# eBay story, scamming the scammers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 15, 2010, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292 "2010-12-15T22:49:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/21 "2010-12-16T19:20:38Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > Batsinma - what would you suggest? He simply eats the tickets? At least she told him?! Yea, she told him. So what? Does she get points for telling him when its too late for him to re-list? I think not. She started the fight and he finished it under the rules she laid down. Bravo! Do unto others… Are you a seller? It’s rare for someone to decide not to pay without dropping off the face of the earth, when you’re trying to contact them. She deserves no points. Just because I ridiculed the seller does not mean the buyer is my BFF. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/22 "2010-12-16T19:28:21Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Scamming the scammer? Here’s another good one: > > [P-P-P-Powerbook!](http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/) > > Summary: Seller lists Powerbook for sale on Ebay. Interested buyer from overseas wants to conduct the transaction through an obviously fake escrow site. Seller follows through with the transaction, ships a completely fake Powerbook to the buyer, and lists a very, very large value on the customs form so as to cause the buyer to pay about $600 in import duties. Seller of course does not receive payment because of the escrow scam, but has the pleasure of knowing that the scammer paid $600 in customs fees in order to accept a fake (worthless) P-P-P-Powerbook. Or they didn’t bother to pay or pick it up, They can refuse you know. Then the seller would be out shipping. In any case, the seller has commited fraud on at least two counts. Jerk. I have sympathy for the seller in the OP- he listed, she bid, she paid what she bid, thus all is fair. She does have the tickets and can at least show up outside the gate and scalp them there to recover part of what she paid. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/23 "2010-12-16T19:42:28Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Or they didn’t bother to pay or pick it up, They can refuse you know. Then the seller would be out shipping. The article states that he knew he’d be out shipping, and that people on the forums chipped together to pay it. And the scammy buyer most certainly did pick it up. I don’t have sympathy for the buyer - he faked an escrow site, faked the Verisign certificate, gave a fake phone number when FedEx required it for delivery, and gave the address of an Internet cafe as the delivery location so he could intercept it when the delivery guy wandered in looking for Mr. Fakename. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/24 "2010-12-16T19:54:03Z")
(commenting on the story in the OP) Is it just me, or does it sound like the reneging buyer was trying to run a scam too? If someone called me and said “I want to buy these tickets for $1000”, wouldn’t the normal reaction be “I don’t have the tickets, contact the original eBay seller”. She was trying to do some kind of scam herself. I have no empathy for her at all. Isn’t that the way with most scams? They work because the person you are scamming is trying to scam you, but you are one step ahead of them. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/25 "2010-12-16T20:11:34Z")
[QUOTE=Arnold Winkelried;13258763Isn’t that the way with most scams? They work because the person you are scamming is trying to scam you, but you are one step ahead of them.[/QUOTE] No, actually most scamsters prey upon the elderly, who are lonely and easily confused. It’s part of the scamsters “big Lie” that most scams are perpetuated upon the greedy. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/26 "2010-12-16T20:39:16Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > (commenting on the story in the OP) > Is it just me, or does it sound like the reneging buyer was trying to run a scam too? If someone called me and said “I want to buy these tickets for $1000”, wouldn’t the normal reaction be “I don’t have the tickets, contact the original eBay seller”. She was trying to do some kind of scam herself. I have no empathy for her at all. Of course. She saw an opportunity to make some cash. I practically wiped a tear of joy from my eye after reading the article. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/27 "2010-12-16T20:48:02Z")
> [@Batsinma\_Belfry](#): > > Are you a seller? It’s rare for someone to decide not to pay without dropping off the face of the earth, when you’re trying to contact them. She deserves no points. > Just because I ridiculed the seller does not mean the buyer is my BFF. Nope. Not a seller, just a buyer every now and then. I admit that I’m ignorant to the finer points of the world of ebay. Its just that I think turnabout IS fair play and when you screw somebody else neither you nor a disinterested third party should criticize the screwee when they give you a little of your own medicine. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/28 "2010-12-16T20:59:37Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > (commenting on the story in the OP) > Is it just me, or does it sound like the reneging buyer was trying to run a scam too? If someone called me and said “I want to buy these tickets for $1000”, wouldn’t the normal reaction be “I don’t have the tickets, contact the original eBay seller”. She was trying to do some kind of scam herself. I have no empathy for her at all. That’s not a scam. That’s an honest, buy-low-sell-high money-making business plan. She had (what she thought was) a customer interested in buying a product from her at a certain price, and she was able to obtain the product at a lower price and make it available to him. If that’s a scam, then so are most of the stores in the world (which tend to succeed by selling goods for less than they paid for them). ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/29 "2010-12-16T21:08:33Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > If that’s a scam, then so are most of the stores in the world (which tend to succeed by selling goods for less than they paid for them). Can I come shop at your store? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sanity\_Challenged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Sanity\_Challenged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sanity_Challenged)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/30 "2010-12-16T21:37:06Z")
I know several people who work in debt collection who all have stories of lying about their identities to get their targets to return phone calls, and I know one repo man who has similar stories of getting people to agree to meet with him under false pretenses so he can perform a repossession. Legally, what would be different about this fellow using a similar tactic to secure the promised transaction? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/31 "2010-12-16T21:50:40Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > That’s not a scam. That’s an honest, buy-low-sell-high money-making business plan. She had (what she thought was) a customer interested in buying a product from her at a certain price, and she was able to obtain the product at a lower price and make it available to him. But then, shouldn’t a person be prepared that you might not be able to complete the “sell-high” part of the plan? ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/32 "2010-12-16T21:57:06Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > Nope. Not a seller, just a buyer every now and then. I admit that I’m ignorant to the finer points of the world of ebay. Its just that I think turnabout IS fair play and when you screw somebody else neither you nor a disinterested third party should criticize the screwee when they give you a little of your own medicine. I’m mostly criticizing him for the public bragging. If he was bragging about outwitting her, fine. But he’s bragging about the underhanded way in which he did it. Way to promote your business dude! I dream of the day our paths cross in ebayland, I could buy something thinking it’s going to be just another boring transaction then BAM! the shipping cost gets raised $50 higher than I thought it was. Who knows what adventures are waiting for this guy’s future customers. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/33 "2010-12-16T22:54:02Z")
> [@Batsinma\_Belfry](#): > > I’m mostly criticizing him for the public bragging. If he was bragging about outwitting her, fine. But he’s bragging about the underhanded way in which he did it. > Way to promote your business dude! I dream of the day our paths cross in ebayland, I could buy something thinking it’s going to be just another boring transaction then BAM! the shipping cost gets raised $50 higher than I thought it was. Who knows what adventures are waiting for this guy’s future customers. I don’t get your complaint. He asked for an extra $20 because he had to drive across town at midnight, rather than having her pick up the tickets, as they originally agreed. I agree his actions would be morally cleaner if he just took her shit and got nothing extra for it, but I don’t begrudge him that one bit. What about this story makes you think he’s “anything for a buck” and not “rightfully striking back against someone who tried to take advantage of him”? ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/34 "2010-12-17T03:53:43Z")
Ebay has a system set up for making sure everyone involved with a transaction, follows through. Sometimes it doesn’t work if the customer is laying low or has gone to a lot of trouble to set up a “scam”. This woman was doing neither of those things. But, this seller couldn’t be bothered to wait the few days to get the money. Instead he comes up with this elaborate plan. And then he announces it, in detail. Maybe it’s the 12 years of trying explain to people that we (ebay sellers), are not all bad, that makes this hit a nerve. ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/35 "2010-12-17T04:13:04Z")
> [@Batsinma\_Belfry](#): > > **Ebay has a system set up for making sure everyone involved with a transaction, follows through**. Sometimes it doesn’t work if the customer is laying low or has gone to a lot of trouble to set up a “scam”. This woman was doing neither of those things. But, this seller couldn’t be bothered to wait the few days to get the money. Instead he comes up with this elaborate plan. And then he announces it, in detail. > > Maybe it’s the 12 years of trying explain to people that we (ebay sellers), are not all bad, that makes this hit a nerve. Out of interest how would the eBay system have attempted to resolve this matter? The woman who won made it clear she had no intention to pay, the exchange was to be done in person probably using cash. Could eBay take money out of a Paypal account associated with her eBay account without her permission? Much as I would love to think that eBay could have swooped in to save the day all I can see them doing is sending her an email and when she doesn’t reply saying sorry and moving on. The only way this guy was going to get the money he was legally owed from the person who legally owed it to him was to play a trick on her. Of course he had the option of taking her to court, taking time off work and spending money etc. etc. but the way he did is so much more inventive and humorous. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/36 "2010-12-17T04:47:35Z")
> [@mittu](#): > > Out of interest how would the eBay system have attempted to resolve this matter? . He files a Non-Paying Bidder complaint. EBay verifies she did not pay, asks her why. If she refuses to make good without a good reason, they cancel her eBay account. A good buyer with a good long history might be able to get away with it a couple of times, mind you. ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/37 "2010-12-17T04:56:48Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > He files a Non-Paying Bidder complaint. EBay verifies she did not pay, asks her why. If she refuses to make good without a good reason, they cancel her eBay account. A good buyer with a good long history might be able to get away with it a couple of times, mind you. With it being a cash transaction face-to-face there would be no proof of the transaction have taken/not taken place so I think eBay would have been stuck there. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/38 "2010-12-17T06:56:43Z")
I think the story is fake. 1. There is no way that the fake buyer could have gotten her email address off of eBay. The only person for whom the email address is visible is the seller. There is absolutely no way to contact an auction participant unless you are the seller or buyer. Why didn’t she know that? It’s quite plain. 2. What would the seller have done if she wanted to come pick up the tickets in person? It’s very convenient that she demanded he drive them over. 3. Why would he give himself away by saying, “Ma’am, this is eBay, not a car dealership”? Now he’s left himself open to her craziness. All that accomplished is to make it a better story to tell by giving it a punchline. ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/39 "2010-12-17T07:54:32Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I think the story is fake. > > 1. There is no way that the fake buyer could have gotten her email address off of eBay. The only person for whom the email address is visible is the seller. There is absolutely no way to contact an auction participant unless you are the seller or buyer. Why didn’t she know that? It’s quite plain. > > 2. What would the seller have done if she wanted to come pick up the tickets in person? It’s very convenient that she demanded he drive them over. > > 3. Why would he give himself away by saying, “Ma’am, this is eBay, not a car dealership”? Now he’s left himself open to her craziness. All that accomplished is to make it a better story to tell by giving it a punchline. 1. The fake buyer _is_ the seller, not everyone is familiar with eBay enough to know who can see what and when. When a chance to make quick money falls in your lap most people don’t question how it got there. 2. Let her? It’s what he wanted to happen in the first place, he just wouldn’t have later revealed that he was the fake buyer. 3. He isn’t open to her craziness, she doesn’t know where lives or his name or anything useful. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292/40 "2010-12-17T08:34:09Z")
> [@mittu](#): > > 1. The fake buyer _is_ the seller, not everyone is familiar with eBay enough to know who can see what and when. When a chance to make quick money falls in your lap most people don’t question how it got there. Yes, I know the fake seller is the buyer. Anyone who has sold or bought on eBay likely knows that it’s impossible to see someone else’s information. > [@](#): > > 1. Let her? It’s what he wanted to happen in the first place, he just wouldn’t have later revealed that he was the fake buyer. Yes, but it was mighty convenient that she made the request. > [@](#): > > 1. He isn’t open to her craziness, she doesn’t know where lives or his name or anything useful. eBay disputes are a pain in the butt. She will give him a negative rating and ruin his feedback score even if she’s in the wrong. He could have left it simple and not let her know he was the original seller. That line about it not being a car dealership is just too pat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-story-scamming-the-scammers/564292.md?page=3)