Take a look at these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=200195581301
http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?S...1885&src=pr

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=200195580811
http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?S...1750&src=pr

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=200195581096
http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?S...1823&src=pr

Same story with his other offerings. All images copied directly from Heritage. Only background altered.

That's terrible. I'm beginning to suspect when they keep buyer's ID's private because then no one can warn you.

Thanks for the warning - those rarites just don't pop up from nowhere, especially in such a large hoard. Definately looks like a hacked account in use here.

Thanks for the warning. Reported to eBay.

RWJ

Not so sure about the hacked account. If you check his completed items they are
all for the same kind of U.S. dollar bill. It appears that these sales were to give the
seller positive feedback to impress would-be buyers for his phony sales. Note that
the postage cost is $15 on his earlier sales which was meant to make certain that only
shill bids appeared.

RWJ

Nice catch. Way more dangerous than the fakes usually discussed here. Good job ariba

Julian, there is a good reason why I mentioned hacked accounts. In the past, all of the hacked accounts were in Ukraine and they share the same patterns: very low feedbacks and all other "buyers" are hacked / manipulated accounts just to raise his feedback rating. There is a perception that if a feedback rating is rather "high" and with full 100% feedback, this will attract buyers.

I didn't check them all, but the first 3 bills I checked all had the same serial number.

I would agree about the buyer accounts. They all have very low ratings, so just created to pump up the sellers reputation before the big sale. I've seen some such techniques in the past, mostly with east european sellers, Romanian as I recall.

I also reported it to eBay when I discovered it, but they do not seem to be doing anything. The auctions are still up & running.

Also, I think they already did a similar thing with German coins 2 days ago (I know nothing about German coins--maybe somebody can verify if their pictures are also picked from Heritage or elsewhere):

http://search-completed.ebay.com/_W0QQ_trk...pZ1QQsofocusZbs

Search for completed auctions from patrick.bourlakov558521

And the next ones will be noroyykl145 and 5874sestrading from the looks of it.

An intriguing seller name.. :>/

All auctions apparently proceeded to completion with, by my calculation, sales in excess of $3,000.

It's unclear to me how much of that will be left for the seller after ebay takes its cut.

As suspected, now it is 5874sestrading's turn:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=320212987965
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=320212988014
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=320212988041
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=320212988099
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=320212988140
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=320212988181
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=320212988224

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ2...Z5874sestrading

This time it's Switzerland.

I guess I am lucky that it was a fast sale or I would have been in the middle trying to acquire the 1801 5 rouble piece....But I make it a habit to ask for additional pictures....which in this case, probably could not have been provided.

This forum continues to provide extremely valuable information....timely and detailed.

eBay continues to go down hill.....they should try to set-up a system where a middle-man is used and monies are escrowed....or some better screening process....insurance would also be a possibility....they make money and people get protected

But as long as eBay makes money, they are satisfied keeping their "eyes closed"

What is also interesting is that all the "buyers" with low ratings who have left feedback for this seller, have received their own feedbacks from each other as well as from the seller, and all of their transactions on the feedback summary are "private". It seems to be a very incestuous relationship.

I guess no surprise here....one buyer posted 3 negative feedbacks....assuming more to come....


http://myworld.ebay.com/good5151sunshine/

Another Satisfied Customer


DONT BUY FROM HIM, 21 DAYS PASS DUE,FALSE PROMISES, FILLING FOR DISPUTE $$$?BACK Buyer: vasily916 ( 85)

good sleuthing guys.... it looks like he has about 10 names....

I reported this seller to eBay on two different occasions, the first while the items were
still open for bidding. I suspect others did the same. One wonders who is the more
dishonest, the seller or eBay.

RWJ

Here comes some more......happy customers of......patrick.bourlakov558521

Feedback.......No emails. No coin. I called. Said I had wrong number. In dispute. WATCH OUT! Buyer: oofduh ( 2605) Feb-19-08 17:16

eBay has its eyes wide shut.......

Here is the latest......Swindle. No emails. No co in. In dispute. Buyer: yurig9930 ( 110) Feb-21-08 15:04

This forum has been a great education. I put together a table and there were/are 20 eBay users involved, apparently, in this little SCAN

I could not attach my table but the users are listed below and it is very interesting. 8 of these members joined on 3 days in September 07 and the other 12 on December 17th & 18th. All feedback was generated in January, mostly within a few days, but only between this little team. All are listed as from California.

They all keep the feedback private.....no surprise.....and only go outside the circle when they go for the SCAN, which appears to be the 1 day coin sales, with pictures taken from Heritage Auctions.

1pp.mailregards0
30050210cook
3064.baker.280
47588donna85
5874sestrading
8881055peace.forever
anderson10030
andrew.80.00
aonyeouyl5557
bertikwoi555
brook5522241
good5151sunshine
harris88.00.ha
jacob..duncan
lo.nature680
luckily8.er
noroyykl145
ovoskyallen5441
patrick.bourlakov558521
terlive5522

Apparently, one unlucky buyer was able to buy all the Swiss pieces, and they just posted 7 negative feedbacks.....


http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ2...Z5874sestrading

The "lucky winner" apparently bought more than $1,000 worth of air by my calculation.

I wonder how much ebay made as a result?



BTW, I see the buyer also buys Swiss coins like this one.

The sad part is that eBay could easily stop much of this fraud but greed stands in the
way of rational thinking. If they cleaned up their “venue,” as they like to call it, more people
would be encouraged to buy and sell and there would be even larger profits.

RWJ

The listing I compiled was also provided to eBay security, but todate I only received the standard electronic reply.....

I wish I could truthfully say that I'm surprised to hear that. But I can't, because I'm not.

At least for coins, ebay is going from bad to worse, as is its reputation. That drives buyers away and ultimately sellers as well.