Scammers are alive and well for 2nd chances

Kaelasdad · October 25, 2006 2:14AM

I bid on an AGE set that was up on Ebay. It was from a board member, and we had discussed delivery if i won. It went for a little more than I wanted so I passed, and another bidder won it.

I have received at least 5 different 2nd chance offers, these look amazingly like they originated from Ebay, with just a few differences. I verified with the original seller that there was no 2nd chance offer in play. he agreed he had sent nothing out.

I have reported these to Ebay, but each one is from a different scammer, I feel that many people are going to be ripped off, and i wonder what Ebay is doing on their end. Please be very aware of these 2nd chance scammers, someone is going to be burned. I was tempted to reply and offer to meet to make a purchase, then get them for attempted robbery, but who needs that drama in their life. If you are a seller, please let people know if you plan on using 2nd chance offers.

I usually dont like the private auctions, but I would be tempted to bid in one now if i knew i would not be bombarded with these scammers.

Russ

Graphix · October 25, 2006 2:22AM

I have gotten a ton of bogus 2nd chances in my reg email. Ebay claims that only authentic 2nd chance offers will show up in your ebay message account - so far they have been correct from what I have seen...in outlook but never on ebay messages...I was sending alot of these to spoof@ebay.com but got the same form letter about the email being reported to the proper authorities...really don't know if it does any good.

Cladiator · October 25, 2006 2:22AM

The second chance program should be eliminated completely.

Russ · October 25, 2006 2:24AM

<< and i wonder what Ebay is doing on their end >>

Short of eliminating the second chance feature, there is nothing that they can do about it.

Russ, NCNE

DeusExMachina · October 25, 2006 2:27AM

<< The second chance program should be eliminated completely. >>

I have received 2 in 2 days. I guess if you bid on something you should expect to the follow up spam/fraud.

RichieURich · October 25, 2006 2:52AM

I just got one yesterday and confirmed that it was bogus. The only things you can do about it are: (1) check My Messages in eBay to see if it's legit, and (2) report it to eBay if it's bogus. If eBay gets enough reports, they'll figure out how to do something about it.

flaminio · October 25, 2006 3:00AM

<< The second chance program should be eliminated completely. >>

It's a damn shame. On paper, second chance seems like a great idea, especially for people dealing in commodity items like DVDs and stuff. For the seller, it gives them the chance to sell to multiple buyers with a single listing. For buyers, it gives them the opportunity to get something they wanted even though they didn't "win".

The scammers killed what was potentially a very nice service.

VamGuy · October 25, 2006 3:13AM

<< Short of eliminating the second chance feature, there is nothing that they can do about it. Russ, NCNE >>

And that's exactly what needs to be done... NOW.

Unfortunately, nearly every coin that sells for more than $400 becomes open season for fraud. Ebay clearly won't do anything to combat this problem. In my opinion, some 90% of all second chance offers are fraudulent. Any intelligent person would think eBay would just eliminate the SCO program to protect their customers. But they're too busy revamping the website, changing the selling platform, adding or changing features that nobody wants, needs, or asked for, all while INTENTIONALLY allowing fraud & counterfeit items to flourish like disease. It's sad, really.

Russ · October 25, 2006 3:14AM

<< Any intelligent person would think eBay would just eliminate the SCO program to protect their customers. But they're too busy revamping the website, changing the selling platform, adding or changing features that nobody wants, needs, or asked for, all while INTENTIONALLY allowing fraud & counterfeit items to flourish like disease. >>

Yea, verily.

Russ, NCNE

sonoranmonsoon · October 25, 2006 3:18AM

This is exactly why I make my listings private. The conspiricy advocates say we do it to hide shill bidding, but that is crap. I had several bidders who lost my auctions, and email me about receiving these fake 2nd chance offers. Although, none of them fell for it I did not like them exposed to this. I truly believe EBAY should drop the 2nd offer chance, until they can get a grip on this problem. If EBAY can solve it, I will drop my private auction policy in a heart beat.

RichieURich · October 25, 2006 3:25AM

<< Any intelligent person would think eBay would just eliminate the SCO program to protect their customers. But they're too busy revamping the website, changing the selling platform, adding or changing features that nobody wants, needs, or asked for, all while INTENTIONALLY allowing fraud & counterfeit items to flourish like disease. It's sad, really. >>

I agree with VamGuy and Russ on this one.

WoodenJefferson · October 25, 2006 3:31AM

gotta say something first? Oh yeah...

seems like the scammers are targeting high dollar items figuring you have the funds and want the item bad enough to fall for their notices. It has always been a "buyer beware" policy with any off line transaction.

Note: and yes, you'd think that e-bay could police themselves, but internet is vast like the infinity of space, like the on duty officer tells his people before they go out on patrol, "Be careful out there" same applies here.

messydesk · October 25, 2006 4:04AM

Uh...why should scammers stop using SCO if eBay gets rid it. The SCO genie's already out of the bottle and the scammers profit from people that don't pay attention, anyway. If it doesn't decrease their bottom line, eBay will have no interest in doing thing one to stop it (see also any coin listing from China).

Conder101 · October 25, 2006 6:59AM

<< Uh...why should scammers stop using SCO if eBay gets rid it. The SCO genie's already out of the bottle and the scammers profit from people that don't pay attention, >>

Bingo, plus if they discontinue the SCO now and the scammers continue to send them out, now maybe there is a good reason why they don't show in the My eBay.

JapanJohn · October 25, 2006 7:04AM

Most second chances are bogus, however a few weeks ago I tried to buy a coin, got a second chance for my high bid, which was below the sale price of the coin. I mentioned something about it here and got the obligatory warnings from the fine folks here.

4 days later I had the coin in hand. I checked out the second chance and felt it was a valid offer. You did the same and found that it wasn't or wasn't usually.

The key element here is that they have to be checked out. Anybody who immediately responds to a 2nd chance offer is begging to lose money.

John

RegistryCoin · October 25, 2006 7:08AM

I have asked eBay to dump their SCO program, but I'm not holding my breath. I get many, many SCOs each day, all bogus. To me, allowing these bogus offers is the worst thing eBay has going (to date).

ps. I now get copies of them in My Messages as well.

roadrunner · October 25, 2006 7:46AM

I received a 2nd chance offer a few days ago on a $1600 coin that old Centsles had won. I know darn well that Centsles did not
bag out on that purchase. I told the seller he was full of it. Just ship the coin and I'll pay as I exit.

roadrunner

bestday · October 25, 2006 11:32AM

<< 

<< and i wonder what Ebay is doing on their end >>

Short of eliminating the second chance feature, there is nothing that they can do about it.

Russ, NCNE >>

Money lost from ebay's pocket..hardly..Ebay sends those dumb acknowledgement letters about phony 2nd chance offers..Bet all the mail directed towards spoof @ebay is _hit canned.
Woe to those scammed... Ebay don't see nothing ...know nothing nor hear nothing

WoodenJefferson · October 25, 2006 11:59AM

<< 

<< 

<< and i wonder what Ebay is doing on their end >>

Short of eliminating the second chance feature, there is nothing that they can do about it.

Russ, NCNE >>

Woe to those scammed... Ebay don't see nothing ...know nothing nor hear nothing >>

messydesk · October 25, 2006 12:41PM

Actually, I wonder if eBay makes money on these scams. In order for the scammers to get all the information, they have to have some sort of bot querying eBay's databases through eBay's pay-per-use web API.

JrGMan2004 · October 25, 2006 12:44PM

We had a lot of people doing that on some of our bigger items, so we started making these auctions private to protect our bidders from these scammers...

RedTiger · October 25, 2006 1:04PM

Ebay and its subsidiary Paypal could put a huge dent in these type of phishing scams if they implemented a security system now used by many bank sites. It involves each registered customer selecting an icon from a library of thousands. Whenever a person logs in with their password on a secure page that icon is displayed. This would involve no more overhead than the PCGS board icons (very little). There is almost zero chance of the scammer finding out which icon, and then being able to realistically match the image. The bank site also has a user selected message, sort of like the custom titles here on the board. Again, the overhead is minimal, and the security relatively high.

bestday · October 25, 2006 1:19PM

<< Actually, I wonder if eBay makes money on these scams. In order for the scammers to get all the information, they have to have some sort of bot querying eBay's databases through eBay's pay-per-use web API. >>

Ebay makes money on legit 2nd chance offers.... If you get scammed tough _ hit!!!!! ....... ebay has made their money.

Look at the phony coins from China ..Ebay makes their money . but ...oh "so sorri " if you get scammed ,,

Scammers are alive and well for 2nd chances

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