e-bay/craigslist scams... Maddening!!!

It's just maddening how many scams there are out there these days! I have to wonder how anyone can trust ebay or craigslist!!

Today I was cruising CL for a santa cruz for the hubby. On the Orange County CA list there was a SMOKIN deal on a Nomad. It had good pics and description and all, but I had to wonder???? I also worried that maybe it was hot, but Tony wanted me to look into it anyway. I figured I would go on here and see if anyone knew of any stolen bike registrys that I could check. Of course I would NEVER buy a bike if I had any clue that it was stolen- I mean who would?? I think we all have the same opinion that there is a special place in hell for bike thieves...
Anyway, so I reply to the ad and ask the guy to call Tonys cell or email me. He emails me this:

"Hello,
Thank you for your email. It's still for sale. Right now I am gone in my honeymoon in Fiji but I hope that's not going to be a problem because I can still handle the transaction. When I left in my honeymoon, I left the item along with several other items in the custody of iSoldIt because I wanted to sell them on eBay when I return, but something came up back home, something wrong with my Mom and I decided to sell this one before I get back. So if you are still interested let me know because we can make the transaction immediately and I will explain you how iSoldIt works...
Thanks"

Ok, can you see about a MILLION red flags going up?? Is it just me or should we let this fish rot? I told Tony to run as far away from this as he can!
I suppose if I could go to the isoldit store see the bike, pay for it, and take it there then maybe it would be ok, but I have the feeling that would NEVER happen.
Sheesh.... Is there an honest person out there?? Oh yeah- YOU GIRLS!! :D

(as she walks away from the computer shaking her head at the scammers)

Oh- here is the listing...

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/356397013.html

Ewwwww.... stinky.

As you know, I have a vintage Benz. I'm a member of a 1,500 member online group of owners of our model of benz owners with our model.

Anyway, one of the guys found pictures of HIS CAR, TAKEN BY HIM on an ebay listing!

I've bought and sold many things on ebay. I found my benz on ebay...but I bought it in person. Caveat Emptor!

Go with your gut instinct. You're right, that email smells to high heaven. I've turned away from a few transactions on craigslist when something in their emails didn't sound right. Buyers AND sellers. It's just not worth it. I also don't bid on ebay when something sounds weird, or the seller comes across as hateful and nasty or just plain weird in their description. I've been on ebay since 1998, and so far, the transactions I've made have always been good. Like they say, if it's too good to be true, then it probably is!

Hey Denise... bummer about CL....

just wanted to tell you to try the classifieds at mtbr.com if you haven't already.... they usually have some good bikes!

Yeah, you should RUN!! In case you haven't checked the post lately, CL has *flagged* it for removal. Screams SCAM!!:eek:

I bought my bike on e-bay. And e-bay do warn you of scammers who tries to redirect you away from e-bay onto the scammers web site even though the page looks like e-bay. Check to make sure you are still on e-bay site and paypal site cause some of them make the scam page look almost like e-bay's or paypal's page.

I've seen several scams on e-bay for bikes. One redirected me to a porn site (shaking my head) I showed how it happened to my partner to make sure I wasn't seeing things and within two three minutes, e-bay had shut it down. Pretty quick or I just caught the tail end of things. Either way, e-bay really does spend lots of time ferretting out the scammers. So I don't mind the extra they charge me when I list something. My partner is a power seller so she has seen lot more scams. She reports every single one. She never gets a reply from e-bay but the scam disappears quickly. Nice to know still gotta be careful.

Smilingcat

never heard of ISOLDIT myself. But yes, scams abound. People offering you more for your item then you want, that's another one...