Jim Lesurf wrote:
Can you explain why you refuse to give the number? I would not normally
give the number as part of an initial description as I'd assume most people
would not care. But if asked, I am puzzled by why I should decline to
provide such information.


Make sense to me - if one gives the number it could be that the one
recieving it is simply out to get a number for use in a scam.

I've been had on eBay and afterwards learned that there are some people
doing some pretty organized scams, not sure how fuzzy I'd be about the
serial number but I recommend doing the following - at least with
expensive items.

1. Allways get a working phone number and test it out.

2. Never pay money through Western Unioun or similar money transfer
system - they are worth nothing if one needs to track the "seller". Use
an escrow service is prefered.

3. Ask questions about the item only possible to answer by someone with
the actual product available. Also try asking for a picture from a
special angel or something.

4. Don't count on the Police to help out if cheated. If the seller is in
another country then mosy likely you will just get a "this case is to
small to start international police work". In effect it's risk free to
do scams on eBay for anyone with half a brain!

5. Don't think that only certain high profile objects are subject to
fraud. I tried to buy a full suspension mountain bike, and in retrospect
I should have seen the warning signs and had it been a Laptop or similar
I was buying I would have been more carefull.

For details on the scam I feel for read this:

http://www.cyclingforums.com/t30011-15-1.html

Kind regards

Bruno