Nigerian Ebay Scam

JohnnyBoy · #1 10-10-2008

So, this guy offers me 800 bucks to buy a phone thats worth about 130. He has over 30, 100% positive feedback, but hasn't had any feedback since 2005. At first I thought this guy was a sucker, but I got a couple emails today claiming I received 800USD on "behalf of paypal," any my paypal account "wont be credited until a tracking number is sent." His address is in Nigeria. As with all Nigerian scams, the english is over the top, but still has alot of grammatical errors.

This is from one of my dummy/backup accounts though. Should I still/how do I report him. I dont like getting people in trouble, but these Nigerian scammers piss me off. I seriously would have never guessed there was Nigerian scammers on ebay as well. I get them in emails all the time claiming I won UK national lottery or I won 45m or some other bogus.

rond100 · #2 10-10-2008

Until you receive the money send nothing.

Caution sending the change to someone who overpays because the check will bounce after you cash it.

The are many scams on craigslist and ebay.

Proceed with caution

**aspkin** · #3 10-10-2008

I've never been scammed in this way.

On the other hand I know of at least 4 people that have been scammed thousands on eBay, personal friends mostly.

I would love to scam the scammer... but they usually don't reply to my subtle inquires to their offer. :(

JohnnyBoy · #4 10-11-2008

Scam the scammer out of 4 grand, lol. Wish I had that kinda luck. He probably cried like a girl when he got the box of old junk. I tried getting my scammer to send the money first, but he ain't replied back.

And that sucks aspkin, friends getting scammed out of thousands, but it is very tempting when you get a hell of a deal from a guy wanting to hand over a wad of cash. Even when your gut tells you something is foul.

divine422 · #5 10-11-2008

Holy, i usually respond to them with things i wouldnt post on this forum. But next time it seems like i will play their game. $4000, that is hilarious, Modee.

But i remember when this Nigerian thing was rampant on ebay it think it was either last year or year before. Just about every item i sold, it would end up being a Nigerian scammer and it was hard to detect them because their account seemed legit. I would catch one or 2 before the auction ended and then at the last second one would bid like 80,000 to win it. That was frustrating. I couldnt even offer second chance offers to legit buyers because by the time word got to ebay they would delete the entire transaction and you would have to relist.