eBay Scammer Sends Photos Of Item
from the the-humor-of-a-new-generation dept
There are some "smart" eBay scams and then there are the dumb eBay scams. I still can't figure out how the people who sell things and then just never send the item get away with it, but what sort of person sells expensive ($1,500 - $5,500) TVs on eBay and then tries to mock his victims by sending them a photo of the TV, instead of the TV itself? Not a very smart person, that's clear. The article doesn't have much in the way of details, but I imagine the guy thought it was all a very funny joke, and probably worded his eBay ad in an ambiguous way to imply that it was the actual TV, but could also fulfill the terms of the sale with a photo. Found at Mike Wendland's blog.
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What did the auction text say?
I constantly see auction listings with titles of '42" Plasma Television $1!!!!!' and when you read the text it tells you it's some sort of pyramid scam or a list of where you can order items wholesale, or some such nonsense.
I think it would be funny if this guy carefully worded his auction in such a way that he didn't actually promise anything more than a picture and people were gullible enough to fall for it. It would have been funnier if they had only lost $100 or some dollar amount where you could shake your head and say "you should have known you wouldn't get a plasma tv for $X", but I'll take my laughs where I can find them...
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Re: What did the auction text say?
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Re: What did the auction text say?
If his auction said "Highest Quality Picture - 42" Plasma TV", or something along those lines, then it's pretty funny and even legally defendable.
That wouldn't technically be fraud or deception, just misleading (like those X-Ray Specs they advertise(d?) in comic books).
Still, I'd hate to be the one who got ripped off, but I have been gullible and fallen for similar things before (*cough* x-ray specs *cough*).
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Re: What did the auction text say?
Yes, Oliver, but could you really see x-rays with those x-ray specs? I never could persuade my parents to buy them for me, but I was pretty sure if I had them, then I could somehow prevent the dentist from tricking me into going into the room with the x-ray machine.
Most people hate dentists because of the needles and the drill. I hate dentists because of the x-ray machine and the hoover vaccuum sucker thing! A long story for both, but I like the needles and drill and would take both over the x-ray and sucker thing.
Man, now I am beginning to sound like Dorpus...
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