[CR]ebay and fraud

(Example: Framebuilding:Restoration)

From: "Alec Bradlow" <alec@bradlow.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 15:44:13 -0500
Subject: [CR]ebay and fraud

I totally agree with Charles online fraud analysis and I would add one more caveat- If a deal is to good to be believed (as the scammers deal always is) then don't believe it. I was selling a bike on roadbike review and a crazy buyer-supposedly in London- sent me a certified ck from Nigeria drawn on a Dallas bank. I of course called the bank before depositing to confirm it was bogus which it was and I sent it to their fraud dept. On-line transactions ,unless you use an escrow service which is not a bad idea on big ticket items is basically the honor system and only works if the buyer and seller are both cool. Intl just makes it that much tougher, that's why so many auctions are domestic only. There is a sellerthis week (J_Cookson21@cosmo.com was the e-mail he was using) who had a bunch of brand new high dollar bikes on e-bay for 30% of retail and they pulled his auctions but i'm sure somebody got cheated. I also want to talk with the other party if the transaction is for any serious amount of dough. I think in most cases if you are careful and use common sense you'll be fine but I'm sure there are certain scammers who have the Con down to perfection. Alec in 58 degree Tampa-did a cold 40 this am