hey all,
sorry to bother the list with this but i just wanted to make sure nobody is taken for a ride.
somebody sent me via ebay the following message ( i assume after seeing
that i had bid on the 54cm colnago track frame being currently
auctioned)
> Subject: Question for seller -- Item #3652851904
>
> Good Day,
> Please excuse that i`m contacting you , but i have seen that you are
> interesed in purchasing a product(Excellent Colnago Super Track Bike
> 54cm) current bid on eBay and i`ve decided to make you a real offer.
> Have one and i don`t know how to sell it more faster because i need
> some cash money soon for a new investment that i want to make.
> Just in case u are interesed i will wait your mail.
> Don't worry about shipping taxes or insurance of the product because
> this is my problem.
> I am expecting your email.
> My Best Regards!!!
>
>
>
>
> --------------------
>
>
> Question from: XXXXXXX i deleted this XXXXXXX
> Title of item: Excellent Colnago Super Track Bike 54cm
> Seller: merckx_69
> Starts: Jan-08-04 19:38:05 PST
> Ends: Jan-15-04 19:38:05 PST
> Price: Currently $973.00
> To view the item, go to:
> http://ebay.com/
>
its odd - i am not the seller of the item but my ebay ID (merckx_69) is listed. it may be that there are holes in the ebay mail and correspondence system - so beware. i have deleted the ebay user ID (above) of the person who contact was made through - the email address that it was sent from doesn't match the user ID registered email. i'm not sure how contact was made to get to me. it is not a new account and has good feedback with recent transactions (cosmetics no less).
i returned an email to the "apparent seller" requesting pics and more
info. he responded with ...
> Hi,
> My bike is new,never used.
> The price is $650 including shipping taxes and insurance,whit two
> years international waranty.
> Lock in attach to see the pictures.
> Description:
> The bike is 57cm Columbus SLX tubes, chrome Cinelli lugs and seat
> cluster,
> Campagnolo Chorus 20-speed group, Velocity Aerohead rims, Conti Grand
> Prix tires,
> Speedplay X3 pedals, Cinelli-taped Profile Hammerhead bars and Koobi
> Xeon saddle.
>
> Best regards!!!
>
attached were pics of a later model cinelli super corsa with a very distinct saddle which reminded me of one i had seen on the web. in fact the pictures were swiped from the bikeworks NYC site as was the bike description
http://www.bikecult.com/
now i REALLY dislike this person. 1stly they are trying to steal money off cyclists (which to me are family) but 2ndly are using click and drag pics from our bro Dave Perry's site.
i have alerted ebay but they are S-L-O-W in responding and alerting to a fraud/stolen ID problem. i outlined the scenario, fwd-ed them the emails and noted the images sent me were from a well known website. i haven't contacted the ebayer's account ID in case the fraudster has hijacked the account and may be forewarned.
anyone who has a better way of nabbing this jerk feel free to contact me, and any of you with a bit of aggression that needs venting who also fancy themselves in the art of identity snooping and trailing emails ill happily oblige with more details. nothing like a bit of well intentioned claret spilling to start a new year ;-)
then again i could be wrong hence i haven't included any contact info (it's a libelious world we live in).
i like ebay but it has holes - be cautious. sometimes i wish i could actually contact a person at the ebay offices rather than a web-bot automated response system. i suspect this may not be the only case of the above style of scam and it's really not in their interest to divulge how one step behind they are in dealing with issues such as these.
i wont be bidding any higher on that oh-so pretty colnago track bike (unless i find a breifcase on the subway containing treasury bonds) ... it is a beauty though. i will however contact the seller and alert them of the email i had received so that they are aware as i recognise a few familiar names amongst the other bidders.
ciao,
ben "want's to punch people today" kamen NYC