Scam or not

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mattwnz

20161 posts

Uber Geek

#1825375 19-Jul-2017 16:44

Why doesn't trademe block these users from even setting up an account? Is the buyer even addresses verified? If not then you know the answer.

throbb

675 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1825420 19-Jul-2017 18:32

mattwnz:

Why doesn't trademe block these users from even setting up an account? Is the buyer even addresses verified? If not then you know the answer.

They don't need an account, they email or message users who include there contact details in there listings.

mattwnz

20161 posts

Uber Geek

#1825423 19-Jul-2017 18:40

throbb:

mattwnz:

Why doesn't trademe block these users from even setting up an account? Is the buyer even addresses verified? If not then you know the answer.

They don't need an account, they email or message users who include there contact details in there listings.

Don't you still need an account to ask a question though via trade mes system? Or are motor listings different? Still sounds like a bit of a flaw with trademes system if non authenticated people and scammers can contact a seller like that.

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1825425 19-Jul-2017 18:58

mattwnz:

throbb:

mattwnz:

Why doesn't trademe block these users from even setting up an account? Is the buyer even addresses verified? If not then you know the answer.

They don't need an account, they email or message users who include there contact details in there listings.

Don't you still need an account to ask a question though via trade mes system? Or are motor listings different? Still sounds like a bit of a flaw with trademes system if non authenticated people and scammers can contact a seller like that.

Classified listings include the sellers contact details...otherwise the buyer cannot contact them.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

DarthKermit

5346 posts

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Trusted

#1825479 19-Jul-2017 20:24

allio:

I love some of the details in the other versions:

"Due to the nature of my work i am a very busy man working all day..."

Yeah, working all day trying to scam people.

tdgeek

29746 posts

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#1825482 19-Jul-2017 20:34

If scams like this didn't go on and on and on, excessive details and politeness, they would get somewhere.

mattwnz

20161 posts

Uber Geek

#1825495 19-Jul-2017 20:38

scuwp:

mattwnz:

throbb:

mattwnz:

Why doesn't trademe block these users from even setting up an account? Is the buyer even addresses verified? If not then you know the answer.

They don't need an account, they email or message users who include there contact details in there listings.

Don't you still need an account to ask a question though via trade mes system? Or are motor listings different? Still sounds like a bit of a flaw with trademes system if non authenticated people and scammers can contact a seller like that.

Classified listings include the sellers contact details...otherwise the buyer cannot contact them.

For privacy and security, I would have thought that it would be better if those details weren't view able unless you are logged in, similar to the message boards not being viewable. That way people viewing the page and contact details can also be logged. Otherwise people are opening themselves up to all sorts of scams. Maybe this is where some targeted scammers are getting peoples details from. People must be falling for this type of scam, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it.

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frankv

5680 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1825722 20-Jul-2017 09:53

kryptonjohn:

So... these scams rely on you believing them that they've paid you via paypal rather than looking in your paypal account to confirm payment, and then going ahead and getting yourself out of pocket.

No. The objective is converting Paypal money into Western Union money. Your car is of no interest whatsoever. They rely on paying you from a stolen Paypal account. Or paying you from a genuine Paypal account funded from a stolen credit card. Or, less often, convincing someone else to actually pay you via PayPal for something that the scammer won't actually ship to them.

Shortly after the money actually shows up, you get an email asking to cancel the deal and refund the money (less a generous percentage for your trouble) via Western Union. Or you are paid a whole lot extra via Paypal and asked to pay the shipping agent or insurance or whatever (via WU).

MurrayM

2456 posts

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#1825760 20-Jul-2017 10:56

Why don't people simply keep the "over payment" (quickly transfer it from their Paypal account into their bank account) and then refuse to refund via Western Union?

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1825811 20-Jul-2017 12:15

I did enjoy reading TradeMe's assertion that a person with a science degree will be able to write well. I've worked with scientists most of my career and have a couple of science degrees myself. That gave me a chuckle.

I would string these people along as far as possible, including supplying them fake Pay Pal info.

Actually there is a great Ted Talk where a guy did that.

Mike

frankv

5680 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1825838 20-Jul-2017 12:46

MurrayM:

Why don't people simply keep the "over payment" (quickly transfer it from their Paypal account into their bank account) and then refuse to refund via Western Union?

Maybe some do.

But (a) they're usually honest, and (b) believe they're dealing with a genuine person in their own country who would use the law to recover the money, and (c) are only interested in selling their car.

Remember that the money that went into your Paypal account was stolen or defrauded from some third party, so you probably won't be keeping it anyway. And trying to keep it makes you a thief too.

frankv

5680 posts

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#1825846 20-Jul-2017 12:53

MikeAqua:

I would string these people along as far as possible, including supplying them fake Pay Pal info.

Actually there is a great Ted Talk where a guy did that.

That game is called scam-baiting. Beware that there have been instances of scammers (or their in-country associates) seeking out scam-baiters. I suggest anyone considering this read up a bit at (e.g.) http://www.419eater.com/html/baiting.htm

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