iphone5s scam *****urgent*****

[delinquent77]

Last night we were scammed when we purchased an iphone from someone with the username <Removed>. Usually we are very careful when buying anything from ebay, but last night we got duped  about an hour after we bought the phone we got an email from ebay saying the item had been removed, then when we went to contact the seller we discovered they had deactivated thier account. On further investigation today we discovered that this user duplicated an ad that actually belongs to an online ebay store <Removed> who are legitiamte ebay sellers. They even used thier location, and terms and conditions etc.  I spoke to <Removed> this morning who informed me they had been getting calls all morning about this from other ebay users who also bought the item.  I have taken the appropriate steps, with both ebay and paypal to get my money back but it will take a couple of weeks. I have read today that ebay is having alot of problems with iphone 5s scams.  I did speak to ebay last night but they were uselss and couldn't give me any information. They couldn't even explain to me what the email that THEY sent me meant.

I would be very interested in hearing from anyone else who got sucked in by these same people  or any similar stories as they may be related. 

[padi*0409]

Hmmmm,

         Anecdotal evidence suggests that the amount of scammers operating increased significantly after Highjack Hunters was closed down, supposedly after "naming and shaming" occured, when there were in fact very few instances of so called "naming and shaming" happening.

Surely the complete thread didn't need to be shut down because a few members unknowingly broke those rules - the mods are there to remove those posts and advise the member of his/her transgression.

If eBay can't put in place a filter of some sort to weed out the scammers before they list, then I think that they need better techs......

...........or allow a form of Highjack Hunters back on the boards.............

Yeah I know, dream on with that one Padi......................... 

OH Crickey, not having a go at you...................xx

[davewil1964]

Anybody who buys an iPhone 5 online, other than from an authorised Apple reseller, is going to get scammed. By definition - Apple are very bottomal on who can sell their stuff new. If it is cheaper than RRP, you can guarantee the seller is not authorised.

The OP DIDN'T get scammed as they will get their money back.

And people really should learn to be a bit discriminating, rather than having their vision clouded by the $$ signs when they see a 'bargain' and thinking they're going to get something for cheap.

[go-tazz]

These particular ones are straight out scammers and stand out in any search.

There is no way that these can be mistaken for honest sellers.

Members can find these easily but Trust & Safety don't seem to be able too,(when reported they aren't removed

quickly enough and most go through to completed).

Members are getting ripped off by these scammers and eBay don't seem to care.

This has been happening for years and nothing is ever done.

Members shouldn't be able to find the scammers as T & S should be removing them,(we have simple searches

in place to find them so that we can report them).

The question has always been: how do T & S  search fror scammers,(do they? or do they leave it up to members

to report them?).

Ever since they got rid of the Canadian T & S agents it has been a downhill slide in regards to scammers,

The harm they do to this site can't be measured but there are possibly thousands of people that have been

conned by these Chinese scammers.

The ones that list the high end TV's are also Chinese scammers.

The ones that list camera's,high end bikes,guitars,etc are Romanian scammers.

Then you have the Russian scammers who list industrial machinery.

None of them should be able to con menbers if T & S did their job.

[shepherdsrule]

Not sure about anyone else, but I will take notice and advice from  silverstereo every day of the week and twice on a Sunday - SS knows what is what , as does tazz

[*crikey*mate*]

I agree padi, bring back the hijack hunters - those boys did a fantastic job.

probably got shut down cos they were putting eBay's efforts to shame

but I am curious how eBay could stop a scasmmer before they even list?

[*crikey*mate*]

Tazz - the other day trust and Safety couldn't find a thread in The Chamber. They couldn't even get into the group, their access was denied, they didn't have high enough clearance FGS and I had to help them find their way to the discussion boards so they could find out who Joanna oz was.

I mean if eBay don't give T&S access to the groups when moderators and other eBay staff have access and read and participate in the groups - ya have to really wonder just what T&S are allowed to do, eh?

so you really think they coukld find a scammer with any efficiency??

They couldn't even find their way to the general discussion boards, they don't know their own head office contingent, so really....

[padi*0409]

---

@*crikey*mate* wrote:

I agree padi, bring back the hijack hunters - those boys did a fantastic job.

probably got shut down cos they were putting eBay's efforts to shame

but I am curious how eBay could stop a scasmmer before they even list?

---

Ya nitpicker Crickey, I meant before the listing went live...................................

"slaps head.............................."

(sends spellcheck app to Crickey..........................)

[go-tazz]

so you really think they coukld find a scammer with any efficiency??

They couldn't even find their way to the general discussion boards, they don't know their own head office contingent, so really...

They could find the scammers easy enough,(they only need to access the site).

It sounds like they are not allowed to shut down scammers as that might affect the bottom line,(therefore they

have been given limited "powers").

This site isn't interested in stopping or removing scam listing.

There are now also over 100 scam listings for Rainbow Rose seeds,(which off course don't exist).

I sent an Email to T & S about a scam listing and also asked why the Rainbow Rose and Black Rose seeds

were still being listed.

They replied and removed the scam listing but nothing was said about the seeds,so I sent a reply and asked

again why they where still allowed to be listed,(I'm still waiting for an answer),

This site is complicit and aid these scammers as they bring in money,(the scammers are making tens of

thousands of $ from gullible members and eBay get their percentage).

To me that's fraud,(they are knowingly helping these scammers).

They know they are scam listings but refuse to shut them down,(it's reprehensible that this site continues to

allow known scams to continue),

[*crikey*mate*]

so what can we do about it?

what is the solution?

what we are doing isn't working.

but it has to be done legally, or eBay won't play, they are adamant they need proof, that they are not authorized to determine such things without approval from their legals

so from my chair right here, it seems we have to deliver a way to provide the proof that they require (admissible proof) to take action.

for the seeds - do we buy some and photograph progress and provide evidence? If eBay wont shut it down, then do we show them how easy it is to prove? provide the proof they won't get? Has anyone done that or is it just members sending emails? maybe we provide proof, maybe we get letters from authorized seedy people iykwim?

There is an added obstacle/whole in the profit theory

The Chinese ones and some other o/s ones are paid by paypal, so the buyers that pay are covered

and the other scams, eBay only gets the fees on what is payed for, right? but unless the seller is shut down, it is unlikely that they pay their bills before they bail

Dunno Tazz

but the bottom line is how to get proof - no matter how obvious.

do we ask the ACCC? The Feds? online fraud protection sqauddy people?

we have an open door now, how do we make it count so they listen?

why don't we put something together to maske it wiorth their while to listen?

but it has to be more than unqualified members (no disrespect meant, but that's how eBay see us) pointing the finger.

did they ever give a reason for shutting down hijack hunters? I mean did they actually say anyth8ing - not why we think it was shut diown iykwim

[*crikey*mate*]

padi

spell check is for people who care LOL

I have my big girl panties on - no fear here....