Need an opinion on this internet purchase...scam?

[Think]

I've been looking for an affordable notebook computer for sometime and came across a presario on ebay. However, the bid became too illusive and opted out.

The following evening I recieved an email from a person in Paris, France who has indicated that he has a Compaq Presario for sale and is willing to sell it to me for $220 US.

I agreed and suggested either Paypal or Escrow but he had indicated that he had bad experiences with them and will only use Western Union's wire transfer.

Well, I told him that there was no way I was going to wire money without the goods but also understood his concern.

His suggestion?:

You will send the money on my agent's location from Madrid.
You will send the money through Western Union but you
will not send the money on my name. You will put as the receiver name the name of your wife of the name of a friend you trust.
You will tell me that name so I will be able to
verify if the money are there but I will not be able
to colect the money (you know that).
After you will receive the package you will give a
call to Western Union to change the receiver's name
into my name.
I will wait a reply from you. Thank you.
Best Regards,

I told him that I'm not interested but would reconsider if he sends me a picture of the computer with my name on it.

His comment?:

Hi,
i am very sorry sir,...i cant do that because i dont have a scanner..if i would have one i will do it right now...cause i dont know what do i have to do to show you cause that is a real offert and i am a GOOD intended seller....let me tell you something...i am not looking to win your trust ..i just want to sell my product..so i make an last apeal to your judgement ...He is my way of making both of us feel safe regarding this transfer : You will send the money with Western Union Money Transfer. and you will email me the scan of the recipt. but you'll hide out the last 2 digit from 10 digit Western Union Money Transfer ID.and I will ship the package with FedEx international 4 days service. as soon as I will tell you the tracking number for shipping confirmation, you will tell me the last 2 digit so I will be able to take cash of the money. without the full 10 digit of the Western Union ID, I wont be able to take cash of it.so, what do you think of it?if you have Yahoo Messenger you could enter so we can discuss there cause emails work slow...please email me ASAP if you agree my proposition. thank you regards

BTW, this is what he's selling for $220US:




Brand new Presario, in the original box with processor Speed: 1.02GHz
L2 Cache Size: 256 KB
Memory Technology: DDR-SDRAM (DDRRAM)
Installed Memory: 256 MB(2x256)
Hard Drive Capacity: 40 GB
Included Drives:
DVD + CD-RW Drive(24x8x8x8)
Hard Drive
Sound Support: 16-bit Sound Blaster Pro-compatible audio ; Altec Lansing
Speakers
Video Chipset: ATI MOBILITY RADEION; AGP 4X AND 3D architectures
Video Memory: 64 MB DDR SDRAM Shared
Resolution: 1400 x 1050 (SXGA)
Display Size: 16.0 in
Display Type: Active Matrix LCD (TFT)
Port Connectors:
2 Universal Serial Bus ports 2.0
IEEE Firewire Port
1 Parallel (25-Pin)
1 Serial
1 PS/2 keyboard/mouse
Audio - Microphone port
Audio - Headphone port.
1 VGA
1 TV-Out (S-video);
1 RJ-11 (modem)
1 RJ -45(LAN)
1 DC-in (AC adapter)
1 PCI Port Replicator
Card Slots: 1 Type II or III PC card slot; CardBus-enabled
Network Support: Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) , 802.11G Wlan
Modem Speed: 56 Kbps
Input Devices:
Keyboard 87-/88-key, full-size with embedded numeric keypad
Touchpad with On/Off button and dedicated vertical Scroll Up/Down pad Number
of Batteries: 1
Operating System: MicrosoftR WindowsR XP Home Edition
Included Software:
MicrosoftR Windows XP Home Edition

His email address is one of those free email accounts that do not handle delivery status notifications.

@xaea.com extension

He gave me his name and address but I don't know how I can verify it.

I'm not sure how I can protect my interest in this, other then flying to Paris and knocking on his door!!

:rolleyes:

[Ruantic]

Old addage if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is! run away from this one, not walk..... Way to many if and buts, and sorrys.....


Here is a good one, tell him you found out a friend has relation near his town, and might be able to arrange for a face to face transfer, money for computer. What you want to bet there would be an excuse or it would somehow be sold.....

[Think]

Originally posted by Ruantic
Old addage if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is! run away from this one, not walk..... Way to many if and buts, and sorrys.....


Here is a good one, tell him you found out a friend has relation near his town, and might be able to arrange for a face to face transfer, money for computer. What you want to bet there would be an excuse or it would somehow be sold.....

That's a great idea!

:D

[Think]

Ok, I sent him this email:

Jeremy, I have very good news!

An associate of mine knows a relative who lives in Roissy en France and may be willing to do the exchange for me. They will arrange to meet you at your residents to make the exchange and take care of the shipping as well. Or if you wish, they will meet you at a less obtrusive location that you prefer.

I'm very sorry about the previous emails and what I have requested, but I am also glad that we can finally bring this exchange to an end.



:D :D :D :D :D :D

[Synthohol]

i'd love to see the response to that one!!
im not pipmping them but maybe check out laptopbarn.com they have refurbs w/warrantees left, if not maybe pricewatch.com in the not exactly new section?
not trusting paypal sounds shady right off the bat!!
smart shopping is safe shopping!

good luck!

[WackyComputer]

I bet he will call your bluff.

[Kill-Switch]

Sounds too shady to me. You don't need a scanner to send someone a picture ... he could use a digital camera! Just from reading what he says makes me suspicious, as already suggested you should walk (or run) away from this.

Still want to know what kind of response you get from saying you can do a face-to-face deal :D

[speculative]

Yeah, what they said. And second of all - time is money. If you have to spend too much time on a deal or get jacked around, that adds to the cost!

-spec

[Think]

And second of all - time is money. If you have to spend too much time on a deal or get jacked around, that adds to the cost!

Well if I evaluated every moment of my time that I've wasted on whimsical past times, procrastinating BBS or the silly game of golf; I would have to call my Union for unpaid work.

Anyway, he hasn't emailed me back but I've decided to take the pleasure in teaching him a lesson...enough said:cool3:

THE END

[Ruantic]

If you feel like mister good samaritan, (spelling?) email the folks that participated in the same auction, they probably got the same email...... Sucks people like that make it hard to buy and sell on the net :mad:

[Think]

That's true Ruantic .

I'm fairly new on ebay and found it to be such a rip off. As soon as I find something interesting; such as a water cooling device for photo finishing, the prices go hay wire.

Personally, I think it's a scam . I've heard of sellers inflating the sell price, by using a differenct addy; in the hopes of getting a bite on what they really want to sell it for and now this....blah.