Diamonds on eBay

[boxermansr]

Originally Posted by joeyjoe

Well I appreciate you sharing with us your experience. I showed this forum to a buddy of mine that bought a touch pro on Ebay as well. He got it from mullingsm and said it came directly from the seller via USPS express mail and he was legit. I looked that seller up today and to my surprise I noticed you left her bad feedback saying something about a phone programmed with a different number and they were responsible for your $50 charge for your purchase from 11/13/08. Did you get charged $50 twice or did you get the wrong person? Something does not add up. How many people did you buy from? Who did you buy from first? Also, you said "As far as getting info, all the buyer needs to ship us a phone is our name and address." Think logically. If this was true then anyone would just open a phone book or go online to 411.com or any other site and have access to millions of names and numbers and spend all day trying to make orders. You can not contact Sprint or any phone company with just a name and address and they give you your phone number. You can not ask a phone company what your number is by just using a name and address. I use to work for Verizon and I know there is no search engine for reps to look up a number by an address or name. You must have the phone number, the you need a pin or social to verify. Anyway, at the end of the day we are all looking to save big money (maybe too much money ). I also have TMobile and actually went to the store yesterday in person to purchase a new white G1 for full retail price (over $434). This beat windows mobile hands down easily anyday (yeah adroid o.s =D>). With this phone you have still have to call into TMobile to place the imei on your account for the proper provisions and create a google account on the phone. I did not want to take any chances with eBay (suspiciously low prices) now and not be able to have full access to my G1 eventhough its a sim card phone. Hey if anyone has tried the G! let me know. I know its not a windows or Sprint phone, but after 1 day i'm hooked. Might even be selling my Sprint phones.

I purchased from her originally, the phone I got from her was already programmed with someone elses phone number. I've tried to contact ebay to revise the feedback, to remove the 50.00 portion of the feedback, as it's the only part of it that's not correct. The phone still DID come pre-programmed with another persons number, and Sprint suggested that I return it, which I did, since they couldn't activate it on MY line.

As far as the theory for getting account info from Sprint, I believe it works like this (as far as ebay purchases go). You buy from seller A (who either ships it to you themselves, or has someone else ship it to you, which is the scenario I'm using).

Buyer buys from seller A, seller A forwards the name and address for the purchase to seller B (aka shipper). Seller B *somehow* has, or gets access to Sprint's records (either the work FOR sprint, or know someone who does).

They then look up the name of the person, and their address (I don't know if it can be done, but it has been done to me, and several others, so unless we make it a habit to provide our account PIN with each purchase, the only theory I can come up with, is someone is on the inside).

Anyhow, seller/shipper B, files an insurance claim, using the information obtained from the buyers account. Instead of having the phone shipped to the address on the accountholders account, it's appearing its getting shipped to the next purchaser in line.

In my case, I purchased a Touch PRO (from celldep0t), never got it, got a refund, however in the meantime, celldep0ts "seller" (known now as dmilton111) submitted the insurance claim to Asurion, and that phone was shipped to someone who purchased an HTC Diamond from celldep0t. So, using my insurance, a phone was ordered, to fill someone elses purchase.

[yettihead]

I was in no way trying to be condescending. It sucks that buyers are getting ripped off through this scam, but please do not forget about the people such as myself who's account was used and I never bought a phone off ebay. Hopefully all the buyers work with Sprint's fraud department to get the sellers or the inside person at Sprint or Asurion if there is one.

So please future ebay buyers, please be aware that the phones you could be buying for a steal are actually stolen. If you come across one that is one from an insurance scam, call Sprint to work with them.

[movax]

Originally Posted by yettihead

I understand that, but once you received the phone with the information that it was an insurance replacement, what did you do about it? Did you contact Sprint and Asurion and are you working with them to go after the scammer who sold the phone to you. If you keep the phone knowing this, why shouldn't someone press charges as you are knowingly keeping stolen property.

This is why I am working with Sprint's fraud department and have not gone to the police. I will let them decide who should be charged for this. I do not want to F***** an innocent person over. The fact is, it is a stolen phone, your actions what you do with it after you found out it was an insurance scam determines what happens to you.

Originally Posted by bostonshaker

I take exception with this statement as the paperwork that came with the phone uses acronyms and most people would not even know it was a scam, only that it was drop shipped from an address in Kentucky.

Is it common knowledge?................or your's and someone elses.

Point being is that I really think that people who are blaming the buyers are way off. I surely did not have any idea that I would be receiving a scammed phone when I paid for it. Being condescending towards people who this happened to is not constructive and you all need to STFU unless you have something useful or helpful to say.

Indeed, agree w/ bostonshaker, I'm not sure you can blame any of the buyers here, as before the transaction there was no way of knowing it was a stolen phone - like I said earlier, worst case I was expecting no product (chargeback), or a bad ESN (chargeback with a bit of talking needed, but its pretty simple: clean ESN wasn't delivered, product didn't arrive as I was told).

It took stumbling on this thread while looking for apps to realize I was scammed - Sprint/Asurion incompetence at its best. An average user who bought the phone might be curious about the Asurion paperwork or the return address, and then just shrug and continue using phone.

The way Sprint does things though, I'd say we're all going to have paperweights by New Years - I think I'll be heading elsewhere come February contract renewal if random douchebags can look at my account details at will.

Oh, and the scammers will probably get off. They always do - no one gives a **** about regular folk getting scammed on forum trades or eBay buys, unless the dollar value is high enough. And if its high enough to warrant an investigation, it usually wasn't a type of transaction you carry out on the internet anyways (well, excepting eBay motors or something I guess).

[c3hutson]

I found out about this last night, and I received the phone 10 days ago. I noticed nothing suspicious in the paperwork because of the acronyms used.

As of right now I am unsure of what to do. If sprint blacklists the ESN I'll probably see what retentions has to say, if if they can do nothing I'll just put a sim in the phone and go to alltel.

[reconboy]

Originally Posted by joeyjoe

Actually what you are telling people to do is scam Paypal out of their fees and pull a wire fraud. Paypal does not and can not require someone to have a product in hand. I can be your buddy in Texas and you live in Cali and you don't have eBay but want me to sell your phone for you then you ship it. Its perfectly legit. Also many companies such as SMC, Quickstar, Mary Kay etc drop ship your orders and you can take Paypal on your own personal site. If you feel you have stolen merchandise in your possession and refuse to return it then you are what's called "being in possession". What you would have to do is file a claim and return the item and get your funds back. You can not legally be forced to pay and other fees once you severe ties with the item thus voided your contract with that seller. Only the people envolved in doing the "fraud" can be liable. The end user can not. It would never hold up in court. Trust me when I tell you this. My sister is an assistant D.A. in New York and handles criminal cases daily.

You my friend are wrong about it being a scam to Paypal. Please read in FULL detail of my complaint with the person I purchased the phone through.

The GUY NEVER HAD POSSESSION OF SAID PHONE. It was a Brand New replacement phone Directly from Sprint/Asurion warehouse. This guy never saw the phone. Plus to top that off , the paper for a Sprint account that was not even MINE but addressed to me directly plus the person whom it was insured for.

Since now the phone is now on MY account and the IMEI number is registered to me and NOT the actual persons account whom the Claim was made under I will either have 2 issues:
1. Brick phone because of the IMEI being blacklisted
2. Asurion decides for me to pay 200.00 plus dollars in order to keep phone.

I am sorry but in case of either method I want my money back to cover my own Arse due to neglagents created by the seller themselves.

Paypal in NO way will loose money, as this guy still has an active account with Paypal and since I filled a dispute he cannot shut it down nor remove any of his banking information until the dispute has been settled.

[c3hutson]

Originally Posted by reconboy

You my friend are wrong about it being a scam to Paypal. Please read in FULL detail of my complaint with the person I purchased the phone through.

The GUY NEVER HAD POSSESSION OF SAID PHONE. It was a Brand New replacement phone Directly from Sprint/Asurion warehouse. This guy never saw the phone. Plus to top that off , the paper for a Sprint account that was not even MINE but addressed to me directly plus the person whom it was insured for.

Since now the phone is now on MY account and the IMEI number is registered to me and NOT the actual persons account whom the Claim was made under I will either have 2 issues:
1. Brick phone because of the IMEI being blacklisted
2. Asurion decides for me to pay 200.00 plus dollars in order to keep phone.

I am sorry but in case of either method I want my money back to cover my own Arse due to neglagents created by the seller themselves.

Paypal in NO way will loose money, as this guy still has an active account with Paypal and since I filled a dispute he cannot shut it down nor remove any of his banking information until the dispute has been settled.

Asurion charging the buyers would be the most ridiculous thing possible.

[dcperdue]

Originally Posted by c3hutson

I found out about this last night, and I received the phone 10 days ago. I noticed nothing suspicious in the paperwork because of the acronyms used.

As of right now I am unsure of what to do. If sprint blacklists the ESN I'll probably see what retentions has to say, if if they can do nothing I'll just put a sim in the phone and go to alltel.

You cant change the sim as this is a cdma phone and not gsm.

[dcperdue]

Originally Posted by reconboy

You my friend are wrong about it being a scam to Paypal. Please read in FULL detail of my complaint with the person I purchased the phone through.

The GUY NEVER HAD POSSESSION OF SAID PHONE. It was a Brand New replacement phone Directly from Sprint/Asurion warehouse. This guy never saw the phone. Plus to top that off , the paper for a Sprint account that was not even MINE but addressed to me directly plus the person whom it was insured for.

Since now the phone is now on MY account and the IMEI number is registered to me and NOT the actual persons account whom the Claim was made under I will either have 2 issues:
1. Brick phone because of the IMEI being blacklisted
2. Asurion decides for me to pay 200.00 plus dollars in order to keep phone.

I am sorry but in case of either method I want my money back to cover my own Arse due to neglagents created by the seller themselves.

Paypal in NO way will loose money, as this guy still has an active account with Paypal and since I filled a dispute he cannot shut it down nor remove any of his banking information until the dispute has been settled.

Are you serious? Dude im sure he has been either transfering the money from his paypal acciunt to his bank account or has it done automaticly. All he has to do is take the money and close his bank account. And paypal cant take any funds from his bank account unless he agrees to it. The ach clearinghouse will return the money back to his bank account if he disputs the charge.

Paypal looses millions a year due to ebay fraud. Well ebay looses also because they own paypal. I live in Omaha Nebraska in tibouron golf course which is about a 5 min drive away from paypals HQ. My friends wife works for paypal.

[reconboy]

Regardless. the legal or Security department of Paypal themselves are the ones that directed me to file the dispute.

They said File so File I did..... And as far as Paypal cannot make them pay is bogus , they are still bound by rules and regulations , if you get a chargeback against you .. you better damn believe your gonna end up paying it back.

You can close any account you wish to but if a charge back or a check rolls in after you close it YOU are still responsible for those funds weather you like it or not.
No account with a bank is TRUELY closed out, for that matter ask your bank yourself the above they will probably end up telling you the same thing. If you dont pay it goes to collection.

[reconboy]

Originally Posted by c3hutson

Asurion charging the buyers would be the most ridiculous thing possible.

Now days anything is possible with Companies...