Need Help Taking Out an eBay Scammer

[slickster]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NY

Hi, I'm here because I need advice on an eBay deal gone bad.

Last April I bought a premade Web site on eBay for $999. It sold a special ebook helping people to improve their eBay sales.

The seller claimed it was an original site with all-new content. I set it up on a server and tried to sell it but with no success.

In October, I had a Web retail forum check out my site and they told me it was a direct copy of another sales site.

I tried repeatedly to contact the seller via eBay and via his personal email

However, since it's been six months neither eBay nor PayPal can do anything to help me even though I've got a complete paper trail of information documenting the sale and the fact it's a fake.

Now, I've found where the guy lives. I have his city and phone number. What would be the best way for me to get my $ back? Should I call the local police and give them the information? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[swalsh411]

So you paid $999 to buy a web site so you could scam people and you got scammed yourself? What's the polar opposite of the moral high ground?

 

[slickster]

What do you mean scam? I bought what I thought was a legitimate business and this guy sold me a plagiarized copy of someone else's work.

 

[You Are Guilty]

Out of curiosity, did the e-book describe the process as making one web site and selling it to multiple people?

 

[swalsh411]

The ebay e-book business is in no way, shape, or forum reputable or legitimate. It's a pyramid scheme like those "make money by stuffing envelopes at home!" rackets.

 

[dlw99]

Where is juristiction?

You live in NY. The other guy lives where? EBay is out of what state?

You could try suing the guy in small claims, but in what state and at what cost?

Is he still selling the same product on EBay?

 

[Astrolink]

Beyond what other's posted, this type of site is often available for less than $30. The real problem is you didn't do your homework.

 

[slickster]

You live in NY. The other guy lives where? EBay is out of what state?

You could try suing the guy in small claims, but in what state and at what cost?

Is he still selling the same product on EBay?

I live in New York, but he lives in California. He still sells similar sites on eBay from time to time, complete with fake PayPal sales statistics.

 

[dlw99]

I live in New York, but he lives in California. He still sells similar sites on eBay from time to time, complete with fake PayPal sales statistics.

I think you'd have to sue him in California, since that is where you technically made the purchase.

You might want to put the item up on EBay for sale, perhaps for a penny, and take the opportunity to warn potential buyers of the scam.

Describe the item as a worthless ebook that you bought from seller XXX, who lives at XXX Street, in XXX town, California. (Not sure EBay has a policy against posting that info, but you could ask.)

State what a steal of a deal for a penny it is, considering you paid a thousand bucks for it.

Someone might be amused enough to give you a penny for it, and you will at least have the opportunity to warn others about the scam and about that particular seller.

 

[ariastar]

Wow, I've never encountered someone who's fallen for this before. Tell me, why didn't you research? Maybe buy a copy of this e-book for yourself first and read it? Maybe look around online and see what other places are selling it for?

 

[BryanTucker]

Another evidence of online fraud, I must say. It looks like run off the meal MLM tactic to sell over eBay.