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08/07/2005 10:05:05 AM · #1 |
I found this deal.
In the Recycler newspaper, I found a person that is selling their camra. A canon eos 1ds mark 2. Brand new this camera cost $8000, she is selling it for $2400.
Everything seems ok so far.
the seller is using an escrow company( motorescrow.com) as a go between for the transaction. I send money to the escrow via western union.
the transaction includes a 30 day trial period, and if I don't like the deal, I simply ship the item back and tell the escrow company that the deal is null and void.
if I like the item, then after 30 days, the money is sent off to the seller.
unless anyone has some warnings for me, or red flags, I am getting that Western Union transaction this morning.
any similarities to anyones experience? any cops out there that can give advice?
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08/07/2005 10:10:16 AM · #2 |
Seriously dude, don't do it. It's a scam.
There's no one in their right mind that is going to sell that camera in decent condition for $2400 bucks.
Then I read the part about the escrow service, and knew it was a scam. I don't know exactly what goes on, but that's fishy as hell man, seriously.
The only way I'd do it, would be if this person lived within a couple hours, then I'd drive to their house, and get it, and check it out before I bought it.
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08/07/2005 10:12:54 AM · #3 |
Ask if it would be ok to get your own company to escrow the money. If they are legit, they shouldn't have a problem as long as it's a legit company. Speaking of which, ask for the name of their escrow firm and check them out. It sounds like a scam to me.
edit: I still can't spell
Message edited by author 2005-08-07 10:14:07. |
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08/07/2005 10:14:22 AM · #4 |
Yeah...I'd be worried! Sounds too good to be true! Don't part with ya bucks!
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08/07/2005 10:16:50 AM · #5 |
| ABSOLUTELY DO NOT DO IT! For sure for sure - unless you want to give someone a $2,400.00 charity gift. |
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08/07/2005 10:22:30 AM · #6 |
This is a fraud. Your "tell" is the sending of money by Western Union. If the seller never ships the items, you have no recourse.
I checked out the escrow site in question and it appears fraudulent as well. Most noticeably, the Verisign and TrustE web vertification seals lead to pages hosted the supposed escrow site. Legitimate seals would lead to confirmation pages hosted on the Verisign and TrustE pages respectively.
I've reported the illegal use of the seals to both Verisign and TrustE.
-Terry
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08/07/2005 10:26:15 AM · #7 |
An additional note:
Though the "contact us" page of the escrow site indicates offices in Hungary and Italy, the domain is registered in China, and has only been registered since 14 June 2005. All rather suspicious.
-Terry
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08/07/2005 10:36:48 AM · #8 |
You're the man Terry...you should be an internet investigator!
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08/07/2005 10:38:19 AM · #9 |
And, I'll add this to it... See this link and search for motoescrow.com once the page comes up.
It's about halfway down the page. There are a huge list of URL's (including that one) with the title:
Many other fake escrows are added daily above, check back often. |
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08/07/2005 10:48:12 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by deapee:
You're the man Terry...you should be an internet investigator! |
Thanks! Actually, to a certain extent I am as part of my job.
A couple additional notes:
- The 2005 domain registration date flies in the face of the 1999 copyright date (probably there to make it look like the site has been around a while).
- I've reported the site to the domain name seller, the responsible domain name registrar, and the web hosting or Internet Access provider for the site. Hopefully one or more of them can get the site shut down.
-Terry
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08/07/2005 10:54:08 AM · #11 |
Yeah good work Terry.
personally, anyone who's selling something, knows the market value and isn't going to do that -- so that was a sign for me. Also, anyone who's willing to sell something normally, won't require some escrow service or something crazy...just will accept a money order you know? It's best to stay away from anything that you have to ask about.
personally, I wouldn't buy from someone I couldn't go pick it up in person and pay in cash in person or with a credit card or money order.
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08/07/2005 10:54:09 AM · #12 |
So, I sent an email to the seller.
I stated that unless we can use an escrow company of my choice, then the deal is over.
Is this a good move?
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08/07/2005 10:57:53 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by aboutimage:
And, I'll add this to it... See this link and search for motoescrow.com once the page comes up.
It's about halfway down the page. There are a huge list of URL's (including that one) with the title:
Many other fake escrows are added daily above, check back often. |
This site has some great info...love their humor approach...one of my students sent $1,000 for a motorcycle to a guy in Italy! I asked her if she was crazy, but she was too excited to really care. Within a couple of days it was clear, she hadn't heard from the guy, there was an EXACT copy of the description, etc under a different name, country,etc. She was sssooooo down.....I didn't ever ask her what happened but it looked pretty obvious :/ One thing I didn't know was about the Western Union.....that's a big tip for being a ripoff. Fortunately for me I use Paypal....not because of the security...being lazy...it was easier for me :)
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08/07/2005 10:58:36 AM · #14 |
In my opinion there is no deal to be had. I fear there probably is no camera to be bought. Who would sell an $8000 camera for $2400? Maybe the seller has some ties to the escrow "company". Unfortunately, I have a suspicion this is one of those things where you just have to say...
If it seems too good to be true it probably is...
Message edited by author 2005-08-07 11:00:12. |
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08/07/2005 10:59:39 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by swinging_johnson_v1:
So, I sent an email to the seller.
I stated that unless we can use an escrow company of my choice, then the deal is over.
Is this a good move? |
That's reasonable. You can be sure they won't agree to it.
If they do, eBay recommends //www.escrow.com (see eBay's help page on the issue here).
-Terry
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08/07/2005 11:32:41 AM · #16 |
| Just to throw this into the pot... there have been a bunch of listings on ebay recently for the Nikon coolpix 8800 starting at $25 (LOL). They are originating in China and at a glance look like the seller has great feedback and have been in business for at least a year. If you actually go into their feedback, it's all either question marks or the word "good". All the feedback leavers are either "no longer members" or if you click on them, have the same types of things in their feedback. Yet people are bidding on these. I've informed eBay about the scam, but they keep popping back up. So if you bid on eBay, check the feedback! Any question marks there, RUN! Again, if it looks too good to be true... IT IS! |
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08/07/2005 11:48:47 AM · #17 |
thanks everyone for the input.
I guess I will be going back to plan 9 (from outer space) to upgrade my current equipment.
By years end I am purchasing the eos 1d mark 2, and a couple L lens upgrades.
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08/07/2005 11:50:52 AM · #18 |
| Either the seller is on drugs and needs money or it is a serious scam. Another thing to remember here, is that copyright laws do not exist in other countries. That is how come one can buy China Nike or Oakley products in Mexico. Be careful. |
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08/07/2005 11:59:58 AM · #19 |
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08/07/2005 01:04:13 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by kdsprog:
Just to throw this into the pot... there have been a bunch of listings on ebay recently for the Nikon coolpix 8800 starting at $25 (LOL). They are originating in China and at a glance look like the seller has great feedback and have been in business for at least a year. If you actually go into their feedback, it's all either question marks or the word "good". All the feedback leavers are either "no longer members" or if you click on them, have the same types of things in their feedback. Yet people are bidding on these. I've informed eBay about the scam, but they keep popping back up. So if you bid on eBay, check the feedback! Any question marks there, RUN! Again, if it looks too good to be true... IT IS! |
The ???? marks could very well be chinese letters. Sometimes the browser doesn't recognize the letters for some reason or another, and show them as ??? marks. But otherwise, Sounds like a scam user. Just thought i'd say something. |
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08/07/2005 01:09:21 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by Uusilehto:
Originally posted by kdsprog:
Just to throw this into the pot... there have been a bunch of listings on ebay recently for the Nikon coolpix 8800 starting at $25 (LOL). They are originating in China and at a glance look like the seller has great feedback and have been in business for at least a year. If you actually go into their feedback, it's all either question marks or the word "good". All the feedback leavers are either "no longer members" or if you click on them, have the same types of things in their feedback. Yet people are bidding on these. I've informed eBay about the scam, but they keep popping back up. So if you bid on eBay, check the feedback! Any question marks there, RUN! Again, if it looks too good to be true... IT IS! |
The ???? marks could very well be chinese letters. Sometimes the browser doesn't recognize the letters for some reason or another, and show them as ??? marks. But otherwise, Sounds like a scam user. Just thought i'd say something. |
geez, you would think these scammers would wise up -- clearly us Nikonians are way too smart to be scammed. They should just go after Canon users or if that doesn't work, try the fujifilm folks. ;-)
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08/07/2005 01:11:41 PM · #22 |
To good to be true usually is. But just sometimes, it is true.
Good luck! |
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08/07/2005 01:15:06 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by deapee:
Originally posted by Uusilehto:
Originally posted by kdsprog:
Just to throw this into the pot... there have been a bunch of listings on ebay recently for the Nikon coolpix 8800 starting at $25 (LOL). They are originating in China and at a glance look like the seller has great feedback and have been in business for at least a year. If you actually go into their feedback, it's all either question marks or the word "good". All the feedback leavers are either "no longer members" or if you click on them, have the same types of things in their feedback. Yet people are bidding on these. I've informed eBay about the scam, but they keep popping back up. So if you bid on eBay, check the feedback! Any question marks there, RUN! Again, if it looks too good to be true... IT IS! |
The ???? marks could very well be chinese letters. Sometimes the browser doesn't recognize the letters for some reason or another, and show them as ??? marks. But otherwise, Sounds like a scam user. Just thought i'd say something. |
geez, you would think these scammers would wise up -- clearly us Nikonians are way too smart to be scammed. They should just go after Canon users or if that doesn't work, try the fujifilm folks. ;-) |
I would think the film shooters would be easy targets :)
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08/07/2005 01:16:16 PM · #24 |
(Just to throw this in there about the eBay thing..)
What an auction starts at really doesn't prove whether it's a scam or not (though the feedback patterns you mentioned might - depending on how many are like that). I often start my auctions at extremely low prices (even $.01 sometime). Why? Because it's never going to sell that low, it gets people interested, and the number of bids will be high around auction close (which, true or not, I believe that a large number of bids makes people more likely to bid... if everyone else wants this one over the identical item in another listing, maybe they should too..?)
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08/08/2005 04:02:21 PM · #25 |
| Just an update on the ebay thing... I reported this to their fraud investigators and I was right, it was a fraud. Maybe if it had only been one camera you could believe it, but it was dozens. And these auctions were only popping up for a day. And the ending prices were only around $100 or so. No way would someone not put a reserve on something that cost that much when you have so many of them. |
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