30 000+ *A Points for sale for AU$53???

[sambo]

I just found this auction on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3253&item=2248863669&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

How is this possible? Are points really transferable? If so, how do you do it?

Seems like a good deal if it´s for real and legal.

 

[Rick93]

It won't last... and Ebay won't allow the transaction to proceed either. I've dealt with Ebay many times... they are so particular about things like that... I've had many auctions with them cancelled, because some turkey on Ebay (admin) thinks they know something about company law etc. etc. I couldn't even put my excess QC guest passes up for auction. The auction was cancelled, and a 'dirty' email sent.... telling me all about copy right infringement, and company law etc. etc. Plus, if I "offend" again, my membership of Ebay is at risk !!!

So, such an offer won't last more than a few days, until the adminos catch up with it.... apparently, each and every auction listed is scanned over individually by a 'person'.... not a computer !!!

regards,

 

[sambo]

Interesting. But even if this auction did slip through, how would the seller go about ¨transferring¨ the points to the winning bidder? I just can´t think of any way you could do it other than claiming that the winner was a family member, and buying the tickets for them. But thatś not exactly a foolproof plan.

Sam

 

[wleong]

I would look very carefully at the way they asked for payment especially it's a new ebay user.

Who would be daring enough to send $$$ to an account and have no recourse? Well definitely not me. If you had the option to pay by credit card, that would be a safer bet, at least you have recourse through the Bank.

 

[Rick93]

For the purpose of assisting to protect the readers out there.... I shall greatly embarrass myself......

I once lost over $1,700. on an auction site (it's since been closed down).

I made the bid, and so did many others, for a voucher for "2 free air tickets to the USA". After winning at $1,760.00 I was asked to deposit into a bank account, based at Bankstown (Sydney). It was a "business" account for a "company".

Anybody know where this is going yet?

Yes, sure enough, this 'little black duck' lost his money alright!

The so called company was called 'BT Technology'. They were supposed to be in the IT business. After receiving the voucher in the mail (and falling over backwards, when it turned out to be something that many travel agents give away free, as a promotion....), I started the hunt !!

I found the 'office'. It was in the middle of a particular cultural centre of Bankstown.... very close knitt. The guy at the office desk said he didn't know anybody by that name, nor ever heard of the company. I went outside, and used a mobile to phone the office. When the same voice answered, I walked straight back in, and looked right at him. When he realised what I was doing, he hung up, and started to dial another number. It occurred to me, that I should now leave.... quickly!

Anyway, to cut it short... I took this case to the NSW Dept. of Fair Trading.
I got a hearing, and won (by default... no show from the other guy). Got a Sheriff's Order, but they couldn't collect... because of the same problem. Even the NSW Police fraud squad couldn't do anything about my case.

I even ckecked out his bank account details (with a sympathetic bank staffer, who was not supposed to...). There had never been more than a few dollars in that account for a couple of days at a time. The money I deposited was withdrawn the same day.....

So, people.... just because it's supposed to be a "company", or a "business" account, or what looks like a 'never to be repeated opportunity'...... BE CAREFUL !!!!

That was my lesson... a hard one.....

regards,

 

[sambo]

I´m truly sorry to hear that Gordon. But thank you for sharing it with us. Hopefully it willl prevent others from falling into the same trap.
Interestingly, I saw an auction on ebay yesterday that looked suspiciously similar to the one you fell victim to. $1700 value, etc etc.
How can people be so unscrupulous?

What reason did the fraud squad give you for not being able to help?

Sam

 

[Rick93]

Lack of identity of the person I was dealing with. Not being able to establish exactly who withdrew the funds from the bank account (ie done via electronic transfer), and that the office staff denied any knowledge of the 'company' being associated with their premises. (The office was apparently a 'company secretariat' for over thirty 'companies'..... it was also a registered 'migration agent's office')

As I said... a close knitt community, that closes ranks to the Australian authorities !!!

regards,