I agree with what you say, but would like to add one thing. I've done over a
hundred and fifty transactions on ebay, so I no pro but no newbie either.
All my transactions have been good, I have to say. But a few years back I
had looked at something vanagon-oriented, but it turned out to be in the UK
so I didn't pursue it further. I may have asked the vendor a question.
I did not buy, sell, or look at anything else for about two weeks before
that and a week after, so I figure this incident was related to the only
other ebay event during that time period. In that week after, ebay sent me a
message about fraudulent activity and killed my account. They weren't
phishing, they killed it. They gave me a link to make my case for
reinstatement, and so I did. They were quite chatty. I would send them an
email through the link, and they would get right back. Within 24 hours, I
had a new username (which they provided) and a new password which I got to
edit. We corresponded about six times.

Someone, it seems, was using my account information to list a camcorder that
did not exist, and they were selling it over and over and the money went
into an account in Russia.

When I asked them about how someone actually got my old username and
password for this illegal purpose, the chattiness ceased, immediately. No
reply. Ever. About anything I asked. They had a problem where people could
steal user info and use it, and they not only chose not to discuss it, but
to even admit it.

That's pretty bad. They could prevent a lot of ebay crime by admitting and
discussing it. They don't deserve to be held to a different standard, but
they owe the public better than they're giving them.

Jim

On Dec 3, 2007 1:16 PM, VW Doka <vw.doka@gmail.com> wrote:

> How come everyone blames eBay for the criminal activity?  If you got
> scammed
> from an ad in your local paper, would you go down to the editor's desk a
> whine about how life is unfair and they should do something?  Perhaps
> stamping your feet and holding your breath would work.
>
> There's no way in the world that eBay can give you more information than
> provided for in thier buyer/seller agreements.  The liability involved is
> tremendous.  Report the claim to the authorities and let them make legal
> inquiries to eBay.  Oh... the authorities aren't really in the position to
> help?  Is that eBay's fault?
>
> eBay is a place to place an ad that has the ability to reach millions of
> buyers.  If someone is stupid enough to send thousands of dollars to
> someone
> they don't know, have never talked to, for a vehicle they've never seen,
> well... that's just economic Darwinism.
>
> I think it is utterly ridiculous that people expect eBay to be responsible
> for correctness of the ads placed on thier site.  Does your local paper
> come
> to your house and check the VIN on the car you're selling?  How about The
> Samba?  Perhaps craigslist?  Hmmm... seems that many people want to hold
> eBay to a much higher standard than the rest of the world.
>
> There are lots of bad people in the world and the internet gives all of us
> the opportunity to easily bring them into our lives.
>
> End of rant...
>
> "I'm a little verklempt! Talk amongst yourselves... I'll give you a topic:
> Rhode Island, it's not a road, nor an island...discuss!"
>
> Happy Monday...
>
> Jeff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of Scott Daniel - Shazam
> Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 10:45 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Buying Vans on e-Bay
>
>
> The internet is both a wonderful thing, and something that can be very
> miss-used, like it's wide open for that.
> This is why I never have anything to do with EvilBay basically.
> Now there's the really neat deal out of Russia, with a Nigerian tie-in I'd
> like you to know about .........
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> David Etter
> Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 6:31 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Buying Vans on e-Bay
>
> I sat up in bed this morning in horror and turned the radio up..
>        The CBC (Cdn. Broadcasting  Corp) aired an article about this
> poor man who bought a car through e-Bay but ended up with no car and
> was out $20,000.xx, AND he got less than no support from e-Bay
> concerning his loss. He reported it to the RCMP who then contacted
> e-Bay. The RCMP  representative said that e-Bay refused to talk to
> them and refused to acknowledge that "Criminal elements had figured
> out a way to highjack e-Bay web-sites". He also said.."I guess they
> don't want the public to know this is possible so they won't talk
> about it."
>        The man in question said that he trys to contact e-Bay then
> as soon as he gives them his I.D. name or password, he is
> disconnected.. everytime..
>        Now, I'm sure that 'criminals' are not going to highjack the
> site that sells a 1982 diesel radiator, but it does reinforce my own
> experience of getting no support from e-Bay or Pay-Pal for a deal
> gone bad even if it was a small transaction. Caveat Emptor !
>        I just thank my lucky stars that this VW forum and others
> like it have enough savvy members who are aware of what's out there
> for sale and whether or not it's a scam.
>        Several times I've read where members of our forum have
> identified and warned others of a possible scam. I just feel sorry
> for the poor fellow who lost $20,000.xx trying to buy a car on e-Bay.
> I think every member of the various VW forums should be grateful for
> the close support we get from one another. THANK YOU ALL !
>
>                                                David (dsl82westy)
>
> P.S.:
>        Does anyone know how it is possible for "The Criminal
> Element" to do such a thing. I thought that with a vehicle purchase
> on e-Bay a buyer had the "Right" to retract a bid once he found out
> that the vehicle wasn't as advertised.
>