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[samusx]

OK, I have been looking for a new camera. I met this guy online and he wants to sell me his very nice camera. It is a very cheap price but it is new he says.

Now he lives in UK he says, and he will accept my offer of 80,000YEN. Now I was worried that he is trying to scam me because my offer seemed too low. He is willing to accept 80,000YEN for a new Canon EOS-1 Ds.

Now I have been trying to find out the safest way to make a deal with this guy so I can make sure he can't scam me?

He said that he will ship with FedEx and then he will give me the tracking number and he will get FedEx to e-mail me to confirm that shipment is ready. Then after I make payment through FedEX they will hold the money and ship the camera, and after I recieve the camera they will send this guy in the UK his money. Is that true?

Does this sound safe? Am I being set up? What are some things I can do to keep myself safe? What is the best way to creat a secure shipping agreement between to people that dont know each other?

 

[Cauliflower of Love]

Uh...as far as I know Fedex doesn't do payment before hand. It's COD or nothing. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that.

 

[samusx]

Nobody has any info? Ah, come on please.

I checked at the FedEx site and all I could find was a little info about COD, and it looks like they will hold payment to the selling unting I have recieved the package. I just wanted to see if there was anybody that knows about this service.

 

[Nikashi]

This sounds like a scam dude.

 

[samusx]

I am not so sure. I have chatted with the guy on MSN and I worked out how it will go. If I can get a Western Union money order transfer. They give me the transaction #.

This guy said that Fed Ex will e-mail me to confirm what they will ship to me. And they will hold it until there is proof that I will pay this guy.

Then when I get the transaction number, and I tell it to FedEx and they ship me the camera.

Now when the camera gets to me I check it and say "OK, all is well". Then they give the transaction # to the seller and he can get the money from the bank.

That sounds well and safe to me. I am going to check at the bank before I pay to make sure that this guy will not have access until he knows the transaction #.

Other then that, sounds ok.

I have the guys address and phone # so if anything went crazy I could always tell someone to check his phone # and they could find him.

 

[Nikashi]

Dude, after what you just posted, TOTALLY sounds like a scam. I bet the FedEx email is forged, and the tracking number won't be valid. Just find another place to buy it, this REEKS of a scam. Why would you need to use western union anyways? Can't FedEx use credit cards? TOTAL SCAM.

 

[samusx]

OK, well when I get this e-mail that is supposed to be from FedEx, is there some way that I can call or mail the 100% real FedEx, and confirm if this guy really is or is not sending me a camera package?

I mean if I just wait check out and confirm that this guy really is sending me something. Is that not good?

I know it sounds like a super good deal, but maybe I just found a guy that needs the cash, maybe I am lucky.

Instead of dumping this chance to maybe get a break for once, I would at least like to confirm 100% that he is scaming me.

Anyone have any ideas about what I can do to confirm that the info he gives me is real? Such as calling FedEx dirrectly or something like that.

I have not sent him anything yet so I have not lost anything yet. So for now help me find out if this real or not.

 

[CueTheMusic]

Just forget the whole thing. It's a scam. Compare it with these:

link 1
link 2
link 3
link 4

 

[samusx]

Well thanks for the info guys. As most you pointed it looks like a scam. I am not safe with a Western Union bank transfer. It is too bad.

I told the guy if he still wants to sell it to me, I will only pay for it COD. So if it does come to me and it is what he stated, I will send him the money. But other wise, it is a no deal.

We will see if he is willing to send me the camera.

Anyway, I am not holding my breath to see a camera kit in the mail anytime soon. But if he does send it, I guess he is just a nice guy and I am a pain in the ass. Ha ha ha.

Thanks for the help guys, you really saved me, I really mean it, thanks.