eBay/CL scams

[canoetrpr]

canoetrpr, could they be grey market?

Definately not grey market. They are USA models.

 

[cp1969]

Very nearly the exact same scam ran in CL in Kansas City a few weeks back. L3400 for $2800, reason for cheap sale supposedly divorce, seller's name was Amy Wilson. Transaction had to go thru eBay. Ad disappeared within a couple hours after i responded. I knew from the beginning it was a scam but had a lot of fun with them. Supposedly it was crated up in Orlando, FL ready for shipment. I said, that's great, I live in southern GA (I don't) and can be there with trailer in 8 hrs; no ebay needed, I'll bring cash. That threw them for a loop and we went round and round about them needing my full address and me not giving it. Finally I started getting emails that were exactly the same as two or three iterations before.

This drug out over several days. In the meantime, I contacted the fraud website of the FBI to try to get them involved. They have yet to answer my email. It finally got to the point that I said in an email, "Look. *I* can run a better scam than this, and I am not a scammer. Let me know if you want some pointers. For a fee, of course."

 

[rtdiggr]

$2800 seems to be a popular number, I wish i keep the info on this guy to share with the site but i didn't, i did report it to e-bay.
The guy had a 2007 case 445 skid steer for $2800.
The rest of the info was basically the same as the other scams.

Shane

 

[WBWI]

A little off topic but still related... when I was looking for my tractor I talked to a tractor dealer that gave me this story:

A customer bought a used tractor on ebay from a seller in Iowa. Price was good and tractor "looked" clean. The buyer took delivery and brought it in for service to get the tractor checked over. Once the mechanics got into the tractor they found a mud/water line pretty high on the frame. They were able to trace the s/n and initial purchase of the tractor and it came from Mississippi and had most likely been through the hurricanes. The buyer tried to contact the Iowa seller and found a dead end.

I guess there are all sorts of ways to scam the unwary.

 

[cp1969]

I guess there are all sorts of ways to scam the unwary.

Is this a great country or what? All a man needs is a good idea.

Unfortunately, I've never had one.

 

[MikePA]

I guess there are all sorts of ways to scam the unwary.

Unwary is one way to describe them. People looking for a deal that's too good to be true is another way. You'd think common sense would kick in when these 'buyers' see a tractor, or any other item for that matter, way, way, below market value. How many warning signs do these people need before they look elsewhere?

 

[Builder]

Definately not grey market. They are USA models.

They could be flood damaged. There must have been more than one tractor sitting in 5 feet of water after Katrina. Once dried out, they look fine.

 

[leeinmemphis]

I have put some equipment and my tractor on ebay/craigslist lately. There are alot of scammers out there but there are also alot of potential buyers out there.

 

[Oleozz]

You're right Lee, if you meet the right buyer it makes the transaction worthwhile. And hey, we're smarter than the scammers!