New scam? Scam on supra launch ?? help me!!sounds fishy

03Belmont · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 4656

Ok so my dad was bidding on this 2003 supra launch ssv

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4519032387&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

and he said he had a "buy it now price and to email him for it" so I emiled him and was like whats your buy it now price... mind that the bids had been upto $20,500 and he said this

Mike Isler · Moderator Joined: 11 Jan 2003 Posts: 718 City: New York

03Belmont, there's a lot of problems with that. Definite scam.

First of all, the listing says Katy, TX. Where does this "Italy" thing come in? It clearly says "Item Location: Katy, TX".

Secondly, that user has been a member of eBay for only four days. He has no feedback, and the username looks like nothing that a real person would want to do business under ("8258richardc").

Thirdly, why would they only want $15,000 for that boat? If it was sold in Europe, it would probably sell for much MORE than it would sell here in the US, because those boats are not easy to get over there. If it sounds too good to be true... it probably is.

Fourth, how the hell would the boat BE THERE in 5 days tops?? You can't just FedEx a damn boat. A boat gets shipped on.. well... a ship. Ships take at least two weeks, in almost all cases, if not longer. That's just for it to arrive in the US. It then has to go through customs, then be loaded on a trailer, and delivered to Chattanooga. That takes time too.

Fifth, he says $15,000 (shipping included). Shipping for something like that would be several thousand dollars, easy, and import duties would probably be hundreds, if not over a thousand. That leaves him with maybe $12k. Sound fishy?

Sixth, and this might sound... US-Centric... but the guy supposedly has a name of "Robert McDaniels". That sounds like either an American name, or a name given in an English-speaking country like US, England, Australia, etc. Not Italy. Sure, he could easily be a foreigner living in Italy, but if he was, why the hell would he use such strange phrasing? The only people I've seen write like he does are people running scams. "The price I hope to obtain..." "if you agree with this price we can start to complete the transaction". That doesn't sound like a normal person trying to sell their wakeboard boat. Sure, it could be, but it's just another strike against them.

My suggestion: run, don't walk, away from this transaction..

LFADAM · Posted: Jan 14, 2005 7:27 pm Post subject:

Mike Isler, well put, I would definetly not trust this guy. If there is some way to report a seller or ask about this scam that would be very wise to do I think.

03Belmont · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 4656

I wanted to like email back and forth and Bubb Rubb with him but my dad said it was a bad idea... Also I noticed it was listed in runabouts insted of wakeboard boats... If someone knows what there selling they would put it in wakeboats insted of that...it mite just be some scammer who doesnt even know its a wake boat

03Belmont · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 4656

tball · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 3953

Tell the guy you want to pay for it with crack; you can send the stuff back on whatever spaceship he's using to get the boat to your door in five days.

LFADAM · Posted: Jan 14, 2005 7:50 pm Post subject:

tball, haha! Good stuff.

Joyride1213 · Criminal Joined: 26 Dec 2004 Posts: 71 City: Jackson

i had a guy try that "im in italy crap" when i was lookin for a cheap laptop

Cbrown · Soul Rider Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 301 City: Memphis

03Belmont · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 4656

Yea me 2

pyrocasto · Posted: Jan 14, 2005 9:27 pm Post subject:

I say go for it. Make a deal though, you get the boat, he gets the money. It's def BS so I say screw with him, and then run away.

pyrocasto · Posted: Jan 14, 2005 9:29 pm Post subject:

BTW, the picture is too bad of quality, but it says something like _ _ 828 A & H

ben746 · Addict Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Posts: 560

Thats just a launch not SSV.

oshensurfer · Posted: Jan 15, 2005 10:38 am Post subject:

ben746,
Good catch! This is totally bogus. Confused

It really sucks ebays turned into a fraud. Two years ago I would have bought anything on ebay. Now, I'd be hard pressed to buy a pencil.

KurtInCincy · Addict Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 645 City: Cincinnati OH

I emailed someone about a really low priced BMW the other day that was on Auto trader. I tried to call him first but the number was someones fax machine. So he emailed me back about 5 days later and here is what he wrote...

Hello,

My name is Gregory Malta ,
I am still selling the BMW, it is in perfect condition, I hold the title,
it is clear and has no liens,
it has never been involved in accidents,
has no mechanical or phisycal defects, and the engine is 100% functionable.
Has been serviced every month to an authorized dealer,
for the moment I am located in Prague,Czech with the car.
I moved here last month when I got married.
If you are a serious buyer please get back with your zipcode so I can
estimate shipping,
I accept payments but only with a legal contract,

I look forward to hear from you.

Best Wishes.
Gregory

Do they think Americans are especially stupid or do the scammers target people in all countries? Oh well. If we have threads like this on these message boards at least people will be aware of it and fewer people will get taken.