$450 current bid for an old boiler??????

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=1...

Is this something special?

KD

Winning bid: AU $570.00 

Now Current bid: AU $510.00  with 15 minutes to go...............

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=1...

Is this something special?

KD   [/quote]

eBay buyers fleeced by teenage internet girl
Paddy Hintz
June 27, 2009 12:00am

SCHOOL principal Jann Eason is a confident shopper on the internet and has bought goods worth tens of thousands of dollars online.

However, she and about 30 others fell victim to a 14-year-old eBay fraudster who still owes them about $23,000.

Online auction and selling site eBay is unable to explain how the girl managed to defraud users of up to $44,000.

The girl, now 16, was found guilty in the Ipswich District Court on March 20 of fraud and given a probationary order for two years.

Ms Eason, from Crescent Head in NSW, said eBay was no longer replying to her emailed complaints about the issue.

She believes the online auction site is not prepared to protect buyers from bogus sellers hiding behind fake identities.

She wants eBay or the girl to compensate victims of the fraud.

eBay spokesman Daniel Feiler said the fact that sellers had to register with Paypal and provide bank account details ensured sellers provided proof of identification to the site.

It was up to parents to ensure children were properly monitored when using online sites and users needed to protect themselves by using suggested safe payment methods such as Paypal, he said.

But Ms Eason said she was following eBay's suggested payment steps after the girl first refused payment by Paypal and then demanded payment by direct deposit.

"I did everything eBay suggested I do to protect myself but eBay have completely abrogated themselves of any responsibility on this," Ms Eason said.

"I don't understand how eBay allowed a 14-year-old girl to register and sell that many items that she did not own.

"I don't understand how eBay can allow people to supply inaccurate contact details, have no age check and take no responsibility for providing the medium for these fraudulent trades to take place."

Ms Eason deposited $2231.30 for a new computer into a bank account she now knows to be in the name of a fictional person.

After entering into a dispute process with the site, Ms Eason was referred to NSW police.

But she said eBay gave the girl her mobile phone number without permission and at one stage she was receiving up to 21 calls a day from the fraudster.

One NSW policeman rang the girl personally and managed to have $500 deposited into Ms Eason's account.

Ipswich police told her that goods to the value of $6000 had been recovered but $23,500 was still owed to duped buyers.

Mr Feiler said a system of providing 100 points of identification for registration as demanded by some sites would not stop online fraud.

"The best way to eliminate problems is to monitor activity," he said.

"Normally we can spot when there is trouble and we can shut it down and often we alert the police because we know what is normal activity."

He said buyers should always use Paypal because they were protected from fraud for up to $20,000.

Christopher Zinn, from consumer group Choice, said

it was in online retailers' best interests to protect their consumers.



Have Your SayLatest Comments:

Over the 7 years of buying many great items from Ebay , i was was let down by a few sellers .Using Paypal i have allways got a full refund and did not cost me anything, as its the seller who has to pay the charges . I would never place money in a bank account of someone i dont know when buying anything from anybody etc !!!
Posted by: Jan of vic 1:49pm today .

What sane person would spend that much money on a computer on eBay?!? Geez love, go to Harvey Norman or JB Hi-Fi and get yourself a better deal!
Posted by: Nicholas of Brisbane 12:27pm today .

When companies dont stand by their customers, its usually a sign that the company is going down.
Posted by: Theo of Brisbane 12:00pm today .

Ebay is dying a slow painful death - it killed it's core business - that of low price auctions and now has ridiculous Buy It Now sales - you're better off shopping at Amazon - you know you'll get your product and you know it's new.
Posted by: Frank Penman of Navad 11:34am today .

If you but goods and services online you are on your own. No-one especially eBay will help you in the event of fraud. Note their response. No Authority will help you and all will cover their butts. Buyers beware!!
Posted by: Ken of Brisbane 9:09am today .

Pay Pal or Credit Card... how hard is it for a consumer to use one of these
Posted by: MarK of 8:10am today .

PayPal is owned by eBay and they make money out of you using it and offer little to no better protection. In the end they still tell you to work it out with your bank. Buyer beware.
Posted by: Mick of SE Qld 8:09am today .

If you are going to use eBay then stick with using PayPal and if the seller asks you to use any other form of payment then refuse and make a complaint. DON'T trust anyone. After being burnt by a seller who sent out a damaged item and refusing to send a replacement, I no longer use eBay. It is just not worth the trouble.
Posted by: John of Windsor, QLD 11:20pm June 27, 2009 .

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Kingsthorpe David wrote on Jun 28^th, 2009 at 9:21pm:


Honestly, if you read the full story behind this then people on eBay deserve to get fleeced.

Another new interesting CO on Ebay..

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/LARGE-ANTIQUE-CAST-IRON-CAMP-DUTCH-OVEN-POT-WITH-LID_W0QQ...