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elgato
Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 17241
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:55 pm Post subject: Scammers Deploy Bots For Ebay Manipulation |
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Online scammers have turned to automated bots to create Ebay accounts with a positive feedback record, reports security vendor Fortinet.
Online criminals use the automated scripts or bots to create vast collections of user accounts with positive feedback records. Those accounts can than be used to sell large ticket items that are never delivered.
Ebay uses feedback ratings to allow its users to build up a reputation. Sellers with a low feed back typically deliver poor customer service or have failed to deliver goods. Buyers typically are also suspicious of sellers that lack any feedback, especially when it comes to buying and selling more expensive goods.
The bogus accounts typically sell virtual items such as wall papers and e-books through a "buy it now" auction for 1 cent and no shipping costs. Those items are then bought by another fraudulent Ebay account, all in an automated fashion.
more.. link to news article |
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psunite
Joined: 27 Jan 2005
Posts: 6213
Location: Columbus OH
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| Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:20 pm Post subject: Re: Scammers Deploy Bots For Ebay Manipulation |
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Bots create a large number of fake accounts, then applies a spider to scavenge eBay for 1-cent "Buy Now" items, then purchase them.
That is why it is always good to not just check a sellers feedback but to also check some of the items that seller has bought or sold also. |
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heimlich
Joined: 17 Mar 2006
Posts: 426
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| Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:26 pm Post subject: Re: Scammers Deploy Bots For Ebay Manipulation |
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Sheesh...can't these people use their brains for honest work instead robbing people?
Perhaps this stolen $ is going to organized crime or to fund terrorism? |
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