CANON EOS CAMERAS = A FAVORITE ITEM OF EBAY SCAMMERS

Beware when purchasing this item on eBay.

Canon EOS 5D Digital Camera is one of the favorite items of eBay Scammers.  Here is a scrennshot of a scam auction from today.  I have blocked the auction number as well as the hijacked seller ID, even part of the scammers email address to protect victims privacy.

1. Remember receiving phishing emails asking you to click on a link which leads to a fake eBay site, presenting you with a login screen?  Most of us have not fallen for such phishing scam BUT A LOT OF EBAY SELLERS  did fall for such or similar phishing scam and now there are large numbers of eBay logins and passwords in the hands of Hackers who sell this information to eBay Scammers.
2. eBay scammer has effectively hijacked legitimate seller with long history and good feedback, such as you see on this screenshot.  The poor seller is a victim of his account being hijacked because he or she unwittingly gave their eBay user name and password to a phishing site, thinking they are loging into a real eBay page.
3. eBay scammer takes over this sellers account and uploads professionally looking auctions, such as this one. 
4. eBay scammer usually does not change the email address associated with the hijacked eBay users account because the rightfull owner of the account would receive email notification to his original email address that something or somebody changed their default email address.  The scammer usually changes only account preferences to discontinue email notifications of newly posted auctions so the hijacked victim would not have a clue that their account is being used for illegal purposes.
5. The scam auctions are for high price items, this item usually sells for $2000 plus range on eBay, the scammer lists the item at $50 or $100, some list it at over $200 to hide the bidder IDs, thus you see this auctions start bid at $342... low enough to entice unsuspecting newbie buyers into thinking they will be getting a deal of a lifetime if they contact the "seller" to their advertised free email address.
6. The scam auction does its best to convince prospective buyer to email OFF EBAY TO A FREE DISPOSABLE EMAIL ADDRESS to more information on this special deal of a lifetime.
7. The Buyer/Victim sees auction posted on a long standing reputable eBay seller account with terrific feedback so unless the prospective buyer is aware of such scams, the buyer has no reason to belive this may be a scam auction.  Afterall the cornerstone of eBay trust is seller feedback - and this account shows a stellar feedback!  Lot of newbie buyers are not aware that seller accounts get hijacked and used to post scam auctions for non-existing high priced items.
8. Once the buyer contacts the scammer at the disposable free email address, the scammer tells buyer he has multiple items like this one a a super price because... (his cousin works at the factory and got special deal, or that he has one such item but needs money due to sickness in the family or a similar excuse to make the buyer believe there is a good reason to let the item go at 1/4th or 1/3rd of the going eBay price.  The scammer tells the buyer that he is traveling in Europe on a business trip (most of the scammers are based in other countries to evade US authorities)  The scammer tells the buyer the whole transaction is being handled under eBAY PROTECTION and to email the scammer buyers info: eBay user ID, name and address and that eBay will email the buyer payment instructions.
9. If the Buyer emails their details to the scammer, the scammer creates FAKE EMAIL that looks like it originated from eBay because it has all eBay logos and professional looking format.  Such email will tell the Buyer/Victim that: - seller is bonded by eBay and the whole transaction is guaranteed by eBay (NOT TRUE, EBAY NEVER GUARANTEED, BONDS OR PROTECTS ANY TRANSACTIONS/SELLERS - but it sounds good to lull the Buyer into a Fasle sense of security).  The email further states that Buyer should PAY BY WESTERN UNION OR MONEYGRAM and that in this case eBay recommends this type of payment, which is a complete nonsense but you would be surprised how many people fall for this, simply because this fake email carries eBay LOGO so people think they are actually receiving official communication from eBay.  Finally such fake email usually assures the buyer that the buyer is fully protected, that they can inspect the item and if they do not like it they can return it for full refund.
10. Scammer follows up with the Buyer asking if the Buyer already received the payment instructions from "eBay".  If buyer requests to pay by PayPal or Credit Cards, the scammer tells them they are currently traveling and in that country cannot accept any other payment method but Western Union or Moneygram.
11. Buyer disregards all warnings on eBay site asking it's users NOT TO PAY BY WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM, NOT DO COMPLETE ANY TRANSACTIONS OFF EBAY ... thinking they are getting deal of lifetime, for example item sold on eBay for $2500 for a fabulous price of $800 and wires the money to the scammer.  The scammer takes the money and moves on to next victim.
12. Buyer contacts eBay complaining about the seller - using the seller ID he thought he was making transaction with.  eBay asks where is the completed auction- what is the auction number - the buyer realizes they NEVER WON any auction and made off eBay transaction, eBay tells the buyer THEY CANNOT HELP WITH OFF EBAY TRANSACTION.  Buyer argues that eBay sent the Buyer/Victim email instructing the Buyer to send the payment and that the "seller" is bonded/protected/etc...  EBay asks for this piece of email, buyer submits it and eBay tells the Buyer/Victim that this email is FAKE.  Buyer realizes they have been scammed and have no recourse to recover their funds because they paid IN CASH via Western Union or Money Gram service, usually to some one in Romania, Italy, UK and in rare cases to a Money Mule in USA.

These are professional eBay scammers mostly based outside USA.  They make 6 figure income scamming newbie buyers.  This entry is written to assist potential victims in avoiding this type of a scam.  Be very carefull when purchasing high ticket items on eBay.  SAFE BIDDING!