(no subject)

[turps]

I've been reading xoverau's Just To Surrender again this morning. I love that story so much, it hurts to read but in such a good way. Angst, the perfect way to start the day, especially when you day starts with a parcel from E-Bay too :)

Talking about E-Bay I need advice, or at least Kay does. She's been selling her mobile on there and it was bought on a buy it now by this guy in Nigeria. She mailed him saying she only posted to the UK ( which she states on the listing ) so couldn't send him it, then relisted the phone. The next day he bought it on buy it now again and e mailed saying he would pay either by sending money or Bidpay. She mailed him again repeating that she only posted to the UK then relisted. Next day he'd used buy it now again but this time said he'd paid the money to paypal. The thing is it included a mail from a place that said the money would only be paid into her paypal account if she entered the shipping number to prove she'd sent the phone. The whole thing is screaming fraud to me, especially as the guy isn't a member of e-bay anymore. So really I'm asking if anyone has done that with paypal, having to use the shipping number thing. It could be a valid I suppose but right now I'm not convinced at all.

Finally. I was talking to trumpeterofdoom yesterday and we got talking about meeting up again. We were going to do it earlier this year but real life got in the way and it never happened. Now I think there's tentative plans for a sparkly get together between Connotations and Christmas, and Connotations too of course which is Sept 30th to Oct 2nd but this would be separate to that, maybe, if we can make it work. So no plans yet, just stating that hopefully it'll happen this time. So if anyone is interested just yell.

I'm looking forward to Connotations this year and man, that's so different to last year when just the thought of going and meeting people had me paralysed with fear. Though it did teach me that it's possible to face up to your fears and just do it. Or to be truthful it's possible to face up to your fears when your other half has his hand wedged in your back pushing you into the room saying 'I've paid for it now, you're not going home. So yes, Connotations, it's in my home area again so you can come up and see the Geordies and Mackems. The hotel is right next to the sea and there'll be a load of cool sparkly people there, and me too.

Okay, pimp session over, I'll go now :)

Comments

[moxie-brown.livejournal.com]

DO NOT TRUST ANYONE FROM NIGERIA!

Seriously, since their laws are so lax on these sorts of things, there is no way I'd trust anyone from that country (especially since the buyer seems to be playing "ignorant foreigner" and trying to pressure and tempt your Kay into this transaction). And Paypal has screwed over so many people, I'd advise to block the user name from eBay so they can't bid on any of her future items.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I'm going to look into blocking the user name because I'm convinced it's a scam now.

Thanks so much for the info.

[791-43.livejournal.com]

The Nigerian Phone Scam is so widespread that a lot of Ebay auctions for mobile phones now specifically state that they won't send phones to Nigeria. The shipping number thing sounds like escrow, but escrow has to be offered, or at least pre-agreed to, by the seller, rather than randomly imposed by the buyer.

There is no way that this isn't a scam, basically.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Thanks for telling me that. I pretty much suspected it was a scam but couldn't be positive. Now I am.

Thank you.

[dine.livejournal.com]

pretty positive that's a scam, and Kay should be wary. maybe she should complain to eBay about the buyer - they might be able to block him.

and I'm glad you're already looking forward to going to Connotations! - I remember last year when you were so torn about it, but I just knew you'd have a blast once you got there.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think it's a scam too. He's just too persistent about things. I think a complaint is totally in order.

I was terrified last year about going to Connotations, and you were one of the people who calmed me down and got me to go, so thank you for that. I did have a blast and hopefully it'll be the same this year :)

[digital-diva.livejournal.com]

I'd report the guy to Ebay. Don't let her sell it to him.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I think that's what I'm going to tell her to do. This whole thing just strikes me as shady.

Missed you today.

[autumnyte.livejournal.com]

The phone thing on ebay definitely sounds like a scam. If he is still a "registered user", I would advise your friend to report his actions so that ebay can give him a warning. If he's not a registered user anymore, he won't be able to bid on any more auctions, so maybe your friend can relist the phone. Also, I think there's a way to do an auction where the bidders have to be approved by the seller first (I might be making this up, but I could've sworn that was the case). Anyway, maybe there is some sort of restriction your friend could put on the auction to deter any future Nigerian bidders.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

It really seems like a scam to me too. The buyer is too persistent and the things he's doing just ring alarm bells. I'm going to investigate your suggestions and hopefully get something sorted.

Thank you :)

[xoverau.livejournal.com]

To confirm what everyone else has said--my best friends' brother got taken in by that scam and was really screwed by it. Stay away. :)

Also, eee! You read my fic! Always a thrill to know. *grin*

[turps33.livejournal.com]

People suck, man. Not in a good way either. Don't worry, I'm going to tell her to ban him and keep away.

I love your story! It's way up there with my all time favourites.

[urbanoceanix.livejournal.com]

sparkly get together .... So if anyone is interested just yell.

Me!