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eVolcre

macrumors 68000
Jan 7, 2003
1,979
587
Does paypal buyer protection extend to debit card purchases? It has a VISA symbol on it.

eV
 

dawnraid

macrumors regular
Nov 9, 2007
161
0
Do you all realize how much information is being given out in this thread for future or current scammers? It's a 'how to scam MAC buyers' at this point and a guide for shady buyers to renege on legit deals.

eV

Yes a mod should close it down /s
 

yoppie

macrumors 6502a
Oct 19, 2007
870
0
Anyway.. back to the topic at hand..

No update from the USPS yet.. this stinks!

It does. I'm starting to run out of cheers.

There's a first time for everything and this might be yours in the world of scams. I hope he proves to be legit but this is starting to get crazy.
 

eVolcre

macrumors 68000
Jan 7, 2003
1,979
587
It does. I'm starting to run out of cheers.

There's a first time for everything and this might be yours in the world of scams. I hope he proves to be legit but this is starting to get crazy.

Why is it starting to get crazy? It's fairly obvious from the NINE pages that this was bound to end up being a scam.

As far as being the first time for everything in the world of scams its not like the buyers weren't given a heads up in this thread. If it DOESN'T end up being a scam people should be surprised not the other way around.

No sympathy from my end. PAYPAL might end up refunding your money but that service should really be reserved for those who UNWITTINGLY got into a scam deal. At the end of the day, PAYPAL is a corporation and someone, at some point has to bear the cost of this mentality even if it is employee hours being spent to resolve the situation.

I usually don't laugh at the misfortune of others but it would be ironic if PAYPAL adds a willing negligence exception to disputes and someone passes this entire thread to the investigators. There has to be accountability at all levels - sellers AND buyers.

eV
 

yoppie

macrumors 6502a
Oct 19, 2007
870
0
Why is it starting to get crazy? It's fairly obvious from the NINE pages that this was bound to end up being a scam.

As far as being the first time for everything in the world of scams its not like the buyers weren't given a heads up in this thread. If it DOESN'T end up being a scam people should be surprised not the other way around.

No sympathy from my end. PAYPAL might end up refunding your money but that service should really be reserved for those who UNWITTINGLY got into a scam deal. At the end of the day, PAYPAL is a corporation and someone, at some point has to bear the cost of this mentality even if it is employee hours being spent to resolve the situation.

I usually don't laugh at the misfortune of others but it would be ironic if PAYPAL adds a willing negligence exception to disputes and someone passes this entire thread to the investigators. There has to be accountability at all levels - sellers AND buyers.

eV

I'm not a Ebay/Paypal person so I really don't have a dog in this fight. I just wanted the best turnout for bugout and the others who purchased from this guy. Is that wrong?
 

bbotte

macrumors 65816
Feb 11, 2008
1,204
27
USA
I still hope you get your Air, I love mine, I don't know how you can wait, I had to go to the store and pick mine up. I felt I got a deal when I got $200 off for being a college employee. :cool: I'm pulling for ya.
 

eVolcre

macrumors 68000
Jan 7, 2003
1,979
587
I'm not a Ebay/Paypal person so I really don't have a dog in this fight. I just wanted the best turnout for bugout and the others who purchased from this guy. Is that wrong?

Absolutely nothing wrong. My rant wasn't at you, just the 'it's getting crazy' mindset that is going to get stronger in a few hours. I quoted you because it had the exact line.

eV
 

bossxii

macrumors 68000
Nov 9, 2008
1,754
0
Kansas City
@Yoppie... no there is nothing wrong hoping things turn out. I hope it does for anyone that purchased these MBA's thinking it was legit. However I've always been a realist, and that very fact tells me something is "off, wrong, not legit" with the ebay listing. The entire thread here has been opened because someone found a listing that was "too good to be true" yet several people decided to roll the dice and buy something that is available no where else. Telling themselves "this guy just got a good deal!".

As to the "lock the thread before we give scammers idea's". Please don't take this wrong... and I honestly have no ill will towards anyone posting in this thread, but statements like that on all sorts of forums proves my point of how far ahead scammers are over the general population. All this information were posting is OLD NEWS to them. The Nigerian 419 scam has been around for YEARS and it's estimated they take in several BILLION dollars a year. I think one figure for 2005 was 4.5 Billion was estimated.

These scammers are so advanced with their online tactics if you don't apply common sense and such things as "if its sounds to good to be true, it is" you will get burned eventually.

I've experienced the 419 scam first hand as I recieved an certified letter in the mail one day and find out it is in fact 3 money orders ($900 each) and a letter stating this person wanted to buy the 80gig PS3 I had for sale in a local newspaper, CL and on a gaming forums. The enclosed letter laid out a very convincing offer to keep 900 (I was asking 500 for the system) for my troubles and extra time to deal with these money orders. I had heard of this type of scam and simply tossed it all in the trash after reporting it to the 419 site.

Bottom line is someone desperate for cash, this sounded very damn tempting to do, the obvious scam is once you cash the $2,700 and Western Union $1,800 away you get nailed for the full amount. If you think NO ONE would fall that for that... thin again. 4+ Billion dollars has been sent oversea's in a single year by this. There are lots of people desperate enough to take the chance that even something that "sound too good to be true" may really be true.

If you haven't seen the site, google 419 scam, it's nothing new but goes to show you how long the scammers have been doing these types of online deals, and how many people fall for it, thinking they will outsmart the system or the scammer.
 

Consultant

macrumors G5
Jun 27, 2007
13,314
36
another fellow here in this thread posted saying he WAS allowed to go and pick it up this week in person?

Only a delay tacit to get enough suckers to bite until he can get the money.

Funny I called him and said pick up was fine????
Maybe because I am going to be there Thursday> and he's not?

The scammer is delaying so his marks won't become too suspicious until all auctions have finished.

Yes, there are ways to get the money. Just because some people can't figure it out doesn't mean the scammer has not figured it out.

you're being premature. seller is innocent until proven guilty.

trust me, if he is a scam artist all kinds of bad karma will rain down on him. 50 angry buyers will know his name, phone number, and address.

did you even buy one of them?

Most likely a hijacked account.

I've experienced the 419 scam first hand as I recieved an certified letter in the mail one day and find out it is in fact 3 money orders ($900 each) and a letter stating this person wanted to buy the 80gig PS3 I had for sale in a local newspaper, CL and on a gaming forums. The enclosed letter laid out a very convincing offer to keep 900 (I was asking 500 for the system) for my troubles and extra time to deal with these money orders. I had heard of this type of scam and simply tossed it all in the trash after reporting it to the 419 site.

You should have kept the fake money orders and letter to put in a frame.
 

mac jones

macrumors 68040
Apr 6, 2006
3,257
2
Why is it starting to get crazy? It's fairly obvious from the NINE pages that this was bound to end up being a scam.

As far as being the first time for everything in the world of scams its not like the buyers weren't given a heads up in this thread. If it DOESN'T end up being a scam people should be surprised not the other way around.

No sympathy from my end. PAYPAL might end up refunding your money but that service should really be reserved for those who UNWITTINGLY got into a scam deal. At the end of the day, PAYPAL is a corporation and someone, at some point has to bear the cost of this mentality even if it is employee hours being spent to resolve the situation.

I usually don't laugh at the misfortune of others but it would be ironic if PAYPAL adds a willing negligence exception to disputes and someone passes this entire thread to the investigators. There has to be accountability at all levels - sellers AND buyers.

eV

I agree. Very well put.

But in the end it's not the buyers fault . It's Paypal/Ebay that are doing this. The buyers here are just taking advantage of Ebay's ill-conceived rules and policies.

It's seems like they don't do any market research at all. These new rules need to be either totally scrapped or modified in order to protect sellers (that's right-sellers)
 

eVolcre

macrumors 68000
Jan 7, 2003
1,979
587
The Nigerian 419 scam has been around for YEARS and it's estimated they take in several BILLION dollars a year. I think one figure for 2005 was 4.5 Billion was estimated.

I'm going to have to find the links but I just read two today. One about CITIBANK being scammed and the other about some lady who sent them USD 400,000 over 2 years. Incredible. It's greed that gets people in the end.

Bottom line is someone desperate for cash, this sounded very damn tempting to do, the obvious scam is once you cash the $2,700 and Western Union $1,800 away you get nailed for the full amount.


You lost me on this one. How do you get nailed for the amount AFTER you cash in a money order? You'd obviously do it before sending off the 1800.

Out of curiosity, the general opinion here in this thread is that PAYPAL would hold the money in the scammers account for a certain period. I don't know much about ebay. What's the methodology to take out the cash from the account?

eV
 

bigjnyc

macrumors G3
Apr 10, 2008
8,288
7,628
No change here and hope is fading fast..

I'm sure sour sam and ms cranky pants are enjoying it..

I'm really pulling for this to be legit because i would buy one of the next batches if it is but...... it's really starting to look like the guy is pulling the stall tactic until his current MBP auctions end then he is going to dissapear.

Like i said i am on your side of the fence and really hope this is real and you get this awesome deal but reality is kind of starting to sink in. No white flag waving just yet though until about thursday or friday when your package is supposed to have arrived.

On thursday if your postman stops by empty handed i would give him one more call and start the paperwork though.
 

andiwm2003

macrumors 601
Mar 29, 2004
4,401
471
Boston, MA
i think it's clear this is a scam. how does this now work out with paypal?

you complain with paypal, they refund your money and put you on a high risk category and close your account?

and the scammer has withdrawn the money and is laughing at paypal, the owner of the hijacked account and you?

50 MBA's is about 60 000 dollar tax free income........
 

OnceBitten

macrumors member
Feb 18, 2009
93
0
i think it's clear this is a scam. how does this now work out with paypal?

you complain with paypal, they refund your money and put you on a high risk category and close your account?

and the scammer has withdrawn the money and is laughing at paypal, the owner of the hijacked account and you?

50 MBA's is about 60 000 dollar tax free income........
With the new rules in Place he will not be able to move the money until after it is delivered, Please read the thread.
 

bugout

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
May 11, 2008
721
40
is everything!
i think it's clear this is a scam. how does this now work out with paypal?

you complain with paypal, they refund your money and put you on a high risk category and close your account?

and the scammer has withdrawn the money and is laughing at paypal, the owner of the hijacked account and you?

50 MBA's is about 60 000 dollar tax free income........

There is no way that paypal did not lock the account down after the first few sales. I said it before and I'll say it again... About a month ago I sold 3 used macbook pro's about a week or so apart and as soon as someone paid for the 3rd one they locked my account down wanting to know who my supplier was and snail mailed me a confirmation code to confirm my postal address. They did all this with my 11 year old ebay account and almost 9 year old paypal account.

I'd bet anything there's at least $60k in this guys paypal account that he can't even touch until some positive feedback rolls in or he goes through what I did.
 

eVolcre

macrumors 68000
Jan 7, 2003
1,979
587
you complain with paypal, they refund your money and put you on a high risk category and close your account?

.....


Heck, at least that would be SOME incentive for buyers not to get too greedy and have the "paypal get out of jail free' card. I don't think they do that though.

I'd bet anything there's at least $60k in this guys paypal account that he can't even touch until some positive feedback rolls in or he goes through what I did.

I'd bet anything that if this is a scam and its well thought out, months of research and preparation have gone into it and there's some "buyers" who are prearranged friends that WILL leave positive feedback. Even if you don't want to get that sophisticated, I'd sell 10 genuine machines at a loss, take the hit of USD 10000 and still net close to 50 grand


My aologies if I seem like I'm pissing on everyon'e sparade but this rampant greed and zero personal or sovcial accountability is what's got the entire world into a financial mess caused be a) greed b) it's too good to be true syndrome c) the 'I WILL be bailed out' mindset.

eV
 

mac jones

macrumors 68040
Apr 6, 2006
3,257
2
Heck, at least that would be SOME incentive for buyers not to get too greedy and have the "paypal get out of jail free' card. I don't think they do that though.



I'd bet anything that if this is a scam and its well thought out, months of research and preparation have gone into it and there's some "buyers" who are prearranged friends that WILL leave positive feedback. Even if you don't want to get that sophisticated, I'd sell 10 genuine machines at a loss, take the hit of USD 10000 and still net close to 50 grand


My aologies if I seem like I'm pissing on everyon'e sparade but this rampant greed and zero personal or sovcial accountability is what's got the entire world into a financial mess caused be a) greed b) it's too good to be true syndrome c) the 'I WILL be bailed out' mindset.

eV

True, but the analogy to banks is a bit off me thinks. At this stage we want banks to take risks with their money

(it would be nice though if they didn't give loans to these guys selling the MBAs) ;)
 

eVolcre

macrumors 68000
Jan 7, 2003
1,979
587
True, but the analogy to banks is a bit off me thinks. At this stage we want banks to take risks with their money

(it would be nice though if they didn't give loans to these guys selling the MBAs) ;)

I meant the banks handing out cheap loans, passing them onward as mortgage derivatives and people taking 'cheap' unaffordable loans with the intent to flip the property. This is a complete tangent but even now, I feel the banks shouldn't take risks. Hand out credit cards or loans and consumers will be in line buying plasma TVs or IMACS. :) :) Some pain is needed for long term stability.

eV
 

Consultant

macrumors G5
Jun 27, 2007
13,314
36
So, a summary: It's a hijacked account running a scam

- If you have not bought: claims "will ship it by today or tommorow "
- If you have bought: delays shipping by claiming shiping in 3 days due to "posted rules", then delays shipping by creating shipping label but does not ship.
- Promises tomorrow. It'll be shipped tomorrow. The tracking will be updated tomorrow, etc.

Note: Nothing will be shipped via USPS because if they do it's Federal mail fraud, but they are probably in Nigeria anyway so it won't matter.

Last week: pickup possible next week
This week: pickup not possible, will be shipped soon
Next week: will not respond / account will be closed, removed, or moved back to actual owner

A little after that, someone else will post another thread on "amazing deal on xyz", people will post this thread, but the OP won't believe it. The cycle will then continue unless people are smart enough not to fall for scams that appeal to their greediness.
 

macPlayer15

macrumors member
Feb 19, 2009
61
0
So, a summary: It's a hijacked account running a scam

- If you have not bought: claims "will ship it by today or tommorow "
- If you have bought: delays shipping by claiming shiping in 3 days due to "posted rules", then delays shipping by creating shipping label but does not ship.
- Promises tomorrow. It'll be shipped tomorrow. The tracking will be updated tomorrow, etc.

Note: Nothing will be shipped via USPS because if they do it's Federal mail fraud, but they are probably in Nigeria anyway so it won't matter.

Last week: pickup possible next week
This week: pickup not possible, will be shipped soon
Next week: will not respond / account will be closed, removed, or moved back to actual owner

A little after that, someone else will post another thread on "amazing deal on xyz", people will post this thread, but the OP won't believe it. The cycle will then continue unless people are smart enough not to fall for scams that appeal to their greediness.

Ya except the fact that we basically know everything about the guy, his phone number, place of old employment, etc. Even if you believe he hijacked the account we know he's live in the US at least for the past year as his old place of employment apparently said he worked there until 2008. Like i said, if this was a scam he would have sent me my tracking number by now (even if fake), but he tells me he hasn't shipped it yet.
 
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