DiabolusInMusic said:
Actually, if you wanted to win this auction you could easily win in court. If you notice under the item specifics you read "type: electric, wood & composite materials" among other things. If you received an I.D. tag that would not constitute the item you purchased give the listed specifics. You would have to go through the hassle of taking this clown to small claims court though.
Click to expand...
I'd totally do it if I had the time and disposable income. Just for the gotcha moment.
 
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#19
rogerbmiller said:
Username @Zneptune

I politely declined earlier and he just sent me a very defamatory message. Which is a sure way to know that it is indeed a scam.
Click to expand...

I just noticed on his listing that the "item" ships from Grover Beach, CA. I wonder if her realizes just how small "5 cities" is...
 
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#20
Ebay does claim they can hold money up to 21 days, but this is for new sellers or sellers that haven't built up enough feedback. They always claim it can be up to 21 days, but I've always gotten it much sooner. They release funds 2 days after the buyer gets the package (if you enter in tracking to ebay). So the seller isn't wrong about the 21 day bit, but everything else reads like a scam.
 
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