Ebay Seller Scam Alert

There is a major ring operating right now on ebay selling the same very high dollar stamps over and over using shill bidders. They also sell altered stamps. The same stamps are "sold" multiple times by the user IDs best-low-prices, collect04 and special-delivery. They are all registered in the UK, built up feedback by purchasing junk items and then began selling high dollare US stamps. Some of the stamps have been "sold" six or more times. Each ID is linked to a different geographical location. The same low feedback (zero comments) shill bidders pop up for each one of the auctions. Do some research and you will be astounded at the amount of fraud taking place. More to come.

*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***

You might like to search here under "British cartel"!

Welcome.
Thank you for the heads-up but as GeoffHa mentioned this seller, his listings, and his behavior has been covered extensively. It is challenging to stay abreast of his constantly changing and multiple seller names. If you have any of his new names please post them.
Don

I had no idea this was the same individual. ebay is not interested in doing anything and he is taking people for huge amounts of money.

Actually in Feb 2011 ebay Trust & Safety closed all known accounts used by this person for shill bidding, misrepresentation, and false identities.

And then in Jan 2014 ebay Trust & Safety again closed more than 40 of his malicious buyer accounts used to place false bids, leave false negative feedback, send threatening messages.

But ebay does not really vet the accounts, allows multiple accounts, and certainly looks the other way as long as they benefit. The oversight they were doing 4-5 years ago was abolished when several of the larger stamps dealers, including some I consider reputable, complained strongly about the oversight processes. The issue was that there was no transparency at all, the reviewers were anonymous and sellers had virtually no way to fight any review. It was a horrid oversight approach but instead of trying to improve it they just walked away and did not replace it.

And then we also have the larger auction houses selling to him, but while they know what he is doing is not good for the hobby there is little they can do.

Buying online is buying 'sight unseen', without the stamp/items in hand it is a pig in the poke. Many hobbyists research the stamps, but many do not research the seller. Add to this our egos, the desire to treasure hunt or 'find a bargain', false confidence in ebay's return policies, and bad transactions can abound.

Education, especially concerning the seller, is the only real weapon in the war against online stamp fraud.
Don