Bogus/scary 2nd chance offers on eBay BEWARE

[itjclarke]

I got a phony 2nd chance offer today, supposedly from eBay. It was an item I'd recently bid (only because my watch list was maxed out), and the offer seemed impossible since my bid was about $2K less than the final price. I contacted the seller immediately through eBay and he confirmed he did not send this offer. I've never had this happen before and am not sure how the scammer got my personal email address. Not sure if he's hacked the seller's account (do sellers have access to all bidders' personal email addresses?) or mine.. or if this email is just a totally bogus creation based on info the scammer is able to access publically through eBay (not sure how since bidders are anonymous, let alone display personal email/contact info).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1921-E121-Am...#ht_642wt_1047

- Below is text from notification email, I'll try to add a screen shot later.. it looked pretty legimate, only the sender email address was fishy- ebay@ebay.sky56.info, the item link did not work, and when responding it went directly to a personal email address- jrenv.engineer@gmail.com). All other links (seller page, other ebay links, etc) seemed to work.


You've received a Second Chance Offer on eBay item #160991305314: 1921 E121 American Caramel Babe Ruth PSA Graded GOOD 2 Show Details
From eBay
To Ian T clarke
eBay sent this message to Ian T clarke.
Your registered name is included to show this message originated from eBay. Learn more.
You've received a Second Chance Offer



Dear Ian T clarke,
You've been given a second chance to buy 1921 E121 American Caramel Babe Ruth PSA Graded GOOD 2, which you placed a bid on for $ 2,999.00 on Mar 17, 2013 . To purchase this item, reply to this email or just contact the seller at: jrenv.engineer@gmail.com

1921 E121 American Caramel Babe Ruth PSA Graded GOOD 2
Price: $ 2,999.00

Seller:
Seller E-mail:

new-england-jeweler (1052)
jrenv.engineer@gmail.com


Ask Seller A Question





Additional Information about Second Chance Offers:
The seller, new-england-jeweler, is making this Second Chance Offer because the high bidder was either unable to complete the transaction or the seller has a duplicate item for sale. The selling of this item through Second Chance Offer is in compliance with eBay policy; you will be able to exchange Feedback with the seller and will be eligible for all eBay services associated with a transaction, such as fraud protection.

Act Now - This Offer Ends Soon !
To take advantage of this opportunity, please act quickly. This offer ends on April 5, 2013, 3:55 pm. To buy this item contact the seller at: jrenv.engineer@gmail.com

To learn more about Second Chance Offer, please visit:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/personal_offer.html




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[BuffettFan]

I received the exact same email on a T206 Carolina Brights earlier today. Very legitimate looking email with the same email address you referenced (jrenv.engineer@gmail.com). Since I had bought from this seller before I sent a confirming email to him (still waiting a response) but have not responded to the jrenv.engineer@gmail.com address.

Never had this happen before either...

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by BuffettFan

I received the exact same email on a T206 Carolina Brights earlier today. Very legitimate looking email with the same email address you referenced (jrenv.engineer@gmail.com). Since I had bought from this seller before I sent a confirming email to him (still waiting a response) but have not responded to the jrenv.engineer@gmail.com address.

Never had this happen before either...

Nuts. I sent messages to both the real seller and the jrenv address and heard back from the real seller immediately.. still have not heard back from jrenv. Agree, the email does look pretty legitimate though, aside from the afore mentioned red flags. I think it would definitely get iffier/more suspicious once payment options are presented, since I doubt this schmuck would be able to accept standard Paypal payment through eBay's checkout. I suspect he'd ask for payment via Paypal (or other method) using his personal email address and off eBay... unless he can manipulate his page with an "accept offer" tab that pays his email directly. My email didn't have this as an option.

I still have no idea how they got my personal info. This sucks, but 2nd chance offers are already suspicious as is, so hopefully no one takes the bait.

[itjclarke]

I got an email from someone else this happened to. That makes 3 in one day, all from the same email address. Anyone else have this happen? Anyone else at all concerned? I'm going to contact eBay, but want to see if anyone here has an opinion about this. It seems much more targeted than the standard phony eBay or Paypal security email prompting you to login. This used specific user bidding information from real/recent auctions. What would stop this guy from falsely accepting your best offer?? Or sending a false invoice?

[Leon]

I have had a good second chance offer or two. I have had more bogus ones. I would report it.

[Bridwell]

I received this similar offer, from a different seller but the same email for me to reply to!!!

You've been given a second chance to buy 1911 T3 TURKEY RED CHRISTY MATHEWSON PSA 3(MK) NO CREASES N.Y. 1ST HOFER CLASS, which you placed a bid on for $ 1,377.77 on Mar 25, 2013 . To purchase this item, reply to this email or just contact the seller at: jrenv.engineer@gmail.com


1911 T3 TURKEY RED CHRISTY MATHEWSON PSA 3(MK) NO CREASES N.Y. 1ST HOFER CLASS
Price:
$ 1,377.77
Seller:
Seller E-mail:
david_slomer (4012)
jrenv.engineer@gmail.com
Ask Seller A Question


Additional Information about Second Chance Offers:
The seller, david_slomer, is making this Second Chance Offer because the high bidder was either unable to complete the transaction or the seller has a duplicate item for sale. The selling of this item through Second Chance Offer is in compliance with eBay policy; you will be able to exchange Feedback with the seller and will be eligible for all eBay services associated with a transaction, such as fraud protection.

Act Now - This Offer Ends Soon !
To take advantage of this opportunity, please act quickly. This offer ends on April 5, 2013, 4:09 pm. To buy this item contact the seller at: jrenv.engineer@gmail.com

[itjclarke]

How is he getting the bidder's identities? Is he in our accounts, the sellers' accounts, or somehow able to access encrypted data from eBay?

I understand the idea of bogus 2nd chance offers as a result of shilling, or other shenengens.. But not where the emailer has private information.

2nd chance offer from this same email address is now at 4 for today. I'm not as worried about the 2nd chance offer, as I am this guy doing something more clever. Maybe he emails as the seller asking for a sale offline to eliminate seller fees.. Maybe he falsely accepts best offer and gets clever enough to create a good PayPal link to his email address.

To Add: all 4 instances are 2nd chance offers on different sellers' items

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

I got a phony 2nd chance offer today, supposedly from eBay. It was an item I'd recently bid (only because my watch list was maxed out), and the offer seemed impossible since my bid was about $2K less than the final price. I contacted the seller immediately through eBay and he confirmed he did not send this offer. I've never had this happen before and am not sure how the scammer got my personal email address. Not sure if he's hacked the seller's account (do sellers have access to all bidders' personal email addresses?) or mine.. or if this email is just a totally bogus creation based on info the scammer is able to access publically through eBay (not sure how since bidders are anonymous, let alone display personal email/contact info).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1921-E121-Am...#ht_642wt_1047

- Below is text from notification email, I'll try to add a screen shot later.. it looked pretty legimate, only the sender email address was fishy- ebay@ebay.sky56.info, the item link did not work, and when responding it went directly to a personal email address- jrenv.engineer@gmail.com). All other links (seller page, other ebay links, etc) seemed to work.


You've received a Second Chance Offer on eBay item #160991305314: 1921 E121 American Caramel Babe Ruth PSA Graded GOOD 2 Show Details
From eBay
To Ian T clarke
eBay sent this message to Ian T clarke.
Your registered name is included to show this message originated from eBay. Learn more.
You've received a Second Chance Offer



Dear Ian T clarke,
You've been given a second chance to buy 1921 E121 American Caramel Babe Ruth PSA Graded GOOD 2, which you placed a bid on for $ 2,999.00 on Mar 17, 2013 . To purchase this item, reply to this email or just contact the seller at: jrenv.engineer@gmail.com

1921 E121 American Caramel Babe Ruth PSA Graded GOOD 2
Price: $ 2,999.00

Seller:
Seller E-mail:

new-england-jeweler (1052)
jrenv.engineer@gmail.com


Ask Seller A Question





Additional Information about Second Chance Offers:
The seller, new-england-jeweler, is making this Second Chance Offer because the high bidder was either unable to complete the transaction or the seller has a duplicate item for sale. The selling of this item through Second Chance Offer is in compliance with eBay policy; you will be able to exchange Feedback with the seller and will be eligible for all eBay services associated with a transaction, such as fraud protection.

Act Now - This Offer Ends Soon !
To take advantage of this opportunity, please act quickly. This offer ends on April 5, 2013, 3:55 pm. To buy this item contact the seller at: jrenv.engineer@gmail.com

To learn more about Second Chance Offer, please visit:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/personal_offer.html




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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That is the same email I got for a second chance offer on tuesday. It was an SGC 84 Mullin from David B. Vintage

[jwilson6204]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

That is the same email I got for a second chance offer on tuesday. It was an SGC 84 Mullin from David B. Vintage

Probably not a good idea to go for the 2nd chance offer on the Ruth since it's sitting in my safe. I received a similar 2nd chance offer for a T3 Mathewson. Again, it seemed odd since my offer was well below the final price (and the email wasn't through Ebay).

(first post. I meant to capture the quote regarding the Ruth that was above the quote that was included)

[jdmeltz]

It looks like this is getting some attention:

http://money.msn.com/saving-money-ti...7-7698d83edde7

[bobbyw8469]

I wish they would catch that con artist.

[itjclarke]

I wonder if they used N54 to research their article

[robw1959]

I don't know if they ever catch anybody, but I normally forward those second chance offer e-mails to spoof@ebay.com, especially if I'm uncertain if the offer is genuine. Then eBay can reply with a confirmation that the offer was truly fake.

[ezez420]

I looked up one of the previous auctions that jengineer sent a second chance offer from and the winning bidder is no longer a registered user. The item was a $4500 d304 Mathewson card psa 5.i received a second chance offer having bid on it from jengineer. Could it be possible that accounts have been hijacked and then other accounts are used to win auctions? This way no item is ever shipped out, the email can go out from the winning bidder with the information provided from the seller, however the seller is never being associated as the emails don't match. I will say this the seller did not answer any questions on the item and hasn't sold an item since. There are quite a few of these one off single high dollar cards lately from people with no history or feedback.

I am curious if this is the case on other high dollar auctions that people got emails from.

[arc2q]

ezes420-
That sounds like a very plausible theory. That would fit the profile of the scam and explain how the scammer gets the email information on the underbidders.

[itjclarke]

I'm not sure I fully follow/understand (reading quickly on phone) the previous post(s), but will say I exchanged several emails with the real seller on the item I received a bogus 2nd chance offer on... Then eventually the winning bidder on the item posted here.. So we know, at least with near certainty that particular auction and sale were legit. Seller had no apparent knowledge of scam mails I'd received.

[ezez420]

Then that debunks my theory.

[WillowGrove]

For the record I received a second chance offer last night from

jrenv.engineer60@gmail.com

So it's still going on a month or two later.

I remember when this thread started and I didn't read it again now but if there is anything I can do to help bring this guy down can someone please let me know.

Also - the email came through as SPAM which gave me reason to be concerned since Ebay emails never come through as SPAM (for me)

thanks to this thread I can save my money and headache. so thank you.