Two years ago, I actually had a potential buyer ask me to send him a video of the speakers that I was selling playing music. Now I would not be too surprised by many things.
SCAM ALERT For AudiogoN Sellers - Too Many Questions
An interested 'buyer' starts asking questions about an expensive item were selling. Its the usual, "When were these made, any issues, etc." But then they start asking for additional pictures of specific areas. Usually not a problem. Its when they ask for a video demonstrating that it works, with images of all of the accys, the serial number plates, that it starts getting phishey. The first this time happened we found a listing for our product on another site with slightly different pictures. (The other ones we sent).
Its sad that these people use a sellers time and resources to help them build a fake ad for a product they don't have. Someone else gets ripped off, and then they contact us and we have the product they just paid for, but the money is gone.
We're always willing to answer any questions and provide any additional info for an item were selling, but it just bothers me to wonder where this information or the images are going to show up.
SOLUTION: Talk on the phone. Is still amazing how much of a feel you can get with a simple conversation.
19 responses Add your response
I appreciate you sharing the experience. Learning about techniques used by scammers helps us.
I agree. Unfortunately, the powers that be don't permit phone numbers to be exchanged; no personal contact allowed. I used to speak directly to a buyer or seller. You can get a sense of the character of the person on the other end of the line. I even made a couple of friendships this way.
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Yea I forgot about the phone numbers. As a dealer on AG we are able to post contact info. I guess if you can talk to the seller who's a dealer you can build a good relationship... and weed out the bad ones. It is nice to hear a bit about the system, and challenges with the room, etc and most are happy to make recommendations based on their experience. You don't get that on Amazon :-) |
There are a few ways to add a watermark with your iPhone/iPhone photos. One is just with your iPhone under photos and there are 2 options with an app called snapseed a free app through apple.You can also search Youtube for "how to add a watermark with your iPhone photos" Good Luck and let us know how you make out. |
Scammers are doing a similar thing w/ advertising apartments for rent online. They post Multiple photos & description of a place they got from somewhere & ask for an application fee or credit check fee or even first months rent & in this tough time for available housing, people pay it. Unfortunately, the unit doesn’t exist! I would not buy or sell virtually anything if the person isn’t present unless I could directly talk with or have an email exchange w/ them. These are crazy times we live in. |
Sad about phone number exchange not being allowed. I think it's disallowed on Ebay also. I wonder if it's a liability thing, or to discourage making a deal on the side? I admit to doing that once in the early days of Ebay. I met a local seller and made the deal external to Ebay to avoid the fees. But that was only once, of many many purchases. |
As a buyer, looking at the feedback can be very valuable. If a seller has been selling for 5+ years, with 100% or near 100% feedback, its VERY unlikely they are about to start ripping off a buyer. This is particularly so if the seller is doing this to make a living. Its simply not worth $1000 to damage your entire livelihood and tarnish a perfect feedback rating. The buyers most valuable asset is also feedback. If something is not right with your item, or the seller is not willing to take care of an issue, just the threat of leaving neutral or negative is your superpower. NEVER just leave it without first contacting the seller. In my 2 decades of using AudiogoN it has been wonderful to find that most of the buyers and sellers here are reasonable and mature people who will communicate. This is not the case on eBay, Facebook, etc. Just my 2 cents. |
It's actually quite shocking how much information you can get from just a cell phone number. The list begins with your name and possibly address. Some other things might be:
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