| Author | Message | ||
     Whosyodaddy |
Apologies in advance for topic abuse (non-XB) but since I may have been scammed in an attempt to purchase an XB, I thought this might be the appropriate forum to post my question... I recently listed a bike on eBay in preparation for purchasing a 12R. Long story short, I had a major brain fart and moment of stupidity. I sent a scan of my current title to a potential bidder but I did white out my address, the document/title number and the registration number. Also, I had not signed the title. However, the VIN and license tag number are still visible. I realized within a few minutes that I had been scammed when I received several more identical requests - all of them worded much like a typical Nigerian scam email. My question: How deep in the $h*t am I? What could someone do with the info I provided them? Please, no lectures. I've been dealing with eBay for years and thought I knew all the scams - and I've successfully sold bikes on eBay previously. But this caught me totally hook, line and sinker and now I'm sweating bullets. WYD | ||
| Josh_ |
Have you sent them money or the bike? If not, I would not worry tho they may attempt to resell your bike for you. Keep watching ebay. | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
Nope, no money, no bike. But you were right - someone is trying to sell my bike. I just found a new auction that's using MY pictures - and even some of my item description! My auction (now canceled): http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2488562888 The new scam auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=49999&item=248 8813864&rd=1 F'ing ba$tards. This is yet another sign that I should've never gotten rid of my '04 12R in the first place. | ||
| Doughnut |
You going to notify Ebay? The new auction shows two dif. bikes. | ||
| Barkandbite |
Yes, notify eBay's anti-fraud division. Trust me when I tell you they take this quite seriously. Chris | ||
| 2k4xb12 |
It seems as if Ebay has taken action. The new ad is no longer in their database. | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
I did report the new auction as soon as I found it and it does look like finally eBay pulled the auction sometime during the night. However, I'm betting that if I relist, yet another fraud auction will pop up. At this point, I'm not going to do anything else until if/when a dealer in this area has an '05 12R on the ground and available for sale. | ||
| Outrider |
Perhaps you may want to contact your State's Department of Motor Vehicles and see what can be done to protect your title. Perhaps they have a mechanism in place to either lock access to yours or issue a new title. | ||
| Mikej |
Also, if you have not already done so, print out all the correspondence you've received from anyone about the bike, and back it up by copy/pasting the emails with complete headers shown and linked web addresses right-click-copied and pasted into a MS-Word document. File these away in an active file folder and do not leave them on your computer unless you have the printouts. Also change your email password to something hard to decipher immediately if possible. The defrauders never sleep and sink to dastardly levels these days. Be preparred for someone to knock on your door to pick up "their" bike since your address can be tracked with the title information. Sorry if this makes you uneasy. You're insurance is paid up and current, right? I just this week sent an email to ebay's spoof-mail department, and another one to Citibank. The spoofers and defrauders and getting more clever all the time. | ||
| Madbandito |
Might wanna take a look at this- some pretty good stuff about turning the tables on scammers! http://www.419eater.com/index.htm | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
I responded to the fraud auction last night using my wife's eBay account. Sure enough, "Brandon" from the UK is requesting that I wire-transfer him ASAP $3400 so he can "Fed Ex" the bike "right to my doorstep". He's provided me his address, etc. I've asked him for a proof of a clear title before I send him any money. I'll be interested in seeing what (if anything) he sends me. I'm keeping a complete trail of correspondences, etc. and will turn this over to eBay. Outrider, good idea about contact the DMV. I'll try to do that today. | ||
| Buelluk |
Darrell, If you want too , email me the address , i'm from the UK , I will tell you if it sounds kosher. The zip code, ( post code ) for the address should be be split into two groups with a maximum of 4 letters or numbers in each eg NR14 8BX | ||
| Mikej |
It would be great if some day one of these scammers received a knock on their door from someone asking to see the bike in person, and have a police car standing by at the curb. | ||
| Along4theride |
I have a friend who has found this same kind of scam when trying to buy a bike through cycle trader. It was an overseas seller wanting certified funds to 'send' the bike. Once the money leaves the country the transaction no longer falls under US jurisdiction and is not subject to US laws. Meaning - You're screwed You should email him and tell him that your bank has a $100 Idiot fee to wire money outside the country and he will need to pay this prior to you sending him any money | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
BuellUk, I'm pretty sure the address is legit (see below) but I've been trading emails with this guy all morning (building my paper trail for eBay) and there's no doubt in my mind this is a scam job. Here's his address: Brandon Charlesworth 85 Spon End, Coventry CV1 3HE UK Here's his email address: brandonj0416@msn.com If anyone else wants to buy an '04 Honda CBR600RR with "0" miles and a 15-day money back guarantee (including "FedEx shipping to your front door"  for $3400, feel free to contact him an ask about eBay auction #2488813864. By the way, I don't believe he's the same one who requested my title or VIN. The email address is different and so far he's been unable/unwilling to comply to my request for a copy of the title. Go figure. | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
Just an fyi... I took Outrider's advice and contacted the Texas Vehicle Titles & Registration Division. They were very helpful and assured me that even with a fully photocopied title, someone can't hijack your title or otherwise put you at risk. They went on to say that to file for a lost title (at least here in Texas), you have to provide a photo ID and be the owner registered on the title. While I had them on the phone, I asked if they knew when the '05 12Rs were going to be showing up in Texas dealers and if they had any insight to the rumor that "Thrust Blue" adds 2hp at the rear wheel and lowers your LDL cholesterol level. Unfortunately, they didn't have an answer to either question. :-) | ||
| Rigga |
well im in birmingham uk.and spon end i believe is in coventry,about 10 miles up the road,also the first part of the post code cv is correct for coventry,the last part is more specific to where the actual address is,unless someone is on here from spon end (very unlikely) it would be hard to confirm. before i purchased my buell i owned a suzuki drz supermoto,decided i wanted to sell it so advertised it on ebay,plus some other bike sites.......the ammount of mails i received off people wanting to buy my bike...would mail me a check,allow it to clear..normally 3-5 working days,then a shipping company would collect the bike for the buyer,all these mails were worded exactly the same....luckily the week before motorcycle news here in the uk ran a story of a banking scam that was going around.......although the funds appear to have cleared in your account,they actually havnt...you check your funds,all seem well,you release the bike to the new owner.......couple of days later you go to draw the money out and its not there.......banks know all about the extra days needed to actually confirm money transfer,but wont do anything about it as it costs them nothing...still getting the bloody mails now,and the bikes been sold over a month now.........not only is the advise buyer beware..its now seller beware too | ||
| Outrider |
Whosyodaddy...Glad the call to the DMV gave you some peace of mind. |
