Trademe Scammer foiled!
 

Hello gentle readers,

I spotted a ThinkPad auction on Trademe the other day that I knew in my gut
was wrong. I sent a link the to EMB who said that it looked like an old
Celeron machine or similar.

However, in the pics could plainly be seen a ''T60" badge and a "Core 2 Duo"
and a "Vista" sticker. However, in no way did it look like a T60. The
auction said no pickups, bank deposit and free delivery only.

So I was watching it and someone bid. I couldn't stand idly by and see
someone fleeced of their money so I bid. They had an autobid of $501,
something I noticed when my bid of $500 was beaten by $1 instead of the
usual $5. I bid again and decided that I'd either scored a real bargain or,
far more likely, saved someone from being ripped off.

Long story short, the seller purported to be a female named "Jane" who'd
only been a member of Tradme for this auction. In emails I said that there
was no way I was going to send $500 to someone who wasn't address verified,
for a laptop that I wasn't sure was what it was supposed to be.

"Jane" (with the email address jeff8nz@yahoo.co.uk, emails from which
account arrived from "Jeff Mart L" but signed "Jane") at some stage morphed
into her ex (with whom she was still on good terms) as she had to hit the
road this morning, she was working "up north".

I insisted on a meet, said I was keen and it was arranged that we would meet
at Greenlane MacDonalds at 7:30 this evening (make sure I had the cash!). I
enlisted the assistance of a friend who's computer I'd been fixing today,
withdrew the money from my credit card (just in case) and headed up there.

Low and behold, when "Jeff" finally turned up 25 minutes late the laptop
that was produced was a Pentium II /400Mhz 10+ year old machine. Not only
had the Core 2 Duo sticker mysteriously vanished but there were no serial
numbers on the back. However, there *was* a T60 badge glued onto the
machine.

At this stage I scratched my head and a camera flash went off.

http://test.internet-webmaster.de/upload/1228640360.jpg

(Gosh I didn't realise I was getting so bald!. He's the white-haired guy
looking like he's been caught in a lie BTW.)

"Jeff" looked nervously about but couldn't see anyone with a camera. I asked
where the 'Core 2 Duo' sticker went and he said it must have fallen off in
the bag so I sadistically made him look for it. <g> I told him he was
mistaken that the laptop wasn't worth the gas it'd cost me to get to
Greenlane, and he left, not before my friend shadowed him across the
half-empty carpark, across the street and another 300 metres to his White
1990 Mitsubishi Eterna (rego number TT5570) and got some pics of him in the
car.

Oh, the auction: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=190535781

I'll write an email to Trademe when I can be bothered, I'm a bit sore right
now. I guess Trademe will contact the police?
--
Shaun.

Re: Trademe Scammer foiled!
 

Ooops, hit 'send' too soon, meant to cross to nz.gen. Fixed now.

Somewhere on teh intarwebs "misfit61nz@yahoo.co.nz" typed:
> Hello gentle readers,
>
> I spotted a ThinkPad auction on Trademe the other day that I knew in
> my gut was wrong. I sent a link the to EMB who said that it looked
> like an old Celeron machine or similar.
>
> However, in the pics could plainly be seen a ''T60" badge and a "Core
> 2 Duo" and a "Vista" sticker. However, in no way did it look like a
> T60. The auction said no pickups, bank deposit and free delivery only.
>
> So I was watching it and someone bid. I couldn't stand idly by and see
> someone fleeced of their money so I bid. They had an autobid of $501,
> something I noticed when my bid of $500 was beaten by $1 instead of
> the usual $5. I bid again and decided that I'd either scored a real
> bargain or, far more likely, saved someone from being ripped off.
>
> Long story short, the seller purported to be a female named "Jane"
> who'd only been a member of Tradme for this auction. In emails I said
> that there was no way I was going to send $500 to someone who wasn't
> address verified, for a laptop that I wasn't sure was what it was
> supposed to be.
> "Jane" (with the email address jeff8nz@yahoo.co.uk, emails from which
> account arrived from "Jeff Mart L" but signed "Jane") at some stage
> morphed into her ex (with whom she was still on good terms) as she
> had to hit the road this morning, she was working "up north".
>
> I insisted on a meet, said I was keen and it was arranged that we
> would meet at Greenlane MacDonalds at 7:30 this evening (make sure I
> had the cash!). I enlisted the assistance of a friend who's computer
> I'd been fixing today, withdrew the money from my credit card (just
> in case) and headed up there.
> Low and behold, when "Jeff" finally turned up 25 minutes late the
> laptop that was produced was a Pentium II /400Mhz 10+ year old
> machine. Not only had the Core 2 Duo sticker mysteriously vanished
> but there were no serial numbers on the back. However, there *was* a
> T60 badge glued onto the machine.
>
> At this stage I scratched my head and a camera flash went off.
>
> http://test.internet-webmaster.de/upload/1228640360.jpg
>
> (Gosh I didn't realise I was getting so bald!. He's the white-haired
> guy looking like he's been caught in a lie BTW.)
>
> "Jeff" looked nervously about but couldn't see anyone with a camera.
> I asked where the 'Core 2 Duo' sticker went and he said it must have
> fallen off in the bag so I sadistically made him look for it. <g> I
> told him he was mistaken that the laptop wasn't worth the gas it'd
> cost me to get to Greenlane, and he left, not before my friend
> shadowed him across the half-empty carpark, across the street and
> another 300 metres to his White 1990 Mitsubishi Eterna (rego number
> TT5570) and got some pics of him in the car.
>
> Oh, the auction:
> http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=190535781
> I'll write an email to Trademe when I can be bothered, I'm a bit sore
> right now. I guess Trademe will contact the police?

Re: Trademe Scammer foiled!
 

Hello gentle readers,
>
> I spotted a ThinkPad auction on Trademe the other day that I knew in my
> gut was wrong. I sent a link the to EMB who said that it looked like an
> old Celeron machine or similar.

I think the mouse-keys instead of a track-pad is bit of a give-away. Don't
think I've seen a "IBM Think-pad" sticker like that for some time, either
(maybe I don't look?).

[...]
> Low and behold, when "Jeff" finally turned up 25 minutes late the laptop
> that was produced was a Pentium II /400Mhz 10+ year old machine. Not
> only had the Core 2 Duo sticker mysteriously vanished but there were no
> serial numbers on the back. However, there *was* a T60 badge glued onto
> the machine.
>
> At this stage I scratched my head and a camera flash went off.
>
> http://test.internet-webmaster.de/upload/1228640360.jpg

Don't think I could place the white haired guy as a scammer though...
Shows how gullible I can be.

> (Gosh I didn't realise I was getting so bald!. He's the white-haired guy
> looking like he's been caught in a lie BTW.)

[...]
>
> Oh, the auction: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=190535781

It was running Ubuntu, I see.

> I'll write an email to Trademe when I can be bothered, I'm a bit sore
> right now. I guess Trademe will contact the police?

I've been doing a few Trade-Me buys lately (so far all good, but some have
felt "touch and go" with many emails from me with longish waits before
responses and goods arrive) I just might ask for your opinion on one, one
of these days :-)

Cheers.

--
dee

Re: Trademe Scammer foiled!
 

Somewhere on teh intarwebs "mikedee@emteedee.invalid" typed:
> Hello gentle readers,
>>
>> I spotted a ThinkPad auction on Trademe the other day that I knew in
>> my gut was wrong. I sent a link the to EMB who said that it looked
>> like an old Celeron machine or similar.
>
> I think the mouse-keys instead of a track-pad is bit of a give-away.

It's the lack of a touchpad that was odd. Even new ThinkPads still have the
'joystick' as well as a touchpad.

> Don't think I've seen a "IBM Think-pad" sticker like that for some
> time, either (maybe I don't look?).

That "IBM ThinkPad" logo was still in use a year ago, perhaps still is?
Here's a real T60, a year old:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=191120305

Yeah, I knew something was hinckey, hence the double-check with EMB.
However, I wasn't 100% sure, what with the claim that it was a Chinese
model, hence the taking along of the $500. Gotta go pay that back off my
credit card tomorrow, shame about the cash withdrawal fee. :-(

>> Low and behold, when "Jeff" finally turned up 25 minutes late the
>> laptop that was produced was a Pentium II /400Mhz 10+ year old
>> machine. Not
>> only had the Core 2 Duo sticker mysteriously vanished but there were
>> no serial numbers on the back. However, there *was* a T60 badge
>> glued onto the machine.
>>
>> At this stage I scratched my head and a camera flash went off.
>>
>> http://test.internet-webmaster.de/upload/1228640360.jpg
>
> Don't think I could place the white haired guy as a scammer though...
> Shows how gullible I can be.

LOL, I hope you're not insinuating that the other guy looks like a scammer!
<g> I knew I should have cropped myself out of the pic.

Seriously though, I have a sixth sense about some things. The auction set
off alarms first (there's no way that it was a 'Jane' writing that and,
after saying that 'she' was 'not computer person' went on to give some
pretty 'computer person' descriptions. Also some statements that were
designed to be deliberately vague, yet promising... The whole thing set my
alarm bells ringing...) and within seconds of talking to this guy I could
tell he was an accomplished 'misguider'. To be honest I'm surprised he
showed up, I personally thought there was a 50/50 chance (especially after I
told him I'd be wearing a shirt that said "I do whatever the voices in my
head tell me to do..."). Greed must have driven him. You should have seen
him trying to evade my friend with the camera once he was in the car and
said friend decided there was no need for subterfuge anymore.

>> (Gosh I didn't realise I was getting so bald!. He's the white-haired
>> guy looking like he's been caught in a lie BTW.)
>
> [...]
>>
>> Oh, the auction:
>> http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=190535781
>
> It was running Ubuntu, I see.

Yes. When the GRUB screen came up there were many options. I'm not a 'nix
man so I chose XP and, after an age it loaded, so I right-clicked my
computer, then looked at properties (after finding out all I wanted to know
in BIOS anyway).

>> I'll write an email to Trademe when I can be bothered, I'm a bit sore
>> right now. I guess Trademe will contact the police?


I still haven't been in touch with them, Looks like it'll be tomorrow now,
I'm knackered.

> I've been doing a few Trade-Me buys lately (so far all good, but some
> have felt "touch and go" with many emails from me with longish waits
> before responses and goods arrive) I just might ask for your opinion
> on one, one of these days :-)

Hehee! Word to the wise; Don't transfer money to new traders, only do
face-to-face deals with them. If they aren't in your area, don't buy from
them. (If it's a small amount that you can afford to lose it's up to you...)

Good luck,
--
Shaun.

Re: Trademe Scammer foiled!
 

~misfit~ wrote:
> Ooops, hit 'send' too soon, meant to cross to nz.gen. Fixed now.

Get it onto scambusters too.

Re: Trademe Scammer foiled!
 

Somewhere on teh intarwebs "embtwo@gmail.com" typed:
> ~misfit~ wrote:
>> Ooops, hit 'send' too soon, meant to cross to nz.gen. Fixed now.
>
> Get it onto scambusters too.

Who what where?

Ahh, did the obvious and made an NZ URL out of it and found it. Will do.

Cheers,
--
Shaun.

Re: Trademe Scammer foiled!
 

Somewhere on teh intarwebs "hey_hell_pee@xnet.co.nz" typed:
> ~misfit~ wrote:
>> Ooops, hit 'send' too soon, meant to cross to nz.gen. Fixed now.
>>
>> Somewhere on teh intarwebs "misfit61nz@yahoo.co.nz" typed:
>>> Hello gentle readers,
>>>
>>> I spotted a ThinkPad auction on Trademe the other day that I knew in
>>> my gut was wrong. I sent a link the to EMB who said that it looked
>>> like an old Celeron machine or similar.
>>>
>>> However, in the pics could plainly be seen a ''T60" badge and a
>>> "Core 2 Duo" and a "Vista" sticker. However, in no way did it look
>>> like a T60. The auction said no pickups, bank deposit and free
>>> delivery only. So I was watching it and someone bid. I couldn't stand
>>> idly by and
>>> see someone fleeced of their money so I bid. They had an autobid of
>>> $501, something I noticed when my bid of $500 was beaten by $1
>>> instead of the usual $5. I bid again and decided that I'd either
>>> scored a real bargain or, far more likely, saved someone from being
>>> ripped off. Long story short, the seller purported to be a female named
>>> "Jane"
>>> who'd only been a member of Tradme for this auction. In emails I
>>> said that there was no way I was going to send $500 to someone who
>>> wasn't address verified, for a laptop that I wasn't sure was what
>>> it was supposed to be.
>>> "Jane" (with the email address jeff8nz@yahoo.co.uk, emails from
>>> which account arrived from "Jeff Mart L" but signed "Jane") at some
>>> stage morphed into her ex (with whom she was still on good terms)
>>> as she had to hit the road this morning, she was working "up north".
>>>
>>> I insisted on a meet, said I was keen and it was arranged that we
>>> would meet at Greenlane MacDonalds at 7:30 this evening (make sure I
>>> had the cash!). I enlisted the assistance of a friend who's computer
>>> I'd been fixing today, withdrew the money from my credit card (just
>>> in case) and headed up there.
>>> Low and behold, when "Jeff" finally turned up 25 minutes late the
>>> laptop that was produced was a Pentium II /400Mhz 10+ year old
>>> machine. Not only had the Core 2 Duo sticker mysteriously vanished
>>> but there were no serial numbers on the back. However, there *was* a
>>> T60 badge glued onto the machine.
>>>
>>> At this stage I scratched my head and a camera flash went off.
>>>
>>> http://test.internet-webmaster.de/upload/1228640360.jpg
>>>
>>> (Gosh I didn't realise I was getting so bald!. He's the white-haired
>>> guy looking like he's been caught in a lie BTW.)
>>>
>>> "Jeff" looked nervously about but couldn't see anyone with a camera.
>>> I asked where the 'Core 2 Duo' sticker went and he said it must have
>>> fallen off in the bag so I sadistically made him look for it. <g> I
>>> told him he was mistaken that the laptop wasn't worth the gas it'd
>>> cost me to get to Greenlane, and he left, not before my friend
>>> shadowed him across the half-empty carpark, across the street and
>>> another 300 metres to his White 1990 Mitsubishi Eterna (rego number
>>> TT5570) and got some pics of him in the car.
>>>
>>> Oh, the auction:
>>> http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=190535781
>>> I'll write an email to Trademe when I can be bothered, I'm a bit
>>> sore right now. I guess Trademe will contact the police?
>>
> Congratulations, a lovely sting!

Thanks. I simply couldn't sit idly by and see someone fleece another person.

> You's doin' de lawd's work in dis wicked world.

Hehee! Do you think the de lawd will let me into heaven now? Or at least
reimburse me for the petrol, cash advance fee and the latte from MacDonalds?
;-)

LOL, I better get to the bank soon, having $500 in my pocket is a
temptation, even with my relatively good self control.

BTW, I've been going through the process of trying to lay a complaint at
Trademe. They don't make it easy. Just about every option you click on
basically tells you to do something other than contact them. They've removed
the old "Report this auction / trader" button. Trademe make it *really* hard
to actually lay a complaint. Not surprising really, I checked my account
details with them going back to Feb '01 when I joined. I added it up and
realised I've paid them $925 (!!!!!) in commision / fees in just under 8
years, and that's just on stuff I've sold! You don't kill the goose that
lays the golden eggs.

Even Scambusters make you jump through hoops, signing up etc.

(If I had a dollar for every site I'd signed up to I'd have several hundred
dollars. Of course, I have to use a unique password for each and keep them
all in a (password protected) document. If I didn't and just one has it's
database compromised all they'd need to do is try my username / password at
other sites, some of which could net them rewards...)

I think I'll just put the fear of de lawd into him, send him an email
telling him I've been to the police with his car info, recording of the
conversation, printout of the emails and his picture.... I have that
psuedonym listed so I'll be notified if he tried to list anything else using
that name. Hopefully he just gets stung for the commision on that auction...

He's a slimey one. My sixth sense kicked in big time sitting next to him. I
have the feeling (and they're usually right) that fraud is only the tip of
the iceberg of his wickedness. <shudder>

Be well,
--
Shaun.

Re: Trademe Scammer foiled!
 

EMB wrote:
> ~misfit~ wrote:
>> Ooops, hit 'send' too soon, meant to cross to nz.gen. Fixed now.
>
> Get it onto scambusters too.

Interesting site that one, I didn't realise how widespread the scams
were on Trademe. Or how crap the Trademe security team were.

As time goes on I can only see Trademe loosing ground to some newcomer,
the way they keep cranking their fees up, and the usability down.
The latest stupidity of having to pay a fee to put a reserve on an
auction is going to see it turn into more of a fixed price classified
site than auction house.

Re: Trademe Scammer foiled!
 

~misfit~ wrote:
> Somewhere on teh intarwebs "hey_hell_pee@xnet.co.nz" typed:
>> ~misfit~ wrote:
>>> Ooops, hit 'send' too soon, meant to cross to nz.gen. Fixed now.
>>>
>>> Somewhere on teh intarwebs "misfit61nz@yahoo.co.nz" typed:
>>>> Hello gentle readers,
>>>>
>>>> I spotted a ThinkPad auction on Trademe the other day that I knew in
>>>> my gut was wrong. I sent a link the to EMB who said that it looked
>>>> like an old Celeron machine or similar.
>>>>
>>>> However, in the pics could plainly be seen a ''T60" badge and a
>>>> "Core 2 Duo" and a "Vista" sticker. However, in no way did it look
>>>> like a T60. The auction said no pickups, bank deposit and free
>>>> delivery only. So I was watching it and someone bid. I couldn't stand
>>>> idly by and
>>>> see someone fleeced of their money so I bid. They had an autobid of
>>>> $501, something I noticed when my bid of $500 was beaten by $1
>>>> instead of the usual $5. I bid again and decided that I'd either
>>>> scored a real bargain or, far more likely, saved someone from being
>>>> ripped off. Long story short, the seller purported to be a female named
>>>> "Jane"
>>>> who'd only been a member of Tradme for this auction. In emails I
>>>> said that there was no way I was going to send $500 to someone who
>>>> wasn't address verified, for a laptop that I wasn't sure was what
>>>> it was supposed to be.
>>>> "Jane" (with the email address jeff8nz@yahoo.co.uk, emails from
>>>> which account arrived from "Jeff Mart L" but signed "Jane") at some
>>>> stage morphed into her ex (with whom she was still on good terms)
>>>> as she had to hit the road this morning, she was working "up north".
>>>>
>>>> I insisted on a meet, said I was keen and it was arranged that we
>>>> would meet at Greenlane MacDonalds at 7:30 this evening (make sure I
>>>> had the cash!). I enlisted the assistance of a friend who's computer
>>>> I'd been fixing today, withdrew the money from my credit card (just
>>>> in case) and headed up there.
>>>> Low and behold, when "Jeff" finally turned up 25 minutes late the
>>>> laptop that was produced was a Pentium II /400Mhz 10+ year old
>>>> machine. Not only had the Core 2 Duo sticker mysteriously vanished
>>>> but there were no serial numbers on the back. However, there *was* a
>>>> T60 badge glued onto the machine.
>>>>
>>>> At this stage I scratched my head and a camera flash went off.
>>>>
>>>> http://test.internet-webmaster.de/upload/1228640360.jpg
>>>>
>>>> (Gosh I didn't realise I was getting so bald!. He's the white-haired
>>>> guy looking like he's been caught in a lie BTW.)
>>>>
>>>> "Jeff" looked nervously about but couldn't see anyone with a camera.
>>>> I asked where the 'Core 2 Duo' sticker went and he said it must have
>>>> fallen off in the bag so I sadistically made him look for it. <g> I
>>>> told him he was mistaken that the laptop wasn't worth the gas it'd
>>>> cost me to get to Greenlane, and he left, not before my friend
>>>> shadowed him across the half-empty carpark, across the street and
>>>> another 300 metres to his White 1990 Mitsubishi Eterna (rego number
>>>> TT5570) and got some pics of him in the car.
>>>>
>>>> Oh, the auction:
>>>> http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=190535781
>>>> I'll write an email to Trademe when I can be bothered, I'm a bit
>>>> sore right now. I guess Trademe will contact the police?
>> Congratulations, a lovely sting!
>
> Thanks. I simply couldn't sit idly by and see someone fleece another person.
>
>> You's doin' de lawd's work in dis wicked world.
>
> Hehee! Do you think the de lawd will let me into heaven now? Or at least
> reimburse me for the petrol, cash advance fee and the latte from MacDonalds?
> ;-)
>
> LOL, I better get to the bank soon, having $500 in my pocket is a
> temptation, even with my relatively good self control.
>
> BTW, I've been going through the process of trying to lay a complaint at
> Trademe. They don't make it easy. Just about every option you click on
> basically tells you to do something other than contact them. They've removed
> the old "Report this auction / trader" button. Trademe make it *really* hard
> to actually lay a complaint. Not surprising really, I checked my account
> details with them going back to Feb '01 when I joined. I added it up and
> realised I've paid them $925 (!!!!!) in commision / fees in just under 8
> years, and that's just on stuff I've sold! You don't kill the goose that
> lays the golden eggs.
>

Yep, the fastest way to get them to do some is to hit the report this
link, then select the option about trader is trying to avoid paying
trademe fees (strangely enough its the top option in the list).
Did that the other day on a trader that was listing lots of items on one
listing with different prices and got a reply within 5 minutes, saying
that the auction had been shut down.

Any other time i've tried to contact trademe with queries etc its always
been 2 or 3 days.

Re: Trademe Scammer foiled!
 

~misfit~ wrote:
> Somewhere on teh intarwebs "mikedee@emteedee.invalid" typed:
>> Hello gentle readers,
>>> I spotted a ThinkPad auction on Trademe the other day that I knew in
>>> my gut was wrong. I sent a link the to EMB who said that it looked
>>> like an old Celeron machine or similar.
>> I think the mouse-keys instead of a track-pad is bit of a give-away.
>
> It's the lack of a touchpad that was odd. Even new ThinkPads still have the
> 'joystick' as well as a touchpad.

I like that because it means that you get mouse buttons in the logical
place for them when using the touchpad, rather then at the bottom which
is all that most computers give you for some reason.

>> Don't think I've seen a "IBM Think-pad" sticker like that for some
>> time, either (maybe I don't look?).
>
> That "IBM ThinkPad" logo was still in use a year ago, perhaps still is?
> Here's a real T60, a year old:
>
> http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=191120305

I think the T60 was the last that was branded IBM, they are all just
thinkpad now