2. misc-audio
  3. 1144168214

Second Chance offer Scams on ebay?

Last night I bid $700 on an amp. the high bid ended up to be $936. there were 3 higher bidders than I.

12 hours later I get an email from someone claiming to be the seller saying the high bidder backed out and is offering me the amp for $700.

While I am not 100% sure this is a scam, here is what doesn't seem right

1. the seller found out the winner could not pay within 12 hours?

2. why not offer the item to the 2nd, 3rd, highest bidders?

3. why not offer the item for what the item sold for? $936?

I emailed the seller direct through his auction to see if in fact he sent me this offer. I will wait for his response

I could have some fun with the scammer, since the item listed is local to me.

I beleive another Audiogon member was the 2nd highest bidder as I recall his screen names to be the same.

Just a heads up to always be on the lookout...
128x128justlisten
bgrazman
226 posts
 
If it didn't come through the ebay system, you have no protection!

In this day and age, don't do anything without protection!

(every time I have gotten a second chance from an ebay auction & followed it up it has been bogus--audio & watches... not a universal experience--see ghostrider's comments, but I'd be damned careful)
dlstephenson
121 posts
 
I sell and buy on ebay alot. If you recieved a message and its not in your ebay messages, ignore it. Its not real. Sorry.
myraj
351 posts
 
I just got TWO similar 2nd chance offers from TWO DIFFERENT scammers about the SAME auction that I was a bidder on.
There are MANY scammers on eBay, so beware!
Excellent advice Nsgarch!
Good Listening!
objantobb1b
1 posts
 
Here's a way the seller can abuse this.
An item has a current high bid of $10 and you place a maximum bid of $30. Now you're the high bidder at $11. It's getting to the end and the seller wants more, so he uses another account to place a bid for $70, and "wins" the auction at $31.

Now he knows your high bid, and declares that the high bidder is "unable to complete the transaction" and so offers it to you for $30 versus the $11 you would have paid without the scam.
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