Sounds like a typical slow day scare story from the Media. Let the buyer
beware. If you are dumb enough to send $20K w/o good checks and balances you
almost have it coming. I've bought and sold a dozen cars and each time I
learn a bit more.

I just helped a friend last week keep from sending $4000 via Western Union
to a guy in NYC for a Harley. How dumb was my friend?

We'll first he thought it was normal that he could buy a $12000 Harley
Davidson for $4000
He also was to worried about the person never answering his inquiries about
calling

He contacted me because he gave the guy the wrong Western Union confirmation
number and was wondering what to do. When I saw the advertisment was a fraud
I freaked out on him.

Now if he would have not fudged that number he would be out the money with
no recourse. Would it have been WU and ebay.com fault? I'm sure he and the
media would thing so.

People every day get screwed the local used car lot for thousands of dollars
and high interest rates. Ebay is no better or worse, the blame usually falls
on the buyer when it's big ticket items.

Shawn

On Dec 3, 2007 9:31 AM, David Etter <detter@mail.auracom.com> wrote:

> 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.
>