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Hello,
Some of you may know there are a lot of scammers here on eBay who take both the seller's money AND item. Most of these scammers are Nigerian Scammers. They come on eBay as a new user and use Buy It Now on seller's auctions but about 1-3 hours later they become No Longer A Registered User. They'll state in their profiles they're from the United States but really aren't. Also, the contact information is often phony from these scammers. The next day, they often send an e-mail stating they're interested in the item and would like it to be shipped to a client manager in Africa that they will send a Western Union money order. Heres an example:
"Dear Seller.
I agreed to pay the amount you want as buy it now any any aditional money for the shipping.but i am using this opportunity to inform you that the amount that will be on themoney order will more than ur item fees.i don"t really know the exact amount it will be.bcos it will be issue by my client.and the reason of the over payment is that.the amount on the money order has been signed,and it is more than ur item fees.so once you receive it.you must deduct ur item fees and westernunion the balance money to my client manager in africa.and the item is going to africa.there
will be no problem about the shipment.i want you to responsible for it.also make sure you deduct ur item fees and westernunion any aditional money on the money order once you receive it.Here will go.i wolud have end the auction but i don"t know how to do it.so i want you to go and end the auction for me asap.to asure you that i am realy intrested in ur item.i will add extra $40.00 in ur payment if you end the auction for me asap.and email me ur phone# asap today.
I agreed to pay the amount you want as buy it now any any aditional money for the shipping.but i am using this opportunity to inform you that the amount that will be on themoney order will more than ur item fees.i don"t really know the exact amount it will be.bcos it will be issue by my client.and the reason of the over payment is that.the amount on the money order has been signed,and it is more than ur item fees.so once you receive it.you must deduct ur item fees and westernunion the balance money to my client manager in africa.and the item is going to africa.there
will be no problem about the shipment.i want you to responsible for it.also make sure you deduct ur item fees and westernunion any aditional money on the money order once you receive it.Here will go.i wolud have end the auction but i don"t know how to do it.so i want you to go and end the auction for me asap.to asure you that i am realy intrested in ur item.i will add extra $40.00 in ur payment if you end the auction for me asap.and email me ur phone# asap today.
Below are the questions i have for you.
1)is the item in good condition?
2)is any western union location where you to send the balance money order arround you?
3)can you make sure you get the money order cash at ur bank the sameday you receive it?
4)can you allow me to send DHL for the pick up and complet the transaction the day
you receive the money order?
If yes too all my questions.kindly email me back asap today so that the money order can be send asap,e-mail me with your full name and address including phone number?"
1)is the item in good condition?
2)is any western union location where you to send the balance money order arround you?
3)can you make sure you get the money order cash at ur bank the sameday you receive it?
4)can you allow me to send DHL for the pick up and complet the transaction the day
you receive the money order?
If yes too all my questions.kindly email me back asap today so that the money order can be send asap,e-mail me with your full name and address including phone number?"
If you receive an e-mail like this one, do not reply to it and do not buy into that scam. This is a very high risk of getting both your item and money lost. One way you can stop it from happening again is Requiring Immediate Payment on the Buy It Now option. You will also notice the english in that e-mail may not be as good which is another sign of a scam. So, if a newbie uses Buy It Now and they become NARU'D, report the buyer and recover your selling fees and relist the item. Ignore any emails that scammer sends.
Guide created: 09/29/06 (updated 07/11/08)
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