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Ripped off by a Ebay motors scam
I have just paid $8000 for a car that I dont think exists. It was advertised on a few regular car selling sites and I expressed interest in a vehicle and I got what I now know is a typical story about someone being in the military etc. I already sent the money. What can I do about it please? Contact my bank as I made the payment by Visa? I am really panicked as the money only got sent last Thursday. Thanks
19 comments
kh-stanley1
·3 years agoHi all
This thread has been locked due to its age, a circular divergence from the original post, and the original poster being absent for over 18 months.
countessalmirena
·3 years agoWhen a person - let’s call him George - is called by a scammer, it might be a cold call, where all that’s known is phone number and name (possibly not full name). Actually — let’s make it a robotic voice in an Australian accent talking about a suspected fraudulent eBay purchase. That sort of call usually has a “please call [phone number] if you do not recognise this transaction”. In THAT sort of case, if you phone the number hiding your own number and using a false name, and don’t tell the scammers much, you might be able to avoid giving anything away.
BUT… let me give an example of how it might go and what MIGHT be leaked without the person even realising:
George: I received a call telling me to call this number, about a fraudulent eBay transaction…?
Scammer: Good day to you, sir. Yes, can I just confirm your name?
George: George [lastname].
Scammer: And date of birth?
George: I don’t feel comfortable giving that over the phone. Can you just tell me why you’ve contacted me?
Scammer: Ah, our anti-fraud department has detected a suspicious transaction in your eBay account, and we’ve flagged it as suspicious. It is for $xxx.xx. Did you make a purchase for this amount?
George: No, I did not.
At this point, George has confirmed name and phone number connection, even if he has called back disguising his number - because the scammers already have a list that includes the name and number. That can now be updated with “called back, full name is [nnn], make, sounds in his 50s or 60s, didn’t give DOB, has an eBay account, responded to contact about fraudulent transaction”, and flagged for a later more sophisticated contact. It confirms that he can be engaged, even if this engagement was limited. If he can be engaged, other scams more specifically targeting him have a way in… because engagement is key.
That is why I recommend no engagement.
We all have our blind spots. We all have our weaknesses.
ratman0100
·3 years agoYou have just answered it all yourself. For god sake you have to give the scammer all your details. They don't always say who they are or what it is for when leaving a message. Sometimes you call back out of courtesy. Most of the time you answer them right away. There you go they have your phone number. Everything you said has already happened. I agree with you. Big deal. YOU HAVE TO TELL THEM all your details to get scammed. They are not as sophisticated as your making them out. The worst that will happen is they call you heaps. Trust me they get sick of being hung up on or have their time waisted when they finally realize your screwing with them. If you don't trust yourself then by all means don't answer the phone. Won't get scammed but may miss an important call. Anyway, it's up to everyone how they wish to deal with scammers. If you understand how, it all works, then no problem. If you don't understand how it works, then do nothing. Either way it's up to the individual to do what is best for themselves. It does not fuss me either way.
Oh also, you stated that a message was left saying something about a fraudulent eBay purchase. The majority of eBay members know eBay do not call you. Therefore, check your transactions first. All I have said is you need to tell the scammer all your details to get ripped off and the reason of how it happens. The start of this post was about the car scam. This was a case of giving a stranger money into their bank account by direct deposit. Sadly, people STILL fall for this scam.
padi*0409
·3 years agoCan you really be certain about that ? Aside from many scammers also being hackers, I would imagine that the majority of mobile phones in use now are either Android or Apple phones, thus they are internet capable.
I don't know for sure, but if you happen to have your mobile data switched on while you are conversing with your "friendly" scammers, who is to say that it's impossible for the scammer/hacker to access your phone?
I have an Android phone, but I do not use it for internet browsing or emails etc because I'm wary of it being compromised.
.........each to their own Ratman..............
ratman0100
·3 years agoSee now we are talking about a different thing. Voice lines I am sure of. Hacking of computers, I am sure of as well. Now its gone to mobile phones as well. I don't know much about the OS of mobile phones as I don't have one but I know the FBI could not hack one of the iphones. I am NOT trying to tell anyone what to do with their scammers. I am just saying how it works. As you said, each to their own padi*0409
davewil1964
·3 years agoGive it a rest!
countessalmirena
·3 years agoIf you call back, you give away information. Just the mere act of phoning back reveals something. Every second spent in conversation with a scammer gives away information.
We may think we are poker faces/poker voices, but some scammers are g highly adept at gleaning information.
An additional risk is that something about you will already be known. Name, phone number, from which it may be possible for your address to be determined… your social media, your friends and family… With the details of so many Australian citizens and residents loosed on the dark web from the various hacks we’ve seen, none of us can afford to be complacent.
Annoying a scammer is a mug’s game. Ditto for wasting a scammer’s time. Professional cyber security experts will have the knowledge and (some of them) the experience and the tech to remain unknown except for their online personas… but the average person does not. The savvy scam-aware person does not. Even experienced people in this field can be fooled in a moment of inattention.
I regard scammers in this age, at this time, as falling into three distinct types: 1 - the classic call centre scammer (potentially vicious if their time is wasted, often IT graduates who are caught up in this purely for the money); 2 - trafficked people forced into scamming and unable to relent as they are threatened and watched and beaten if they don’t comply; and 3 - increasingly, it’s very dangerous criminals involved in money laundering, prostitution and human slavery rings, drug trafficking, support of terrorism, arms dealing, murder, robbery, blackmail, and every vile act one could imagine.
Do you honestly want to tweak the tail of these people? Any of them?
ratman0100
·3 years agoHow on earth do people get caught in these car scams!! Cant touch it. Dont buy it.
padi*0409
·3 years agoPerhaps they're the ones that return scammers phone calls as well.
ratman0100
·3 years agoHow would that happen by returning a call?
padi*0409
·3 years agoScam calls 101 :-
If you call back or answer a scam call you have effectively shown your phone number is active, and the original scammer will pass on your number to other scammers................
ratman0100
·3 years agoDuh yeah I know that. So what. You still have to tell them your details to get scammed. That is my point. They can pass your number to who ever they want. It does not happen like you see in the movies. There is a huge difference being on a voice call and them getting on your computer. Which you have to allow btw.
domino-710
·3 years agoWhat do I have to allow on my computer. ??
ratman0100
·3 years agoIt is impossible to get scammed or hacked on a voice call unless you give the details to the caller. To be hacked you need to be connected to the internet and on a voice call with the scammer and following his/her instructions and enabling them access to your computer with remote desktop or a third party software.
*sons_and_daughters*
·3 years agoThey know your number is active, regardless of whether you answer, because it rings when they call it. Same as if the call goes to message bank after it rings, even if it's the generic message bank greeting "Hello, no one is able to take your call right now. Please leave a message after the tone".
If they call a number and they get an immediate message saying "this call could not be connected", then they know it's not an active number. The instant it rings in their ear, it's a legit number. You don't have to answer or call back, they immediately know it's legit.
ratman0100
·3 years agoYou are 100% correct. I am really sorry but some people really watch to much television. NO ONE has ever been hacked or accounts stolen from a voice call. You have to tell them everything about yourself to have that happen. I am glad that you understand what I am saying sons_and_daughters. Countessalmirena, most of your answers and points, I find very good and helpful. But this time you really are wrong. More like the average person does not know how modern technology works. I say again there is a huge difference between a voice call and giving access to your computer.
countessalmirena
·3 years agoYou probably cannot.
Report the scam immediately to your bank. IMMEDIATELY.
If it’s possible to get the funds back, you’ll be extraordinarily lucky.
Additionally, report it as a crime. Report to ReportCyber. (Select Individual.)
uliawhanas_83
·3 years agoI've just purchased a vechile yesterday for $9000 and got a email from eBay motors stating the payment went into the wrong account late that afternoon. I know now its a scam, please help me, how will i get my money back??
daydreams_12
·3 years agoYour first thing is to contact your bank and let them know. I believe there may be a chance of money back if you paid by credit card.
If you read this and many other threads on the subject you will find you are not alone.
Why on earth did you not check everything out before sending your money.
I wish you luck but don't like your chances