Is this for real?

Bob_Skurka · Mar 3, 2004

Well driving "only 20 minutes to " the guys farm does not really match up with the pictures he posted. In fact the pictures he posted look to have the tractor at a dealership in a pretty busy suburban setting with a Wendy's restaurant across the street. Somehow, I don't think that is a farm. And given the other posts where the tractor is located at a Cat equipment dealership, I think that also rules out the whole concept of the "20 minutes to my farm" comment.

I can't prove it, but I still belive this is an ebay fraud.

All the trademarks of one too. New sell, no feedback. Hidden bidders. Send money via Western Union. Etc. . .

BillG_in_TX · Mar 3, 2004

Bob,

That was a "wink" at the end of my post.
How many farms are within 20 minutes of that address? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Hambone · Mar 3, 2004

Okay, called my local Cat dealer. Gave him the catalog number off the Catused website were the other set of pics are.
He is going to call me back as soon as he finds something out.
I would think it wouldn't be long. They just delivered a brand new D6 here last week. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Gatorboy · Mar 3, 2004

I sent him this email:

How about Saturday morning? Can you please send me the address where the tractor is located so I can determine how long it will take me to get there?

I can't wait to see it.

I'm waiting on a response.

Gatorboy · Mar 3, 2004

He sent me an email back..however it really didn't address the email I sent him:

 hello
yes the tractor is here.we will drive only 20 minutes to my farm. as
you can see in my payment terms, i will sell it to the first person who
will send me the 20%. i need cash fast so that's why i want to do this
method. so i am not sure that till you will arrive, the tractor will be
still for sale. so what i propose you is to send first the 20%, after
that you will come for inspection, or i can come directly to your
location to inspect it at your place and if is ok you will pay me the other
80% or if not i will return your 10% back cash. in that way you will be
sure that the tractor will be your if you will accept it after
inspection. so after i will receive payment confirmation from you i will
cancel my auction and cancel the deal with the other buyers and make the
deal with you.again i tell you that the tractor is in excellent condition,
with no problems on it and it can be put on work right now.
so i am waiting your email asap.
Lucio


So, I responded back with:

 What kind of dibble are you telling me? I will meet you on Saturday with cash
in hand.

Please send me the address of where the tractor is located and what time is good
for you on Saturday, or Sunday if Saturday is not good for you.

California · Mar 3, 2004

Bob_Skurka check your private mail.

Hambone · Mar 3, 2004

That is close to what he e-mailed me. Now though, he only wants to give back 10%.
Did Lucio give you a phone number?
I would guess, the address he sent me is at a Mailbox Plus or something, cell phone number that was a prepay thing. No trace there either.
5 Days left on auction with over 1100 views, still only 2 bids.
Personally I am a touchy feely guy when it comes to buying anything.

Inspector507 · Mar 3, 2004

I sold a tractor on eBay once.....kinda suprised I sold it to a guy in TN sight unseen, same with a motorcycle once, to a guy in NJ.

Gatorboy · Mar 3, 2004

The English Major has sent me another response:

 hello,
i am telling that if you will not send the advance to me, till saturday, the tractor will be sold 

I have responded with:

 Well, then are you free this evening? 

Can't wait to hear the next excuse.

Bob_Skurka · Mar 3, 2004

OK guys here is some additional information.

The tractor is supposed to be in Chicago. As in Illinois, as in in the middle of the U.S.A.

The phone number for a phone in Arlington, Virginia. Last time I checked, Arlington is a suburb of Washinton, D.C. which is pretty darn close to the Atlantic Ocean, and no where near the middle of the country.

Now if Lucio wants to drive 20 minutes to his farm, that will be one fast automobile that he will be driving to get from Chicago to Virginia.

As for my police officer/employee. He says he can't really follow up on this as it is not really in his jurisdiction, and he says his buddies in the county and state departments, while they would love to thump this guy, probably would not even try becuase there is really no telling WHERE he is and whose jurisdiction he is in.

Hambone · Mar 3, 2004

Well, then are you free this evening 

That might work. You might not be too far from him after all /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Bob_Skurka · Mar 3, 2004

OK guys, just had a longer talk with my police officer.

Here is his take. The guy is smart enough NOT to use the post office as he is requiring Western Union it takes it out of the hands of the postal inspector/mail fraud. That also makes it harder to track.

If money actually goes to Chicago, then they would have jurisdiction over the fraud charges. But only if the money goes there.

If the guys computer is in Virginia, then the internet fraud is committed in Virginia. We know the telephone number is a Virginia phone number, but if it is a "prepaid" cellular phone, the guy could have picked it up with a Virginia area code to throw off any trail and he could live somewhere else.

Basically until actual fraud is committed, no law enforcement agency will likely investigate. It is a shame, but it is reality. Hopefully EBAY will shut the guy down before anyone gets screwed.

Gatorboy · Mar 3, 2004

He used to answer fairly quickly, now that I said I wanted to meet this evening, he seems to have clammed up.

I just did a Trace Route (TRACERT) from my PC on his originating IP address (that came from his email to me) of 213.157.182.40, and I believe that the guy is actually in Romania.

I just wrote him again saying that I think it is much longer than 20 minutes from Romania to Chicago.

rockyridgefarm · Mar 3, 2004

dotcom.rdsnet.ro

Good shot, gatorboy!

Bob_Skurka · Mar 3, 2004

How long do you think it will be before this guys is shut down by Ebay?

Gatorboy · Mar 3, 2004

Did anyone report it? I didn't.

You can do so using this link.

Bob_Skurka · Mar 3, 2004

I reported it to Ebay about 7am CST today.

California · Mar 3, 2004

The auction is still up as of late afternoon with two bids. Five days to go.

If ebay won't close it then this might save someone from losing his money:

Anyone here who does business with a Caterpillar dealer should ask them to to email catused.cat.com, and ask CatUsed to modify that photo with a banner saying the tractor is only available through licensed Cat dealers.

Apparently the general public can't write to CatUsed directly. I filled out their 'feedback to webmaster' but I doubt anyone reads that.

Ebay sellers often have a problem with others linking to their photos. I've heard one poster to alt.marketing.online.ebay has a *special* picture he swaps in after his auction closes, if he finds his photo used by a competitor. I leave it to your imagination....

Inspector507 · Mar 3, 2004

The area code was one thing I didn't pay attention too /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I also noticed today that you have to have a valid credit card or complete the ID Verify process to bid.


To place a bid of US $15,000.00 or more, you'll need to provide a valid credit card or complete the ID Verify process ($5).

This is a private auction. Your identity will not be disclosed to anyone except for the seller.

Does that mean that at least 2 eBay'rs are now going to get shafted on their cards?

KiotiJohn · Mar 3, 2004

( 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? It's the same picture on all three, Ebay, Catused, and usediron. Different file names for the photo on usediron. John