Is this a scam??

ajdj

Hi,

Hoping someone can help me out here! I'm looking at buying a mountain bike off ebay and had a look at several listings today.

Came across this one which caught my attentions for the wrong reasons and i am almost convinced it must be a scam of sorts-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cannondale-Scalpel-2000-size-Medium_W0QQitemZ7245750771QQcategoryZ72570QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The seller is in the US, has loads of other bikes for sale all starting at £100 no reserve with free P&P. The bikes are all worth in excesss of £2,000 each and all the photo's are taken in different locations as if he's pinched other peoples pictures. I'm confused as he has 100% feedback, but hasn't done much activity recently and the only recent items I can see he has bought are low value.

Opinions please?

soolin

Yes it is almost certainly a scam I would guess a hijacked account.

They show a credit card symbol in the main body of the auction but in the payments box only offer postal order or bankers draft both of which have no recourse for the buyer if the seller does a runner. The email address in the auction is also a clue, they want as many people as possible to email with offers so they can get lots of money in before ebay pull the listing.

Report to ebay as even genuine sellers should not have their email address in the text, nor offer 'off ebay' BIN sales.

Oh, also just noticed that bidders ids are kept hidden so no scam busters can warn the people they are about to be scammed.

Soo

Moglex

Mmmmm .... Cannondale ....

Pity it's almost certainly a scam.

Apart from all the pointers you and Soolin have mentioned, the postage costs are contradictory.

ajdj

Thanks Soo,

It's one of these auctions that looks too good to be true at the start, but once it's had several bids can look pretty tempting. Ie. a £2,000 bike for £800could be a very good deal. A £2,000 bike for £100 screams dodgy!

I'll report the seller and see what happens.

ajdj

Moglex wrote:

Mmmmm .... Cannondale .....

I know, such a shame! Will have to save the pennies, buy one from a non-scammer and actually go and have a look before I bid I think!

Moglex

ajdj wrote:

I know, such a shame! Will have to save the pennies, buy one from a non-scammer and actually go and have a look before I bid I think!

Good luck.

I got an £850 Cannondale for £300.

I thought that was a very good deal for a one year old bike in good nick, but when I saw it I was amazed as it looked mint.

So keep looking while you're saving - there are bargains to be had if you're patient.