New "Transparent Gif" Scam

Recently I was almost taken in by a new technique that is being employed by scumbag scammers.  They are taking advantage of the ability to enter your own HTML code when listing an item on eBay.  What they do is create an auction that looks legitimate but is really just a transparent GIF image that sits on top of the auction page.  Clicking ANYWHERE on the page will REDIRECT you to their scammer website.

How is this possible???

Basically they superimpose a large Transparent GIF file over the actual eBay auction page.  The danger is that the Transparent GIF file is INVISIBLE and because it is on top of the real eBay auction page, it does not matter where you click on the page, you WILL BE REDIRECTED to the scammers website. 

When you look at the auction, your mouse pointer will change to a pointing finger (like it does when you mouse over a valid link) EXCEPT...the ENTIRE PAGE you are viewing is a single link to the scammer's website and your mouse pointer will always show a pointing finger.

In other words, when you try and click on "Live Help" you are directed to the scammer's site.  When you click on anything on the page  such as seller's feedback, help, search, etc., you are redirected to the scammer's site. 

HOW DO I TELL IF THE SCAMMER IS USING TRANSPARENT .GIFs to redirect me to their website???

It's very simple.  When you move your mouse over a link on a legitimate webpage, the mouse cursor will change from an "I" beam to a pointing finger and when you go past the link it changes back into an "I" beam. If you are viewing a scammer's auction, the mouse cursor will be a pointing finger no matter where you move it.

Another tip if you are suspicious and your mouse pointer is continually displaying a pointing finger is to right click your mouse and select properties from the dialog box that will appear.  If the properties box shows you a link that is outside of eBay and that ends in ".gif", then you are probably looking at a Transparent GIF exploit.

If it is a Transparent GIF, DO NOT CLICK ON IT!  USE YOUR BACKSPACE KEY to navigate away from the bogus auction.

REPORT SUSPICIOUS AUCTIONS TO EBAY!

I have primarily seen the TRANSPARENT GIF exploit on eBayMotors auctions for high dollar cars.  I'm sure the scammers won't limit themselves to just expensive cars and will move into plasma TV's, audiophile equipment, watches, jewelry, etc. 

This week the scammers were particularly active with muscle cars.  Here are some auctions I found over the last few days that were fraudulent:

1967 GTO Convertible

1970 Chevelle LS6

1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe

1969 Roadrunner 440 Six Pak

Ford Shelby GT500

Obviously there are many more.

Other ways to spot a fraudulent scam auction are:

• Poor grammar (Lots of scammers seem to be from Nigeria, Romania, etc.)
• Buy It Now (Their words sprinked throughout the auction but without the eBay BUY IT NOW button)
• Three day and One day auctions
• BIN for buy it now in the title of the auction
• Impossibly low prices.  You are NOT going to buy a 1967 GTO convertible in mint condition for $5,900.00!!!
• Snow on the ground in the background when the "seller" is supposedly located in Phoenix Arizona!

Watch out for impossibly cheap muscle cars such as the Pontiac GTO, Firebird, Chevrolet Chevelle, Corvette, Camaro, Buick GS, Grand National, Ford Shelby, Cobra, Mustang, GT, GT500, Hemi, 'Cuda, Roadrunner, etc.  Also convertibles.

I hope this helps.  Good luck and remember...Caveat Emptor!