A local business owner is warning residents about an internet-based scam that’s using her company’s good name to bilk unsuspecting people.
‘Like everybody always says, ‘If the deal’s too good to be true, it probably is,?? said Karen Burkeen, owner of iSold It on eBay located at 975 S. Lapeer Rd. in Oxford.
About six or seven months ago, Burkeen started receiving calls from people about items they were looking to purchase off Craigslist.
They were suspicious because the sellers were telling them the items were being held at the Oxford iSold It store and would be shipped once they sent payment via either Western Union or Money Gram.
The scenario contained some immediate red-flags.
One, iSold It stores ‘never hold or ship items for other sells,? according to Burkeen. ‘We don’t ever ship things that we don’t sell personally.?
Typically, people bring items they want to sell to an iSold It store, which then photographs and lists the item on eBay.
The stores only sell items on eBay, never Craigslist or any other website.
iSold It handles the auctions for its clients, collects payment from the buyers, then gives its customers a check minus its commission and processing fees.
Never does iSold It ask a buyer to send money to a third party. And they don’t take Western Union or MoneyGram.
Burkeen said her store receives payment via credit card, PayPal or if a buyer is local, a personal check.
She said the only type of money order she’ll accept is one from the U.S. Postal Service, because they’re ‘more secure,? and she only does this once she’s first determined a buyer’s legitimacy.
Unfortunately, a man from New Jersey didn’t know all this prior to his wiring $1,700 to a scam artist.
‘He called to see when he was going to get his wave runner and I knew we didn’t have a wave runner and hadn’t listed a wave runner,? Burkeen said.
By the time he realized he’d been scammed, it was too late.
‘Once the money’s wired, you can’t get it back. And there’s no way to track it,? Burkeen said. ‘I felt so bad for the guy. That’s a lot of money, especially right now with how the economy is.?
The New Jersey man sent Burkeen the invoice he received from the scam artist.
‘It had my address here in Oxford, it had my logo, it had my telephone number, it looked real. It looked legitimate.?
Burkeen said the New Jersey man’s story was typical of this scam.
‘It’s always a big ticket item (for sale) like a wave runner or a camper,? she explained. ‘Sometimes it’s a car or a motorcycle.?
The scam artists are stealing photos of actual auction items listed on eBay and posting them on Craigslist.
And the price is always about the same.
‘They typically keep the price under $2,000,? Burkeen said. ‘It’s real close to $2,000, but it’s not ever quite there. That just doesn’t seem like it could be a coincidence.?
Scam artists usually tell buyers they’re leaving the sale item at an iSold It store because they’re going to be out of town or out of the country on a business trip or honeymoon.
‘Every story’s the same,? Burkeen said. ‘It’s getting to be pretty common.?
The Oxford store is receiving five-to-eight calls a week from people suspicious about this scam.
Burkeen suspects more people have been taken in than they’re willing to admit.
‘People are embarrassed when they realize they’ve been scammed,? she said.
Burkeen believes the scam artists are using Craigslist because it’s less secure than eBay.
‘It’s not as closely regulated and monitored. Pretty much anybody can put anything on Craigslist. You have to be very leery of Craigslist buying or selling.?
The eBay site won’t allow any of its sellers to take Western Union or MoneyGram.
‘If those words are even in your listing, eBay pulls it,? Burkeen said.
Burkeen feels the scam artists are capitalizing on iSold It’s success for their own nefarious purposes.
‘Together as a franchise, we’re the largest seller on eBay,? she said. ‘It’s getting to be a pretty well-known name and a trusted name. They’re taking advantage of that.?
To learn more about this scam and read stories from people who have encountered it visit www.i-soldit.com.