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Profile of an eBay Scammer

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the high-tech-swindlers dept.

prostoalex writes "FastCompany is running an article about Jay Nelson, whose primary income source for about 5 years included selling goods on eBay. Considering that he chose to skip the delivery, the profit margins were at an all time high. Under the names of biggerthanu, harddrives4sale, diamondsoft, yoshiinc and susancutey Nelson would collect five-digit PayPal payments from the buyers on eBay and Yahoo Auctions."

15 of 401 comments (clear)

  1. Here it comes... by phzr · · Score: 1, Funny

    1) Sell products on ebay 2) Don't send products to buyer 3) PROFIT! What a genius idea!

    1. Re:Here it comes... by alexre1 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Lol! With this algorithm, you'll NEVER get to step 6, so you'll never get profit.

      Which sucks.

      Pfft

    2. Re:Here it comes... by hobbesmaster · · Score: 2, Funny

      I for one welcome our new derivative overlords.

  2. Sounds like... by RPI+Geek · · Score: 0, Funny

    ... this guy I knew freshman year in college. He used to sell his used underwear and socks and things like that.

    He was a weird guy.

    --

    - "Nobody came out that night, not one was ever seen. But Old Man Stauf is waiting there, crazy sick and mean!"
    1. Re:Sounds like... by pete-classic · · Score: 3, Funny

      He doesn't sound nearly as weird as the people who bought his used underwear and socks.

      -Peter

    2. Re:Sounds like... by Rob+Simpson · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah, I thought only Japanese schoolgirls could sell those...

  3. Re:And for 5 years... by eclectro · · Score: 3, Funny

    law enforcement did what exactly?

    They bought pr0n on ebay.

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
  4. So SCO can sell.. by linuxislandsucks · · Score: 2, Funny

    So SCO can sell Unixware on eBay and not get prosecuted fro not delivery working goods?

    --
    Don't Tread on OpenSource
  5. I've seen this movie.. by Nate+Fox · · Score: 2, Funny

    One day at Disney World, Nelson met a Disney employee. She eventually moved into his motel room. He told her that his wife had been killed in a car accident and that he was a special agent with the Department of Justice. Nelson said that because of the types of cases he was working on, the agency had had to move him out of New Hampshire for his own safety -- and that she shouldn't tell anyone that they were living together.

    He got that from True Lies, huh?

  6. Positive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    great article, nicely written, very informative, will read again!!!! A++++++++++++++

  7. Re:ebay is full of scammers, $5 at a time by The+Bungi · · Score: 3, Funny
    How does mail ever get "lost"? Where would it go?

    It lives with the socks. The socks! Find the missing socks and you'll find the missing correspondence. Yes.

  8. He's in jail now, doing what exactly?... by DakotaSandstone · · Score: 2, Funny
    Hmm. What would a guy who scammed thousands of dollars be doing while in jail??

    Nelson earns 17 cents an hour working on construction projects inside the medium-security federal prison at Otisville, New York. ... He is pursuing a degree in business administration by taking courses offered at the prison.

    I see...

    --
    Nothing is so smiple that it can't get screwed up.
  9. The Obvious Solution by Slur · · Score: 5, Funny

    (1) Never ship anything until you receive payment in full.

    (2) Never pay for anything until the shipment arrives in good condition.

    Voila, problem solved.

    --
    -- thinkyhead software and media
  10. sounds like... by quick_dry_3 · · Score: 3, Funny

    a Dungeons and Dragons character...

    "He was traveling with ... about $4,000 in gold and platinum coins."

    When stopped by the Feds did he warn them to back off he's a 7th level rogue with a +5 short sword of slaying?

  11. Re:And the difference with the stock market is? by soft_guy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Let's see who damages the economy more:

    Ken Lay, Robert Smith, Carl Icahn, Nassar, or this guy, and which of the above is going to jail? :-)

    Come on! The Cure is a great band and has hardly damaged the economy at all.

    --
    Avoid Missing Ball for High Score