Romania Sony Laptop Scam ..Ebay user
My company, a computer on-site service provider regularly purchases items from companies and individuals over the internet including from popular auction sites like Ebay. I was contacted by another Ebay user about purchasing high-end laptops similar to the ones we were bidding on.
I have regularly done business this way as individuals often contact me when selling similar items and don't want to spend the extra money on the auction service.
I was a bit hesitant at first due to the country of origin, however I did request a serial number for the laptop in question. I verified the number with Sony for the laptop and confirmed that it was not stolen.
Upon confirmation I sent the money agreed upon for the laptop. I was told that he would pay for the shipping since I would have to pay for the money transfer fee. To date, the individual has not responded nor have I received the item.
I have since reported the serial number to Sony as being stolen and have begun to contact his email provider as well as auction sites that he might have accounts with. As I'm sure that this person may be operating with others or under other names, I suggest staying away from all purchases from Romania unless guaranteed by auction sites for insurance. The model of laptop that was being sold was a PCG-FX290 by SONY.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Adriana
OC,California,
U.S.A.
I fell into this trick.. and lost $ The seller, Glenn Payne London United Kingdom
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, October 20, 2004
I was taken for $900 from an online sale on Amazon.com. Since then I have tried to get my money back even feeling shame, stress and frustration (not to mention lost money) of this experience, I don't want another person to fall into the same steps that I did!
I'm a student and need a laptop and so I saw the one (SONY) I have been looking for on Amazon.com. I contacted the seller who told me that while the computer would ship from the UK, and I needed to send payment to him via Western Union to the UK. Despite not knowing then that Western Union is the preferred payment by scam artists I still felt a little weird of this payment and asked my questions to the seller. The seller, Glenn Payne(glenn.payne@yahoo.com) of UK,
First Name: Glenn
Last Name: Payne
Street: 20 gurney road , Stratford
City: London
Zip code: E15 1SL
Country: United Kingdom
Told me that this was part of a lot of computers that he had, and that this was the last one. He needed to sell it ASAP because he needed the money for his personal business. Every email that I send him he responded on a nice timely fast manner. He even sent me a SquareTrade notice (which was VERY Convincing). I felt confident and wired money to the seller.
As instructed, I sent the seller the reference number from MoneyGram after payment had been made. It was Friday night, so that meant that the laptop would not be shipped until Monday. Over the weekend, my inner voice got to me. My first concern was the cheap price. "If it's too good to be true, it probably is." I took a second look at the SquareTrade email that they had sent me. It seemed like a normal-looking e-mail, but as I read it carefully I noticed a MANY typos that I had seen earlier, but excused knowing that Mr Payne was in the UK.
On Monday, the day the computer was to be shipped to me, I kept emailing SquareTrade and Glen Payne, and this time received NO RESPONSE, what a surprise! This made me so upset! I got no response from him but then noticed the following day that the seller had taken all items off of Amazon. I e-mailed the seller again asking for the tracking number so I could verify shipment on the computer as he had promised to do so on Friday. The seller never bothered to respond. In the hopes of getting some help, I e-mailed SquareTrade and gave them details of the transaction and my concerns. The response I got was "we never do this with any client. We never request for payment. This was a scam."
I haven't received any more responses from the seller or SquareTrade or even Amazon.com. I have sent many requests to the seller but he never responds to my messages. I even called Money Gram and they could not help me. They stated that anyone with a fake ID can pick up the money.
After over weeks, I I'll never see my $900 or the computer I bought. I'm sure that if I decide to do a police report or any of the sort, little will come of it, especially since I am in the US and the seller is in the UK. I contacted Amazon and all they can tell me is that you should never pay through Western Union.
In short, beware. I know that the price is a big concern (especially me being a student) when looking for a computer, but don't be tempted by too-good-to-be-true prices like I was.
Simon
London,Europe,
I have almost just been ripped off with a Sony 390p
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, April 26, 2002
I was almost just ripped off, I have a San Romon, California seller, a Collorado Shipper, and a Romanian Wife.
I auctioned for a laptop via www.Loot.com . i wasnt the highest bidder.
I got a message back saying that I could buy it for 300 less than was bid as the highest person didnt want it.
The deal was that it was put on UPS and then I would send the money by Western Union to California.
I got proof of the UPS note that day and a tracking number.
I was told that the money couldnt be touched by them from Western Union without a password that I had set up - This is totally false, if they have my name and ID for that person then they can.
Moral of the story - if anyone or the fraud squad need more info I have everything so reply bac.