• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

MS Ebay Cashback Scheme

masteryoda34

Golden Member
I just discovered the MS cashback on ebay purchases recently (20%) and I did some thinking about it. I came up with this idea and I wanted to bounce it off some other people, but it seems too good to be true. BTW: Even if it would work I don't think it would be ethical and I don't think I would do it. Anyways here's my idea:

Step 1: Set up two ebay / paypal accounts for yourself (lets call them account A and account B).
Step 2: List some random item under account A for say $500.
Step 3: Buy the item from yourself under account B using MS cashback. Since you get 20% back you would only pay $400 from account B.
Step 4: Account A receives the full $500 payment from account B.
Step 5: You net $100 ?? (minus the ebay fees of course.)

Anyone have any thoughts?

1. Would this actually work?
2. Could there be legal repercussions?

---

My thought is that your next post advocating fraud will be your last on our forums. Please do not repeat.

Harvey
Senior AnandTech Moderator
 
How about account B being a good friend instead? Share the love. I don't see how they could ever prove collusion.
 
Originally posted by: masteryoda34
Originally posted by: tfinch2
Originally posted by: masteryoda34
2. Could there be legal repercussions?

Yeah it's called fraud.

Well yes OK true, but could you actually be found guilty in court?

Yes you could.

They don't have to prove anything, they just need to screw you over with lawyer's fees.
 
Originally posted by: Bignate603
Originally posted by: masteryoda34
Originally posted by: tfinch2
Originally posted by: masteryoda34
2. Could there be legal repercussions?

Yeah it's called fraud.

Well yes OK true, but could you actually be found guilty in court?

Yes you could.

How? I sell a drawing of 7 legged spider to my friend, then he resells it back to me, all willing participants in the sale.
 
they wouldn't waste their time with lawsuits, they just ban both accounts and accounts made from those IPs.
 
Originally posted by: Epic Fail
How? I sell a drawing of 7 legged spider to my friend, then he resells it back to me, all willing participants in the sale.

LOL

Originally posted by: shoRunner
they wouldn't waste their time with lawsuits, they just ban both accounts and accounts made from those IPs.

I don't see how IP address are much proof of anything. Dynamic IP's change all the time and many users could operate under one IP at say a small business.
 
Originally posted by: masteryoda34
Originally posted by: tfinch2
Originally posted by: masteryoda34
2. Could there be legal repercussions?

Yeah it's called fraud.

Well yes OK true, but could you actually be found guilty in court?

Well we now have a thread on it so yes you would.

This has been asked many times in the cashback thread. Answer: it's fraud and if you are willing to risk going to jail for a few hundred bucks then go for it.
 
Originally posted by: masteryoda34
I just discovered the MS cashback on ebay purchases recently (20%) and I did some thinking about it. I came up with this idea and I wanted to bounce it off some other people, but it seems too good to be true. BTW: Even if it would work I don't think it would be ethical and I don't think I would do it. Anyways here's my idea:

Step 1: Set up two ebay / paypal accounts for yourself (lets call them account A and account B).
Step 2: List some random item under account A for say $500.
Step 3: Buy the item from yourself under account B using MS cashback. Since you get 20% back you would only pay $400 from account B.
Step 4: Account A receives the full $500 payment from account B.
Step 5: You net $100 ?? (minus the ebay fees of course.)

Anyone have any thoughts?

1. Would this actually work?
2. Could there be legal repercussions?

Yes, my friend A and friend B did this a couple times to themselves and pocketed the cash when they had this promo the first time around.
 
OP: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

They are currently banning people who's going sham transactions (the official word)

In additional to the circle jerk you mentioned, they are also revoking auctions which they deemed is for resell, if you buying the same item for several times (someone done that with a few ipod touch successfully at the beginning but I read that they're starting to ban it).

It's unlikely that they will sue anyone, just look at all those people selling gift cards, they could all be considered sham. But the chance that they will revoke your multiple purchase from the same seller is quite high.
 
you slow, this has been going on for 6 mths. iirc people were selling cash for above face value on ebay.
 
Originally posted by: masteryoda34
I just discovered the MS cashback on ebay purchases recently (20%) and I did some thinking about it. I came up with this idea and I wanted to bounce it off some other people, but it seems too good to be true. BTW: Even if it would work I don't think it would be ethical and I don't think I would do it. Anyways here's my idea:

Step 1: Set up two ebay / paypal accounts for yourself (lets call them account A and account B).
Step 2: List some random item under account A for say $500.
Step 3: Buy the item from yourself under account B using MS cashback. Since you get 20% back you would only pay $400 from account B.
Step 4: Account A receives the full $500 payment from account B.
Step 5: You net $100 ?? (minus the ebay fees of course.)

Anyone have any thoughts?

1. Would this actually work?
2. Could there be legal repercussions?

oh they could find this thread somehow I guess and know it was collusion.
 
I don't see how IP address are much proof of anything. Dynamic IP's change all the time and many users could operate under one IP at say a small business.

It doesn't matter. They'll ban both accounts and lock all money first and then let you prove it wasn't fraud.

I've seen it happen.
 
Originally posted by: Old Hippie
I don't see how IP address are much proof of anything. Dynamic IP's change all the time and many users could operate under one IP at say a small business.

It doesn't matter. They'll ban both accounts and lock all money first and then let you prove it wasn't fraud.

I've seen it happen.

yeah, ebay and paypal are both fucking terrible.

anyway, seems like they suspect I might have done this. I bought an item from someone in the same town as me, and my ebay account got a restriction. however, over 10 days of emails, and multiple phone calls, they can't even tell me why exactly the account was restricted, so I can't even begin to find out if I will be eligible for the cashback. I bought some NFL tickets, game is this weekend, and I wouldn't have bought them if I wasn't getting the cashback. I really hate ebay...such horrible customer support
 
Back
Top