Overseas bike buying scams

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by grumpy
There is a European seller in this network who is offering top end Treks for half their value...everytime I ask if they have this or that one, they say "yes"....sounds too good to be true...how can a European sell an American bike for less? Appreciate some advice...thanks, Bruce

You are attracted to the product because of the discounted price, including shipping and taxes.

You order and pay for the product. The product either does not exist and is not supplied or is inferior to the advertised merchandise. The payment arrangements usually should send some signal the transaction could be suspect.

Happens a lot on ebay - low/zero feedback seller, expensive item like a high end bike, digital camera, laptop computer, located in Europe, very low price, free shipping, but they want payment from a non revokable source like Western Union. They usually specify that you have to contact them before bidding - so they can give a sob story on why the payment plan is so strange.

Don't let a photo fool you - I stuck a picture of my old Trek Y22 MTB on a web page. Six months later, some clown tried to sell my bike on ebay.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by VeloFlash
You are attracted to the product because of the discounted price, including shipping and taxes.

You order and pay for the product. The product either does not exist and is not supplied or is inferior to the advertised merchandise. The payment arrangements usually should send some signal the transaction could be suspect.

thanks....I have requested they trade money for bike through escrow...that should be the telling of the tale....cant believe this site and eBay allow this [censored]....your rat race quote wins the booby price! Bruce

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by JohnO
Happens a lot on ebay - low/zero feedback seller, expensive item like a high end bike, digital camera, laptop computer, located in Europe, very low price, free shipping, but they want payment from a non revokable source like Western Union. They usually specify that you have to contact them before bidding - so they can give a sob story on why the payment plan is so strange.

Don't let a photo fool you - I stuck a picture of my old Trek Y22 MTB on a web page. Six months later, some clown tried to sell my bike on ebay.

thanks...how does eBay and this site allows this [censored]? Just remember, one of the so-called bikes for sale was the same picture I saw for one on eBay...your rat race quote wins the booby (me) prize!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by VeloFlash
You are attracted to the product because of the discounted price, including shipping and taxes.

You order and pay for the product. The product either does not exist and is not supplied or is inferior to the advertised merchandise. The payment arrangements usually should send some signal the transaction could be suspect.

thanks...asked these two jokers to accept bonafided escrow service to trade cash for bike...
just dont believe this site and eBay allow these people to advertise...as they as, "wow to him (her) who takes the Lord's name in vain..."

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by VeloFlash
You are attracted to the product because of the discounted price, including shipping and taxes.

You order and pay for the product. The product either does not exist and is not supplied or is inferior to the advertised merchandise. The payment arrangements usually should send some signal the transaction could be suspect.

thanks...you be right!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by VeloFlash
You are attracted to the product because of the discounted price, including shipping and taxes.

You order and pay for the product. The product either does not exist and is not supplied or is inferior to the advertised merchandise. The payment arrangements usually should send some signal the transaction could be suspect.

your quote wins the prize! thanks

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by grumpy
There is a European seller in this network who is offering top end Treks for half their value...everytime I ask if they have this or that one, they say "yes"....sounds too good to be true...how can a European sell an American bike for less? Appreciate some advice...thanks, Bruce

I saw the same ads...I actually thought at first these may be stolen bikes. After hearing the payment BS. I passed this info and copies of their silly e-mails to the admin's....they are history. FWIW, there was also a guy pulling the same scam listing a couple of high-end MTB's....same deal.

Sad part is, some guys will be foolish in the "chance of a lifetime" and send money. When we smell a rat, it's our responsability to pass this along to the admin's since they can't scan every post on such a busy site.

Steve

Also noticed these bozo's joined the same time they posted the ads, another tip off........wish I could kick them square in the nuts.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Highflier
I saw the same ads...I actually thought at first these may be stolen bikes. After hearing the payment BS. I passed this info and copies of their silly e-mails to the admin's....they are history. FWIW, there was also a guy pulling the same scam listing a couple of high-end MTB's....same deal.

Sad part is, some guys will be foolish in the "chance of a lifetime" and send money. When we smell a rat, it's our responsability to pass this along to the admin's since they can't scan every post on such a busy site.

Steve

GOOD JOB!

Hi,

I almost died when I saw the prices here in Europe! A Cervelo selling for $2000 in the states goes for 2800 Euros here in France!! So I ordered a bike from MARINONI (fantastic bikes - no paying for brandname) Piuma from www.labicicletta.com (actually I decided on the frame and components when I was over there at Christmas 2003). I ordered it in Jan 2004 custom frame, Campy Centaur Limited edition, Campy Proton wheels, Shimano PD-R600 pedals... then there was a major delay getting the thing shipped so they upgraded the seatpost, stem and bars to Carbon fibre (Pazzazz). With shipping I paid 1850 Euros. I figure I saved myself at least a 1000 and I got a great bike.

Wad

Another scam to watch for:

When selling a bike/frame, you may be contacted by people from Europe who often immediately offer to buy from you. Then, they will say that they are sending a check for a VERY large sum of money to you to be cashed, and that you are to hand over the excess money and the goods to a "private" shipper for them (or they will inform you after the check is sent). The check will most likely come from a bank based in the US (this way, your bank will honor it without prior verification)--and will not have the same name on it as the person you believe you are dealing with. They may also say they made a mistake and made out the check for too much and ask you to send the excess back by Western Union.

I recently experienced this (first time attempting to sell a frame), but called the bank from which the check was issued and found the account did not exist (at this point, way too much of the story sounded fishy, obviously). I reported the account number and the name I had of the individual to the bank, although they said there is not much they can/will do. When attempting to sell the frame, I received about 10 emails that were VERY similar from different addresses, all proposing the same thing.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by martin_j001
Another scam to watch for:

When selling a bike/frame, you may be contacted by people from Europe who often immediately offer to buy from you. Then, they will say that they are sending a check for a VERY large sum of money to you to be cashed, and that you are to hand over the excess money and the goods to a "private" shipper for them (or they will inform you after the check is sent). The check will most likely come from a bank based in the US (this way, your bank will honor it without prior verification)--and will not have the same name on it as the person you believe you are dealing with. They may also say they made a mistake and made out the check for too much and ask you to send the excess back by Western Union.

I recently experienced this (first time attempting to sell a frame), but called the bank from which the check was issued and found the account did not exist (at this point, way too much of the story sounded fishy, obviously). I reported the account number and the name I had of the individual to the bank, although they said there is not much they can/will do. When attempting to sell the frame, I received about 10 emails that were VERY similar from different addresses, all proposing the same thing.

Frankly, I'm amazed the sites dont do a better job of policing this, because just casually looking for a bike, I have been overwhelmed by these scammers...I have noticed if you look at the syntax of the English they use, its very poor...also when they say "yes" to any question about what the bike has, ie, size, color, components, its tip-off...I dont even bother when any overseas emails anymore...thanks a lot

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by grumpy
Frankly, I'm amazed the sites dont do a better job of policing this

Hi

I check every post or classified ad thats reported, I've removed and banned about a dozen users in the last couple of weeks. Its sometimes hard to keep up because unlike the big dot com's we all have jobs and lives outside of this site 😉

If you see anything suss just click the 'Report Product' link and someone will remove it ASAP

cheers

THANK YOU....I DID NOT MEAN TO BE CRITICAL...I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE SITE...AND THANKS

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by grumpy
THANK YOU....I DID NOT MEAN TO BE CRITICAL...I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE SITE...AND THANKS

Nah your right, sites providing classifieds/auctions need to police it better. We just need users to report ad's they think are abit suss.

cheers