Posts: 2,060
Threads: 152
Joined: Jan 2003
Reputation:
0
This might only be of interest to those of us who buy-sell-trade and have our own sites, but the pattern should be familiar to all.
The technique is very much like that used by the Nigerian e-mail scams that promise you loads of money if you just pay some ‘fees’.
First you get an e-mail, with photos, from a very respectable person in russia (lawyer, museum officer, etc.). The photos are of very high end items and moderate high end items. They offer you these items for sale at very good prices, and will even ship to you right away for ‘inspection’, but you have to pay the “customs fees” upfront. That's the hook, as the fees are close to $1000 and I am sure that its only the first of many “fees” that will be needed to get the items out of Russia.
I played along for a bit, but after insisting I would pay no money whatsoever upfront, they vanished.
So, watch out if you get a too good to be true e-mail from Russia.
DougD
Posts: 2,449
Threads: 371
Joined: Oct 2004
Reputation:
0
"Customs fees", eh.
I see the Nigerian connection. Wasn't the Soviet Union described as Upper Volta with nukes?
Posts: 1,128
Threads: 71
Joined: Jun 2003
Reputation:
0
Thanks Doug - will keep my eyes open! This is quite a "good" trick, especially if they attach images. I guess they might even steal photos from other sites, so a good idea is to keep in mind what you see.
Posts: 1,081
Threads: 160
Joined: May 2002
Reputation:
0
Just use common sense and remember that in most cases things cost more in Russia than abroad, so if the deal sounds too good to be true...
Posts: 761
Threads: 105
Joined: Feb 2003
Reputation:
0
I need an advise.
On July 6 I sold on eBay Red Star
I sold it to a person from Latvia. He paid via PayPal
I mailed the package Registered mail on July 8.
On July 20 he started writing to me: where is my package?
I tried to explain that it takes more time to deliver from the US to Latvia. I provided him with the tracking information to prove that the package was mailed on July 8. I checked with USPS. They verified that the package left US on July 25.
However, the buyer filed a claim with PayPal. $166.00 were deducted from my account and if he does not receive the package in 7 days the money will be refunded to him (I was told by PayPal).
I am sure that he would receive this order soon. I am not sure if he is an honest person after what happened. I would not have any proof of him receiving the package (it was without delivery confirmation, just registered).
Finally, he will get his money back and the order for free
In addition, after talking to him, I found out that he provided me with his old address. He does not live there anymore. :mad:
Any ideas how to deal with this situation?
BTW, I even cannot place a negative feedback for him on eBay
... I have told him to reply and tell the story, but... nothing happens.
So far I haven't had any problems!:thumbsup
