Amazon Marketplace scam
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.
October 10th, 2007 at 10:38 am #Enzo Ferrari
I agree completely. I have been scammed several times from the Amazon Marketplace and will NEVER be using it again! The latest one was from a seller called “ItgSalesRep@aol.com”. They not only ripped me off on the shipping charges, but sent a product that had nothing in common with what it was described as other than the colors and yes, they were cables. The sell had the gaul to reply to my complaints with the old “It is similar to what you ordered” (A TOTAL LIE). You would think people would have some degree of respect to the buyers but some of the people on Amazon Marketplace are shady scam artists looking to do nothing but steal money from people. I guess people thrown out of the used car sales business have finally found a new home to rip people off with.
May 27th, 2008 at 4:06 pm #Rodrigo
Hi
Very good information, thank you. I was in the same situation, but with a Canon 5D, the discount from the seller was too good to be true. This time is a guy from Italy and he is asking me to send him the money via MoneyGram to the name of Stefano Georgian. The e-mail that I recieved looks like it is from Amazon, that even included a fax number 1-510-380-7123. The e-mail says exactly what you mention in your e-mail but with different item (the seller is funfinity and he is using AOL too.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:56 am #Ed Gillett
Yup, add another one onto the Stefano Georgian pile, this time with a Canon 400D for £190, supposedly As New ex display.
Authentic looking amazon email, but too many things wrong with it, and yes, never send via MoneyGram.
As the old addage goes “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is”.
Have to say it’s the first time I’ve been suckered into on Amazon Marketplace though.
The item had dropped off the face of Amazon.co.uk too
June 7th, 2008 at 4:32 am #Hitesh
I almost got duped into this guy Stefano Georgian and his AMAZING OFFER of a PS3 60GB for £225 on Amazon too.
Again, an authentic looking email from Amazon arrived in my mailbox asking for payment to be sent via Moneygram and how its covered under their A to Z Safe buying guarantee program. See below:
Sent from: marketplace.orders@europe.com
Greetings from Amazon.co.uk
Your seller is unable to use the usual credit card payment, due the fact he can not receive international funds to credit card. That is why we asked for a MoneyGram Money Transfer. You have to pay for the transfer with cash at a local MoneyGram agency. Please note you will have to pay the MoneyGram fee from the total amount. This order is covered by Amazon’s “A-to-z Safe Buying Guarantee Program”, this transaction is safe. Did not found your order because there is no order. An order number will be automatically assigned once we receive and verify your payment (just like in the credit card order - once you fill in your credit card details and your card is charged you receive the order).
Once the payment has been placed you can reply this email with the payment details (or send a scanned paper from MoneyGram), or fax us the details (you should have the fax number on your order). Once we receive your payment details, we will notice the seller to start the delivery process. Please note we will not release the payment details to the seller, only after you will contact us to confirm us you have received, inspected, and agree to keep the item.
Thank you for shopping with us.
Amazon..co.uk
Earth’s Biggest Selection
Buyers beware!!
June 11th, 2008 at 10:09 am #Trina
Can’t believe what I am reading! My son has just sent £425.00 to this guy (via a bloke called Tim Caresma - is this an anagram of Scamer!) foe a laptop he saw on e-bay. The deal was done outside of ebay through Square Trade. E-bay say they can’t help, the Police say they can’t help because the address for this bloke is in Italy, Moneygram say they can’t help as the money has been cashed!! Has anybody tried taking this further or are we just screwed ???
Stefano Georgian needs to be stopped - AS SOON AS…..
June 12th, 2008 at 5:41 am #Bethan
Stefano Georgian is a hideous, despicable person. I have also just fallen victim to his very clever scamming on Amazon marketplace. I believed I was buying a Nikon D80 and am now several hundred pounds poorer. Amazon and Moneygram are unable to help me - I don’t consider myself to be a naive internet buyer but his emails (supposedly from amazon) looked absolutely 100% convincing. PLEASE DO NOT SEND THIS MAN ANY MONEY VIA MONEY GRAM
June 16th, 2008 at 3:45 pm #Tichi
I have done the same- I sent money via Money Gram transfer to this man Stefano Georgian. He was supposed to be eBay representative. Luckily the transfer was held, so I got my money back. I wrote to the person who was selling me Nikon D200 camera, and I was told to sent money to some other guy called
Stefano George
via Serafico 126
Roma
00142
Italy
Obviously its his new name. Today I was looking at Gumtree website and I found exactly the same advertisment concerning Nikon D200 + accessorieses. So he is trying to find his new victim!!! Beware!!!
June 26th, 2008 at 7:53 am #Jennifer Criscuolo
I have experience the opposite scam situation. I’ve sold used computer games to people who receive them and claim that they never received them. After a certain amount of time they can file a claim and get a full refund - so they get a free game and the seller is out the money, the game, and the shipping expenses! I don’t think I’ll ever sell on Amazon.com again.
June 29th, 2008 at 4:39 pm #curlykale
Hi, he’s called George Stefano now and he’s offered me a Nikon D300 for £610!!
He goes under the name of warehouseoutlet. This is his latest email asking about the email I got from Amazon(which was extemely well done and has lots of links to Amazon)
Hello,
did you received the order confirmation from amazon
please check your email because it was sent
thank you
On Sun, Jun 29, 2008 at 4:40 AM, warehouseoutlet.sale@gmail.com wrote:
ok
i will start your order and amazon will contact you with the invoice after,
let me know when you got it
thank you
I have sent an email to Amazon as it is 00.23 am.
NEVER EVER PAY ANYTHING BY WESTERN UNION OR ANY OTHER MONEYGRAM!
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:41 pm #Ethan
Amazon.com says on EVERY marketplace page to NEVER USE WIRE TRANSFERS. People should heed that warning, Amazon isn’t saying this just for kicks and giggles. Stick to Amazon Payments, if he scams you there’s always A-to-Z’s.
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:43 pm #Ethan
Here is the exact words when you buy stuff from the Marketplace:
“Always pay through Amazon.com’s Shopping Cart or 1-Click. Your purchase will be protected by the A-to-z Safe Buying Guarantee. Never respond to requests to send funds via wire transfer. Learn more about Safe Online Shopping. ”
So I really can’t sympathize for people that went ahead and used them, you would think something was up when he declined using Amazon Payments.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:10 am #Catherine
OMG!! Just put this email address(warehouseoutlet.sale@gmail.com) into google and found this site. I too look to have been scammed after years of no problem with ebay - I suppose the lap top (money gram £189) might still arrive (?) but given there’s been NO contact from him since I said I’d sent the money I very much doubt it - and the email he sent was worded exactly as the one above. My only defense is that I did hold back (couldn’t understand why Amazon wouldn’t let me put the lap top in my shopping cart) until I had the ‘official’ order from them. What a bastard. Wish he was explain to my 13yr old whats happended to her pressie. For info the name and adress is still Georgio Stefano, Via Flaminia 16, Roma. I should have known better.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:42 am #Nigel Thomas
I saw a marketplace offer of a Nikon D300 for £500. I only enquired as to condition etc. when I got the offical looking ‘Amazon’ email, asking for Moneygram payment. The reply to address was info.pcrus@gmail.com
A subsequent email contained “i can not use the usual credit card payment, due the fact i can not receive international funds to credit card. that is why Amazon request a Money Gram payment. if you have any questions about payment reply the order to talk with Amazon Payments.”
This time the address was
First name : Catrin
Last name : Moran
Address : Via Mosca 58
City/State : Rome
Postal Code : 00142
Country : Italy
I haven’t sent any money,of course. I think I might string him along for a while, asking even more ludicrous questions as I go along.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:03 am #Alex D'Arcy
Hi, so very glad I found this thread to confirm my suspicions about a dodgy Amazon deal. The seller used excatly the tactics described here when I tired to purchase a Sony Vaio Laptop for what seemed an unsually low price. They sent me a very official looking ‘Amazon’ email and requested that I pay my money transfer via Moneygram, also included in the email was the assurnace that I could secure my payment by faxing (?!) the details to Amazon using a supplied number, it is now obvious that this would have gone straight to them and they would still have pocketed my cash.
The whole thing did seem very odd and as I was not happy about sending and unsecured payment decide to google the address of the seller:
First name : Catrin
Last name : Moran
Address : Via Mosca 58
City/State : Rome
Postal Code : 00142
Country : Italy
that search led me here
July 10th, 2008 at 5:06 am #Alexander
Yep they tried to scam me aswell, and as I knew it was a scam I kindly replied that the computer was so cheap that I could fly down to Italy myself and pick it up on a cheap ticket and I would pay him in person, eagerly awaiting the reply now
Oh scammer email was: colanders.shop@gmail.com , the item was a 2.5 ghz Apple MacBook Pro
July 10th, 2008 at 6:23 am #dave
i also almost got scammed buy catrin moran he was on amazon market place, but strange he left after a day, he had tvs and ps3 going for £192 which seemed very cheap ,i ordered one from amazon but got an email saying he was no longer using market place but i could still get the ps3 by sending the money direct using western union or moneygram,
i had a few emails supposedly from amazon saying he is a genuine trader using market place since 2002, but no i rang amazon and they said all items through marketplace can be ordered then and there through the web site and not some dodgy email sent by a fraudster
so if you see anything advertised that seems too cheap to be true its because it is its a scam
July 11th, 2008 at 8:25 am #Dan
Sadly catherine i appear to have been caught out by the same person, by the time i realised i had be taken for a ride it was to late. The Police don’t seem to bothered about it nor does amazon.co.uk as the buyer still posts items on amazon.co.uk. I shall never be using ebay or amazon.co.uk ever again. An expensive lesson learnt.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:10 pm #Terence Coupe
Hello
Unfortunately I too, was scammed by Catrina Moran, Via Mosca 58, Rome, Italy 00142.
£516 for a ficticous Nikon camera - 8th July 2008 - Amazon Marketplace
Regards
Terence Coupe
July 17th, 2008 at 1:08 pm #Foolish One
Yup, I’ve been had as well on a camera. Will be contacting Amazon tomorrow but don’t expect anything pbut to be politely told to go away.
You have to send the money to :
First name : Catrin
Last name : Moran
Address : Via Mosca 58
City/State : Rome
Postal Code : 00142
Country : Italy
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:22 pm #mike
Just been fleeced by the lovely Catrin for her/his advertised ex demo Nikon D80 with a full one year warranty. I am sick i got sucked in with the dodgy emails, sick that Amazon sent my details to a known scammy email address and sickest of all that i will lose all that saved up money now in the hands of some ****!
Amazon, you have helped me **** myself, thank you very much
July 24th, 2008 at 6:22 pm #mike
further to the above, what does Amazon do to prevent scams like this occuring? I noticed Bethan posting in this thread on June 12th. Like me, Bethan was hoping to buy an ex demo Nikon D80. A full month after and i fall for the scam too. My purchase on Amazon was the first time i had bought (or thought i had bought) from a seller. The few previous buys were from Amazon themselves. I remember seeing positive feedback on the seller Colanders shop but cannot say what time period this feedback covered. This for me is another reason why i won’t absolve Amazon from some of the blame.
Is there not any software in place that checks for similarities in sales? Are the police informed both here and in the countries (Italy) where he/she collects the cash cow? Is there cctv footage available of the culprit collecting the monegram money? Surely there should be some way of matching the amount of the moneygram to the time it was picked up and seeing who is collecting.
I have posted my story at londonsnaps.com/news.htm for the world to see. I know i am letting myself in for a certain amount of ridicule but that is nothing if it brings scammers to justice. Amazon replied promptly to my emails but that was it. It is not good enough to leave us and other future unfortunates in the ‘lurch’. Information on what they are actually doing should be prominent on the site. Suffice to say, i won’t be using Amazon until i see some news about what they have done to catch scum artists
ps thanks for letting me air my grievences Alex
July 25th, 2008 at 8:58 am #Terence Coupe
Amazon have also referred me to the local Police Station and stated that it is fraud and should be reported. As for the local Police, forget it all they did was provide me with a case number and said that if the scam was £100,000 they might do something about it. As it was only £516 again forget it. So crime does pay!
I believe that Amazon have a duty of care and because they make their profits via people buying and selling, they have a “duty of care” to those of us who have been scammed.
I truste Amazon implicitly and have been dealing through them buying from independant buyers as well as Amazon. Do you think that I am going to buy from them again - NO. I also have told the full truthful story to my family and friends and also have access to a rather large Marketplace in the organisation where I work. That organisation has 60,000 employees plus.
I intend to maximise this publicly to hurt Amazon where I possibly can, the bottom line always hurts big companies.
Their shareholders would also be able to read such comments as are plighted here.
The very fact that Amazon allowed the advertisement to appear on their website must also be an admission of guilt and with current Internet laws being a bit vague, I am almost certain that some kind of lawsuit could be taken against them.
I am not going to rest until I finally get some satisfaction. If we all publicise our cases as wide and as varied as we can so that Search Engines can pick up on them, it will eventually hurt Amazon. Whilst £516 is not £100,000, it represents months of saving to me.
I am even thinking of writing a letter to the Italian Police, in Italian and English to hopefully report that scammer. I am told by my local Postmistress that the receiver of the Moneygram would have had to provide Passport for proof of ID.
You can write to me at terence_coupe@msn.com
Regards to all honest people
Terence
An Honest UK Citizen