Ebay alert! Looks like another seller scam!

[thanos_oftitan]

[micmack]

"Sandra Lovell" probably is a guy---I wondered that too.

 

I have emailed "Sandra" again and asked her if she could meet me somewhere and she said yes, she lives in Bullhead City. I asked her if she could tell me the handle of the two other people who work for her and she has not responded to that yet. Yes, I agree that the inner ear disease thing is stupid and sounds weird, but like someone said, "YOU NEVER KNOW."

 

HOW CAN I PROVE THIS IS A SCAM???

 

Maybe you could explain that again to me? You are saying that she would make more if her books were in the innerwell??? And if they are in an innerwell, why would she not sell them that way??? Please explain to me again. Thanks.

 

Jamie

 

Jamie,

First off, with the overwhelming response on this experienced CGC/Ebay sellers & buyers forum, you have to take them seriously. The poster FFB is a respected Lawyer and wouldn't tell you to call the cops if it wasn't a scam.

 

Second, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT MEET WITH THIS PERSON! Unless of course you have a few police officers in escort. This person is a criminal. Period! I don't think you would want to meet up with an angry criminal.

 

As far as CGC, this is a grading service that determines an industry accepted grade, encloses the book in a "tamper free" plastic case. The idea for this stems from previous transactions where undisclosed restorations or poorly undergraded comics happened frequently. This is also an insurance for online sales that the person will get the graded book purchased with out inspecting the book first hand. What has happened is that more popular books receiving grades of 9.4 or better tend to get prices well beyond what the standard price guide has dictated, sometime 10 times the amount!

For example, the Fantastic Four #3 you had listed raw with a grade of 9.8, (this in fact has been proven without a doubt to be the same exact book from another comic site) a typical guide has it listed in 9.4 at $3000. If it was grade by CGC and put in its holder with a 9.4 grade it could fetch $18,000!!! Remember you listed it at 9.8!! Do you see the conflict of interest? The poor buyer thinks he found a sweet deal. If this person truly had these books, he would have had them graded himself.

 

As far as proof of the FF#3: It's from Pedigree Comics site, he cut out the CGC part. Exactly the same, right down to the little dot by "T" in Fantastic. (you can still see a hint of the CGC holder well)

 

 

your image

[rube11]

I can't believe there is even a question at this point. You can look at everyone of those books and find them at any of the big dealer sites WITH the CGC case. Pedigree, Comiclink, Heritage. The person who set this up NEW where to look for the these and did a good job cropping them.

 

Rube

[nik]

Creative selling at its finest

[icefires]

By all means, go meet her. Just make sure it is an undercover female police officer and not you!

[Tango 'n Cash]

That is what I am trying to get across to all of you---HOW CAN I PROVE THIS IS A SCAM???

 

Come on, give us a break. If this is not a scam, then sell like others do, with the books in hand. Since these scans are stolen, it is obvious that the seller does not have the books and cannot send them to you or the buyers.

 

If you are not jerking us around then I recommend you wake up and smell the coffee. Just because you scream and yell that you're innocent will not make an iota of difference when the cops come knocking at your door. That's why this mysterious online entity is doing it this way, to get you to go to jail or pay restitution, while they're laughing it up.

 

You're making the sales, you're responsible for your business actions and partners, you're helping commit any potential fraud, and if you went through with this, you would be far from innocent.

[innocentwoman-migration]

Thanks for going to great lengths on your reply. I wanted to tell everyone that when I got up this morning and checked my email, she had replied to my request last night of giving me the email addresses/handles of the other two assistants she says work for her. I am going to check these references out and see if I can get any answers from them---obviously they could be her friends, so I would have to dig deep and contact people they sold to, look at feedback, etc. I sent the two names to Ze-Man and asked him if he had ever heard of them.

 

Thanks to the Lawyer for your advice (I used to work for a few Lawyers in CA). Anyway, what I have been trying to get across to all of you from the beginning is: If she is a scammer, I have the winners' money to pay back and no one gets screwed...and I can proceed with criminal charges. I just had an idea---can't I call the police department and ask them if they have any information on a Sandra Lovell in Bullhead City, Arizona?

 

As for meeting with her, well I did plan on taking someone with me---and I certainly wouldn't meet at her house for crying out loud! I had suggested a coffee shop to her. I'm just trying to see when/if she will shut down and stop responding to me. I figured she would have done it already if she was a liar. So now she has given me contact info on two people...I'm going to check that out now.

 

Is it POSSIBLE that you all are super skeptical because comics are very important to you and you LOOK for scammers? Does anyone at all see that I am trying to find out what is going on before I blow this entire thing off? Why is that so hard to understand? Would you make such a big decision based on advice I gave you, or would you try to figure out what was going on first? Some of you are acting like I am committing a crime by trying to get evidence of this and that boggles my mind! Why would I not want this first?? If she turns out to be a scam, then I turn her in, simple as that.

 

Jamie

[Red Hook]

Hi Guys! Hey, I just heard there was something fishy going on with some ebay auctions! What's up?

 

(man, I take a night off from the boards and look what happens! )

 

Great work Rube & Zeman! BTW, does Ebay have a primer on line for detecting various fraud scenarios like this? I mean for "innocent women" like Jamie? Because they better add a chapter about this particular breed if they don't already.

 

Jamie - you couldn't pay for better and more knowledgeable advice than what you've gotten on this thread! Follow it.

 

(And I hope you're legit, too! )

[innocentwoman-migration]

I just read what you had to say. I am calling the police now and at least asking them about her identity, giving them the story, and then asking them what I should do.

 

Jamie

[Red Hook]

If she is a scammer,.... I have the winners' money to pay back and no one gets screwed...and I can proceed with criminal charges.

 

Jamie

 

I find it unbelievable that you still have a shread of doubt on this. The fact that money is already changing hands means it's already gone too far.

[Red Hook]

I just read what you had to say. I am calling the police now and at least asking them about her identity, giving them the story, and then asking them what I should do.

 

Jamie

 

Good.

[sellinMyYouth]

One of the things I like about you guys.... You could smell a fart in an Outhouse!

 

It is nice to know that if I ever get totally sc3w3d I have somewhere to run to help, however I really appreciate you guys watch out for "the rest of us" out there. I have seen countless scams exposed and kabashed by these forum members...

 

I was orginally invited over when I had bid on a deal way to good to be true, and have been lurking about ever since... so... Thanks Guys keep it up... and wow, as much as this one sucked... It was a very interesting read.

[BassGMan]

That is what I am trying to get across to all of you---HOW CAN I PROVE THIS IS A SCAM???

 

Come on, give us a break. If this is not a scam, then sell like others do, with the books in hand. Since these scans are stolen, it is obvious that the seller does not have the books and cannot send them to you or the buyers.

 

If you are not jerking us around then I recommend you wake up and smell the coffee. Just because you scream and yell that you're innocent will not make an iota of difference when the cops come knocking at your door. That's why this mysterious online entity is doing it this way, to get you to go to jail or pay restitution, while they're laughing it up.

 

You're making the sales, you're responsible for your business actions and partners, you're helping commit any potential fraud, and if you went through with this, you would be far from innocent.

 

We need to realize that Jamie has no idea how the minute detail of comic book grading, CGC, resto, the history of comic book scams, etc. all works. As far as she is concerned, we are all strangers that may not know what we are talking about. Of course we do, but how can she know for sure? She is being cautious now, but I can understand her having a tiny bit of doubt about our claims. Of course this is a scam. Let Jaime have a little more time to figure that out.

 

In the meantime, as long as Jaime DOES NOT meet this person (unless escorted by Police) and also DOES NOT distribute ANY of the money collected so far in her PayPal account, then she should be fine holding tight for a little bit until she believes us and can find out for a fact in her own mind that this person is a scammer. Ze-Man, maybe you can call Jaime again and tell her a little bit more about grading, CGC, past scams etc. in an effort to help educate her about what is being done here. That may also enable the scammer to be brought down easier as we don't want this person to just get away. The money flow can be refunded, sure, but how can we bring down this scammer from attempting this again with someone else?

 

Regarding a refund of Ebay fees? I've never had to attempt something like that but once Ebay is contacted by Jaime with a full explanation of the story (including records of PayPal refunds) I can only imagine that Ebay would refund the fees. It may take a while though.

[Mithril Man]

It is nice to know that if I ever get totally sc3w3d I have somewhere to run to help, however I really appreciate you guys watch out for "the rest of us" out there. I have seen countless scams exposed and kabashed by these forum members...

 

ditto

[innocentwoman-migration]

I called the police department, spoke to an officer, and gave the story. She told me I would have to take it up with the IFCC and did not have their phone number, but gave me their address at www.IFCCFBI.gov. She said this is a federal offense, not municipal. I am going to email all buyers and tell them to cancel. I am scared.

 

Jamie

[Red Hook]

I may have missed this....but have you reported this directly to Ebay yet?

[innocentwoman-migration]

I did not realize that it was going to be a problem to wait this out and see if I could prove Sandra to be innocent. No, I will do file with Ebay right now too. I am on that IFCCFBI website and there is no phone number listed to call them. I am freaking out right now. I should be getting my daughter up to get her ready for school but I am in such a panic right now. I have too much going for me---I did NOTHING wrong. What do I do first?!

[Red Hook]

My advice.....

 

Try these numbers for Ebay........

 

1-800-322-9266

1-888-749-3229

 

If you still need to file a complaint online with Ebay, just go ahead and give them as much information as possible. You'll just be covering your behind.

 

go ahead and file your complaints and concerns online with IFCC at

 

http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/contactus.asp

 

Just get your complaints on record asap. Do your best to intercept any payments from auction winners right now. You'll be fine.

[Darthdiesel]

Is this for real, or is it just a way for the actual seller to slide under the radar by using this unbelieveable story as an excuse?

 

I don't know in this case, but I have had personal experience and minor involvement in investigating a money laundering scheme perpetrated over eBay. A supposed distributor of Bose audio equipment was enlisting the aid of a young, gullible ebay seller who saw the potential for a lot of green for little work (listing top of the line and the latest Bose equipment for around 50% of retail) - similar details - get all the payments and then wire to a bank account provided - account was in NY but eventually went overseas to Latvia or somewhere in the former USSR - the scam took people for collectively about $750000 in total and the 18 year old knucklehead from Iowa or Indiana was left holding the bag, with FBI agents interrogating him - needless to say, the money was long gone and the kid basically gets off scot free as a victim. if the international ring is ever busted, very few people would see restitution in full, if any.

 

Using hi grade comics as bait for this scam is on a smaller level and is probably chosen to keep them under the radar.

 

/the lure of money is made even greater by all those idiotic infomercials with paid testimonials of how much they made on ebay listing for dropshippers (?- don't know if that is the correct term)

 

if it is too good to be true, it probably is...

[Ze-man]

 

Is it POSSIBLE that you all are super skeptical because comics are very important to you and you LOOK for scammers?

Does anyone at all see that I am trying to find out what is going on before I blow this entire thing off? Why is that so hard to understand? Would you make such a big decision based on advice I gave you, or would you try to figure out what was going on first? Some of you are acting like I am committing a crime by trying to get evidence of this and that boggles my mind! Why would I not want this first?? If she turns out to be a scam, then I turn her in, simple as that.

 

Jamie

 

 

Jamie, first of all calm down.

Nobody here is attacking you.. (you should see how we treat people we DONT like)

The reasons why you feel we might be overzealous in our singlemindedness regarding your paticular case. Are the EXACT reasons why we stumbled onto your auctions.

We KNOW comics, We BUY comics, We SELL comics. We have been scammed, and outed many scammers. We know a scam when we see one.

There are as many scamming comic dealers as legit dealers in our hobby. For every honest person there are 3 crooks behind them trying to figure out a way to make easy money.

High Grade comics fetch a lot of money in a scam like this.They fly under the radar of most people unless you are a comic fan. Little work for a fast quick hit turnaround auction scam.

And please do not take offense at this next comment.. but this S. Lovell was looking for a person such as yourself to front their auctions.

You know nothing about comics, are fairly new to the world of Ebay selling, and took her/his bait for a chance at easy money. And did what they asked verbatim.

Ebay is a big buzz word today.. they even have classes on how to sell on Ebay.

You got dollar signs floating around in your head, and that makes it hard to see the truth sometimes.

 

The people here who have responded to you have every right to question you about all of this. While you say you did state your case truthfully.. do not think some of us here have not thought that it is YOU who might be the master swindler...(unlikely in this case, but possible)

We have seen it all, and do not assume anything, or easily accept anything at face vaule.

Take emotions out of the equation, and off your sleeve.

This is tuff.. alot of really tuff questions, conversations await you. Even if you are totally innocent, and a complete victim in this scenario.

You hold the Ebay accnt, you took the money, you are the one left holding the bag.. just as then scam intended. And unfortunatly it is up to you to prove yourself innocent.

 

So take a deep breath, realize the people here DO know what they are saying,and are trying to help you. And that you should listen to them.

Like me, they have nothing to gain by advising you on this matter , they took into account this might be a real auction, and to a person came to the conclusion this is a scam.

 

I just happened to be the one who read this thread when it was first made. Wrote you an Email that was not threatening about your scans in the auction. Then prompted you pass along your phone # , you did so a.s.a.p , asking for my help.

If you remember I even told you I might be skeptical about your story, but would be willing to listen, and after speaking with you.. I came away with the impression that you were sincere.

 

But I repeat.. dont hate those here who keep questioning you about this, it is their right to do so... and their nature to view BOTH sides of the situation, because if you WERE the real scammer.. I would want them to keep poking around to try and uncover the truth.

 

The two peoples names Lovell gave you as other employees I have not heard of.. but that aint saying much.. I am not a big player on Ebay.

 

Yes you are wise to not take the advise of strangers on faith alone.... but we are past that now

You yourself told me.. if it is too good to be true.

 

So take immediate steps to contact all the winning, paying bidders and let them know what is going on.

Refund their money.

Find out the proper steps through Ebay to restore your name, and any other steps needed to help your cause.

Listen to what the Police tell you to do about a situation like this.

 

And ask questions...our bedside manner might be lacking .. but you CAN find help here.

 

Best of luck.

 

Ze-

Kenny