The Romanian Laptop Scam:
n the past few months this scam has become an epidemic victimizing an endless number of ebay users.
This scam is running so rampant, that by the time one scammer's auction is reported and shut down, another two have taken its place.
Basically the scam is carried out as follows:- The scammer sets up a fake (or shill) auction selling brand new high ticket items. The items most commonly used in perpetrating this scam are computers, laptops (ibooks/imacs), cameras, and other expensive electronics.
- The scammer uses every sales pitch imaginable to entice potential buyers into bidding (claims such as brand new, factory sealed, free shipping, great buy, dirt cheap prices, etc.) are often used.
- After the auction is over the buyer is contacted by the scammer who requests the buyer send payment via western union, bank transfer, or wire transfer to the scammer in some foreign country (Most commonly Romania, Italy, or parts of Ukraine).
- The buyer is often told that upon receiving their funds the scammer will send them a package tracking number for their item and the item will arrive in 2-3 business days.
- However after the funds have been sent, no tracking number is ever provided, and the buyer's item is never received.
In the process of writing this article I was able to find one such shill auction, (which was quickly reported to ebay) and as a result the scammer has been shut down (only temporarily of course).
Click here to view some analyzed screenshots of the scam in action, [Note: This image is large 40kb, 740px (width) by 530px (height)]
Immediately upon viewing this auction it was clear that something was suspect about this seller:
- First, the seller was only registered for a few hours and was already listing a high ticket (valued over $1000 USD) for sale.
- Second, the seller's location didn't match the item description. The item's description stated that USPS shipping would cost $42.00, however the seller was suppose to be located in Canada (Canadians cannot use USPS or the United States Postal Service. Canadians can only use Canada Post or a courier such as Fed-EX).
- Third, the seller only accepted very suspect forms of payment: Untraceable ones, such as money orders, cashiers checks, etc.
- Finally, the seller also avoided disclosing his location by typing "international seller" in the location form, rather than his/her actual location.
In order to confirm these suspicions, I contacted the seller asking a few questions about the auction, my email was worded as follows:
"Dear Seller, I have a few questions about your laptop. I would like to know if it is refurbished or damaged, or completely brand new?
How many of the laptops do you have for sale? If I wanted to buy one directly from you outside ebay is this possible? (This was testing whether he was willing to break ebay policy). If you are willing to do so how much does each unit cost and how/where do I send payment?"
Within in the hour I had a response from the scammer, his email was exactly as follows:
Sir Dear, Our product is brand new and has all the papers and accesoriess.
It have also warranty (internationaly). If full that you are ready to do bussines will have to utilize a sure way of transaction.
We we do not accept the escrow, Paypal, Billpoint or the COD for payment.
We accepts the western payment of Union(
www.WesternUnion.com)for and for the shipment we will utilize UPS service (www. UPS. com)
I am working for a company of the smoll Only to distributor and not desire to free time with the other way of transaction.am from here I am the steps of the I distribute:
1. You will have to send me the money way the western union and to answer me with the MTCN number.
MTCN is the number of the control of the transferencia of the money of the western union.
2. eleven i will receive the MTCN we delver of the will you the product way the UPS in 2-3 days.
After receiving the product you will have 2 days to verify the product and if you it is not satisfied has to send it behind and you will have a reembolso complete of its money upon 24 hours.
Also, I will need its melena full and the direction for the company of shipment.
Our will pay all the fees of the shipment and of direction and also the insurance of package.
My details :
First name:/Last name : (for legal reasons I will not disclose the scammers name)
City : Rm.Valcea
Zip : 1000
Country : Romania
I wait reply from you!
Best regards"
Clearly evident from the reply is that this scammer is not from Canada or the United States, and most likely did not even create the auction listing. (The auction listing used clear plain english, where the email used "broken english" to say the least).
Also the methods of payment (Western Union Only!) have changed from the original auction listing (original payment methods were paypal, money orders, cashiers checks).
Another scam indicator one should note is the scammer's refusal to use an escrow service.
An escrow is often used in high priced transactions to protect both the buyer and the seller. Most sellers would gladly use an escrow, especially if the buyer agrees to pay the escrow fees.
Anyone who beleives an auction to be suspicious in any way, should consider reporting the auction to ebay.
Suspicious auctions may include:
- Users whose registered location (location provided to ebay) does not match where payment is being sent.
- Users who refuse escrow services, and/or the use of traceable payment methods. (Especially if buyer is willing to pay the extra fees)
- Users who list clean, easy to read auctions, but then communicate with very poor or broken english. (This can be a sign that the auction was not created by the seller and may have been copied.)
If you ever have any questions about an item, or suspect the auction may be a little to good to be true, remember to always ask questions before bidding, and remember if you are a winning bidder, sometimes it is better to take a negative feedback for a fraudulent auction then to lose your money.