Fw: [Heathkit] stupid ebay scammer

Sat, 3 Jan 2004 13:43:26 -0800

About 6 months ago, I had my access stolen on eBay and then saw obvious
fraudulent postings valued at thousands of dollars under my ID.  It took me
several days to get eBay to do anything about it.  Their phone number is
unlisted, and they don't accept any email.  I logged into the FBI "web
fraud" web page and found it so busy, and difficult to use that after 3
hours of trying to post a complaint, I was forced to give up.  I also
contacted a special phone number that is run by the FBI for web fraud.  I
left four messages over a period of four days.

To this date, no one has ever called me back regarding the issue.  I
(luckily) was able to retrieve my ID from eBay.

The bottom line is; No one out there is really serious about cracking down
on these types of crimes.  Until something really bad happens (god forbid) I
doubt that any law enforcement agency has either the time or ambition to do
much about these.  Unfortunately we are left with indirectly footing the
expense of paying for these crimes.

Good Luck....

Don

----- Original Message -----
From: "Duane Fischer, W8DBF" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2004 1:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Heathkit] stupid ebay scammer

> I would strongly suggest you contact the proper authorities about this,
not just
> complain here OM. I would start with the Post Master General of the United
> States, as this involves mail fraud. I would contact the Attorney General
of
> your state of residence, the Consumer Protection division, and file a
written
> formal complaint. Next write to the management of the electronic auction
and
> 'insist' on communicating with a person in a supervisory capacity in the
fraud
> division. Not one of the  chlorophyll deprived plants who answer general
e-mail!
> finally, contact your local Congressman and/or Senator and request a
federal
> investigation. This may involve an out of the country party, this elected
person
> has the authority and wherewithall to track them down.
>
> The person who is using the electronic auction to send this type of scam
is in
> violation of the electronic auctions policies, and if they do not take the
> proper auction to suspend said person, you can have the Attorney General's
> office pursue prosection of the electronic auction.
>
> The electronic auction in question, has frequently failed to check items
being
> advertised for validity, failed to enforce their own transaction policies,
> failed to suspend those who violate said rules and failed to protect
buyers. The
> seller can get away with murder, and many have figured this out, and use
the
> electronic auction as a scam playground.
>
> Go get them!
>
> ----------
> From: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [Heathkit] stupid ebay scammer
> Date: Saturday, January 03, 2004 11:59 AM
>
> Here's the message text:
>
> ============= SCAM text ===
>
> >From member: oaks54
>
> --------------------
>
> Hi,
>  I saw you bidding on a SX-88/HT-32A: HALLICRAFTERS FINEST STATION  and
decided
> to
> send this email since I too sell these.  I'm a member
> of the eBay community and have very good feedbacks.
>
> If you get outbid
> on the auction you're bidding on, I will agree
>  to sell to you for around close to your bid price if
> the amount is fair. I will also throw in several brand
> new games for absolutely free so I'll  ensure that you
> are 100% satisfied while purchasing from me.
>
> I have not even opened any of these the boxes at all.
> If by any chance you are not satisfied, I am more than
> willing to give you a full refund back. I need the
> money really quickly cause of some bills that I have
> which are to be settled, so let me know if you'd like
> to purchase this item.
>
>  I am not set up to take credit card payments but you
> could use your credit card online on
> www.westernunion.com to make payment or through
> 1-800-CALLCASH Toll Free Number. You could also make
> payment with cash through a Western Union Agent Near
> you if you don't wish to use a credit
> card. In either ways I am willing to bear the fees.
>
> Soo if you are interested you can contact me only at this email adress:
> [email protected]
> Best Regards.
>
>
> --------------------
>
> ============= End SCAM text ===
>
> Non-hams might not appreciate what happened.  The SX-88 is a 50 year
> old, extremely valuable, collectable radio. A couple hundred exist,
> sells for $5,000 and up.
>
> I saw it on the block at about $600 and put a token $900 bid on it.
> Of course, I was immediately outbid.  If I had won it, I could have
> "flipped" the radio and made substantial profit.
>
> He says, "I too sell these."   I don't think so.
>
> de ah6gi/4
>
>
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