Merchant Newsletter - December 17, 2005

Using Google to catch Re-mailers!

Learn how to use Google to avoid re-mailers.




Thinking of getting that Christmas gift on an online auction? There are a number of scams to watch out for if you plan on buying or selling on an online auction, like eBay.  Here are some of them to be aware of:

Misrepresentation: One of the oldest tricks in business. Just what it sounds like. Or more accurately, the merchandise ISN'T what it sounds like. Value, authenticity or condition may be overstated, sometimes wildly.
Failure to ship merchandise: The merchant takes your money and runs, leaving you nothing but a lighter wallet for your troubles.
Failure to pay: Through the use of fake money orders, bounced checks, stolen credit cards, or a number of other techniques, the buyer gets the goods and leaves the merchant with nothing in return.
Shilling: Artificially inflating the price on an item by use of fake bids from phony user IDs or accomplices.
Bid Shielding: Using high bids from phony accounts to run up the price and scare off potential buyers, the actual bidder then retracts the higher bids, getting the item at a much lower price than he would have otherwise.
Piracy and counterfeiting: The sale of pirated music and software or counterfeit art, phony jewelry or gems, and forged collectibles.
Internet Fencing: Selling stolen goods through the auction.
Triangulation: The seller offers to send you the item (usually new, brand name goods) on approval. They then use stolen credit cards to order the item shipped to you. You pay for the goods (in cash) after receiving them, and get a visit shortly thereafter from the police. Credit card fraud and theft.
The "Buy and Switch": The buyer gets the merchandise and returns a similar item that has been damaged, or a fake, with the claim, "It isn't what I expected." The seller refunds their money, and is left with broken and unresellable product.
Fee stacking: Fees, usually "related" to shipping costs, are added to the cost after the sale has been made.
Shell Auctions: No merchandise exists. The sole purpose of the auction is to get money or credit card numbers from unwary buyers.




What the heck is a re-mailer? Take a look at www.myus.com.  While there may be legitimate uses for this type of service, they clearly state that they will help their customers circumvent merchants who will not ship internationally.

By providing a US address for packages, as well as US telephone numbers, they provide a protective shield that fraudsters can hide behind.  Would you (in your right mind) ship to Nigeria?  Of course not, but a Nigerian scammer can set up a US address and phone number with this service. 

How can Google help me with this problem? If you take the shipping address given, and enter it into Google, like "1899 60th Place" (ignore the suite number, that part is unique) you will see that Google has that address listed as "International Access USA", the owners of myus.com. (Try it here)

People using Mail Box companies, like Mail Boxes Etc, UPS Stores, and more can also be found this way.  Domestic scammers can use these services for the same reason.  When you Google an address like "215 E Orangethorpe Ave" you get ELEVEN PAGES of results!  (Try it here) Either this is a high-rise building... or, when you keep on looking, you see many of the listings including the "Mail Box Etc." name.  Entering the address in quotation marks eliminates similar results.  Adding the state or city name will help when the street name is common, like "Main Street".



A patent was actually issued for a Credit card 'debit management' board game! ...with the purpose being to teach the management and elimination of credit card debt:


You can view the actual Patent at the Patent office website here.

Your Mouse was WHERE? This photo was sent in by one of our associates, and we just could not resist putting it here...


Rest assured, the mouse was released unharmed, after being carefully removed from the HP LaserJet cartridge.  Maybe he was trying to make copies of himself, or just wanted to get some tasty toner....

ORDER FREE MERCHANT MATERIALS HERE!!!

Copyright (c) 2004 Advanced Merchant Solutions, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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