# So How Should I Mess With This eBay Scammer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 29, 2004, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738 "2004-09-29T22:29:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/21 "2004-10-03T00:05:56Z")
> [@Dragonblink](#): > > Over two million miles? Sounds like that car’s already been to Singapore! My Accord (The Ivory Destrier, Slayer of Tires, Master of Chaotic Alignment, 197,000 miles) is quite jealous. Whoops! Got an extra zero in there, I see. (And actually, that’s not right anyway. The beater’s got 245,000 on the clock.) ---
**Author:** ![BytopianDream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de0a6/32.png) [@BytopianDream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BytopianDream)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/22 "2004-10-03T00:30:12Z")
That eBay listing was awesome. I wish I had a howitzer… Thanks for the humor. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/23 "2004-10-03T19:27:10Z")
Well, so far I’ve gotten two emails on the ad. First one > [@](#): > > Dude, you should be a commedy writer or a stand up commedian! Anyway, if you part that thing out, you’ll make a fortune! I had a similiar car that I couldn’t get $200 for, so I decided to part it out on Ebay and am now pushing $1000! Of course the trans was still good.Anyhow, i just had to let you know. Oh, your local junk yard will tow it for free and probably give you some cash too. You should sell the radiator separately. I don’t know why I’m writing you all this, but thanks anyway for giving me some great laughs!!! Bernie. And the second one > [@](#): > > I want to know the total buy it now cost in order for me to get the car This is from someone with a .uk addy, and the “Buy It Now” price is clearly visible on the ad. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/24 "2004-10-04T00:34:43Z")
FWIW, if you don’t get any takers from the eBay listing, an alternative would be to go to the website for Car Talk. They have a link where you can print out all of the forms necessary to donate your car. A local recovery person will come out and make it disappear, drivable or not. You’ll get a receipt to claim a charitable deduction on your tax return, and your local NPR affiliate station gets the proceeds. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/25 "2004-10-04T01:06:49Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > FWIW, if you don’t get any takers from the eBay listing, an alternative would be to go to the website for Car Talk. They have a link where you can print out all of the forms necessary to donate your car. A local recovery person will come out and make it disappear, drivable or not. You’ll get a receipt to claim a charitable deduction on your tax return, and your local NPR affiliate station gets the proceeds. I already thought of that, but they don’t want 20 year old cars, and neither do the scrapyards in this area. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/26 "2004-10-04T04:27:43Z")
**Tuckerfan** , Years ago my (now) BIL had a car that he could not get rid of, we ripped off the VIN tags and plates, polka dotted it with whatever spray paint was laying around and pushed it into a “no parking” zone and it disappeared. Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/27 "2004-10-11T00:54:01Z")
Well, the car has apparently sold to a legit buyer, though they’ve got some feedback saying that they’ve not paid people, so we’ll see. IAC, I’m _not_ going to be pushing the issue with the guy. Why? It’s Michael Myers! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/28 "2004-10-11T03:16:42Z")
A friend from another board was recently the victim of an eBay scam – a woman was writing checks on a closed bank account and had accumulated dozens if not hundreds of angry sellers, many of whom had sent her the merchandise. But my friend got angry and did lots and lots of research on the woman, contacted as many of the the ripped-off sellers as she could, got names, dates, amounts, facts, figures, put it all up on the web, and contacted the woman’s local police department. And then lo and behold, day before yesterday the cops raised her house and seized hundreds of illegal eBay purchases, and will be giving the sellers the chance to get their stuff back. Apparently sometimes there _is_ justice in the world. And a nicer person it couldn’t have happened to, either. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/29 "2004-10-17T03:32:26Z")
The bastards have stiffed me! :eek: All the scammers promised me that I’d have the checks by now, but _none_ of them have arrived! Both of them have sent me e-mails asking me if I’ve gotten the checks, with one of them promising me that he’ll send me the tracking number next week, if the check hasn’t arrived. I’ve told both of them to hurry because I’ve got several people wanting to buy the car, but I’m holding the car for the scammers because I told them that I’ll sell them the car first. 😃 Oh, and the winner of the auction hasn’t picked the car up yet, or paid me. Apparently his grandmother passed away, so he’s been tied up with that. Hopefully, he’ll show up and get the thing out of here soon. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/30 "2004-10-23T06:24:20Z")
Just as I was about to sign off and go to bed, I got an e-mail from one of the scammers. His check arrived while I was gone, and he’s wanting to know what’s happening > [@](#): > > what is going on? as you’ve already got the check all i want you to do now is to get the check cash cashibg point and wire the remaining > funds after deducting the money for the sales of your item and wire the remaining funds to the shipping company incharge of the pickup > whick the information you need as been attached with your check.so you will need to wire the money through western union money transfer > instant payment and you’ll get back to me with all information you use for wiring transfer and also GLOBAL SHIPPING AGENCIES is the name > of the shipping company incharge of the pickup and you can reach them through their e-mail ([globalshippingagency@london.com](mailto:globalshippingagency@london.com)) so i think > this is all you have to know if you have another question feel free to mail me back. > regards So, naturally, I gave him this as a reply > [@](#): > > I’ll tell you what’s been going on: I’ve been on to you from the beginning. That check’s fake, I know it, you know it. And what the fuck would someone in a backwater shithole like you live in want with a piece of shit car that won’t even run? Absolutely nothing. You think that I’m some rich, stupid American you can defraud. Sorry, buddy, I’ve given the check to the US government, and they’ve told me that they’ll be contacting the local authorities in your area, so that you can be arrested, tried, and convicted, and put in jail. Been nice knowing ya. I hope that wasn’t too over the top. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/31 "2004-10-23T06:26:52Z")
Niiice. I doubt if you’ll hear anything more from or about this guy, but if you do, by all means keep us updated. Almost makes me wish somebody had tried to scam e…I’m missing out on all the fun. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/32 "2004-10-23T13:35:18Z")
Heheh I enjoyed this thread (and I know damn -all about cars). I think I’ll have to take up folowing E-Bay as an extra pastime for times like now, when I sti and procrwastinate over coffee. Personally, I have never been able to work out how either the seller OR buyer can trust that the goods or cheque _will_ be delivered, but I reckon now, I can use E-Bay for entertainment AND try to learn how it work along the way. I should learn to understand it really, 'cos recently I needed to replace my dead computer with a cheap one that was only half-dead and I did think of E-Bay but also thought I had better not risk something I did not understand. Thanks for the laughs, **Tuckerfan** And, you know, I began to feel sorry for this sad, dead homeless car! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/33 "2004-10-23T14:20:49Z")
Let us know if he responds, **Tucker**. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/34 "2004-10-23T14:27:46Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Just as I was about to sign off and go to bed, I got an e-mail from one of the scammers. His check arrived while I was gone, and he’s wanting to know what’s happening > > So, naturally, I gave him this as a replyI hope that wasn’t too over the top. So did you actually give his check to authorities? If not, are you? I think you should. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/35 "2004-10-23T17:57:17Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I had an EBAY account, and bought a few things…no problems so far. However, I logged on one day (after 4-5 months of inactivity), and was shocked to find that I was a “winner” on 4 items that I had never bid on! The only explanation I can come up with is that someone working fro Ebay has stolen accounts numbers/passwords, and is handing them out as a joke. > Anyway, allof my emails to ebay are unanswered…and because I have NO intention of paying for these items, my account has been frozen. Ha! Screw em’…I think there will be some major swindles on ebay…it is a disaster waiiting to happen! I have a imilar problem in that I “sold” a Harley that I never owned, and never posted on EBay. Someone has found a way to hack accounts. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/36 "2004-10-23T22:14:16Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > So did you actually give his check to authorities? If not, are you? I think you should. Heh, actually, I deposited in my account. I want to see how long it is before the bank catches that it’s fake. (No, I’m not going to be doing anything with the money.) The check looks real, but doesn’t feel real. I took some scans of it and will post links to them when I can get them uploaded. I’ve also saved all the paperwork that came with the check, so if the Feds want to track the bastard down, they’ll have everything I can give them. ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/37 "2004-10-23T23:17:10Z")
According to ebay, the car went for $11.25? Damn, Tucker…I’d have taken it for $13! Then again, there’s the matter of getting it here…and what to do with it once I had it…I’m sure I could’ve used the parts to pimp out my Integra though! ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/38 "2004-10-23T23:22:41Z")
> [@xgxlx](#): > > According to ebay, the car went for $11.25? Damn, Tucker…I’d have taken it for $13! > > Then again, there’s the matter of getting it here…and what to do with it once I had it…I’m sure I could’ve used the parts to pimp out my Integra though! Well, you know, the “buyer” has yet to show up and get the car, and I haven’t heard from him in over a week, so I’m thinking that he’s _not_ coming to get the thing, in which case, I’ll be parting the car out as best I can without attracting the attention of the landlord, so… ---
**Author:** ![blinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@blinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinx)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/39 "2004-10-24T00:16:32Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > I have a imilar problem in that I “sold” a Harley that I never owned, and never posted on EBay. Someone has found a way to hack accounts. Most often it’s actually done by sending out emails forged to look like they are from eBay, telling you that you need to go to some webpage and update your account details. The same procedure is used for scamming creditcard details from people. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738/40 "2004-10-24T00:20:37Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Heh, actually, I deposited in my account. I want to see how long it is before the bank catches that it’s fake. (No, I’m not going to be doing anything with the money.) The check looks real, but doesn’t feel real. I took some scans of it and will post links to them when I can get them uploaded. I’ve also saved all the paperwork that came with the check, so if the Feds want to track the bastard down, they’ll have everything I can give them. Are you serious? I would think that depositing a check that you have reason to believe is a forgery would put you on pretty shaky legal ground. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-mess-with-this-ebay-scammer/266738.md?page=3)