Crooked Seller on eBay Scammed over $100K

[slotter]

Check out this guy. He built up lots of good feedback over a couple years and then in a month's time put up over 1000 auctions that one can look at, collected his cashier checks and money orders and disappeared. He took buyers for a HUGE amount of money -- supposedly over $100,000. He used the fact that people were in a hurry for their Christmas presents to quickly send him money. Laptops, digital cameras, iPods and more. (Again, it is MUCH safer to pay via PayPal!)


alisher71

(I read on another forum that there are many, many more people who were never able to leave negative feedback because he was made "non-registered" by eBay. He supposedly had over 1000 sales for which he never sent the merchandise.)

[Revo1976]

Man, they should hunt this guy down and shoot him like a dog, or was it like a duck ? anyway, just shoot him.....

I am new to ebay and therefore might be a easy victim, i am looking into more info about paypal. so far i did not win a single auction. But i hope nothing like this will ever happen to me. Thanks for the warning about this guy, let's hope that he will not activate a new account and rip people off again.

[slotter]

He had been on eBay for two years and had well over 300 good feedbacks and happy buyers. He even posted the reason he didn't accept PayPal was he felt he was screwed by them at one time on a sale and, therefore, would only take the Cashier Checks and Money Orders.

I can see why a person would have thought him an OK seller.

[vespacar]

One more reason to stick to paypal and credit cards. I have a saying that I tell my friends "unless you can retire on it (the crime)and move to another country why would you bother". We have guys at work who steal from the fare box and get caught. To lose a $50,000 a year job for pocket change is just stupid!!

Cheers,
James

PS. If you hear that I've robbed a casino for tens of millions of dollars, and moved to another country, ITS TRUE!!!

[ocpachinko]

PayPal only, for sure.

Now we know why eBay shuts folks down regardless of history, if their algorithm finds an "unusual" sales pattern.

The perp will be found, that's for sure...federal crimes get noticed. Better publicity of convictions/plea bargains should discourage most copycats...it may be that some think they can get away with this, but clearly eBay has a lot to gain from helping the police.

My bet in the arrest date pool: January 5.

[luckydog]

i always use paypal when buying on ebay, i got burned 4 0r 5 times, but all purchase were for around 30.00.

No help from Ebay or Paypal

[Tulsa]

Yeah, I don't want anything bad enough to send someone unprotected money. Paypal is the only way I'll buy anything on eBay.

I'll take 1/6/06 for the arrest date.

[jwegger]

Been burned on both sides of paypal as a seller and a buyer, as a seller they freeze the funds if the buyer complains. As a buyer if the seller sends you something then they consider the auction closed it does not matter if you get the wrong item or something is so bad you can't use it as long as you get something. So I always try and pay through paypal with my American Express card so I get their protection.
But as a sell, it's really the best way to get my money. Usually in hours vs sometimes weeks with the mail.

[LeoII]

As a buyer if the seller sends you something then they consider the auction closed it does not matter if you get the wrong item or something is so bad you can't use it as long as you get something.

This is not true. Buyer protection does cover you against items that are significantly different to how they were described. (to a maximum amount and minus the administration fee).

You need to follow the "Item not received or significantly not as described" dispute process.

[ocpachinko]

Read carefully (many items/sellers' listings DO NOT qualify due to the PayPal restrictions, another reason to use only PayPal with a credit card--emphasis added): (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/policy_pbp-outside)

Eligibility. PayPal Buyer Protection will be offered on the eBay listings of sellers who meet the qualification requirements at the time of posting the listing. If a listing is eligible for PayPal Buyer Protection, a PayPal Buyer Protection Seal will be inserted on the listing.

1. Seller Qualification Requirements. A seller's eBay listings are eligible to qualify for PayPal Buyer Protection coverage if the following conditions are met:
   1. The seller's eBay feedback rating is at least 50;
   2. At least 98% of the seller's eBay feedback is positive. The percentage calculation for this purpose includes feedback from repeat users, and therefore may be higher than the unique positive feedback percentage displayed on eBay;
   3. The seller is a member of PayPal in one of the following countries:
      • Austria
      • Australia
      • Belgium
      • Canada
      • France
      • Germany
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Korea
      • Netherlands
      • Singapore
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Taiwan
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
   4. The seller has a Verified Premier or Business PayPal account;
   5. The seller's PayPal account is in good standing.
   A seller may check whether he or she might be eligible for PayPal Buyer Protection from the "Seller Eligibility for PayPal Buyer Protection" page. The "Seller Eligibility for PayPal Buyer Protection" page is available from the Profile subtab of the My Account tab of the seller's PayPal account. This page is only accessible by sellers in countries where PayPal Buyer Protection eligibility is available. However, because a seller's eligibility status may change, the final eligibility decision will be made by eBay at the time of listing.
   
   Eligibility for PayPal Buyer Protection is automatic, based on the above guidelines. Sellers may contact PayPal by telephone to request to opt out of PayPal Buyer Protection. Any request will be evaluated by PayPal. To contact PayPal about your PayPal Buyer Protection eligibility, log in to your PayPal account and click on the Help link in the upper right-hand corner of the page. Go to the "Contact Us" link, and then choose "Help By Phone" link.
   
2. Listing Qualification Requirements. For an individual listing to qualify for PayPal Buyer Protection, the seller must:
   
   1. List the item on one of the following eligible eBay sites:
      • www.eBay.com
      • www.eBay.ca
      • www.eBay.co.uk
      • www.eBay.de
      • www.eBay.fr
      • www.eBay.it
      • www.eBay.com.au
      • www.eBay.com.be
      • www.eBay.com.nl
      • www.eBay.com.at
      • www.eBay.com.ch
      • www.eBay.com.es
      • www.eBay.com.ie
   2. Select PayPal as an accepted payment method during the eBay listing process and provide his or her PayPal email address. If the seller is listing the item through the Sell Your Item form, this information is entered in Step 4: Payment & Shipping. Sellers can also list with bulk listing tools or 3rd party listing services, but it is the seller's responsibility to ensure that PayPal is selected as an accepted payment method.
   3. The item sold in the listing must be a tangible, physical item or good which can be shipped. All other items are ineligible for PayPal Buyer Protection coverage, including but not limited to intangible goods, services, quasi-cash, gift certificates, and downloadable or streaming content. Motor vehicles (including cars, motorcycles, boats, and planes), and Live Auctions will not be covered. In addition, items prohibited in the PayPal Acceptable Use Policy are ineligible for coverage. If an item does not meet the requirements in this section b.3, it is ineligible for PayPal Buyer Protection coverage, even if the PayPal Buyer Protection Seal is displayed in the item listing.

[ocpachinko]

Obviously the above is the PayPal part of the "protection": here's the eBay part: http://pages.ebay.com/help/tp/esppp-coverage-eligibility.html
Coverage
You'll be reimbursed up to a maximum of $200 (less $25 to cover processing costs).
For example:

• If the item price is $500, you're eligible to receive $175.
• If the item price is $100, you're eligible to receive $75.
• If the item price is $26, you're eligible to receive $1.

The maximum reimbursement for any claim is $175.
Multiple Item Auctions (Dutch Auctions) are covered as a single transaction. The total number of items purchased from a single listing in a Multiple Item Auction will be combined for coverage.
Note: If you paid for your eBay transaction with PayPal, you'll need to go through PayPal's Buyer Complaint Process. eBay and PayPal work closely together to help buyers resolve their transaction problems quickly and effectively.
Eligible:

• The final winning bid price of the item is over $25. Multiple listings cannot be combined into one claim to become eligible, even if purchased from the same seller. Items purchased through Multiple Item Auctions (Dutch Auctions) are eligible, provided the combined value of all items purchased through a single listing is over $25.
• You are a winning bidder or fixed price buyer of an item listed on the eBay site.
• Both you and the seller had a feedback rating of zero or above at the close of the listing.
• Your item is legal and in accordance with eBay's Listing Policies and User Agreement.
• Payment was sent to the seller in good faith and proof of payment can be documented.
• You have not exceeded the three claims per six-month limit.
• If you paid with a credit card (either directly to the seller or through an online payment service other than PayPal) you must have already contacted your credit card issuer and sought reimbursement from the issuer prior to filing a claim.

Not Eligible:

• Items which are not significantly different from the item description.
• Items paid for with cash or instant money transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram.
• Items damaged or lost in shipping.
• Merchandise which has been altered, repaired, discarded or resold.
• Items which are picked up or delivered in person.
• Intangible items.
• Double or over payment.
• Shipping and handling fees.
• Escrow fees.
• Buyer's remorse.
• Items where a PayPal claim has been paid.

[ocpachinko]

And now I'm irritated...I didn't know that eBay didn't cover items "picked up", but of course doesn't cover the shipping cost!!

Clearly eBay wants the ability to track a shipment, but for Pachi sales local pickup is often the only cost-effective solution.

Just reminds me that only my credit card will help me...all this eBay/PayPal "protection" (without the credit card backing me) ain't worth much to me at all.

[Dragonfly]

Yeah, I don't want anything bad enough to send someone unprotected money. Paypal is the only way I'll buy anything on eBay.

I'll take 1/6/06 for the arrest date.

Well I also been robbed for $570 dollars on eBay from a guy called Kenneth Wood and I paid with Paypal , I didn`t received anything so I filed a claim at Paypal , after a while the case was closed because they couldn`t retract the money from his account simple eh ?, that was that no money untill today , even I used Paypal so don`t trust always on Payal

He is not a registered user anymore , big deal !! I lost my money .

Paypal is in my opinion still the most reliable payment method but not waterproof !!.

[slotter]

So, what about the $1000 worth of free protection that PayPal advertises?

Transactions Covered by PayPal Buyer Protection

PayPal Buyer Protection helps you in the event you do not receive your item or the item is significantly different from its description in the seller’s listing. An item is covered by PayPal Buyer Protection if it meets the following eligibility requirements.

The "Free PayPal Buyer Protection" message is displayed in the seller listing information.
You purchase your item on eBay.
You must use PayPal to pay for the item, and use the seller's email address associated with the listing. To make sure of this, use the gray Pay Now button when the eBay listing ends.
The seller's eBay listing is for a physical item. Services and intangible items are not covered.
You may only file one claim per PayPal payment. You are limited to three PayPal Buyer Protection refunds per calendar year.
Claims must be filed within 45 days of the PayPal payment.

[dalto]

The deal with Paypal is that even once you qualify for protection, you are still only protected up to the amount that paypal can reclaim from their account.

That's why I would recommend dealing with your credit card company if you had a problem with a paypal payment.

[ol-pachiman]

Always keep your Pay-Pal account with $0. funds in it and then when you buy something with Pay-Pal choose more fundings and use Visa on the pay-pal account. This gives you double protection, if pay-pal can not get a refund back Visa will pull it from Pay-Pal.

Hope this helps

[ocpachinko]

Always keep your PayPal account with $0. funds in it and then when you buy something with PayPal choose more funding options and use a credit card on the paypal account. This gives you double protection, if pay-pal can not get a refund back the card will pull it from PayPal.

Yes, that's it exactly! Dragonfly, did you use a credit card? The ludicrous part is when you pick that credit card PayPal gives you a very deceptive (IMO) sales pitch to try to make you use your bank account instead, which you should simply ignore.

[vespacar]

Yes, that's it exactly! Dragonfly, did you use a credit card? The ludicrous part is when you pick that credit card PayPal gives you a very deceptive (IMO) sales pitch to try to make you use your bank account instead, which you should simply ignore.

The only way to do it, American express is the best as they will always back up their cardholders. But every card will protect you. ie: If you don't recieve the item they will reverse the charges. You'd be suprised on how fast Paypal will work after your credit card company reverses the charges!

Cheers,
James

[scooby_doo_m2002]

DANG!!!!!!!!!! Didn't know ebay/paypal was that crappy against protection. By George I'm using credit card!!!!!!!!!!!! Usually only used money that was in my account from sales!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chris V]

Some information about this can be found here

Chris