Smart Scams

[just_kits]

Hey guys.. just thought you should all be aware of a new scam I found out about today..and I'm unsure of how they get their information but here we go..

I have a small store on ebay which only opened a month or so ago.. and today I check my HOTMAIL account and this is what I find...

''Hello,
 
 I bought this product from you: www.ebay.com/itm/19375487642 . But it seems that you made a mistake. Instead of receiving what I ordered, I got a Linhof head. I don't know how this usually works but I want to receive what I ordered. Also I'm not willing to pay any return taxes for your mistake. Please find a solution because I don't want to be forced to leave you negative feedback.


Thank you''

So the email itself seems legit... expect here I am wondering why they are emailing my hotmail and not my ebay account...............

Second of all... after clicking on the link to the item number they had given me... google automatically redirects me to a page telling me that the site is unsafe and is a "pishing" scam.... not only that but the item number and email given by the person does not exisit in any of my records.............

Another thing is that I save myself the hassle of scammers by only shipping with Australian Post ebay satchels... which not only has tracking but also has bags you can buy by weight.. and all of my products are only 500grams.. after googling what a " Linhof head' is... I can safetly say that not only do I not own such a item or have an ad for such an item... but Australia post would never ship something which I only paid for 500grams in weight........

Very odd... in any case this email is just to help those who may not be very savy when it comes to scammers/hotmail/internet.

Thanks 😃

Anyone else who has had this experience feel free to comment back 😃

[aussie-dvd]

If it was one of your buyers, you should be able to tell in your Sold page, otherwise its most likely a scam

eBay satchels are great for postage

[model.trains]

DO NOT OPEN ANY LINK FROM AN EMAIL!!!

What would have happened if Google had not had their block in place, you would have been following a link to a bogus Ebay site which would have asked you to log in, so they get your Ebay log in details and can Hijack your Ebay account.

Then they would have politely asked you to log in to your paypal account, for some reason, with another link to a bogus Paypal site and Now they have your paypal log in details!!

Then they empty any money from your paypal account, change all your addresses and buy tons of stuff to be delivered to the new addresses they have entered, and any credit card you have linked to the paypal account gets drained too.

NEVER CLICK ON A LINK FROM AN EMAIL.

Always go out of Hotmail or whatever and log on through your normal link to a site .

[davewil1964]

It's not a new scam. The usual clue is that it is referencing something you don't sell, which is a pretty obvious clue.

They say these scammers try to get the mugs to self-select...

[suitcase_of_memories]

REPEAT NEVER CLICK ON LINKS to emails you are suspicious of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[just_kits]

You're right, normally that would be a clue... however I myself have brought an item and someone had put the wrong item into my package... a simple mistake of course but I was just double checking ^_^

[just_kits]

Yes I know.. in fact that's what it wanted me to do the second time I clicked it moments before google acted for me.. but it wouldnt matter as I never normally click on any old link from hotmail and than enter in my details........ but DAMN they are getting good.. how the hell did they know I sold on ebay!!

[shepherdsrule]

I am sorry OP, but are you kidding? The fact you sell on eBay is here for all to see. Not hard to find info once you have the user id which again is here for all to see.

[davewil1964]

They say these scammers try to get the mugs to self-select...

They really don't want people who can see through them causing them their version of grief.

[davewil1964]

I've had Nigerian scams, off-shore oil driller/hydrographer/your Bank of America... scams personally. I've read heaps about the others. Very few (none) have been relevant enough to me to check. None would ever be relevant enough to click a link. Especially when you hover your mouse over the link to see the actual URL.

They don't need to know you're on eBay - they spam millions of email accounts with the same spiel, waiting for the 0.001% mugs who will click on the link. Like I said, they rely on the mugs self-selecting. They don't want people with a modicum of common sense chucking a spanner in their works, they want the uneducated.

You are lucky, just_kits, that Google protected you - you selected yourself.