I always liked Amazon Marketplace more than eBay and have probably sold a dozen or more of books from my apartment just this year. Generally it provides a pretty good environment and is reasonable hassle-free for sellers and buyers. The Marketplace account is tied up to seller’s checking account, so at least Amazon has some data on the seller, they process all the payments, so no chance of ending up with reversed PayPal payment or fake Nigerian cashier’s check, they also enforce shipping costs, inflation of which is so typical of eBay.
So browsing their electronics top-sellers, I come across this nifty item – Samsung HP-R5072 50″ Widescreen Flat Panel HD-Ready Plasma TV, which generally sells for $4,000 to $5,000 and above. Now, if you look further into Amazon Marketplace section, you will find a bunch of Marketplace sellers selling the item for $650-900, which is a rather hefty discount. Now, we all know that LCDs are kicking plasma’s proverbial backends, but come on, that’s a pretty hefty discount for a best-seller item on Amazon.
Thankfully, a post from FatWallet explained the tactics:
Why going off Amazon Marketplace through Western Union is a no-no
I am glad I did this search before sending the money using Western Union as this scamer’s instructions were, here is my story: I find in the Amazon.com Marketplace a guy that sells an X2 Infocus DLP Projector for $550 plus $10 S&H, very appealing; I place my order asuming Amazon.com will charge my VISA Card and forward the money to this “Emanuel” guy as they have done it with my previous purchases from the Marketplace. The day after I place my order I get an email from Amazon.com that reads:
“We’re sorry, we’re unable to complete your order from an Amazon Marketplace seller enjoythegroove1@hotmail.com. We have canceled this transaction and you have not been charged for the order.”
I emailed “enjoythegroove1@hotmail.com” and asked him why he had cancelled the order. He immediately replys:
“Sir the offert is avaible.But if you want to buy the projector you must send me your full name and address so i can call to Amazon center to approve the transaction.After that you will receive an email confirmation from them with the all shipping details and payment method. Please email me asap with your full info!”
I sent him my full name and address and then I did get 2 (TWO) identical emails from Amazon (since when Amazon.com sends the emails twice?) saying that the item was sold to me and telling me the payment instructions. They were asking me to pay via Western Union Wire Transfer (I thought Amazon.com was supposed to charge my Credit Card!!!) I even chatted with the guy on the yahoo Messenger he told me he was in London, so I asked him where the item was, he told me the projector was in the United States, in the Amazon warehouse. What the heck!!?!?!?! Does this guy think I’m stupid? I went on with his game and decided to do a Google search on this BASTARD, I found this Forum and was stunned to realize I was not the first one. So please be careful when buying in Marketplaces like Amazon or eBay, ALWAYS use Amazon itself or PayPal when paying for goods. that way you’ll be protected. OOh by the way, that email “from Amazon” asking me to send money through Western Union to:
Emanuel Derich
449 Luton Rd
London NW109PT
United Kingdom
also totaled $550, as I was chatting with the guy I asked him what about the S&H??? He said it was included. Yeah Right! When I completed my purchase in Amazon when I placed the order Shipping was $10 making a total of $560, and now this new “Amazon” email doesn’t say anything about shipping ??!?!?!? That was stupid very stupid my Emanuel friend. I hope you read this and are behind bars when you do it. Have your mother send you wire transfers!!! As*sho*e! I hope this comment was useful for other people to keep them from doing business with this kind of guys.
Thank you so much for saving me from a similar scam.
Shop “Delights Shop” from Amazon Marketplace were selling a Nikon D60 for £100 less than the RRP. Too good to be true.
I requested guarantee and returns terms and was sent this email from the following address:
from Delights
to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
date 4 December 2008 15:28
subject Re: Return policy enquiry from Amazon customer xxxxxxxx
mailed-by googlemail.com
hide details 15:28 (7 hours ago)
Reply
Hello,
the Nikon D60 Digital SLR Camera – Black (AF-S 18-55 DX II VR Lens Kit) is in Mint, ‘As New’ condition with all accessories, UK model, comes with 1 year full guarantee . Only used for one day as a demo , therefore it has not been used. The price is £200.00 + £20.00 for delivery ( 2 – 3 days by airmail ). Return policy is full money back in 30 days. If you want to buy send me your full name and delivery address to have your order placed with Amazon.
Regards ,
———————-
after sending them my name and address they then raised a very authentic looking order through amazon marketplace (perfect templating) which required a Western Union transfer. smelling the WU fish, i found this place by googling their fax number.
Details on the raised “amazon” order were as follows:
from auto-confirm@amazon.co.uk
reply-to marketplace-orders@live.com
to xxxxxxxxxxxx
date 4 December 2008 20:44
subject Your Order with Amazon.co.uk
Payment Details:
The seller requests to be paid via Western Union® Money Transfer.
To submit the payment with Western Union Money Transfer you have the following option:
Pay for the transfer with cash at a local Western Union agent.
Click here to locate the agents in your area.
To confirm your payment to Amazon send a fax with your customer receipt from Western Union to this fax number : 44-7006-099-780 . Use this secure way to confirm your payment only if you feel unsafe to release the payment details directly to your seller.
Email the payment receipt to the following address: Confirm Payment
Use this secure way to confirm your payment only if you feel unsafe to release the payment details directly to your seller.
If you need further assistance contact Amazon.co.uk Customer Center by Clicking here
Once the payment was sent, provide the following information:
1) MTCN # (Money Transfer Control Number):
2) Sender name :
3) Sender address :
4) City where you sent the money from:
5) Amount sent:
Then wait for the confirmation that the payment was received. After that you will receive the tracking number for your product.
The funds will not be released under any circumstances! We will hold the payment until you will send us your confirmation that you have received, inspected and you agree to keep the item. When we will have your confirmation we will transfer the funds to the seller. If the item it is not what was described you will ship it back to the seller and we will refund your money 100%.
E-mail Address: delights.shop@googlemail.com
Ship from Address:
First name: Franco
Last name : Delima
Adress: Via Flaminia
City: Roma
Zipp code: 00191
Country: Italy
Payment Address:
First name: Franco
Last name : Delima
Adress: Via Flaminia
City: Roma
Zipp code: 00191
Country: Italy
—————————
thank you so much for this blog, i hope these details can be helpful to others,
Mark
Follow the old rule of “If it looks to good …………………you know the rest
organstudio@gmail.com seems to be the latest name for the scammer globalgizmos@gmail.com on Amazon
Why do I need to send my address to him does he think I’m supid. Well I am for askin for the details I guess
Copy of my mails.
———————————————————————–
Hello again,
the Nikon D300 Body Only is still available for £475 + £10 delivery. we will deal trough Amazon. i would need your name and address so i can contact Amazon and ask them to setup an order for you, and for delivery purposes. i had to inform Amazon about who is my buyer. after that they will contact you for payment and delivery.
Many Thanks
On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 12:08 PM, organstudio@gmail.com wrote:
Hello,
the Nikon D300 Body Only is new, sealed, comes with 12 months Nikon International warranty, receipt, all manufacturer supplied accessories. the total price is £475 + £10 for delivery. if you want to buy send me your full name and address and i will contact Amazon asap to process your order. i will ship from Italy, delivery will take 3 – 5 days by airmail international. my return policy is full money back in 30 days or replace the product if its faulty.
Many Thanks
On 12/5/08, Amazon Communication Center wrote:
Greetings from Amazon.co.uk.
A potential buyer has sent you the following message about an item you have for sale on Amazon.co.uk, or about your store at Amazon.co.uk. Please respond to the individual directly by replying to this e-mail. For your reference, the buyer’s e-mail address is ********@********.com.
————– Begin message ———————
Hello, Im intersted in the used D300 at £475.
How many pictures has it taken and is it boxed with all the original items.
Please, beware of
First name : Gigel-Daniel
Last name : Andrei
Address : Via Marconi 17
City/State : Bologna
Postal Code : 40122
Country : Italy
from “bentonvillemall”.
This guy, whatever his real name is (I reckon it might even be a group of scammers, possibly members of the Mafia?), tried to scam me today with a new nikon d700 for only £820 (usual price normally minimum £1480 from other places).
I will tell you more about it tomorrow as I am too tired now, having waisted half of my day exchanging emails with this scammer and looking up info to find out whether there was a chance that this sell was legitimate despite all of my suspicions.
The fake order confirmation email from Amazon is disconcertingly realistic looking, and so at this point I began stepping more into the enchanting belief that after all it wasn’t just too good to be true. So I must admit that for a short while, with a deligted smile all over my face, I let myself succomb to the attractiveness of the offer and experienced the overwhelming thought that I might actually not have to throw all of my savings into this camera as in my initial plans!
But hey, 820 quids IS really A LOT of money still, so I soon brought myself back to my senses. I began torturing myself with shopxistentialist interrogations which almost instantly took me back to great doubting. Paradoxically enough, I’d recovered my incredulity, but at the same time, there was still a part of me which wanted to be credulous (who wouldn’t?).
So, I called Moothmooth my boyfriend for second opinion. Of course, he was very sceptical too.
So, I decided to look up Amazon’s customer services phone number on their website and to call them tomorrow first thing in the morning since it was already 8pm and their office was closed. My plan was to ask them whether it was a scam and if it wasn’t, whether they would guarantee the shipment even though I would have to pay cash via MoneyGram and not the usual way by credit card online. If they’d been affirmative, I would’ve been to pay the amount to MoneyGram then, (rather than tonight as my little scammer eagerly hoped for).
Anyway, an hour later, Moothmooth called me back and he’d found this website (I guess he’s more efficient than me in looking up the right things more quikly in this kind of situations! even though he is a blond like me…). So I don’t need to call Amazon anymore.
The thing is I was a particularly good pray because I do need this camera very soon as I need to start working with it next week. However, when I added the product to my basket, it said the estimated dispatch date would be 17th to 24th of December. So instead of processing my order straight away, I emailed the seller asking whether we could arrange a way for it to be dispatched as soon as possible and in special delivery and saying I was ready to pay a bit more for that. This was yeterday night. Then, this morning, I had a look at my shopping basket on Amazon but the item had disappeared for some reason. Then when I checked my mail, I got an answer back asking me to send him my full name and address so that he could communicate it to Amazon… (you know about this bit) which I found slightly weird. Also, another odd thing is that he said that the item would ship from Italy while on their seller’s info in Amazon it said they were a UK warehouse based in Dorset. Then I went back on Amazon, and surprisingly, the item was back into my basket but the amount had increased from £820 to £1580. So, I just thought the seller had realized he’d made a mistake in the prize, and corrected it to a normal average price. Fair enough. It would have made sense. So I just gave it up, since it is cheaper than this from a high street shop.
But then this afternoon, the scammer emailed me again, pressuring me to send my full name and address to him since the item was still available at £820. I emailed back that I wasn’t interested anymore because the price seemed to have increased up to £1580. He then wrote that the bid at £820 was still valid (another incoherence : since when can you bid on Amazon?) and that he would contact Amazon to process my order if I sent him my info. Also he said the shipping fee would be £10 whereas the night before in my basket it said £49 shipping fee). So I did send the info to him, then got a confirmation email from amazon auto confirm (a bit too fast?); and so on… (you know the process). Then, as the scammer was encouraging me (in a really akward way to make it look like he was being helpfull rather than pushy) to go to a Moneygram agent tonight, he ended up telling me to include the handling fee of £48 into the £830 (£820 + £10 postage) which was another really incoherent thing since he would then get less money than what he’d asked for. I guess, at this stage, he must have been so anxious that I might turn away that he tried to make it even more too good to be true. But obviously by doing this he created the opposite effect of what he wanted on me. So this scammer really doesn’t have any psychological finesse to put more chances on his side. I guess being working on a lot of scams at the same time(especially just before Christmas) musn’t help.
Anyway, this is really turning into an epic novel now. I should be in bed dreaming.
I just hope that these crooks don’t read all these replies as feedback to improve their art, and that instead they get caught and thrown in jail as they deserve. And also that more people get more aware of these, and shop online more cautiously.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2008/12/amazon_marketplace_offering_da.html
the above link should interest some people. amazons apathy disgusts me. ive posted the details of my fraud on there
Alas , I’ve been scammed too on a Panasonic 32TXLZD85 TV through Amazon (amazon seller: xsonly)
Similar to Mark’s experience above.. but via MoneyGram.
Seller’s contact details (same name but different address)
First name : Gigel-Daniel
Last name : Andrei
Address : Via Bertiera 22
City/State : Bologna
Postal Code : 40126
Country : Italy
The TV was originally on Amazon marketplace (I’m fairly sure.. unless I was looking at a spoof website). I sent a query about delivery. The item disappeared off Amazon. I got an email saying item was still available.
Got the instructions to pay with Moneygram but via Amazon (similar to what Mark reveived). I was cautious.. but it all looked convincing.
Emails appeared from
“Amazon.co.uk Payments”
“auto-confirm@amazon.co.uk”
In retrospect the first of these should have raised alarm bells.
I spent a lot of time on the phone with Amazon .. hope they can do something to help stop a recurrence.
Well i also just fell for this.
Thanks for your order,
We want you to buy with confidence anytime you purchase products on Amazon.co.uk from international sellers. That is why we guarantee purchases from Amazon Marketplace, Auctions, zShops, and Merchant sellers when you use Amazon Payments. The condition of the item you buy and its timely delivery are guaranteed under the Amazon.co.uk A-to-z Guarantee.
Order Grand Total: £320.00
Order Summary:
Delivery Details: sales.xsonly@gmail.com
Subject: Sony VAIO FW11E 16.4-inch Laptop, Intel Core2 Duo P8400 (2.26Hz), 3GB RAM, 250GB HDD [Electronics]
Delivery Method: Standard Delivery
Subtotal of Items: £310.00
Postage & Packing: £10.00
——
Total for this order: £320.00
Dispatch estimate for these items: 14 December 2008 1 “Sony VAIO FW11E 16.4-inch Laptop, Intel Core2 Duo P8400 (2.26Hz), 3GB RAM, 250GB HDD” [Electronics]; £310.00
Sold by: sales.xsonly@gmail.com
Payment Details:
The seller requests to be paid via Money Gram® Money Transfer.
To submit the payment with Money Gram Money Transfer you have the following option:
Pay for the transfer with cash at a local Money Gram agent.
Click here to locate the agents in your area.
To confirm your payment to Amazon send a fax with your customer receipt from Money Gram to this fax number : 44-7006-017-181 . Use this secure way to confirm your payment only if you feel unsafe to release the payment details directly to your seller. If you need further assistance contact Amazon Customer Center by Clicking here
Once the payment was sent, provide the following information:
1) Reference Number (Money Gram Reference Number):
2) Sender name :
3) Sender address :
4) City where you sent the money from:
5) Amount sent:
Then wait for the confirmation that the payment was received. After that you will receive the tracking number for your product.
E-mail Address: sales.xsonly@gmail.com
Ship from Address:
First name : Gigel-Daniel
Last name : Andrei
Address : Via Bertiera 22
City/State : Bologna
Postal Code : 40126
Country : Italy
Payment Address:
First name : Gigel-Daniel
Last name : Andrei
Address : Via Bertiera 22
City/State : Bologna
Postal Code : 40126
Country : Italy
——————————————————————————–
Where can I get help with reviewing my order?
Please Contact Amazon Customer Center by Clicking here
Amazon.co.uk
Earth’s Biggest Selection
Prefer not to receive HTML mail? Click here
I too have been scammed by Gigel-Daniel Andrei (Bolonga, Italy) via the Amazon website on Thursday 18th December. I thought I was purchasing a LCD TV from a seller on Amazon (I even checked feedback and read v convincing references about the seller). When I emailed him to ask why the TV was cheap, he informed me it was an ex demo as new condition with 12mths warranty and a 30 day return guarantee. He then asked for my name and address so that he could set up an order through Amazon. Then I recieved emails from Amazon (amazon.co.uk payments <customer -center@instruction.com) informing the order had been set up please forward money via Money Gram. I had never heard of Moneygram so researched it on the internet and when I discovered it was a cash payment I emailed the seller and ‘Amazon’ to inform them that I would like to cancel the order as I would only pay through Amazon with my credit card. Then I recieved more emails from ‘Amazon’ informing me the transaction must be completed, and that moneygram is 100% safe and covered by Amazon’s guarantee. Also they said that the reference number to release the funds would not be released to the seller after I had received the goods. I again said I wanted to canel the order but I received two other emails saying that I must complete, I then began to worry that I entered into something I could’nt get out of, discussed it with my husband, and agreed that because Amazon had approved this method and it was safe we would send the money. After emailing the ref number to Amazon, I waited all day for a response, when there was none I looked at me Amazon account to track the order, there was no such order. I finaly found a contact number on the site and phoned Amazon, where I was informed there was no order they ahd not emailed me and told me the cash is lost there is nothing they can do, I have to contact the police. I was so upset, £290 savings for a family xmas present was a lot of money to us. I was not impressed with Amazon and the man did’nt even seem like he was writing any of the info down I was giving him about the seller. I contacted moneygram and the money had been taken already. The police coild do nothing as it is down to Amazon to do their own investigation. So I have written two emails to Amazon asking why if they knew this was going on (had since found out it was on watchdog a few weeks ago) why are there not big warning messages on their website about MoneyGram? What happens to the money they receive from their sellers on market place, as they are still making money from scammers as quickley as we are losing it? How come this fraudulent seller has been allowed to use their website again and again? What steps have been taken to protect the amazon name and customers from recieving emails with their name on it? Twice I have recieved replies, the same answers, stating that it says on their website allways to use the amazon account to pay etc etc. Basically they dont care, they have covered themselves, they know the ploice can not do anything, and they only have to say they are carrying out an investigation. This information from the investigation can not be disclosed to me due to account privacy reasons!! Am am so angry and do not know what to do next. I think Amazon should take partial responsibility for introducing this seller to me, I also think that token re-imbursements should be given – at the very least giving us the money they make from fraudulent sellers. I know that myself, my friends and family will never use Amazon again. I think a boycott of their website is only thing that we as a group of people can do. As I am sure that their shareholders would start to get a bit worried if this happend? Anyone else have any ideas?
Looks like I have joined this club also.
£250 wasted on a Canon EOS 450 , again via Amazon marketplace.
Here’s the details from my supposed confirmation on 10 December.
The seller requests to be paid via MoneyGram® Money Transfer.
To submit the payment with MoneyGram Money Transfer you have the following option:
Pay for the transfer with cash at a local MoneyGram agent.
Click here to locate the agents in your area.
To confirm your payment to Amazon send a fax with your customer receipt from MoneyGram to this fax number : 44-7006-076-414 . Use this secure way to confirm your payment only if you feel unsafe to release the payment details directly to your seller. If you need further assistance contact Amazon Customer Center by Clicking here
Once the payment was sent, provide the following information:
1) Reference Number (MoneyGram Reference Number):
2) Sender name :
3) Sender address :
4) City where you sent the money from:
5) Amount sent:
Then wait for the confirmation that the payment was received. After that you will receive the tracking number for your product.
E-mail Address: bentonville.mall@gmail.com
Ship from Address:
First name : Gigel-Daniel
Last name : Andrei
Address : Via Marconi 17
City/State : Bologna
Postal Code : 40122
Country : Italy
Payment Address:
First name : Gigel-Daniel
Last name : Andrei
Address : Via Marconi 17
City/State : Bologna
Postal Code : 40122
Country : Italy
I agree totally with the last poster that Amazon should be doing a great deal more to protect honest buyers – still have no idea how these guys were able to infiltrate or spam amazon.co.uk.
Will give Moneygram a call and see if they can help.
sadly i too have been scammed, same setup and tactics as other transactions.
£390 for a sony hdr12e camcorder from delights.shop@googlemail.com.
Money was sent by western union transfer to franco delima in rome.
Cant beleive i’ve been so stupid, on hindsight all the warning signs are there, amazing how blinkered you get when you’re onto a “bargain”
Thanks for posting this I was super close to being scammed out of $2,930.00 by the same person for a Canon 1DS Mark III. The lady at Money Gram told me that if it’s for buying something over the web or through Amazon.com that it’s a scam. So thank you to the lady at Money Gram that saved me!!!!
Then I went home and did a google search and found this post and it’s crazy how it’s all the same things and that his emails look so much like Amazon’s
Here’s the new name he is going by now:
First name : Petre
Last name : Stanescu
Address : Viale Piave 54
City/State : Milano
Postal Code : 20129
Country : Italy
Like everyone has been saying if the price is to good to be true than you know it’s a scam.
He’s now using this name and address :
First name : Dan
Last name : Ghius
Address : Via San Carlo 42
City/State : Bologna
Postal Code : 40023
Country : Italy
To check if e-mail confirmation from Amazon is genuine or fake, save the e-mail as a file and open it with notepad (or similar). Look for Line 7 :
Genuine
Received: from mm-notify-out-xxxxx.amazon.com ([194.154.193.200])
Fake
Received: from findnot.com ([201.218.228.186])
The scammer is using the services of findnot.com to spoof e-mails from Amazon.
The exact same scam happened to me. Except I was the seller and the person buying it was in Nigeria. So I shipped it there because I got the “Sold, Dispatch now” confirmation e-mail. He totally Scooby-Doo’d me. I then called Amazon to ask where my money was and they told me that the transaction never took place. It was a epson powerlite 82c $550. Kharma’s a bitch.
Here is what the scammer is up to now, and the name and address he is using now. Avoid this guy and or anyone requesting payment through a western union transfer even though the emails look 100% like a genuine Amazon order. Can’t believe I fell for it to the tune of £225 but it’s my own fault for wanting a bargain that was a bit too good to be true.
Delivery Details: vipar.salesdiscount@googlemail.com
Order #: 026-1828941-9968315
Subject: Canon EOS 450D Digital SLR Camera Kit (incl EF-S 18-55mm IS f/3.5-5.6 non USM Lens Kit)
Delivery Method: Standard Delivery
Subtotal of Items: £220.00
Postage & Packing: £5.00
——
Total for this order: £225.00
Dispatch estimate for this item: Jan , 19 2009 1 “Canon EOS 450D Digital SLR Camera Kit (incl EF-S 18-55mm IS f/3.5-5.6 non USM Lens Kit)” [Electronics]; £225.00
Sold by: vipar.salesdiscount@googlemail.com
Payment Details:
The seller requests to be paid via Western Union® Money Transfer.
To submit the payment with Western Union Money Transfer you have the following option:
Pay for the transfer with cash at a local Western Union agent.
Click here to locate the agents in your area.
To confirm your payment to Amazon send a fax with your customer receipt from Western Union to this fax number : 44-7006-036-876 . Use this secure way to confirm your payment only if you feel unsafe to release the payment details directly to your seller.
Email the payment receipt to the following address: Confirm Payment
Use this secure way to confirm your payment only if you feel unsafe to release the payment details directly to your seller.If you need further assistance contact Amazon.co.uk Customer Center by Clicking here
Once the payment was sent, provide the following information:
1) MTCN # (Money Transfer Control Number):
2) Sender name :
3) Sender address :
4) City where you sent the money from:
5) Amount sent:
Then wait for the confirmation that the payment was received. After that you will receive the tracking number for your product.
The funds will not be released under any circumstances! We will hold the payment until you will send us your confirmation that you have received, inspected and you agree to keep the item. When we will have your confirmation we will transfer the funds to the seller. If the item it is not what was described you will ship it back to the seller and we will refund your money 100%.
E-mail Address: vipar.salesdiscount@googlemail.com
Ship from Address:
First name: Lucas
Last name : Daveny
Adress: Via Ala di Stura
City: Torino
Zipp code: 10148
Country: Italy
Payment Address:
First name: Lucas
Last name : Daveny
Adress: Via Ala di Stura
City: Torino
Zipp code: 10148
Country: Italy
I was just scammed by this person too 3 days ago (searching for a Nikon D90 camera).
I have contacted findnot about this user using their services to send fake emails and they told they don’t condone this use and that they are investigating it. Maybe other people should reach findnot with the email headers about this to see if they can stop this person from using their servers.
My 2 cents, I’ll try to go to the moneygram office and see what happens…
Dan Ghius -full address Via San Carlo 42, 40023 Castel Guelfo di Bologna BO, Italy – has just fooled me into parting with over £500 via MoneyGram for a non-existent latest Apple MacBook.
Requests, to Amazon Marketplace, for an investigation as to how they can offer for sale an item which didn’t really exist with the seller as shown on Amazon Marketplace have not as yet produced a reply.
The original product on Amazon.co.uk was offered through penNpaper.co.uk but when I tried to order it would not allow despatch to the UK (where I live). As a result – neat trick to generate an email to the fraudster via Amazon – I emailed Amazon Marketplace through their official email address saying I’d been unable to place the actual order. Amazon then obligingly sent on my email to Mr Ghius (who they had listed as the seller). Mr Ghius then sent me direct the, as I now realise, spoof order/email.
If I’d emailed penNpaper.co.uk (the original ’seller’) rather than via Amazon then I wouldn’t have got into this mess.
At this point a reply from Mr Ghius seemed totally above board as he’d been emailed by Amazon on my behalf for goods that he had offered for sale on Amazon Marketplace initially under a flag of convenient anonymity. The fact that this reply was a very convincing-looking spoof didn’t enter my head (apart from thinking this bargain is too good to be true!) so off went my MoneyGram.
It appears to me that Amazon is allowing this fraud to be perpetuated. A weakness on Amazon Marketplace allows the methodology employed by Italian-job Ghius. Such a technique using Amazon Marketplace must surely be on Amazon’s radar as there will be hundreds of suckers like me who are complaining to them.
I thought I was an internet-savvy user and buyer… There’s a first time for everything. Suggestions for getting my money back welcomed.
My case was an opposite situation.
I was a seller, and after I insisted I would ship after the payment was received he sent me a scam check, which turned out to cost $30 because the bank though I tried to cash from a scam check.
So, although you are cautious enough not to ship your goods before you secure the payment, you should be more cautious not to pay to the bank the fee for a scam check.
wow, I can’t believe how many idiots actually fall for this scam, sending hundreds of pounds or dollars via western union or moneygram, you deserve to lose your money.
This guy or guys must be having such a laugh at our expense. I’ve also been suckered out of £400.
Looks like he advertises something with an extra 10 – 15% off to make it tempting on Amazon.co.uk and then uses their own system to contact the unsuspecting buyer. Amazon.co.uk have clearly done nothing to prevent this from happening. I spoke to them and they didn’t seem too surprised, still in reality nothing will be done. There may however be something the small guy can do. This joker is using moneygram, if you call them directly via: https://www.moneygram.com/MGICorp/ContactUs/index.htm and give them your reference number and tell them that the person you sent the money to is a low life and is scamming people in the uk. They will register their name and details on their system as a flag and you never know next time they try to cash in they might just get ……!
To Steven
With an attitude such as yours it is hoped that one day you will be in our situation. Nobody deserves to lose hard earned cash.
If everyone who has been scammed or diddled out of money through the agent Amazon, they have a nice disclaimer and legal department. It sticks in my craw to note that they (Amazon) are the agents of a scammer. No duty of care.
So why not email all your friends and get their friends and so on, to ban trading through Amazon. In this day of the Squeeeeze maybe it might take effect and it will serve them jolly right.
Just a thought I am sure that most people will have done this but lets put a bit of vigour behind it.
I join to the club… unfortunately. How I read this forum, he use all the time same fax number in the ‘confirmation’ e-mail. How could we found it???
I lost Ł430…
Unfortunately I found this forum too late…
Dear Richard,
I was scammed by the same guy as well.
”Dan Ghius -full address Via San Carlo 42, 40023 Castel Guelfo di Bologna BO, Italy – has just fooled me into parting with over £500 via MoneyGram for a non-existent latest Apple MacBook air.
Requests, to Amazon Marketplace, for an investigation as to how they can offer for sale an item which didn’t really exist with the seller as shown on Amazon Marketplace have not as yet produced a reply.
The original product on Amazon.co.uk was offered through penNpaper.co.uk but when I tried to order it would not allow despatch to the UK (where I live). As a result – neat trick to generate an email to the fraudster via Amazon – I emailed Amazon Marketplace through their official email address saying I’d been unable to place the actual order. Amazon then obligingly sent on my email to Mr Ghius (who they had listed as the seller). Mr Ghius then sent me direct the, as I now realise, spoof order/email.
If I’d emailed penNpaper.co.uk (the original ’seller’) rather than via Amazon then I wouldn’t have got into this mess.
At this point a reply from Mr Ghius seemed totally above board as he’d been emailed by Amazon on my behalf for goods that he had offered for sale on Amazon Marketplace initially under a flag of convenient anonymity. The fact that this reply was a very convincing-looking spoof didn’t enter my head (apart from thinking this bargain is too good to be true!) so off went my MoneyGram.
It appears to me that Amazon is allowing this fraud to be perpetuated. A weakness on Amazon Marketplace allows the methodology employed by Italian-job Ghius. Such a technique using Amazon Marketplace must surely be on Amazon’s radar as there will be hundreds of suckers like me who are complaining to them.
I thought I was an internet-savvy user and buyer… There’s a first time for everything. Suggestions for getting my money back welcomed.”
Poor us.. Please help
This is another one of the scammers multiple-identities:
Ship from Address:
First name: Rick
Last name : Navara
Address: Via Morgagni #11
City: Roma (RM)
Zip code: 00161
Country: Italy
Tried to scam me into buying a Nikon D90 through a Western Union money transfer. I also found this website with the fax-number. Now I’m gonna spam his ass.
I nearly got scammed and luckily I didn’t
All the same happened to me, saw a seller on marketplace selling the Canon G10 for 100 quid off the price. I emailed the seller as he has some dodgy reviews (you know you get Mr a giving a comment every 5 days), then the listing was offline.
I got involved in a few email conversation then I received a confirmation from amazon for invoicing asking to send via western union.
Subject:
Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera – Black (14.7MP, 5x Optical Zoom) 3.0″ PureColor LCD II Viewfinder
Delivery Method: Standard Delivery
Subtotal of Items: £200.00
Postage & Packing: £10.00
——
Total for this order: £210.00
Dispatch estimate for this item: April ,01 2009
The seller requests to be paid via MoneyGram® Money Transfer.
To submit the payment with MoneyGram Money Transfer you have the following option:
Pay for the transfer with cash at a local MoneyGram agent.
Click here to locate the agents in your area.
Email the payment receipt to the following address: Confirm Payment
Use this secure way to confirm your payment only if you feel unsafe to release the payment details directly to your seller.If you need further assistance contact Amazon.co.uk Customer Center by Clicking here
Once the payment was sent, provide the following information:
1) Reference Number (MoneyGram Reference Number):
2) Sender name :
3) Sender address :
4) City where you sent the money from:
5) Amount sent:
Then wait for the confirmation that the payment was received. After that you will receive the tracking number for your product.
The funds will not be released under any circumstances! We will hold the payment until you will send us your confirmation that you have received, inspected and you agree to keep the item. When we will have your confirmation we will transfer the funds to the seller. If the item it is not what was described you will ship it back to the seller and we will refund your money 100%.
E-mail Address: info.mobim88@gmail.com
Ship from Address:
First name: Cynthia
Last name : Separt
Adress: Via Aleardo Aleardi
City: Padova
Zipp code: 35121
Country: Italy
Payment Address:
First name: Cynthia
Last name : Separt
Adress: Via Aleardo Aleardi
City: Padova
Zipp code: 35121
Country: Italy
again if you click the suppose to be confirm western union email it is:
order-marketplace@live.com
wow! amazon moved to use a free email service by microsoft!!
These bast*rds are very smart and usually target the ”greedy” (Thats what they call their victims as i learnt). I have been a victim of this scam on Amazon and i hope nobody else falls prey.
In my own case, i put up my fairly used HP tx2000 laptop for sale on Amazon as i got a new Macbook Air. In a few days, i got a mail which was supposed to be from Amazon stating that a buyer had purchased my item and the full amount would be credited into my account after i had dispatched the laptop and provided the shipment number.
Unsuspectingly, i acted as advised and posted my laptop worth over £700 quid at the time. After a few weeks without the returns from the sale, I contacted Amazon which claimed they were unaware of this transaction. It was then that it dawned on me that i had been scamed by these wh*res.
I am against the death penalty but for these people, i would delight in seeing then hang (or electrocuted, or something even scarier). Imagine them call me ”greedy”.
A later mail also included the postage address
I have just dodged a scam on Amazon with a new 50D Cannon DSLR. Again they instruct you to use moneygram and as the post above (Eve’s) telling you to fax the number for confirmation of money sent. I forwarded all this to Amazon and obviously saved myself from loosing just over £400 in Cash.
My advice: if it does not go through the normal Amazon site by clicking add to basket or via Paypal..then don’t do it! As one post has already said…”If it’s too good to be true…etc…”
Things to look out for…then you know it’s a scam!
order-support@live.com
modern.bolton@gmail.com (Latest email address they are using)
Bolton Electric
fax number : 44-7006-036-876.
Once the payment was sent, provide the following information:
1) Reference Number (MoneyGram Reference Number):
2) Sender name :
3) Sender address :
4) City where you sent the money from:
5) Amount sent:
Then wait for the confirmation that the payment was received. After that you will receive the tracking number for your product.
Hope that helps
Robert L