Is this for real?

[California]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The Properties of that tractor photo lead to:
http://catused.cat.com/equipment/view-equipment-detail.html?equipmentPK=Eq1.2A9339T# )
The properties I see listed for this photo on Ebay leads to:
http://usediron.point2.com/Photo/Equipment/241219-1-M.jpg
Did he change the photo or something? Where did the Catused come from? )</font>


Retired government auditor here. I guess my fraud investigation instincts are still in the back of my mind.

I started with the url revealed by a right-click on the ebay photo. Then removed each element from the right and clicked on what remained.
usediron.point2.com/Photo/Equipment/ etc.

On a site with no security this may display something in their website folder that they didn't expect the public to see. Maybe even subfolders. On Usediron my technique caused pages saying (in effect) that I had triggered an intrusion alarm. Very good security!

(A dummy file in each folder called index.html is all it takes to block snooping. For a simple example, apply the technique I described above to my photo site.)

After arriving at the top level usediron.point2.com I concluded they were a classified-ad service. I went through their tractor listings and found two 5520's. Bingo-there's the picture! It looks to me that Cat lists their used stuff in Usediron's classifieds.


(Offtopic - I'm playing around with my TBN sig to make it simpler. I hope changing it while the thread is active isn't too much nuisance.)

 

[Hambone]

<font color="red"> Anyone here who does business with a Caterpillar dealer </font>

Called them yesterday. They should call me back this morning. Their ag guy was out yesterday.

 

[BillG_in_TX]

Well, the auction is still alive, but the picture is gone, as is the listing on UsedIron. The CatUsed listing is still there.

I guess someone got the message.

 

[Gatorboy]

The auction is now GONE! Another SCUMBAG thwarted by the TBN faithful!

 

[Egon]

Well done fellows.

Egon

 

[Inspector507]

Hopefully the 2 people that had to submit valid credit card info will suffer no ill effects /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Ok boys here is another one for you. They both look like the same person, see below.

EBAY

2003 KUBOTA BX22 TLB
Buy Now Price: US $3,000.00


Email the seller to be placed on the pre-approved bidder/buyer list.

2003 KUBOTA BX22 TLB. All most brand new Kubota BX22 sub-compact tractor, loader & backhoe. 22 Engine horse power / 16.7 PTO horse power. Two range hydrostatic transmission, mid & rear PTO, 48" bucket on front loader, 12" bucket on six foot backhoe, 18x8.50-8 front bar tires / 26x12.00-12 rear bar tires.

AND we have this one too

EBAY
2003 KUBOTA L3430HST
Note: This listing is restricted to pre-approved bidders or buyers only.

Buy Now Price: US $2,700.00

2003 KUBOTA L3430HST. All most brand new Kubota L3430 four wheel drive compact tractor. 34 Engine horse power / 27 PTO horse power. Three range hydrostatic transmission, 10-16.5 front R4 tires / 420/70-24 rear R4 tires.

 

[yooperdave]

For every scam that gets exposed, there must be hundreds that go undetected. People need to be more cautious then ever.

It would be nice if the sellers on ebay had to post a refundable bond or something similar to ensure a honorable sale.

Buyer beware

Yooper Dave

 

[yooperdave]

Is this one any different?

Newbie with free shipping & low price once again.

http://cgi.msn.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3801494079&category=40108

Yooper Dave

 

[Hambone]

Yankee's,
The two items you listed are not valid any longer!!

 

[Hambone]

Hey Dave,
I sent this guy an e-mail also. Asked him where the tractor was available for inspection.
Kinda weird he doesn't list a location except United States!
Does have lots of bids though.

 

[mwood]

I think it's safe to say that for any purchase over $500 on ebay, one should really go through a third party escrow service such as www.escrow.com (mentioned by e-bay as well). This service will charge a small fee, but it would work like this:
Buyer sends money to service.
Seller is notified by service that money is available and ships item.
Service tracks item, and buyer is given a predefined number of days to inspect the item.
Once these days are up, or if seller outright accepts the item, the money is transferred to the seller.

Just a bit of a heads up for any e-bay people out there. Never trust a seller on a large ticket item. Better to pay a small fee and be safe than be sorry.

 

[Von]

Another heads up "DON'T TRUST A BUYER EITHER"! The problem with the escrow end of it, is a buyer can have your item shipped to him and them swap it for his same damaged one! The buyer then states he does not want it and the seller is out! And don't say it does not happen! I know first hand that it does! Thats why I will not take escrow for my auctions! And I have sold items that went for up to $30k. If they want to look at an item, they are more than welcome to stop into my shop and look it over before bidding. Some have and others are happy with my feedback and the way I do business. Yes it is a buyer beware market, but the scammers don't last long. I have been selling on ebay under the same name for almost six years. If I was ripping people off they would have booted me a long time ago.

 

[mwood]

Sadly, you are correct. It does happen. Personally, I would never buy something overly expensive ($500+) sight unseen unless there was a really good reason. You are also correct in pointing out feedback. You can tell alot about an e-bay seller by his feedback rating and by how long he has been a member.

I guess, in the end, honest people suffer for dishonest people's antics.

 

[Gatorboy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You can tell alot about an e-bay seller by his feedback rating and by how long he has been a member. )</font>

Unless the SCAMMER has gotten control of that username.

 

[Hambone]

I never recieved an e-mail back from the 6400.
There are quite a few people bidding though.
Lots of them have 0 feedback. Up to $21,600, 22 bids.
Only three of the bidders have any feedback.

<font color="red">http://cgi.msn.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3801494079 </font>

 

[mhalla]

<font color="green">The seller ended the 6400 auction early to sell to the high bidder(s) at current bid price. And interestingly enough the seller is also no longer registered with eBay. Makes me shudder.

Found the exact same tractor, description, and pictures at http://www.sell.com/2MQQP

I hope this was legit and not a scam but why would you end an auction early instead of waiting until the item was bid to its highest? The seller didn't sound desperate for the cash.

Mike </font>

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

here is another one.
link
Who at E-Bay do you contact to report this stuff?

BUY IT NOW 2003 KUBOTA BX22 TLB
Price: US $2,933.00
Ships to: Worldwide

 

[yellowsocks93]

I don't have an ebay account or amything but I have been looking at used notebook computers and you can get info for like a couple bucks as to where to get a new macintosh powerbook for 135 dollars. Normally these things retail for about 2 grand or more. Makes me wonder. If I want something on ebay I'll get my friend to get the product for me so I don't release any personal info like address and full name to people I don't know. With all the idenity theft out there I don't know if I trust the internet yet for buying stuff.