Yesterday I bid and won a pair of Ward Beck preamp modules. The auction seemed legit and the location was listed as Chicago. After I win I get the usual ebay message about winning and checking out but immediately I get an email from the seller saying don't use the ebay check out but please use the info I'm going to send you. He also says that he's going to lower the price and make the shipping free. I'm immediately suspicious.

He then sends me a new invoice that lists the price as $5 less then the auction price and free shipping but he wants me to money gram him the $250 to ROMANIA!

What do you guys think about this?

I called him out on it and he says the items are in chicago but that he's traveling on business in Romania.

I think this is a little suspicious. And I know everyone here in the tech room frequents ebay so I'm asking if you guys have heard of this or what you would do in my position. I want the gear but don't want to waste $250 on a scam.

Thanks
DG

Hell to the naw! Dude can wait til he gets back to the states to complete the sale.

Scam. He has nothing to do with the auction or the auction is a fake. Do not send no mopnies to no Romania.

Instead, let us handle it. We'll even lower the price another $5. Send $245 (cash) to:

Stephen Sowley
Electrical Audio
2621 W. Belmont Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60618

otisroom wrote:What do you guys think about this?

I think if you send a dime you can kiss it goodbye.

Run away...

You should not go forward with this cash to forign address is tell tale to a scam.

Explain that you will only pay as specified in his ebay auction. That ebay stipulates that this type of arragnement is prohibited. You are more willing to let ebay work out the problem after you report him as a scam artist.

The ebay arrangement is set up so that the buyer has some protection.

I would tell him you want to complete the sale when he gets back if he says no, report him to ebay, because more than likely he is a fraud.

ask him how he's gonna send you the items, which are in Chicago, if he's in Romania. he'll tell you his friend or secretary or something will send them once he gives the green light or something like that. then tell him you'd rather pick them up in person from his secretary or whoever and pay cash. if he says okay, have one of your friends in chicago make the exchange. that's about the only way I'd feel safe going through with it at this point.

scott wrote:ask him how he's gonna send you the items, which are in Chicago, if he's in Romania. he'll tell you his friend or secretary or something will send them once he gives the green light or something like that. then tell him you'd rather pick them up in person from his secretary or whoever and pay cash. if he says okay, have one of your friends in chicago make the exchange. that's about the only way I'd feel safe going through with it at this point.

That's a great idea Scott. Especially since I'm going to be flying to Chicago tomorrow.

Unfortunately I'm pretty sure I'll never here from him again. It's a bummer cause these pre's had the nice hammond input trannys.

fuckin romanians.

also, moneygram is not even a trusted and suggested way to send money for an ebay auction, a reason more to be suspicious.