Scam. Watch out bike sellers on TM

[rocketman1]

Watch out .
After stuffing me around for days saying he would only pay by Paypal, he sent me an email saying the shipping costs were $1500 and he would arrange to have this payment and the purchase price sent to my paypal account. I sent him my email for Paypal . From his return email I now figured he was an overseas buyer?
After receiving a detailed email , see attached

I returned an prompt email telling him to get stuffed:)

This is what happens next.
He jacks up the shipping co. and keeps you fully posted, so your his mate, plenty of friendly emails, so far all good , then at the last minute he will email saying the shipping has trouble with him paying them or some similar excuse. My overseas MATE? at the last minute before the truck is to arrive, now panics and send a urgent email, can I pay the $1500.00 to the shipping co. and will get reimbursed, and gives me the shipping co details and bank acct. That's the last you see of your $1500.
There are different slants on this type of scam, be cautious!!

[JimO]

have you been living under a rock?? this is a common occurrence

[FJRider]

The Golden rule in Trademe sales ... money in YOUR account before the item moves ...

[Oblivion]

The Golden rule in Trademe sales ... money in YOUR account before the item moves ...

Also don't accept Paypal for money transfer.

[Gremlin]

The Golden rule in Trademe sales ... money in YOUR account before the item moves ...
And not a cheque you've banked, as it can actually take weeks to fully clear.

[Laava]

have you been living under a rock?? this is a common occurrence

I am sure this is a one-off!
Looking forward to smelling your money, Princewill Goodfortune.
No I do not live in Niggerarea, why do you ask?

[Mike.Gayner]

The Golden rule in Trademe sales ... money in YOUR account before the item moves ...

Here's another rule - if someone from overseas offers to buy your bike for your asking price, without anyone ever having inspected it, it's almost certainly a scam.

Don't be greedy, don't be stupid, and you won't get scammed.

This particular scam is older than time, I'm surprised people still feel to need to rant on it.

[caspernz]

Don't be greedy, don't be stupid, and you won't get scammed.

Only one of those three applies to the OP...I hope :sweatdrop

[Fern]

This scam is old as time on trademe/ eBay...

[Yamahardman]

And not a cheque you've banked, as it can actually take weeks to fully clear.

What is this "cheque" you speak of?
hahaha

[EJK]

My mate in Nigeria didn't reply back :(

What to do?

[caspernz]

My mate in Nigeria didn't reply back :(

What to do?

It's ok, he's busy helping his sister rescue her royal cousin from the oppressors with the money I sent her last week...

[TLDV8]

Here's another rule - if someone from overseas offers to buy your bike for your asking price, without anyone ever having inspected it, it's almost certainly a scam.


It is not always possible to have a bike looked over so that comes down to homework and communication.
Scams can be a two way street but 1000's of sales are done drama free,plenty of Americans were more than happy to take a paypal or wire transfer payment from me in the past.

It still a case of being sensible,if it looks to good to be true it probably is.


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[Akzle]

but... He put 1500$ + the cost of bike in your account?

[Fern]

Even my local ANZ has signs on the way in warning about sending money abroad for these reasons...

[jasonu]

Also don't accept Paypal for money transfer.

Why not???

[F5 Dave]

Because all these scams work on fact it can be backed out of. That's why it takes days to clear. Insufficient funds somewhere in the chain and bank pulls the plug. Bank wins. Scammer wins. Vender loses.

[Tazz]

Is there anyway you can reverse the tables with this sort of thing (I can't think of any) or is it just a waste of time trying to mess with them yourself?

[rustyrobot]

Is there anyway you can reverse the tables with this sort of thing (I can't think of any) or is it just a waste of time trying to mess with them yourself?

I don't think you'll be able to get any money out of them, but you can certainly have some fun and waste their time.

Check out... http://www.419eater.com/

[jasonu]

Scammer wins. Vender loses.

Only if you are a fuckwit or some sort of a dreamer.

[F5 Dave]

Or desperate. I had to talk a mate of the wiff out of a scam. I don't have any money to take sez she and they had made a mistake and were sorry about a competition so would pay her to avoid the bad publicity.

Solo mum. She desperately wanted to believe it. Took a while to convince her. Ok so she was weak of mind but that's not her fault. These guys are kunts.

[subrmn]

ok so same thing is happening to me at the moment thank you for posting cheers I'm much more aware of it now yea I'm at stage he gona pay has any one informed trade me that scammers are working through there site

[Tazz]

ok so same thing is happening to me at the moment thank you for posting cheers I'm much more aware of it now yea I'm at stage he gona pay has any one informed trade me that scammers are working through there site

They know. Quite often they will email you to let you know an overseas IP has been looking at/messaging your auction/classified and to be vigilant of that.

[pritch]

One local KBer recently advertised a bike and very quickly had contact from a scammer. What I don't get is how anybody could actuually believe somebody from overseas wants their bike. Unless it's a Vincent Black Shadow or a Brough Superior or something equally as exotic they should be able to get one locally.

[Taxythingy]

Re: not accepting PayPal


Why not???

Unless you live in the US, you won't get seller protection to cover you when the bastards claim it wasn't delivered/item as described/arrived damaged/unauthorised use of account/anything else they can think of, and then PayPal can reverse the transaction. If you have already taken the cash out of your account, you will owe PP the amount. You better have a good lawyer, proof of delivery (as specified in PP's T&C), full shipping insurance, guaranteed method of proving that something arrived damaged (to the satisfaction of shipping co & their insurers, without help from the scammer or PP) and everything else including your arse covered.

Just get them to wire all the money to you via WU, then ship.

[F5 Dave]

. . .
Just get them to wire all the money to you via WU, then ship.
You're kidding right? There are a heap of Western Union scams going on on TM currently. Was in our local rag today as a matter of course.

Just don't.

[jasonu]

You're kidding right? There are a heap of Western Union scams going on on TM currently. Was in our local rag today as a matter of course.

Just don't.

Are you sure about that. If you are Western Unioned money they (WU) cut you a check or will give you cash on the spot depending on the amount. Scams involving WU that I have seen generally get YOU to WU money to Nigeria for shipping or to get your inheritance started after they have sent you a check for more than the purchase price.

[F5 Dave]

Yeah you might be right re the overpayment. Either way it is just dangerous.

[JimO]

i dont have to worry about those scammers anymore, not since i won the international lottery

[Kendoll]

You didn't have a rich, overseas relative die lately by any chance? There's a lawyer saying he left you a million bucks...