Ebay Scams – watch out!

19 Nov 2005 Ebay Scams – watch out!

Watch out when buying things on eBay. There are a lot of scammers out there.

If they want you to pay with Western Union, watch out! No legit business that I have heard of would require payment with Western Union.

Offer to visit with them and pay cash on the spot. This will flush out the scammers. If they say that they live in a remote place, like Romania or Indonesia, tell them your brother lives there, and he will be happy to go pick up the item. Tell them you are a corporate pilot, and you fly near there every week. You get the idea.

Here is an actual E-mail from one of the scammers:

From: Vero576@aol.com
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 10:16:25 EST
Subject: Re: ebay item 6579193594
To: x@y.z


My name is MADALIN MIREL MORARU .In order to end this deal in good terms i
am going to
tell you some things that i want to follow:
 1.GENERAL INFO- It is better for you to know that the item is
brand new it has never been opened, have international warranty
provided by the factory and come with all accesories that you need.
 2. SHIPPMENT ---this is a thing about you shouldn't
worry about because i belive that it is my responasability to
deliver it to your home.We can do it through
 -UPS  overnighted  
  It will take one  day and a half for the package to arrive to
your door.The shipping costs will be paid by me and i will also pay for the
insurance in case of any damage happens during the handling and shipping,so
i will be protected in case of damages and you too.
 3.THE WAY TO PAY ---as a payment method i have
chosen WesternUnion's services because they always served our
interests in a professional manner and helped us gain buyers. i consider
promptitude a vital condition on the modern e-Commerce markets and a
guarantee of quality. To arrange the transfer, you must go in person to a
Western Union office and send the money from your name and address to my name
and address .Here are the details that you need for the money transfer:

First:MADALIN MIREL
Second:MORARU
street:BAia Doamnei 323
City:MARACINENI 
State:Buzau
Country:Romania

Please be carrefull with my first and last name. 
For sending the money you must find a western union agent location and send
the money from there because western union don't send the money online in
Romania  
After that, you will recive an confirmation number and
I want you to send me the folowing details :
 -the sender name
 -the sender address
 -the amount
 -MTCN (money transfer control number)
4. REFOUND  ---After the package arrives you have an 7 days period in which
you can send the package back for an full and NO 
 QUESTION refound,but you will pay for the shipping and handlling back to me.
 5.TAXES  ---There may be some customs duties for you to pay, but if you
wish we can avoid them (if any): 
ME --i have to declare the item as a gift for you and in this way you will
pay NO costum fees and you will receive the item very fast. 
YOU--have to declare at Western Union that you send the money to a friend
in Romania that need this money, in this way when 
 our deal will be finished and i get the money from W.U. without problems.
Please let me know when you can make the payment and after this i will
start the delivery process.
I hope you agree my terms and we will close this deal
sucessfully.
 I look forward hearing from you.
 Thanks!