I posted yesterday on what appeared to be an eBay scam.
http://www.ausphotography.net.au/for...es%28-%29-here
I phoned eBay and advised them of my suspicions, and there has been a reduction in the number of suss listings on that particular site from around 240 to 21, still 21 too many.
This is the site: http://stores.ebay.com.au/slkcellula...id=p4340.l2563
What this particular scammer is doing is hacking into a legitimate sellers site, usually one with a high number of feedbacks, 'borrowing' legitimate sellers listings, and then changing the body of the listing to advise the buyers to contact them before bidding so they can ask the buyer to pay by wire transfer. There is a very, very attractive 'buy it now' price if you pay by wire transfer.
While checking this morning to see what eBay had done about the problem I discovered another site that appears to have also been compromised.
Check these two listings out.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2012-Moot...item337f29eb3b
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tchlink:top:en
Same item, listing pilfered from who knows where, two different sellers stores.
How big is this problem?
When I phoned eBay again this morning the fellow I spoke to said he would send a report to 'Account Security'.
My patience was wearing thin and I tried to calmly point out that while his report was finding it's way to someone with the authority to take immediate action, people, eBay customers, were likely being ripped off.
I started my working life as an Auditor, and I guess some of those ethics and belief in honesty and fair play have stayed with me. I hate crooks and rip-off merchants with a passion.
Personally I have a separate Bank A/c and Debit Card set up to handle my on-line dealings, and transfer money to this account only when needed to make a payment.
I am wondering if it is not time to go public on this because anyone who has details on file with eBay may be at risk.
PS: While I've been typing this the listings have been removed by eBay. At least I got then off their bums and made them take immediate action.
- - - Updated - - -
I've just come across another site that also appears to have been compromised.
http://stores.ebay.ca/WasatchAuctions?_trksid=p4340.l2563
Same dud listings that were on the other two sites.
I've suggested to eBay that if they wish me to continue doing their investigating and auditing, they might like to offer me a contract.
This scenario only seems to involve one/one team of scammers, but who knows how deeply they have infiltrated.