Buyer Beware...Always!!

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Frank Z
Frank Z Posts: 5,860
edited October 2003 in Flea Market
I was surfin' around ebay yesterday and found a sony 50" plasma HDTV for $2000! Holy **** only $2K!!! I zip over to Sony.com and search for the model being sold and the MSRP is $13K! Hmmm, something is screwy around here. So I whip out my two typing fingers and send the seller an email. You can see my email and his response below. Now before you go looking for the TV, the ad has been pulled, read the response and you'll wonder if anyone is dense enough to buy into this con.


Question from: fz1962
Title of item: Sony 50" Plasma TV -KE-50XBR900
Seller: kaya1227
Starts: Oct-13-03 18:47:24 PDT
Ends: Oct-16-03 18:47:24 PDT
Price: Starts at $2,000.00
To view the item, go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3053251054



$2000?!? Is this correct? I looked at the Sony site and the MSRP is $13K. Whats the catch?







From: Bettown Gordon [mailto:kaya227@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 1:06 PM
To: zimkas@worldnet.att.net
Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3053251054



Hello,I want to tell something about this item:

This item its a brand new one,sealed in its original box and have a certificate for one year world warranty.This item its purchased from an auction organized by the custom here in Roma,Italy-it is confiscated from the people who try to introduce them in the country without paying the taxes ,but don't worry its perfectly legal and I have all the papers.Package contains all the accessories that you need.Final price is $2000 USD.

Is ntsc,the voltage is 110V,is an us model.

I will pay for the shipping and insurance taxes via UPS express box.SHIPPMENT-will be made by UPS air from Italy.

I accept wire transfer.You can make the transfer right now to be sure that you are good buyer. Please go to Western Union office an make a wire transfer to your wife name or to your partener or any name you want (you will be safe nobody can receive the founds)but only my address.

Here is my name and on my address full:

Bettown Gordon

VIA DEI MILLE 12

city: ROMA

country: ITALY

zip: 00185

After you make the payment you will give me the information that I need for I can call at WU and ask a agent if you make a transfer and if you have the money for this.

If the agent told me you make the transfer and I know you have the founds to pay me I will go imediately at UPS and I will send the item to your name and address.

You will receive the item in max 2 working days and you'll have 2 choise

--a) or you change the name of your wife in my name for I can receive the money(this is free you don't need to pay any fees)

--b)or you send the item back in max 2 days(only if you don't like it)and I will pay all the fees of return

The info that I need to check the transfer at WU is:

the full name and address of the sender

the full name and address of the receiver( my address)

the MTCN(is the number that you will receive when you make the payment)

the total amount

Also I need your full name and address for I can make the shipping(I will pay for this and for insurance)

The price for one pieces is only 2000$

Please e-mail me asap with your decision because I have more buyers who are interested to buy my item.

If you agree with my terms or you have any other questions please don't hesitate to mail them to me so that i can clarify them.

If you decide to buy my item when you make the transfer please tell to western union that the money is for a friend because if i receive the money for an auction i must pay aditional taxes in my country.

Best regards!

Ah yes, a lovely Sony plasma available from half way around the world, with no shipping fees for a mere $2K, maybe I'll order 2!
9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
Post edited by Frank Z on
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Comments

  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited October 2003
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    Don't mess around with putting the wire in your wife's name. It could cause you and the seller problems. I'll tell you what... since I'm such a nice guy, you can use my name instead. BTW...do you have the telephone # for Western Union in Rome? :D
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited October 2003
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    You dial-ah one-ah and then ah two-ah and then ah three-ah....:D
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited October 2003
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    Frank, I read about this scam on audioasylum, exact same modus operandi, for a $5k SACD player, from Spain...we should send him a stack of monopoly $ and see his reaction :)
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • paymontana
    paymontana Posts: 234
    edited October 2003
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    That's what i love about this site. Everyone is always looking out for each other. Thanks for the heads up.


    CJ
    "It doesn't get any more serious than a Rhinocerus about to charge your ****."
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited October 2003
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    OK it's late and I'm dim, but how exactly does the scam finish? Does supplying the "MTCN" let Giudo have access to the transfer?
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited October 2003
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    The part I like is that the TV was siezed from people who try to enter into the country without paying taxes on it. Legal. But don't send him money for an auction because then he would have to pay taxes on it. Heh heh...
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,124
    edited October 2003
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    Guido?

    That's pretty ethnically insensitive. I'm 1/16th Italian on my wife's stepmom's cousin's side. Us piazans prefer to be called dago.

    That's it, I was going to come back but I'm really leaving.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • bdaley6509
    bdaley6509 Posts: 1,167
    edited October 2003
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    I got the exact same letter from a guy in Germany trying to sell Sony Plasmas for 2k...boy did I jump on that opportunity...I took out a second mortgage on the home and bought 50 of those bad boys. I wired the money over a month ago, and still haven't heard back yet. Only a matter of time, however, and I'll have more plasma screens than I can handle. I can't wait....After that, I will be selling them here on the forum for about $1000.00 each...first come first serve. I love people.
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited October 2003
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    I've sent a few more emails out to some of the people selling plasma tv's for next to nothing asking where they are located. May have to pay a visit to some of these folks and offer cash on the spot!
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
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  • Ceruleance
    Ceruleance Posts: 991
    edited October 2003
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    i want plasma, it would look great in my dorm room.
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  • gidrah
    gidrah Posts: 3,050
    edited October 2003
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    Plasma! Plasma!

    Dog plasma. Dog plasma.
    Make it Funky! :)
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