Not a scam alert, but a question or two.

**Freef** · 27th June 2007, 20:06

Are Ebay legally responsible for things advertised on their sites if they are scams?

I'll admit that I'm not sure of the law on this, but if non existant goods were sold in a shop the shop owner would be prosecuted. If it's through the classifieds in a newspaper, then the newspaper wouldn't-unless they knew they were scams.

I'm assuming that Ebay are more newspaper than shop.

abowie · 27th June 2007, 22:45

I'm sure that they exonerate themselves in their TOS.

teksimple · 28th June 2007, 07:51

From the horse's mouth:

Liability

You will not hold eBay responsible for other users' actions or inactions, including things they post. You acknowledge that we are not a traditional auctioneer. Instead, the Sites are a venue to allow anyone to offer, sell, and buy just about anything, at anytime, from anywhere, in a variety of pricing formats and venues, such as stores, fixed price formats and auction-style formats. We are not involved in the actual transaction between buyers and sellers. We have no control over and do not guarantee the quality, safety or legality of items advertised, the truth or accuracy of listings, the ability of sellers to sell items, the ability of buyers to pay for items, or that a buyer or seller will actually complete a transaction.

I honestly think that Ebay is very safe as long as the buyer follows the very basic anti-fraud guidelines. Nonetheless, there are probably thousands of naive suckers scammed out of money and products every year on Ebay because they either didn't think the guidelines were that important or were too blinded by greed. There are countless others who fall prey to other online scams like Nigeria 419, bank and Paypal phishing, fake money order/overpayment, etc., etc.

Vigilance and up-to-date knowledge are the invaluable keys to online security just as they are to rebreather diving. The amount of vigilance and knowledge-building time you invest should be inversely proportional to the amount of risk you deem acceptable.

**Freef** · 28th June 2007, 18:04

Ah, the 419 scam, where peoples greed overwhelmes common sense. I must admit that I have no sympathy for those scammed under that one.

Dave Crampton · 28th June 2007, 19:04

Hey Teksimple,

What ever came of that rebreather you were ofering to buy and visit in person (to kind of) call the sellers bluff? I lost the thread.

Dave C

teksimple · 29th June 2007, 03:04

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave Crampton)

What ever came of that rebreather you were ofering to buy and visit in person (to kind of) call the sellers bluff? I lost the thread.
Dave C

Oh, that one? The scammer (after several trips to the local Western Union to retrieve funds that just were not there) finally figured out he was being had and stopped responding to me. His account was pulled from Ebay, of course.

27th June 2007, 20:06	#1 (permalink)
Freef Custom Title Disallowed! Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Land of the Freef, UK. Posts: 1,353	Not a scam alert, but a question or two. Are Ebay legally responsible for things advertised on their sites if they are scams? I'll admit that I'm not sure of the law on this, but if non existant goods were sold in a shop the shop owner would be prosecuted. If it's through the classifieds in a newspaper, then the newspaper wouldn't-unless they knew they were scams. I'm assuming that Ebay are more newspaper than shop. __________________ David. Currently owner of two differently sized ankles.
(Offline)

27th June 2007, 22:45	#2 (permalink)
abowie Fighting Girl Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Land of Oz Posts: 574	Re: Not a scam alert, but a question or two. I'm sure that they exonerate themselves in their TOS. __________________ Andrew Bowie Rebreather-friendly Buddy
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28th June 2007, 07:51	#3 (permalink)
teksimple Enlightened Alpinist Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back in Hawaii Posts: 503	Re: Not a scam alert, but a question or two. From the horse's mouth: *Liability* You will not hold eBay responsible for other users' actions or inactions, including things they post. You acknowledge that we are not a traditional auctioneer. Instead, the Sites are a venue to allow anyone to offer, sell, and buy just about anything, at anytime, from anywhere, in a variety of pricing formats and venues, such as stores, fixed price formats and auction-style formats. We are not involved in the actual transaction between buyers and sellers. We have no control over and do not guarantee the quality, safety or legality of items advertised, the truth or accuracy of listings, the ability of sellers to sell items, the ability of buyers to pay for items, or that a buyer or seller will actually complete a transaction. I honestly think that Ebay is very safe as long as the buyer follows the very basic anti-fraud guidelines. Nonetheless, there are probably thousands of naive suckers scammed out of money and products every year on Ebay because they either didn't think the guidelines were that important or were too blinded by greed. There are countless others who fall prey to other online scams like Nigeria 419, bank and Paypal phishing, fake money order/overpayment, etc., etc. Vigilance and up-to-date knowledge are the invaluable keys to online security just as they are to rebreather diving. The amount of vigilance and knowledge-building time you invest should be inversely proportional to the amount of risk you deem acceptable. __________________ ---- _____________ "I don't know the percentage of the Internet that's valid, do you? Jesus, it's scary." - Hunter S. Thompson Last edited by teksimple : 28th June 2007 at 07:57.
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28th June 2007, 18:04	#4 (permalink)
Freef Custom Title Disallowed! Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Land of the Freef, UK. Posts: 1,353	Re: Not a scam alert, but a question or two. Ah, the 419 scam, where peoples greed overwhelmes common sense. I must admit that I have no sympathy for those scammed under that one. __________________ David. Currently owner of two differently sized ankles.
(Offline)

28th June 2007, 19:04	#5 (permalink)
Dave Crampton CK #051 Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bury St Edmunds, UK Posts: 278	Re: Not a scam alert, but a question or two. Hey Teksimple, What ever came of that rebreather you were ofering to buy and visit in person (to kind of) call the sellers bluff? I lost the thread. Dave C
(Offline)

29th June 2007, 03:04	#6 (permalink)
teksimple Enlightened Alpinist Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back in Hawaii Posts: 503	Re: Not a scam alert, but a question or two. Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave Crampton) What ever came of that rebreather you were ofering to buy and visit in person (to kind of) call the sellers bluff? I lost the thread. Dave C Oh, that one? The scammer (after several trips to the local Western Union to retrieve funds that just were not there) finally figured out he was being had and stopped responding to me. His account was pulled from Ebay, of course. __________________ ---- _____________ "I don't know the percentage of the Internet that's valid, do you? Jesus, it's scary." - Hunter S. Thompson
(Offline)

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