Well, I must say thanks to Loran's efforts in maintaining this forum and the generally high caliber of sincere collectors who subscribe and participate in this Phono-List. The books and reference materials we have access to out there are indeed education to help prevent scam artist tactics, but the real-time inputs and often immediate warnings (like this thread started) from people on this list have been a wonderful public service and I don't even have to pay any taxes for it.
New collectors, from what I have observed, are not only getting scammed as they try to get involved, but because they don't have the luxury of talking to knowledgeable people (or at least they aren't initially aware of resources like this list) they often pay too much for machines that have all sorts of inelegant repairs, mixes and matches of parts, reproduction parts, and so on. Caveat emptor will always be the final consideration for all rational creatures like us, and I, for one, am glad to have the resources and relationships as a result of this forum to help guide me. At lease here, and I can say this from personal experience, we can and do look out for each other's backs... Walt -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 7:42 AM To: Antique Phonograph List Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Is this that fishy Home again? For me at least, the time has come where I'll probably not be bidding on any machines on Ebay, especially the high end ones. Due to these scam artists' ability to hijack a legitimate seller's Ebay name and other data, you can't even say, "Oh, I know this guy, he's ok." I feel bad for all the prospective collectors starting up out there. We were all in that boat once, many of us long before all the reference books that abound out there. I came close to being scammed last year when I was unsuccessful on bidding on a Kreusi replica. Several days later, I received an email from the "purported" seller saying that the high bidder had reneiged, and I could have it for my bid. He even sent me a "legitimate" looking website of the shipper. He wanted me to wire the money Western Union to Greece!!!. I called the shipping company, and they said the didn't do business the way this individual claimed and that it was probably a scam. (I was suspicious when he told me NOT to contact the shipping company. Sometimes it's good to be contrary!) If anyone is interested, I saved all those emails from the seller (and "shipping company")and I will send them to you off list. (It's good for a chuckle, because he was really desperate, he even changed the wire address to a UK office later on!) I also went to the FedGov page and reported the attempted transaction, needless to say, I haven't heard a peep from them. Be ever vigilant! Bill _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list [email protected] Phono-L Archive http://phono-l.oldcrank.org/archive/ Support Phono-L http://www.cafepress.com/oldcrank -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.10/385 - Release Date: 7/11/2006
