Miners on craigslist / ebay, How to spot scammers

[Clayce]

I just bought two Jupiters through a local friend for a decent price, but I'm looking to buy 1-2 more this week. The only places I can find them for sale are eBay and Craiglist, but I'm sketched out by all the scammers. When looking through adds, what are the main signs of a scammer, or signs that it's authentic??

[ksteve96]

I just bought two Jupiters through a local friend for a decent price, but I'm looking to buy 1-2 more this week. The only places I can find them for sale are eBay and Craiglist, but I'm sketched out by all the scammers. When looking through adds, what are the main signs of a scammer, or signs that it's authentic??

I'd stay away from anyone using a stock photo for one.
Anyone on CL not willing to meet in person is a scammer, I mean why post locally then not want or be able to meet? 

[frankenmint]

I just bought two Jupiters through a local friend for a decent price, but I'm looking to buy 1-2 more this week. The only places I can find them for sale are eBay and Craiglist, but I'm sketched out by all the scammers. When looking through adds, what are the main signs of a scammer, or signs that it's authentic??

oooh im jealous

[slu2]

As for ebay, you are protected as a buyer, even moreso than the seller.   Read up on the buyer protection policy.

Also I have made a website dedicated to bitcoin coin and rig purchases, I have a small list of scammers who have tried to scam me.

http://xbttrades.wordpress.com

It is advised to add these scammers on my list to your blocked list.

[otsaku]

On Ebay checkout the feedback, look through the most recent feedback positive and negative.

I've spotted several user names leaving feedback for each other, without being able to view the actual item bought or sold.

Not that ebay cares when you report a possible scam.

So far I'm only willing to deal with people who accept paypal so I can get my money back if it doesn't pan out.

[philipma1957]

look for a long time ebay seller.

http://www.ebay.com/usr/philipma1957

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=philipma1957&ftab=AllFeedback&myworld=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2050430.m2531.l4585


I have nothing to sell right now,

 but there are about 4 or 5 sellers with 100 plus feedbacks 3 or more years selling.

in business for 8 years

http://www.ebay.com/usr/bggmclumber


http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=bggmclumber&ftab=AllFeedback&myworld=true&rt=nc   170 plus with 1  neutral



http://www.ebay.com/itm/KNC-Miner-Kncminer-Saturn-Bitcoin-Miner-272-GH-s-Asic-IN-HAND-EXPEDITED-SHIP-/291029968925?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43c2bce81d  

will take paypal for the gear


The price well a matter of opinion if it is too high.  For my blood 16 k is over my head.  Most likely this is a legit deal.  Plus you would have paypal protection.

[ComaWombat]

Everybody keeps talking about untrustworthy sellers. But what about buyers who use stolen ebay accounts to inflate miner prices with fake bids and at the same time keeping honest sellers from really selling them?

I can't really talk about statistics because I've only had three auctions for block erupters on ebay. One was "buy now" and it got paid, but two were regular auctions and both haven't been paid. The other buyer sent a sad story about a suddenly deceased relative. Of course it is possible that somebody close to you dies instantly after you make a highest bid for mining equipment. And it could be just buyer's remorse, although with 100% user feedback this doesn't seem so likely.

This feels so fishy to me although I'm a noob as an ebay seller. I see other sellers are switching to "buy now" auctions for miners. It makes me wonder how large amount of the high miner prices on ebay are due to market manipulation with fake bidding either by sellers themselves or by third parties like in my case.

The other non-paying user sells one hour bitcoin mining contracts with 1 GH/s so it's also a bit fishy or crazy in either way. The other account hasn't been used for ages before winning my auction so it seems it could be stolen.

EDIT: I'm not used to spying on people on Ebay, but it seems that the other buyer has only bid on two items within 30 days, so I guess that's buyer's remorse after all or buying my stuff really caused an instant death in the family.

[RickJamesBTC]

Everybody keeps talking about untrustworthy sellers. But what about buyers who use stolen ebay accounts to inflate miner prices with fake bids and at the same time keeping honest sellers from really selling them?

I can't really talk about statistics because I've only had three auctions for block erupters on ebay. One was "buy now" and it got paid, but two were regular auctions and both haven't been paid. The other buyer sent a sad story about a suddenly deceased relative. Of course it is possible that somebody close to you dies instantly after you make a highest bid for mining equipment. And it could be just buyer's remorse, although with 100% user feedback this doesn't seem so likely.

This feels so fishy to me although I'm a noob as an ebay seller. I see other sellers are switching to "buy now" auctions for miners. It makes me wonder how large amount of the high miner prices on ebay are due to market manipulation with fake bidding either by sellers themselves or by third parties like in my case.

The other non-paying user sells one hour bitcoin mining contracts with 1 GH/s so it's also a bit fishy or crazy in either way. The other account hasn't been used for ages before winning my auction so it seems it could be stolen.

EDIT: I'm not used to spying on people on Ebay, but it seems that the other buyer has only bid on two items within 30 days, so I guess that's buyer's remorse after all or buying my stuff really caused an instant death in the family.

This is total nonsense. I've been a seller on ebay for more than a decade, powerseller for a long time. What the heck are you talking about? There is no scourge of people with fake accounts shill bidding prices up for fun. It's too easy to only offer sales to ebay users with history, and accounts that don't pay when they win get onto the bad list quickly. What usually happens is people just don't understand that their bid should be binding and decide to not pay. They don't get to play on ebay for long doing that. I've been watching all the miner sales for weeks, planning the sale of one of my Jupiters, and it is a typical hot item high price situation. If you want a powerful miner before the new year, you have to buy a used jupiter from someone.

[ComaWombat]

I admit that I may just be paranoid when two out of three Block Erupter sales haven't been paid. (both of my regular non-buy-it-now auctions)

But I'm still confused why people with 100% positive feedback history with twenty of fifty feedbacks instantly choose not to pay. They've been using ebay for years and they surely know they have to pay. Yet they waste their 100% feedback at this certain point of time bidding on mining equipment. Either people have gone totally crazy with this bitcoin mania or it's a very strange coincidence.

[slu2]

Sellers unfortunately can no longer leave buyers negative feedback.  The seller's only option for freedback is positive, even if the experience is negative.

Check   www.cryptothrift.com 

[polarhei]

Perhaps notice the selling price or words.

An honest player usually posts clearly.

I have met some scammers before.

[ComaWombat]

Sellers unfortunately can no longer leave buyers negative feedback.  The seller's only option for freedback is positive, even if the experience is negative.

As a new ebay seller I thought you were joking at first.

Anyways, I already gave up and started selling my stuff on a domestic auction site instead of Ebay and with much lower prices. But I knew beforehand that trying to sell the items on ebay at insane prices would be a big risk. I took the risk and I failed, whether any of the disruptive bidding was systematic or not.

[slu2]

Ebay is a joke.  I use it still, but with much caution.