A legitimate auction for a Cherry LP ended in the UK for £620. Want to know how many Chinese scam copies there are tonight? Five. Want to know how many there’ve been so far? Thirty-two – check my search link:
http://search-completed.ebay.co.uk/Loooooky_W0QQcatrefZC6QQfisZ2QQflocZ1QQfromZR10QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ1QQfsprZ0QQfstypeZ1QQga10244Z10425QQsacatZQ2d1QQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZQQsaslcZ2QQsatitleZLoooookyQ21QQsbrexpZWD2SQQssPageNameZWD2S

You’d think eBay would cotton on? The Chinese scammers have now latched onto the pretty well-known UK makers “Wesley” guitars. I’ve emailed them and they are onto Fleeb. Wesley are what you might term “power sellers”, rather than the occasional axe-offloader. Hopefully, Fleeb will take a bit more notice when they get a flea in the ear. So far, they’ve been smug and complacent.

A ways back there was a mention of spoof e-bay e-mails phishing for your personal info. Usually they’re not to hard to spot, because if you roll your cursor over the link they want to take you to, you’ll see they’re NOT going to http://www.ebay.com. However, lately there have been some really clever ones that look EXACTLY like e-bay’s address, with one little twist. Instead of a slash (/) between address elements (for example, http://www.ebay.com/index/viewitem), the address has dots (.), for example, http://www.ebay.com.index.viewitem.

It’s just a good idea not to open anything you’re not expecting, of course!

The eBay scam seller also does amplifiers. These two:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-1967-FENDER-SUPER-REVERB-GUITAR-AMP-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ7377762620QQcategoryZ98187QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
and http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-1967-FENDER-SUPER-REVERB-GUITAR-AMP-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ7377805596QQcategoryZ621QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

are both hijacks of an amp sold by a legitimate dealer in New York for $1500. Hello Li Han, hello eBay, bids coming from Sinoscamtosser 😛

Perhaps tell Li Han that I have a brother-in-law with lots of money in the Bank of Lagos, Nigeria? I’ll send him a cheque for $500,000 and, as soon as it “clears” send me the Ric 4003 wrapped in $100 notes for the change? Keep $5000 for yourself, Li Han?

I couldn’t do that could I? 😆

In regards to fleeb, I was reading some interesting articles on how less then reputable ebay shop owners change their shop name to avoid users finding out about past complaints via google searches. Of course the concept is hardly new, it’s just the fact fleeb does very little to combat it.

Edit: I meant to add, maybe you could play a little game with this scammer 1b, like those other sites that get back at em. Always a good laugh.

Well, my spoof buyer “sinoscamtosser” has won so many auctions Fleeb has actually congratulated me 🙄 . I’ve sent them a reply that I have no intention of paying for these scams, and that Fleeb are pathetic.

Incidentally, all of those different seller-IDs have sent me the same invoice. Here he is, step forward:

[quote]Full Name: Li Han(first name:Li last name:Han) Address: 915 room, 208# building Guangqumendongli , Chaoyang　District Beijing China Zipcode: 100021 [/quote]

Preferably, step forward from a steep cliff, you git.

This is getting rather boring, apols for the deja vu. Fancy a 1958 Les Paul Custom? Of course you do, but it’ll cost you. Here’s the listing:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7375304854

Fancy getting the same guitar (same pics, same text) for less money from China? Here are the auctions:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-1958-GIBSON-LES-PAUL-CUSTOM-PAFs-not-a_W0QQitemZ7376028863QQcategoryZ621QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
and
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-1958-GIBSON-LES-PAUL-CUSTOM-PAFs-not-a_W0QQitemZ7376028659QQcategoryZ621QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I haven’t bothered to contact Fleeb as they’re not interested in my busybodying. I have contacted the original seller. Fleeb will only stop a scam if the 1st seller complains because, according to Fleeb, “the seller may have given permission for the others to use his pictures” 🙄

IMO, eBay is the absolute last place I would either buy or sell a truly valuable guitar. Christies, Sotheby’s you’ve got some comeback. eBay? 😆

Just went through the torture of trying to contact the buyers, too. Here’s our chum selling a Rickenbacker, too…
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rickenbacker-4003-Jetglo-Stereo-4-string-bass-guitar-NR_W0QQitemZ7374672570QQcategoryZ621QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

along with a few other Chinachums who happen to own the same guitar:
http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=Rickenbacker+4003+Jetglo+Stereo+4+string+bass+guitar%2CNR

but none of them have noticed, and deleted, the “will only ship within the US” description that the original seller put up. Take a look at how many times this bass is being “sold” on the Fleeb:
http://search-completed.ebay.co.uk/Rickenbacker-4003-Jetglo-Stereo-4-string-bass-guitar-NR_W0QQcatrefZC6QQfisZ2QQflocZ1QQfromZR10QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ1QQfstypeZ1QQga10244Z10425QQsacatZQ2d1QQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZQQsaslcZ2QQsatitleZRickenbackerQ204003Q20JetgloQ20StereoQ204Q20stringQ20bassQ20guitarQ2cNRQQsbrexpZWD2SQQssPageNameZWD2S

Want an ES 175? Tons of them available in China, but you have to be quick because the Fleeb auctions all end in 24hrs. Three identical ones here, choose the price you want to pay (doesn’t matter, as none of them actually own this guitar):

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-1967-GIBSON-ES-175-with-VINTAGE-BROWN-CASE_W0QQitemZ7374796875QQcategoryZ624QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-1967-GIBSON-ES-175-with-VINTAGE-BROWN-CASE_W0QQitemZ7374672732QQcategoryZ621QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-1967-GIBSON-ES-175-with-VINTAGE-BROWN-CASE_W0QQitemZ7374650259QQcategoryZ308QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

And yes, they’re all identical, but with three “different” sellers. Here is the legitimate seller:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-1967-GIBSON-ES-175-with-VINTAGE-BROWN-CASE_W0QQitemZ7371471688QQcategoryZ38085QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

but just look at the number of ebay scam hijacks from China. You’ll notice that some of them had bids on them. Hope they didn’t actually pay money over. http://search-completed.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-1967-GIBSON-ES-175-with-VINTAGE-BROWN-CASE_W0QQcatrefZC6QQfisZ2QQflocZ1QQfromZR10QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ1QQfstypeZ1QQga10244Z10425QQsacatZQ2d1QQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZQQsaslcZ2QQsbrexpZWD2SQQssPageNameZWD2S

I’ve contacted the ‘proper’ seller, even though Fleeb inserted a new “security” device to ‘protect against misuse’. Again, they seem to have their priorities pear-shaped.

I also remember “free jack cable” or suchlike to no-Paypal users, complete with description why the seller was feeling so generous 😆 . Fleeb is the new “Microsoft”; it stinks, and you moan about it, but you can’t seem to avoid using it these days.

[quote=”1bassleft”]Also, the loading of the p+p does unfairly treat those who use a cheque or bank transfer.[/quote]

I’ve seen auctions where the seller cunningly offers a discount for those people!

Technically, Fleeb regards an inflated p+p price as “fee avoidance” but it is much easier to do, or harder for Fleeb to spot. I’ve noticed some sellers have “email me first if you want to use Paypal” but this doesn’t stop someone bidding, refusing to pay the extra and reporting the seller to Fleeb.

Also, the loading of the p+p does unfairly treat those who use a cheque or bank transfer.

The only wat around it is to estimate how much you think the item is going to sell for and then build this in as a factor when you set your start price, or else include it in the P&P.

Very boringly, I emailed Fleeb when they came up with this “you can’t surcharge for Paypal” idea. They didn’t seem to mind until they bought out the ‘pal, but now they jump like Rottwielers on anybody who doesn’t want to swallow the 4% cream-off on top of Fleeb’s own fees.

Anyhoo, I told them that (under UK law) any merchant has the right to pass on the charges from credit-card payments, provided this is clearly stated. Fleeb came back with an interesting response, but I’ll have to paraphrase the mumbo-jumbo. It went something like this:

“You’re right. UK law allows for sellers to pass on credit card charges to the buyer and the credit card companies can’t stop a seller from doing this. However, this is Paypal and Paypal is an EPS (Electronic Payment Service) not covered by this legislation. So, we can make up the rules as we like and there is naff all anyone can do to stop us. Best regards from eBay customer services team.”

Personally, I’ve never tried to pass on the Paypal %, but I think any seller has a right to do so if they wish. eBayPal won’t let you, though. It would take some concerted tweaking of the OFT, FSA and whatever the DTI is called these days to get this loophole closed. Meantime, another netshop makes a joke of consumer protection laws.

Shows where their priorities are, and in only 24 hours. Obviously found by eBay staff and not reported by the public for it to be that quick. Pitty they didn’t do the same for the scams.

Mike, you now know the torture of reporting to eBay. I rarely watched “X-Files” but I think the word is “obfuscation”.

eBay has, literally, layers and layers of pointless brick walls if you’re a busybody trying to save some poor mark from a scam. You’re dang right; the “what is your user ID?” and “what is the item # concerned?” stops are fixable by any snot with a GNVQ in web-design. Even better, Fleeb makes you go through about seven sub-menu pages before it asks these Qs, so most casuals can’t be bothered to scroll back and find out.

And Lee, you’re absolutely right. 3-day auctions are bad enough, but 1-days to zero-f/b sellers is lunacy. Also, I resent that (as a buyer) I list UK only auctions on my search and all of the tempting auctions have a p+p (s+h) of £80 because it’s in Beijing.

I don’t doubt for a second that Fleeb deliberately stimies the reporting of a fraud. They’ll move quickly if M/Soft, Fender etc complain but otherwise, forget it.

Well I reported that Auction you posted on Dec 1 1bass, to see how they responded – wasn’t to impressed. I provided them with both URL’s and which one was the fake using their report system.

Around 35 Hours later, I got a response saying before they could help me any further, I needed to reply with my eBay user ID (which they already knew as I had to be logged into report it in the first place), and they also asked for the item ID’s (which I had already supplied for both items).

By the time all that is complete, and before it has even been removed, it is a 4 day + ordeal of being shafted around. Pointless.

Yes Mike. The titles match, the descriptions always match, the pics are the same. This is a given for every Sino-scam I flag. Only the “how to pay” suddenly changes. It’s quite comical, because the text suddenly changes from (e.g.)

“This bad-ass axe will have your neighbors quakin’ in their boots from the full-on power of three hot Seymours…“

to:

“How to make the pay. I like very much the Western Union which reach me quick. Only honest person apply to the sale and trust me for good business person“

It really does defeat me that Fleeb can’t automatically spot this kind of heist. The fact that Fleeb sticks its head down its own toilet if you take the trouble to point out what’s happening, 😯 well, I’m struggling to think of an excuse for them.

eBays pissweak response in regards to the images being “mutual source” holds very little substance when as you pointed out in this case, the exact same description has been used. Mutual source again? C’mon eBay.

The text is certainly not company PR spin and is seller unique. If they gave that standard “not enough evidence” reply with this scam it would be downright pathetic.

Was the text the same in the one you reported 1BL?

Here’s the latest from “China in Your Scam”:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1965-FENDER-MUSTANG-ORIGINAL-VINTAGE-GUITAR-NOT-GIBSON_W0QQitemZ7370011131QQcategoryZ29552QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Is the original, legitimate, auction. Now, up pops our Mandarin seller with his own version:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1965-FENDER-MUSTANG-ORIGINAL-VINTAGE-GUITAR-NOT-GIBSON_W0QQitemZ7371128983QQcategoryZ98186QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I mean, it’s not even clever. The same damn heading, the same damn text, the same damn pictures. Get this. If you right-click on the images from the Sino-scam auction, they have exactly the same properties as the images from the legitimate auction. What could I do? I’ve emailed the original seller because Fleeb won’t listen to me. The only other thing I can do is type “EBAY SCAM” on a respectable forum like G-Site. Then Fleeb will pull it because they don’t like bad publicity on the open ‘net.

Fleeb really are pathetic.

Sorry if this is a bore, but here is Fleeb’s response to my email telling them of Chinese hijackings. To cut a long story short; they will only do something if I email the original seller and that seller then complains. This has to happen before the Chinese-hijack 24hr auction runs out. In other words, Fleeb doesn’t want to know and you’re on your own. Here’s their pathetic response:

We have received your email and apologise for the delay in our response
to your inquiry. I will be happy to address your concerns regarding
possible image/text theft.

Julia Grucza
eBay Community Watch Team

Listing already killed, thanks Lee. I have posted up on mods a reply from Fleeb to the average Joe voicing concerns. The response is, believe-it-or-not, pathetic. Be very careful if a guitar on Fleeb looks like “China in your hand” for peanuts. There is a gang out there; search for the same details and you might well find it’s a hijack. Don’t send the money-order.

[quote=”1bassleft”]and this is the “genuine” (albeit dodgy Fender logoed) seller:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Licensed-Stratocaster-Vintage-Strat_W0QQitemZ7367685757QQcategoryZ33039QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem[/quote]

What’s this bollocks: “Here we have a lovely example of Fender licensed Stratocaster originally marketed under the name Sunn Mustang. Dating from the late 70s these early models are renown for their solid construction, slim necks and classic Strat tone.”

They were not from the late 70s – where does that idea come from? They were made in the 1990s.

dsifugo is still up, though. At least one of his keyboards:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MINT-Roland-Fantom-X6-Workstation-Keyboard-w-EXTRAS_W0QQitemZ7368814140QQcategoryZ20080QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

is a hijack of a completed auction for an £800 keyboard. I’ve actually emailed the people on the “Trevor McDonald” show, see if they’re interested in following up their previous programme on eBay dangers. A bit of G-site cred, hopefully, if they do pick up on it.

dsifugo is another eBay scam seller, hijacking keyboard auctions and pretending they’re his own. I’ve got the stopwatch out, Fleeb 😀

Hey, that was quick! Fleeb pulled the auction within 30 mins of me posting. I was still trying to get through their own, awful, safety system. If a Fleeb senior is reading this, can you join in and discuss why flagging dodgy auctions is so difficult to do on eBay?

I’ve placed spoof bids on all items listed by hrehwhth as they are all eBay scam hijacks. I’ve tried to contact Fleeb to get them removed but, yet again, it fell over. It really is ridiculous how difficult Fleeb make it to report obvious fraud.

I’m getting worried, he (whatever s/n he uses) always has the following phrase in his payment terms; [quote] The payment way I can accept [/quote]

If you search for this phrase, a lot of items come up. Sometimes, the seller is listed as location; “bj, United Kingdom”. This is actually Beijing, China. Some of these sellers have bids, and feedback ratings, but do people get their stuff? It’s turning into a snakepit, now.

Well, our little China Boy is back, with another s/n. This time, he stoops at nothing. He’s only gone and hijacked an auction for a Sunn Mustang 🙄 Still, he might be getting smarter. Hijacked pre-CBS auctions are reported but many people don’t bother if it’s a £100 guitar. It’s still somebody’s lost £100, though.

This is the scammer:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Licensed-Stratocaster-Vintage-Strat_W0QQitemZ7368806986QQcategoryZ621QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and this is the “genuine” (albeit dodgy Fender logoed) seller:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Licensed-Stratocaster-Vintage-Strat_W0QQitemZ7367685757QQcategoryZ33039QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

another one for SinoScamTosser to bid on 😈

Initially, I just laughed at the “admirable, wonderful, play good, likey-likey” stuff that crops up a lot nowadays on the Fleeb. Looking again, there’s a rather prominent “Ibanez” fraudstock logo. Now, Rickenbacker would be onto that like a shot.

Hopefully, most people with an IQ getting into double figures read through and don’t bid. They usually don’t, or back out later (notice the high-bidder is a greeny). I go for the real fraudster, hijacking types but this could be a similar “library photo” scam. I’ll just type “ebay scam” and they’ll pick it up. A lot faster than telling them directly 😥

I see what your saying, but what’s to stop the seller from asking for the 300+ for shipping, and then of course not shipping. Sure thats the case with any auction, but this one has feedback on a few 1 dollar items and all the obvious scammer tactics.

Technically, Mike, it’s not a scam. It’s a Vai-Jem copy with a $1 start and an outrageous $325 shipping. If the buyer pays, the buyer will get, because the seller is getting the dough and avoiding eBay fees. Fleeb only charges for initial price and final price, so shipping doesn’t get Fleeb a %.

It goes to show how out-of-control that Fleeb is when they don’t even spot this one for themselves. Maybe they’re satisfied with the Paypal % – certainly was a smart move when they bought them up. Since the merger, Fleeb has been an even bigger snake-pit than before, IME.

Watch-out-for item at http://cgi.ebay.com.au/stunning-admirable-musical-instrument-electric-guitar_W0QQitemZ7365597804QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It’s in the Musical Instruments category but it doesn’t mention a thing about it – model, serial – piss all, it could well be a barbie guitar. The same with his other auctions.

Remember our Chinese eBay scam-man? He’s back with another:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-1974-FENDER-MUSTANG-GUITAR-BLONDE_W0QQitemZ7366546047QQcategoryZ621QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

He’s had previous auctions closed down, but he has more s/n s up his sleeve. Haven’t located the original auction (that he’s hijacked) yet, but here is how to spot this guy. 1-day auctions, loves wire transfer and Western Union Moneygrams and he ALWAYS uses this text:

[quote]Payment method:
I accept only
1.Bank wire transfer
2.MONEY GRAM
3.Western Union money transfer(which is very easily proceeded at the post office and it can reach my side within two hours,)
If you want to receive the item earlier, I sincerely hope that you can make the payment western union payment which is proceeded at the post office, and you can also use bank transfer so that I can receive the item very soon.
we guarantee items are 100% as described, but if you feel unsatisfied with item, you may return it within 5 days of receipt (postmarked within 5 days). Refunds will be issued after item is received and carefully inspected. Refund will be for the amount of the auction minus 20% restocking fee & shipping/handling/insurance fees. Sales on Clearance Marked items are final.[/quote]

Nice. If you are not happy with your (non-existent) item, he’ll refund everything 🙄 but, if you’re a non-payer, he’ll post a neg 😯 I’m scared 😆 . One for “SinoScamTosser” to bid on. Oh, and check his other auctions.

Verging on ‘off-topic’ (ok, flying off-topic with my arms out stretched going vroooooooom, wheeeeeeoooow, ratatatata etc) but we get a lot of fake charity collectors kinda like “ooh look, a global disaster, lets get out with a bucket and earn some cash” I’m much too polite to voice my opinion on these people on the Forum but it involves a lot of *’s

Absolutely agree, Tim. All headsups on scams are welcome posts. As you say; just ’cause I’ve seen it, doesn’t mean everybody else has. If I’m honest, the first “Dutch Lottery Win” email I got did give me a semi. For a while, I thought everything I ever wanted was in my hand. Then I did a websearch and smelled the rats.

The worst, and most lucrative, scam has only just come up, called “Missionfish”. It has a “charity” angle, but the runners cream money off everyone (charity, seller, Mother Theresa etc) and rarely risk a bean themselves. The people running it are… eBay and Paypal. In my own, personally expressed, opinion – not necessarily reflecting the views of anyone else 🙂 , it’s a stinker. Real turkey shoot for the “investigative journalism” type of person that used to exist in the media.

Yeah my first ebay themed phish.

I too am popular with the Nigerians though, must have money to burn!

Part of my day job is to do with this stuff so I get all sorts of updates but some newbies might not have been targeted yet, better that they hear about it here was my thinking.

Tim.

‘Phishing’ scams are big in AU – eBay, banks, or PayPal – usually with the click here to update your account details, or the you have been suspended blah blah ploy.

Funnelly nuff, I’ve never had one of those yet. I have, though, heard from a lot of very nice Nigerian chums who want to pay me $500,000 for my Hondo bass. Obviously, I have to refund $450,000 from my own account to help the guy out (some sort of trouble with Bank of Lagos) but I get to keep the other $50,000. Pretty good return on a Hondo, really must go for it 😆

I’m still waiting for the Dutch guys to come in, though. They tell me I’ve won $1mill on the state lottery of randomly-selected email addressses. I sent all my bank details, and a grand by wire transfer to cover the taxes and charges, but the million’s not here yet 😆

Yep, they’re all out there.

Tim my man, your gf’s first ebay spam scam… You’ve been lucky not to have gotten 6000 over the past 3 years 😀

Hello, kind of related:

My girlfriend just got an email claiming to be from ebay beginning ‘Dear ebay user…’ the email claimed that they were updating their records and contained a link to an online form asking for information, including bank details that ebay don’t directly hold, all the correct logos, ads, buttons etc were present (although some a little pixelated).

She has reported this to ebay. Also ebay provide a tutorial on spotting these things, might be worth looking at.

Anyhoo, just a note in case anyone wasn’t aware of these scams.

Tim.

This used to happen with “western” (for want of a better term) scammers a few years ago, but mostly they’re not that obvious these days. It was like deja-vu, seeing these Chinese scams. Hopefully, people aren’t so stupid but he has had bids placed from Europe. Some people must think you really do get 40 y.o. Aerican classics for a few hundred quid in China 🙄

god i really hate those guys…..i can’t understand the reason all this treachery, just to make a few easy bucks????(or watever) i mean ebay is such a superb service, why should anyone try to spoil it so much? even if it is for a good 1000 dollars or so…
People act so mindlessly sometimes….
Oh, i was about to post about the byrdland but you guys are fast!!!

Hah, all with accounts registered within the last few weeks. Zero feedback. W/Union, Wire, Is anyone that insane?

Blimey 😯 ! Remember that scam alert on the Gibson Byrdland? Well, I posted my ridiculous bid, then happened to look at his other auctions. He’s riddled with hijacked live or recently-completed guitar auctions. He’s also used (and is probably using) several other eBay usernames.

As a for instance, type a Fleeb search for a nice Gretsch, usin the two finders “6120” and “1956”. You’ll see one auction in the US and about 5 from China, all using the same text and pics.

Scammerific!

Well, as I hold my 💡 , I’m wondering whose really awful “acceptance speech” I can do. I seem to remember Carly Simon and Gwyneth Paltrow doing some real cringers at the Oscars. Any others? Don’t forget to flag those eBay scams, though.

I’m right behind you and think it’s a good idea. Just thought I’d pipe in with one possible downside 🙂

Great work on the 1000. 💡 No it’s not a light bulb. it’s a err… trophy.

I’ve just hit the kilo 😀

I don’t think I have much to lose from Fleeb. I’m quite happy for them to know who I am. In five years, the one thing they have never made any effort to improve on is the fraud side. Torture to report, easy to conduct; pretty much sums it up. They’re welcome to suspend me for blocking bids on hijacked auctions if they want to, but it’s really a job they should be doing themselves.

As long as eBay don’t blacklist your IP, or other accounts or something. I dunno enough about their inner workings.

Hello again Italos 🙂

I’m setting up an alter-ego Fleeb account. I think I’ll call it SinoScamTosser and place ludicrous bids on these hijacks. At least, then, no-one loses any money and I’d like to get a ton of non-paying bidder negs (they won’t file, of course).

Send any obvious scummers to this thread and I’ll place the bids 😆

Read All Four pages of this thread…you know what? I think that naming these auctions “Possible Scum” is a bit off….try “Definately Scum” next time… 😆

Here is another example of a really, pathetically obvious eBay Scam. The Chinese types doing this are years behind the times; almost everyone is wise to this. Except eBay themselves. OK, here’s the legitimate seller:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GIBSON-1968-BYRDLAND-LEFTY-left-handed-V-RARE-VINTAGE_W0QQitemZ7362241132QQcategoryZ33040QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and here’s the doofus:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GIBSON-1968-BYRDLAND-LEFTY-left-handed-V-RARE-VINTAGE_W0QQitemZ7364044560QQcategoryZ621QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Our Chinachum has the following little plea, “I sincerely hope that you can make the payment western union payment which is proceeded at the post office, and you can also use bank transfer so that I can receive the item very soon.“

Bit of a Freudian slip there. He receives your item (a lot of money) very soon. You get stuff all, of course.

I’m getting a bit sick of this. Fleeb could spot, stop and generally banish this rubbish quite easily, if they were bothered. Truth is, they aren’t.

And, I’m afraid, I was rather rude in my email to Fleeb. In my defence, I clicked on “fraud” straight away, went through numerous hoops, then got asked what the auction number was. Backtracked a few pages, deedah deedah, got the auction number, went forward a few pages, filled in the rest… 😡

I’m sure most disinterested types would’ve just given up by then. That’s why scamsters (the really obvious ones) do a one day listing. At least it was pulled. I felt a liitle bit bad about spleen-venting to Fleeb-security but, fact is, I’ve received no more than the robot “looking into it” reply. Moral?
Post a scam on an open web forum. It’s a lot easier and, for some reason, works quicker.

Unbelievably, I clicked on the cruddy “safety” link direct from the scam listing, and guess what? Fleeb asked me for the listing number.

I’ve spent years watching how Fleeb makes the bare minimum effort to close down a scam. No, let me re-phrase that. It makes its internal system as convoluted, obfuscatory and downright pathetic as possible.

In my experience, going to a decent, respected forum (such as Guitarsite) and typing “Another obvious eBay scam” gets the offending article closed down much quicker. The reason being, of course, it reflects badly on them when flagged up externally. They’re even prepared to cut their £0.15 listing fee for a quiet life.

This one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Precision-Bass-LEFTY-1975-USA-FineCond-P-Bass-NR_W0QQitemZ7362720205QQcategoryZ621QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem is a DEFINITE eBay hijack scam of a legitimate US auction still running. DO NOT BID. I am onto Fleeb to close it down. The CHINA seller is a dog, the US seller is legit.

I was wondering whether to have a laugh on this chap. He posts up an enormous number of “exquisite, masterful, fair-sounding” instruments. I don’t think his dictionary def of “fair-sounding” covers anything post-14th century.

There are absolute heaps of auctions from Chinese-based sellers, especially in PC peripherals. I first noticed them in musical instruments when I was looking for a trumpet. TBH, I find them quite annoying because they appear as “UK” and turn up in your search if you specify “UK only” but, once you click, you find out it’s in Beijing and the shipping is way off-beam.

BTW, shipping a guitar from Japan by EMS is about $125. If EMS from Beijing is quoted at £150 then a good £80 or more is being pocketed. This should more than cover the cost of the knockoff, fake, not even a Chinese-Squier, “Fender” guitar. That’s how they can be sold with a start of £0.99

Alot of his other sales have been for very low cost items as well – both usernames selling a lot of the same sort of stuff espesh cheap ass jewelry.

They love that vigilente sort of thing on those shows. They might have even interviewed you 1b, you could hav dyed the rats tail red.

Both already removed. This really is faster than going through the official channel. Fleeb were featured on “Tonight with Trevor McDonald” (a British sub-“60 Minutes” style of show), airing all the dodgy goings-on. If I’d known, I would have alerted them to the service provided by us dedicated guitarsiters 😀

What’s with the strange eBay theme graphical backgrounds, especially on the first one?

I can’t help it, my mind absorbs this stuff.

Well, there you go. The wonderful world of the lesser-known Gibson basses. Terrific bit of detective work and grey-cell crunching, glw 😀

Here we go, here’s one similar…

From: The Bass Guitars of Robby Scharf – 1973 Gibson SB-400
http://cowsill.com/cowsills/history/robby-gear-72gibson.html

http://cowsill.com/cowsills/gallery/albums/fh2005jun04/vs05jun04_7081bass.jpg

No, I don’t think it is.

It was a more downmarket model Gibson.

exactly..it’s the pickup surrounds. well. it may be a botched refinish job?

I think that Gibson bass is genuine. There was a guitar – lower-priced SG (I forget the model designation) that looked very much like that bass – same cheapo-looking control panel and knobs and the same pickup surrounds.

..i recall seeing a gibson sorta like that, but it really does seem odd.

Never heard of a 1960 Gibson ES bass? Neither have I. This has more than a hint of “Teisco” about it. Anybody more clued up and can confirm it’s legit (eg SB?), please chime in.
http://i2.ebayimg.com/02/i/05/27/07/5e_1_b.JPG
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Gibson-Bass_W0QQitemZ7356738560QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

All horsemen of the apocalypse are here. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Precision-Bass-October-1968-Natural-wood-finish_W0QQitemZ7356612626QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem ’68 Precision; newly registered, 0 feedback seller; tempting £600 starter. No mention of postage details. I tend to find this is a Freudian slip – the guitar doesn’t exist so why bother filling in the shipping costs?

Not even a photo of the bass. I think even the mugs will steer clear of this one.

I do not like the look of this AT ALL. This seller has an aftermarket “F” type Fender neckplate for an entirely reasonable $10:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FENDER-STRATOCASTER-TELECASTER-MUSTANG-NECK-PLATE_W0QQitemZ7354620621QQcategoryZ33039QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The same seller has a “1966” Fender neckplate at the also-reasonable list of $99 – indeed, he has a bid on it. The problem is, have a look at it:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1966-FENDER-STRATOCASTER-TELECASTER-MUSTANG-NECK-PLATE_W0QQitemZ7354628803QQcategoryZ33039QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It’s almost like “spot the difference”. A couple of Qs; why does the listing say serial # 118XXX when the pic makes it perfectly clear what # has been stamped and, secondly, why does this plate cost $2 more to post than the blank one? Did he stamp the numbers on heavily? 😳 , I mean, did Fender stamp the numbers on heavily?

EDIT: The IMGs didn’t load up. Please click on the links to see what I mean. 2nd EDIT: TBF, looking through the seller’s previously completed listings, he seems to specialize in stripping down (esp) Musicmasters et al for parts. If it is genuine (and I guess it is) the problem is it looks TOO clean. A bit of pitting and oxidation would’ve done it no harm.

Both items pulled; well done, Lee. I’ve always maintained that posting a Fleeb scam on a decent site (such as this one) works a lot quicker than going through the torturous “notify eBay” process.

I’ve noticed a few sellers from China listing guitars on ebay.co.uk – they have really tiny start prices like 99p but you need to check their postage prices – £300 or so!

Worthwhile notice Lee, thanks.

And despite the name, us VIP members of the Blue Oyster Club already receive our own custom built instruments – and I can assure you they resemble a flute more than a guitar. 😉 😉