Author Topic: Am I paranoid, or is this a scam ? (Read 691 times)

wipass · « **on:** July 29, 2004, 04:56:48 AM »

I listed a Laptop for sale on ebay here in the UK,

It was sold to

Miss Somebody (don't want to give the name in case it's genuine)
Ruta Drive
Northford, CT 06472
United States

who asked that I post it to her Nephew who lives in London UK. (E10)

I have received an email from paypal saying the payment has been made, I have checked my paypal account (not from a link but http://www.paypal.com) and the money is there in my account.

But something still seems weird, does it to anyone else. I have to ship the Laptop today.

wipass

Habu · « **Reply #1 on:** July 29, 2004, 05:00:05 AM »

Take the money out of your Paypal account first and close the account. I have heard of a scam where they use stolen credit cards and then paypal takes the money back.

Ask for a phone number for both them and the place you are shipping to. Not a cell. Do a reverse lookup and see if the address matches.

Check the local phone directory for their names (online).

If there is anything not right post back here later. I will try to dig up the scam articles later at work.

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #2 on:** July 29, 2004, 05:01:00 AM »

Send the laptop to me, just to be safe.

Delirium · « **Reply #3 on:** July 29, 2004, 05:03:52 AM »

It is a valid address, the town is located near Northhaven CT.
Its about 45 minutes from my house and looks like a legit address to me.

Nilsen · « **Reply #4 on:** July 29, 2004, 05:25:20 AM »

if its 45 mins away then just take out the money and drive there with it.

wipass · « **Reply #5 on:** July 29, 2004, 05:27:52 AM »

Thanks for the replies,

Is the zip code 06472 valid with Ruta Drive, it doesn't seem to be on multimap.

06472 shows a different location to Ruta Drive ?

I have a bad feeling about this, tried calling ebay here in the UK but they don't have a menu option allowing you to question a transaction. I have a feeling that the credit card is stolen.

Unfortunately I have a large balance in paypal that I can't take out in one go.

wipass

SOB · « **Reply #6 on:** July 29, 2004, 05:41:24 AM »

The USPS shows it as a valid address, and reports back with the same zip. Go to: http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.htm/ and just type in the the address, city, & state without the zip code, and it will return the same zip code you have listed in your post.

If you think the CC may be stolen, contact Paypal since they processed the transaction. Or better yet, see if the person is listed in the phone book. http://www.att.com/directory/ If she is, just call her at the # listed in the directory and see if she is indeed the person who just purchased your laptop.

Nilsen · « **Reply #7 on:** July 29, 2004, 05:43:45 AM »

You have a good reason to be careful. Do you have so much money on ebay that you cant take it out? (sorry never used it so i dont know how paypal works)

I would call ebay at any number they have listed and tell them your problem and im sure they will be able to forward your call to the correct department.

Habu · « **Reply #8 on:** July 29, 2004, 08:29:10 AM »

I looked for the scam article and could not find it yet.

Basically I would refuse to ship to the UK. You should ship it to a valid US address and make sure the phone number matches the address. If it does not ask them why. Make sure you get proof of delivery. If the address is right near another Aces High player why not ask him to deliver it for you and get a signed receipt and make the receiver show valid ID.

One scam is the Item never arrived story. They claim they did not get the item and demand a refund.

Another is the stolen credit card scam.

If you get valid proof of delivery (with some ID info like a drivers licence) then you should be ok against either.

He has paid in full though so that is a good thing.

Curval · « **Reply #9 on:** July 29, 2004, 09:20:05 AM »

I've never used E-Bay for this reason.

First of all, with my limited knowledge of these transactions, on the face of it I don't understand the suspicion. Is it because the buyer is requesting shipping to a UK address instead of a US one?

If so, it again appears to make sense...assuming the buyer has a nephew in the UK who is genuine of course. Maybe the US buyer specifically wanted a UK seller to save on shipping costs. The way it stands the laptop would need to be shipped to her in the US and then she would have to ship it herself back across the Atlantic to the UK.

E-Bay scares me...it is just too risky IMHO to be used for high priced merchandise such as computers.

wipass · « **Reply #10 on:** July 29, 2004, 09:29:50 AM »

I have just dispatched the Laptop for delivery tomorrow.

Will let you know what happens,

I could be up £200 or down £500

wipass

slimm50 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 29, 2004, 09:44:30 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Habu
Take the money out of your Paypal account first and close the account. I have heard of a scam where they use stolen credit cards and then paypal takes the money back.

Ask for a phone number for both them and the place you are shipping to. Not a cell. Do a reverse lookup and see if the address matches.

Check the local phone directory for their names (online).

If there is anything not right post back here later. I will try to dig up the scam articles later at work.

Habu, you're not in jail?!

Habu · « **Reply #12 on:** July 29, 2004, 09:46:40 AM »

Keeping a low profile and keeping my nose clean.

I think I beat the rap on the big lilac branch job.

Hawklore · « **Reply #13 on:** July 29, 2004, 12:22:52 PM »

Ship it, so that they must sign for it, and pay for the shipping..

-shrug- My 2 cent

phookat · « **Reply #14 on:** July 29, 2004, 12:35:19 PM »

DON'T DO IT!!!!

I was caught in a scam just like this. I almost lost $800. Some guy will steal a legit paypal acct/password, pay from that account, and have it shipped to somewhere out of the country. In a few days, the real account owner sees the charge and reverses it. Now you are out the money and the goods. I was able very luckily to reverse the shipment, but it was a close thing (the package was on the Russian delivery truck when it was called back).

Now I ask for confirmed paypal addresses only.