In a message dated 3/28/2005 2:09:35 A.M. Central Standard Time,
rolls@foxtail.com writes:


>> Does anyone have any idea of how to punish people for these attempted
>> frauds?  I have found that nobody will even react unless you have
>> already lost a substantial amount of money.


One of the problems is that so many of the scams are not in their "home
country" so no one truly knows exactly who has jurisdiction.  It's hard
to prosecute what you can't get-a-hold of!

And it's easy to just re-create a new identity on eBay.  They do pull
auctions sometimes, and they do cancel accounts sometimes, but not
often enough, in my opinion.

Sometimes it works _against_ honest sellers.  For example just this
week, an auction was pulled because a seller had a phonograph _demo_
record for Hammond organs, and on the cover it said "not for
resale"  eBay said this was a violation and cancelled the auction!
That phonograph record was 55 years old, and 'not for resale' was not
intended to mean "for the life of the item".  Very silly reaction from
eBay.  Do you realize how many record albums say that?  I've got
hundreds from radio stations, promos, etc., and that would mean I can't
sell them?  (Not that I want to!)

 [ The answer is "yes."  A "demo" recording is published under author
 [ and artist license that explicitly prohibits its sale; eBay doesn't
 [ want to invite lawsuits by the music industry.  -- Robbie

I agree something needs to be done to "clean up" Internet buying and
selling, but until then, just be really really careful, _contact the
sellers_ before you bid -- every legitimate seller should be happy
to talk to you!  I love it when bidders/buyers contact me.  I enjoy
getting to know people and sharing info, etc.  It also makes me, as
a seller, feel better about the buyers: I have more indication they
are legitimate bidders.  If you contact a seller, and they don't answer
you, or it doesn't seem right, skip it.  This simple approach can
prevent most of the problems people associate with online bidding --
_if_ people would use it!

Christopher Vermillion