Does this email look like a scam? AU55 1916-D: UPDATE--It is a scam! Others Watch out!

fcloud

Edited to add: I contacted the original seller through e-bay, they sent an e-mail asking me to contact e-bay because it was a scam. The scam artist sent me a second e-mail asking for my name and address, so they could contact e-bay and tell them I want the coin. Watch out for the scam artists they make it look real.

original message:

I received this email today. The item ended July 18. There are a whole bunch of bidders with much higher bids than mine. The price is way-way-way too low for a coins like this. Opinions please!

Here is a link to the coin...
1916-D AU55

Thanks in advance.

Dear fcloud,
You expressed interest in an item 1916-D Mercury 10c NTC AU55 RARE KEY (Item #3921277309) by bidding, however the
auction has ended with another member as the high bidder. In
compliance
with eBay policy, the seller,centsles is making this Second
Chance
Offer to you at your bid price of US $3,400.00.
The seller has issued this Second Chance Offer because either the
winning bidder was unable to complete the transaction or the seller
has
duplicate items for sale.
If you accept this offer, you will be able to exchange Feedback with
the
seller and will be eligible for eBay services associated with a
transaction, such as fraud protection.
This offer expires Monday, Jul 26, 2004 19:01:36 PST.
To purchase this item reply to this e-mail.
To see this item, click on the following page:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41091&item=3921277309&rd=1
Thank you



_____________________________________________________________
Free email & services for the Pacific Northwest ---> http://www.ourwest.com

XpipedreamR

Is it a scam in what sense of the term?

fcloud

XpipedreamR,

The e-mail only. I don't think there is any problems with the coin. I was wondering if someone highjacked the link and are trying to get money without owning the coin.

XpipedreamR

Well, I know that I have received these a number of times and they are a legitimate thing that eBay does.

ziggy29

Don't know why you'd get it over the others (maybe they all declined the offer?), but this is sounds like a legit e-mail. I've sent out a couple of second chance offers myself.

[EDIT -- Another thought, though -- how much do you trust the authenticity in this slab?]

fcloud

Thanks for the help!

RGT

First, given the slab it's in and the seller you might need to be worried about the "D" falling off. But if you are willing to take that risk and feel uncomfortable about the email, try contacting Centles directly through ebay's "Ask seller a question" link.

Bikingnut

I've received those before. If it actually came from that seller, it will be legit, (I'm refering to the offer not the coin). He is a well known dealer on ebay.

GAT

The coin is overgraded and no where near AU-55 condition.

K6AZ

It is a legitimate offer, but there is no way I would ever buy a key date sight unseen in one of those slabs.

lordmarcovan

He's a well known dealer, but unfortunately well known for selling Accugrade and NTC slabs. The offer may be legit, and probably is, but without looking at the link, my gut instinct, upon seeing "centsles" and "NTC" in the same sentence, is to run like hell.

To be fair, I should say that I've never done business with centsles- he could be a great guy, for all I know. And I've never owned a coin in an NTC holder. But I have seen enough of them to know that I don't wanna travel down that particular road.

ziggy29

<< <i>It is a legitimate offer, but there is no way I would ever buy a key date sight unseen in one of those slabs. >>

And doesn't it seem a little hard to believe that they would be eager to sell this for $3,400 when they're not required to...even if it only crossed with PCGS or NGC at XF-40?

I'd only buy this if I trusted a seller's guarantee that if it bodybags or grades below XF on a crossover, they're taking it back and giving a full refund.

Barry

<< <i>It is a legitimate offer, but there is no way I would ever buy a key date sight unseen in one of those slabs. >>


Or from a dealer that specializes in third-tier slabs.

Tonelover

If you have doubts contact the seller directly through the ebay system and not by responding to that email. I had someone contacting my underbidders once telling them that the high bidder couldn't complete the transaction and asking if they'd like the coin. Fortunately one of the contactees wrote me to ask if it was legit.

fcloud

Tonelover,

I will do that.

Thanks!

relayer

The original buyer probably returned it, or they both agreed to not do the deal.

It's a legit offer, going through the eBay system.

If you want the coin at your bid, go for it

fcloud

I contacted Centsless through e-bay. He responded the offer is a scam (his e-mail address is different than the scam artist). He asked me to contact e-bay with the information, and I will!

Watch out for e-mails such as the one I received--It could hurt the pocket book.

With the responces here that this was a legitimate offer, use this thread as a warning!

Tony

100proof1957

That was not a legit offer
you had what,10 bidders above you ?

i got one a couple weeks back on a proof set i bid 15 bucks and it sold for 30 which was ok,why offer it to me for 15 ?

also had one bout a year ago on some cookware,auction ended at 400 bucks,offered to me at 190
if i remember right the guy signed up and got narued the same day !

relayer

A legitimate second chance offer will go through eBay with a different auction ID from the original and it is marked as such.

It's only available to the person to whom it was offered, and to accept it you have to buy it just like a BIN auction, going through eBay.

Once you leave eBay and use email, you are open to troubles.

jdimmick

Fcloud,

I had one last month exactly like this on an expensive coin, and it was one I really wanted. I was knocked out at the last minute, and couldnt rebid. When I got the message for a second chance offer, I thought well the other bidder must have been shilling, but would have gladly taken the opportunity to buy it. I thought the message could be bogus, so I had a freind walk over to the table at the Chicago show where he happen to be set up and was told that it was in fact sold and the buyer was already in process of sending the payment?


jim

fcloud

When you read through the thread before I found out it was a scam, some people here thought it was legit. That was the reason for the update. I have passed the info along to e-bay and to my freinds here on the message boards. Thanks for the help!

Tony

dorkkarl

for those of you who don't realize, freddie columbo & centsles are good buddies. VERY good buddies.

K S