Suspicious ebay auction for a Randy Wood Mandocello

[Marty Jacobson]

Just saw this. Newly listed by a 0-feedback seller including other high-dollar items (incl. Bella Voce and Mastertone banjos, probably also lifted from other ads).

Here's the new, suspicious ad:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RANDY-WOOD-M...item4177543ad7

Here's the original, sold for $8500 in March '13.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RANDY-WOOD-M...item460386075a

All of this seller's ads are posted just minutes apart. I suppose there are legitimate sellers "batching" their sales, but it is quite uncommon, as most people spend at least fifteen minutes filling out the ebay forms for high-dollar items like these.

And of course this:
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4909/zo52.png

[Scott Tichenor]

Any time an email is embedded in an image it's a fraudulent situation on eBay. It's just that simple.

[Tom Liston]

Just saw this listing as well. Super low starting bid price, 0 feedback etc.

[Canoedad]

"Do not bid without my approval. All unauthorized buyers will be cancelled."

Hey let's get into an "unauthorized" bidding war! I'll go $95,000

[Tom Liston]

BTW seller has been an ebay member since 9-24-13! Ding ding ding!

[johnn0hj]

I just reported this one listing as fraudulent.

[Gregory Tidwell]

Any time an email is embedded in an image it's a fraudulent situation on eBay. It's just that simple.

Why is that Scott? Because it is untrackable by eBay or something?

[Bill Snyder]

When I click the links in Marty's opening post I get auctions for women's shoes and auctions for men's leather jackets.

[Bernie Daniel]

When I click the links in Marty's opening post I get auctions for women's shoes and auctions for men's leather jackets.

Me too!

[Jim Garber]

That alone is pretty suspicious. Did you see that awful scroll on those purple pumps?

[Perry Babasin]

I'm thinking they must have pulled the ad...

[Gary Hedrick]

"Why no email addresses?"

Well because Ebay doesn't allow any email communication through it's processes. That keeps them getting their money and no deals outside the confines of their process.

Their algorithms are quite powerful.......I've tried to answer a person who wanted some music from me and I couldn't put my email address in ......tried all sorts of ways....dot c o m y a h o ooo etc...they pick all of it up and tell you no no no

[Bernie Daniel]

"Why no email addresses?"

Well because Ebay doesn't allow any email communication through it's processes. That keeps them getting their money and no deals outside the confines of their process.

Their algorithms are quite powerful.......I've tried to answer a person who wanted some music from me and I couldn't put my email address in ......tried all sorts of ways....dot c o m y a h o ooo etc...they pick all of it up and tell you no no no

Interesting. The last time I tried that I got away with it but that was about a year ago -- they must have tightened things up a bit! You could still beat them by describing your address in prose (or poetry) but then maybe the human on the other end might not pick up on it -- or could think your a nut case! LOL!

For example:
I'm on yahoo,
doodle de do
mickey1966 is the way
to ping me today.