Legit or not?

[SupaDupaPan]

So my friend is a graphic designer and she is in desperate need of a new mac. And she comes across
This. Now she emails the guy a few questions, and this is what he emails back:

I want 1500USD or place a bid only if you are agree with my terms.Here is how I want to go about delivery and payment for the product which will be through TNT and will also give you the chance to inspect the product before I receive the payment for it.I will explain to you step by step how this will work.

A. First you have to send me your shipping information (your name and address).
1. After I receive your shipping info, I'll go to a TNT Location and leave the product onto your name and with your address as the intended receiver.
2. TNT will check the product, also the legal papers to see that everything is OK with it.

B. You will receive a notification from TNT as a confirmation that the product is in their custody and also, that the product has been tested.
1. After that, you will have to make a money transfer via Western Union on my name, as a guarantee, and send the payment information to TNT.
2. TNT will verify the Money Transfer, and if everything is in order, they will deliver the product to your door step.
3. After you will receive the product and you will be completely satisfied with it, you will instruct TNT to release the payment information to me, so I can collect my money.

C. If by any reason, you will not be satisfied with the product, you will return the product to TNT with no expense.I will pay for shipping and you for the amount transfer.Let me know if we can do this and respond asap so we can arrange the deal today. I look forward to complete this deal successfully and to meet face to face .So, if you agree to these terms, send me your full name and address and I will go to T.N.T with the product and get the deal on the way.Let me know if you have other questions, if not bid and i will close the auction for you.

Here's a link to the TNT site : http://www.tnt.com/country/en_gb.html

So what do you guys think? I've never really delt with anyone over seas on ebay, especially with something that costs that much so I wasn't able to give her an answer of any sort. Does it sound legit ... $1500 for a G5 with that 20" Cinema Display monitor?

EDIT: Since everyone for some reason thinks that I'm bent on pushing her into buying this, here's a link to the conversation we had last night. And an update, the person that "won" the auction (the guy ended it early) is not her. So holding out and letting her see this thread actually saved her the $1,500.

http://kimmie.aimforum.net/g5ebay.txt
http://kimmie.aimforum.net/g5ebay2.txt

 

[Juice Box]

wow.... thats a scam no doubt

 

[doublejbass]

Tell her to back off now. I had this with some scam artists in the Ukraine. A Western Union money transfer provides little to no guarantee, and while you may think that the information is secure, as long as the transfer is in his name with his address, he needs no authorization to go pick it up, once it's sent. I know I didn't send out money.

 

[OOBradm]

yeah i dunno man i wouldnt mess around with my money like that.

 

[Tiamat]

I think your GF is better off going to a retail Apple store, or online apple store, and buying one that you know for a fact is legit. That way, if something turns up, you have a warantee.

 

[nageov3t]

even if it's legit, who wants to go through that kind of trouble? definitely not worth the little money you'd be saving.

personally, though, I'd never buy an expensive computer on ebay. way too many scam/burn stories.

 

[SupaDupaPan]

See, I'm thinking that it is a scam, but he keeps stating in other emails, that she gets to inspect it at this TNT place first, before even paying any sort of money. She emailed him back stating that she was very hesitant about the transaction and to reassure her, he restates this :

But with TNT is very safe.You will receive and inspect the PC first and afer that i will receive the payment informations to pick up the money.Thank you

(oh and it's my friend ... not a gf. I don't swing that way )

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: SupaDupaPan
See, I'm thinking that it is a scam, but he keeps stating in other emails, that she gets to inspect it at this TNT place first, before even paying any sort of money. She emailed him back stating that she was very hesitant about the transaction and to reassure her, he restates this :

But with TNT is very safe.You will receive and inspect the PC first and afer that i will receive the payment informations to pick up the money.Thank you

(oh and it's my friend ... not a gf. I don't swing that way )

just be sure you don't end up with this:

http://www.viceland.com/issues...n11/htdocs/ihustle.php

 

[CPA]

If he wants to meet her face to face why doesn't he just bring the Mac with him?

 

[SupaDupaPan]

Originally posted by: CPA
If he wants to meet her face to face why doesn't he just bring the Mac with him?

The guy lives in France. He doesn't want to come meet her face to face California and France are a long ways apart.

 

[TranceNation]

Originally posted by: SupaDupaPan
See, I'm thinking that it is a scam, but he keeps stating in other emails, that she gets to inspect it at this TNT place first, before even paying any sort of money. She emailed him back stating that she was very hesitant about the transaction and to reassure her, he restates this :

But with TNT is very safe.You will receive and inspect the PC first and afer that i will receive the payment informations to pick up the money.Thank you

(oh and it's my friend ... not a gf. I don't swing that way )

seller has 0 feedback and you have to ask if this is a fraud? This one has 1 million red flags all over it.
Guess you have to learn your lesson the hard way.

 

[SupaDupaPan]

Originally posted by: TranceNation

seller has 0 feedback and you have to ask if this is a fraud? This one has 1 million red flags all over it.
Guess you have to learn your lesson the hard way.

Do you people not read what I posted? I said, I'm asking for her ... the opinion of others (since I am onlly one person). She's already hesitant but she would like to hear what others think as well just to make her feel a bit better. I linked her to this thread, so that she could read it update while she's at work.

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Uhh

Seller is overseas
Is selling a Mac for a hell of a price
Wants you to send $$ via Western Union.

And you have to ask if this is a scam? :roll:

 

[artikk]

Originally posted by: TranceNation

Originally posted by: SupaDupaPan
See, I'm thinking that it is a scam, but he keeps stating in other emails, that she gets to inspect it at this TNT place first, before even paying any sort of money. She emailed him back stating that she was very hesitant about the transaction and to reassure her, he restates this :

But with TNT is very safe.You will receive and inspect the PC first and afer that i will receive the payment informations to pick up the money.Thank you

(oh and it's my friend ... not a gf. I don't swing that way )

seller has 0 feedback and you have to ask if this is a fraud? This one has 1 million red flags all over it.
Guess you have to learn your lesson the hard way.

This is definately/probably a scam.

 

[SupaDupaPan]

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
Uhh

Seller is overseas
Is selling a Mac for a hell of a price
Wants to you to send $$ via Western Union.

And you have to ask if this is a scam? :roll:

See above.

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Originally posted by: SupaDupaPan

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
Uhh

Seller is overseas
Is selling a Mac for a hell of a price
Wants to you to send $$ via Western Union.

And you have to ask if this is a scam? :roll:

See above.

I did "see above" and my point still stands. You have to be a complete dumbass to even remotely think this is a legit deal.

 

[jammur21]

Apple gives amazing education discounts - especially on current models when speedbumped models come out. Wait for one of those.

If she needs it now, Apple refurbs are very attractive for the price. Apple does a great job with refurb ipods and computers (with the exception of some refurb ibook horror stories that slipped through quality control - I think these were replaced though). That ebayer is a scammer though. That LCd alone is worth $800 used. Take into acount the lousy exchange rate for the dollar and the ebayer would not be recouping much of his original investment on the Mac stuff he is selling.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-M...R6nWajotxIvlFYpKAj601w

Power Mac G5 DUAL 1.8GHz/ 256MB/ 80G/ SuperDrive/ PCI/ GeFr5200/ GigE/ 56K - Apple Certified
1699

 

[ericb]

The guy's email screams fraud fraud fraud. Run from this auction...it looks like he copied it from a template on how to send stupid emails that set off red flags. Not a chance in hell it's real...as a matter of fact it's the identical computer used in a number of fake listings on ebay and has probably already been removed. If not then she needs to report it to eBay immediately.

 

[GrumpyMan]

TNT is an airfrieght company (like DHL) and does not provide this kind of service that I know of unless they have just started, but I seriously doubt it. I used to work for them for 6 years. You have been warned.

 

[bandana163]

Great price + Zero feedback + Seller is thousands of miles away = most likely scam

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: SupaDupaPan

Originally posted by: CPA
If he wants to meet her face to face why doesn't he just bring the Mac with him?

The guy lives in France. He doesn't want to come meet her face to face California and France are a long ways apart.

reread his email. He most definitely says he can't wait to meet face to face.

My remark, though, was more to present why this is a hoax. If they guy wants to meet face to face, well then let's meet and the transaction that way. Unless, he's using that term to mean they agree on the terms.

 

[AnyMal]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: SupaDupaPan

Originally posted by: CPA
If he wants to meet her face to face why doesn't he just bring the Mac with him?

The guy lives in France. He doesn't want to come meet her face to face California and France are a long ways apart.

reread his email. He most definitely says he can't wait to meet face to face.

My remark, though, was more to present why this is a hoax. If they guy wants to meet face to face, well then let's meet and the transaction that way. Unless, he's using that term to mean they agree on the terms.

France? His auction states location as United Kingdom

 

[mobobuff]

Negatory.

 

[chowmein]

does she really need/want a mac? build her a low/mid end rig. price seems too good to be true.

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: GrumpyMan
TNT is an airfrieght company (like DHL) and does not provide this kind of service that I know of unless they have just started, but I seriously doubt it. I used to work for them for 6 years. You have been warned.

Yeah, I'd have to agree with this. This guys states that TNT is not only shipping but is acting as broker for the transfer of funds as well as testing the computer? I don't think so.