eBay Fraudster

[cheung31]

This guy obviously didn't feel it was the season of good will...

http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayIS...&iid=-1&de=off

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...erid=alisher71

Notice that all these auctions began near the same time, so that is probably why so many people were taken advantage of. Also I find it hard to believe that people would waste their time to create a good account and ruin it like this. So in my opinion, the account was hacked.
Ouch

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by cheung31

This guy obviously didn't feel it was the season of good will...

http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayIS...&iid=-1&de=off

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...erid=alisher71

Notice that all these auctions began near the same time, so that is probably why so many people were taken advantage of. Also I find it hard to believe that people would waste their time to create a good account and ruin it like this. So in my opinion, the account was hacked.
Ouch

The account was likely hacked. That's why there are so many ebay phishing e-mails that target high feedback users. Very smart though. Hijack a high-feedback account, spend most of the auction space actually explaining when they don't accept paypal and also ironically talking about hacking and fraudsters. Then they started a smackload of ebay auctions around Christmas when people will buy a hot-item. Recieve as much of the money orders and cheques as you can in an anonymous P.O. Box or something. Then high-tail it out of there and leave people thinking their stuff hasn't arrived because Christmas season has slowed down the mail.

Looks like the average auction price was around $300 and there's like 110 complaints so he made off with like 33 Grand!

[cheung31]

ya it really is genious. and you're right, that's really skeptical when a seller DOES NOT accept paypal..

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by cheung31

ya it really is genious. and you're right, that's really skeptical when a seller DOES NOT accept paypal..

Wow, just reading some of the feedback, I guess not all of the scammed have posted yet, because there was about 440 buyers; avg $300 each = $132,000

[cheung31]

holy smokes, ya i just read that comment. this is just insane.

So do you think they'll ever find the culprits? I mean these guys are using a PO Box address, and what not, but who gets involved in these online scams?

[cheung31]

Wow some excuse as to why they don't accept Paypal...

Why we don’t want to take PayPal payments!
On September 12, 2005 we sold to jomo_r Wheels with tires for Lexus GS Item number: 7998192248 ($1200+shipping).
jomo_r paid through PayPal.
Are Policy states three days to pay, jomo_r took Two weeks. After payment was received then on September 28, 2005 we shipped his item using UPS.
On October 7, 2005 jomo_r filed a “Not received item claim” with PayPal.
Tracking information was verified to have arrived on October 5, 2005 (Tracking Number: 1Z0417X20342557539 and 1Z0417X20342082346)
PayPal has put the full amount on hold for investigation. After one month PayPal refund the full amount to jomo_r. AndHave sent us this e-mail:
Unfortunately, the information you supplied is insufficient for us to track the shipment of the merchandise. This being the case, we are unable to grant your claim appeal at this time.For transactions of $250.00 or more in value, the PayPal Seller Protection Policy requires a proof of receipt signed, or otherwise acknowledged, by the buyer. A proof of delivery from the shipper which does not contain the buyer's signature or other acknowledgement will not be sufficient. Unfortunately, the transaction in question did not qualify for the PayPal Seller Protection Policy as you were unable to provide proof-of-delivery that can be tracked online with the signature of the recipient. Therefore, the temporary hold was completed and the funds have been removed from your PayPal account. If you wish to pursue credit for this transaction, please contact the buyer directly.
From ours understanding UPS delivered the items without getting a signature, the tracking information shows the item was placed on jomo_r side gate by UPS. We have checked up a place of delivery, anybody Strangers cannot come there.
We feel jomo_r has received the item because he has not been cooperative towards resolving the confusion. Instead he was aggressive and rude. And these, which we have received, when we ask to contact us:
Don't be a…, just send me my money or leave me alone. No need to talk. Just do it.
What you people think, the person to whom you should money will tell you - leave me alone?
And one more think – on October 7 hehas bought same item (Item number: 8004129927) Same day when he filed a "Not received item claim"
Any way we filed a claim with UPS, and we believe,we shall receive our money.
We can not afford this type of payment. That why no more online payments which we cannot control.

[cheung31]

http://alischersucks.blogspot.com/

here's the site most of the victims have been going to, there's pictures of the scammers.

[ken0042]

A couple of red flags here:

- Western Union as payment option. Often used by scammers due to limited security.
- Paypal not accepted. I sell items worth a couple of hundred dollars on eBay often. By accepting Paypal, I am protected. I pay Canada Post the additional $1.10 to require signature, and always over insure the item. I am covered 2 ways, Paypal and Canada Post.

When you buy something like this on eBay, always pay with Paypal using your credit card as the source of funds. As the buyer you then have 2 levels of protection; Paypal, and if they refuse then your CC company.

The only time I will buy something with money order from eBay is it's below my comfort level ($20) and I can't get the item from another seller. (Something rare, like Winnipeg Jets stuff.)

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by cheung31

Also I find it hard to believe that people would waste their time to create a good account and ruin it like this. So in my opinion, the account was hacked.
Ouch

I disagree. I found one of his old auctions that was still on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=5804032015

Looks like a seller who decided to go "bad." It happens. Somebody desperate for money; for whatever reason. This is why it is so important for people to remember you are not ever buying anything "from eBay." You are buying from some guy, somewhere in the world. This isn't like buying from Amazon.com or any other online retailer.

[Tron_fdc]

Those people are screwed. Unless they track the guy down (unlikely, as that blog reads he's from Uzbekistan somewhere) they're out whatever they paid. Ebay has a terms of use page, and unless you follow it EXACTLY as described all they'll do is cancel the sellers account.

I'm just amazed it took this long for someone to figure out how to run a massive scam like this. All you have to do is open 3 or 4 different accounts (which Ebay allows) sell yourself a bunch of junk, leave yourself a bunch of phoney feedback, then go nuts "selling" ipods, snowmobiles and chrome rims. Why Ebay allows stuff like this to happen is waaaaaayyy beyond me.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by fotze

Cause it's funny for the rest of us.

What I find funny is how it's SOOOOOOOOO easy to rip someone off on Ebay, an when it happens Ebay steps back and says "hey, we're just a meeting place for buyers and sellers.....nothing we can do".

I use it all the time, but only for the odd bike part or video game. Never for anything I can't afford not to recieve.

[cheung31]

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readar...id=5334&z=3&p=

He's an Uzbekistani named Alisher Mardonov living in East Naples, Florida... if you Google his name you'll find all sorts of local news stories about people who have been scammed.

The angry masses erected a blog for him (with pictures of the two!):

http://alischersucks.blogspot.com

with a bunch of information. The police have checked out his and his girlfriend's apartment and it seems as if they fled some time ago, probably to Uzbekistan. Because the scam crossed state borders, it's also a federal crime and many have filed FBI reports.

It's made headlines but I don't think they'll ever find Mr. Mardonov or his girlfriend, also with an Uzbeki name [edit: Shahnoza Khakimova]... what I want to know is how, even as a known big eBayer, he managed to cash some $100,000 in checks and money orders without serious red flags being raised. The local banks have to bear some responsibility as well.

[FurnaceFace]

If you haven't seen this before, it's the best case of the scammer getting scammed. The story is priceless even if it isn't true....

http://www.p-p-p-powerbook.com/

[cheung31]

OMG ROFLMFAO WOW that is freaking amazing!!

nice one furnaceface.

[Neeper]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

If you haven't seen this before, it's the best case of the scammer getting scammed. The story is priceless even if it isn't true....

http://www.p-p-p-powerbook.com/

Oh my god that was a good read!!

[Mango]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

If you haven't seen this before, it's the best case of the scammer getting scammed. The story is priceless even if it isn't true....

http://www.p-p-p-powerbook.com/

What a great read!! That scammer got exactly what he deserved.

[KevanGuy]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

If you haven't seen this before, it's the best case of the scammer getting scammed. The story is priceless even if it isn't true....

http://www.p-p-p-powerbook.com/

Here is the original thread on SA.

http://forums.somethingawful.com/sho...0&pagenumber=1