The Corral Posse Vs. Ebay Scam Sellers

[The Charlton Guy]

I posted this original message a long time ago, in a Galaxy far, far away (in the early days of the O'l Corral):

Hi Folks,

The intent of the "Shifty Merchants/eBay Sellers" section of The Corral is to point out and discuss the seemingly never-ending stream of scam sellers and scam auctions on eBay.

This will all be pointless unless these maroons are reported.

Granted, eBay is slow as molasses in responding to most reports, but often, all it takes is a few reports from several different members to get a listing or a seller pulled.

So hopefully, these links will make it easier for you. It really doesn't take that much time and effort to make a report that could save a lot of hapless bidders a lot of hard-earned cash. Again, often just a couple of reports (or even just one) will be enough to get a seller NARU'd (though usually not until serious damage has been inflicted).

Also: I have found out the hard way that it is important to be CERTAIN that there is a scam or shilling involved BEFORE making a report. Some sellers are just clueless and mean no harm. Some buyers buy everything in sight, some with repeated transactions from the same seller, but these are not necesarily shill bids.

Of course, eBay makes it difficult to even FIND the links to report outright fraud, so below are direct links to report scam auctions and shill bidding. I will be adding more links soon to report other offenses.

To report a total scam auction (Use the link: Report a listing policy violation or prohibited (banned) item.):

http://pages.ebay.com/help/contact_us/_base/index.html



To report Shill Bidding (use the top link, then hit the “report” link a few lines down the page):

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/seller-shill-bidding.html



Often, if the scam artist doesn't do it right the first time, they come back under an alternate ID to inflict more damage.

It is a violation for a suspended user to either buy or sell on eBay under an alternate account.

This link can be used to report the return of a scam seller under an alternate ID:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/rfe-previously-suspended.html



If eBay won’t do anything about a repeat offender, try the reporting to the Feds or your local law enforcement if you find yourself the victim of a charge-back or a scam seller:

http://www.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp

And why should we care about these scam auctions?

Why do anything about it when it seems pointless (as new scams get listed every day)?

Well here's my take on it. If you are a buyer, the reason is obvious. You don't want someone conning you out of your hard-earned cash. And hopefully, you don't want to see others ripped off.

If you are a seller, you should realize that for each of these scam auctions, potential buyers for your auctions are being driven away in droves, likely never to return to eBay. It just makes sense to help get rid of the bad apples.

So again, do the right thing. If you see a scam listing, discuss it here in this forum, dissect it, be damned sure it's fake, then do the right thing.

End of original message.



A New Beginning!

The "Scam Sellers" Sub-Board at the Old Corral is history. I would like to think that we helped to alert at least a few folks to some of the shenanighans and downright criminal behavior that goes on on a daily basis out there in ebay land.

For now, we have no dedicated Sub-Board to discuss the habitual and one-shot criminals who use the sale of comics on ebay for their criminal livelihood. I hope that this thread can be the beginning.

I think we can make this thread a great tool for learning about the various scams and scam sellers out there.

Go ahead and post the names of known criminals and desecrators of the comic book collecting medium.

PLEASE point out suspected scam auctions, stolen images and scans, undeclared restoration and pressing, reprints posing as first prints and the whole sick circus of ebay scams.

Ebay won't let you do it on their board. That's one of the reasons the first Corral got started up in the first place. If you are still hesitant to do anything about it yourself after a scam is discovered, uncovered, or verified here in The Corral, I will be happy to use my own ID to get it out on the ebay airwaves and make reports myself.

But I hope that we can all make a difference and alert other ebay buyers, or at the very least, alert each other about these ebay scam artists.

Thanks,

C.G.

[The Charlton Guy]

Probably the Ebay Scam Poster boy is ebay seller: comic-keys

I could go on all day about this clown and I probably will eventually, but a fella named Brian ("Old-Guy") over on the CGC Boards put together this very interesting website for the disection of Mr. Key's Modus Operandi.

http://www.cnsp.com/brrempel/keys/links.htm

It probably seems to some of you like I have it out for this guy. And I guess I do.

I hate the fact that he chops perfectly good mid to high grade Silver Age books to pieces and then makes insane profits off of them, and all with ebay's assistance.

It is a travesty, a sick farce, whatever you want to call it.

I have personally witnessed the sale of approximately 300 to 400 books by this scamster and I have a feeling that that's just the tip of the iceberg.

And yes, I got taken in by this clown in my early days on ebay. To the tune of about $250.

But that's not why I'm pissed. I'm pissed because he is single-handedly responsible for the what has to be one of the largest influxes of un-disclosed restored "high grade" books into a relatively unsuspecting marketplace.

He really does need to be stopped. or at least exposed to a wider audience as the criminal con artist that he is.

I would be happy to hear any suggestions.

[The Charlton Guy]

Another active scamster on the Ebay Scam Seller Hit Parade is one Terrance Leder.

Ebay seller name: may4pres

Mr. Leder also trims the heck out of most of his Golden Age and Silver Age books and is even known to chop up Modern Age stuff if he thinks it will bump the grade a little bit.

And Mr. Leder not only has the good fortune to be affiliated with what is considered the #2 "Professional Grading Service, PGX, but he also happens to live at the "headquarters" of PGX, Eugene, Oregon. It is rumored, with some pretty persuasive evidence, that Mr. Ledder actually lives in the same apartment complex where PGX does their "professional grading". It is also suspected that Mr. Ledder has hands on access to the PGX slabbing and labeling material, so he can pretty much write his own ticket.

How "professional"...

Here's a link to one of Mr. Leder's recent auctions. He pulled the photo of course, but you get the idea. Big money for a big ticket Donald Duck that was hacked and trimmed pretty good, then slabbed with an "unrestored" overgraded PGX label.

That's his M.O.

Anyway, the whole sick tale has been dissected in a few threads on the CGC boards and at the STL Comocs Forum.

Here's an STL thread that's a pretty good jump-off point, especially as it has some remarks from PGX founder and owner, Daniel Patterson:

http://forum.stlcomics.com/viewtopic.php?t=2852&start=0

And once again, "Old Guy" put together a pretty concise and clear wrap-up of the whole sordid story:

http://brrempel.home.comcast.net/pgx/

So if you're in the market for some "high grade" "Guaranteed Unrestored" PGX slabbed beauties, I wouldn't suggest picking them up from Mr. Leder

Again, his ebay seller name is: may4pres

He has a couple of other seller names as well, and apparently a few of his Eugene, Oregon buddies sell some of his wares from time to time.

I will try and put together a list.

[disneyteddies]

Check out this guys 50 or so "GEM MINT"s and his feedback for a good laugh.

http://cgi.ebay.com/DETECTIVE-COMICS-600-MT10-0GEM-MINT-HIGH-GRADE-BATMAN_W0QQitemZ6629980311QQcategoryZ99950QQssPage NameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[rowand]

Thanks for the heads up all! :x

[marvelguy]

You have to watch out for Amazing Spider-man #129. There are two copies, one is the real deal, the orginial copy, the other is a new reprint released for the movie a couple of years ago. They both look exactly alike except for the splash banner at the bottom right, the LGF logo at the top, and the Marvel logo. I know that some sellers will use this book to lure fools into buying one for high prices. I have seen one that went for over $100 for a frigging reprint. Just wanted to let ya'll know.
:evil:

[Rick Bradford]

eBay seller: saidgunimages

It's questionable whether or not they have this item: 6634485954 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Aaron-COMETBUS-39-all-comics-zine-BOBBY-MADNESS-1997_W0QQitemZ6634485954QQihZ012QQcategoryZ3979QQs sPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

because they stole my title, description and photos for it from here: 6630811149 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:L:EOISSAA:US:11&item=6630811149)

I've reported the link. Is anything supposed to happen after you select from the dropdowns and click Continue? I got a page
that makes it look like it's finished but it doesn't actually say so.

They has at least one other comics item up right now (a sandman t-shirt). I looked through their auctions for the past 30 days
and didn't find any more of my work so it could very well be that they do have this comic but stealing my descriptions and photos
is really bad form.

[Hoss]

Yeah, that final screen on the report page is pretty vague.

That stinks about your photos. Hopefully eBay will pull that auction quickly.

[Rick Bradford]

Thanks for the info, Hoss! I was hoping that was the case.

[The Charlton Guy]

eBay seller: saidgunimages

It's questionable whether or not they have this item: 6634485954 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Aaron-COMETBUS-39-all-comics-zine-BOBBY-MADNESS-1997_W0QQitemZ6634485954QQihZ012QQcategoryZ3979QQs sPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

because they stole my title, description and photos for it from here: 6630811149 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:L:EOISSAA:US:11&item=6630811149)

I've reported the link. Is anything supposed to happen after you select from the dropdowns and click Continue? I got a page
that makes it look like it's finished but it doesn't actually say so.

They has at least one other comics item up right now (a sandman t-shirt). I looked through their auctions for the past 30 days
and didn't find any more of my work so it could very well be that they do have this comic but stealing my descriptions and photos
is really bad form.

Rick, if I remember correctly, there are two separate report links, one for reporting a stolen photo/scan, one for reporting a stolen description.

You should make at least three reports (this is the only way you will get the attention of the Powers-That-Be). I see that this scamster's book went on a BIN, but that shouldn't make any difference.

I had several auction descriptions and photos stolen. Typically, nothing is done until after the auction ends (final value fee, you know...) but in each case I filed, the seller at least got a strike and warning. I know, because one became, shall we say, "irate" (all I did was send him a friendly little email...go figger). One was NARUed because he had about 50 auctions, all with hijacked scans.

As for the final link, you should receive an ebay message on your "my ebay" mailbox and/or personal email. If you didn't receive a message, the report probably didn't go through.

Ebay doesn't make it easy to deal with this nonsense, do they?

[Rick Bradford]

Thanks much, CG.

What I did to report the listing was hit the new-ish "Report" link at the bottom. It then took me through three dropdowns and then a Continue button.

I've since realized that a link to e-mail customer service is supposed to come up on the next page (it didn't before) so I reported the listing a second time and got my confirmation response from the Great Computer.

Anyhow, in those dropdowns they make you choose very specifically what your issues are and then on the e-mail form there's a space for you to say what you want.

I'm considering whether or not I should contact the person who took the BIN -- just as a heads-up. I have a feeling it's against policy but it seems like the neighborly thing to do.

Although I do think it's likely (judging by feedback) that the seller does in fact have the comic on hand -- just not the one displayed in the listing.

[The Charlton Guy]

I'm considering whether or not I should contact the person who took the BIN -- just as a heads-up. I have a feeling it's against policy but it seems like the neighborly thing to do.



It is against policy and you can get a strike for doing so (if the buyer complains, and that's not likely).

One would hope that karma will come into play. The buyer could see your listing, connect the dots, then there could be a big ol' NF in the works for Mr. Too-Lazy-To-Scan-My-Own-Books.

[rowand]

I have been experiencing a "new" unusual login screen when logging onto ebay functions once in a while lately. Is that a function of my booting the cookies or a scam artist at work?

[Rick Bradford]

I don't know, that's pretty odd. Probably wouldn't hurt to change your password just in case.

[btdhome]

I have been experiencing a "new" unusual login screen when logging onto ebay functions once in a while lately. Is that a function of my booting the cookies or a scam artist at work?

I'm pretty sure that's a cookie issue.
The log-in page if it "knows who you are" is different from the "no clue who you are" page.

[Rick Bradford]

FYI, the result of my reporting this listing is that it has been removed by eBay post-auction closing. Don't know if the bidder had paid yet or not (I never contacted them). They also removed a previous listing wherein the seller used all of my same info (but received no bids).

I'm definitely keeping an eye on this seller's listings.

[OldGuy]

Nice to see the word is getting out on CK and TL.

[Hoss]

:-D

Hi OldGuy! Welcome to the Comics Corral!

You have earned the $20 Corral Cash sign on bonus as well for your first post!

Have fun here!

Hoss

[SILLYSHIP--pirate eye--]

Most of you know the story on this one and I'm tired of writing about him so I am just going to post what I send people who write me looking to join the group of people looking to stop him. He doesn't trim or chop he just sells and then never sends, usually high grade modern books. One of his tricks is to use the addresses and info of people he has burned for return address and eBay ID info so that they get all the hate calls. He also likes to send empty priority confirmed boxes to proove to paypal and eBay that he sent the books.
This is all I can give, I might know more, but cannot think of anything right now. If you keep pissing him off he might eventually send you death threats, like he did me in this classic J-Rod letter,
"Keith.

You high? ..(Mr. Yohai)

Guess who? You will have to continue to watch. I
have hundreds of ids to screw you. And I'm going
to have fun, geek. You have nobody to blame but
yourself and your immature nature.

Plus I am eventually going to KILL you. Yes you did
read that correctly. At a time of my choosing. Go
report it to all the authorities you want. When
someone with drive wants you dead, there is little u
can do about it. Ask John Lennon.

...............Dead meat...........geek...............

Good luck tracking this e-address.


Jeffy"

I reported it to the FBI and got no response. He's really not that techno savy, or faking that he isn't, so don't worry too much. If you want to talk I can call you or you can call me at 505-474-7048. I live in Santa Fe, NM so that spic shit really pisses me off too. By the way, the best allies to contact (their info is below) will be Trooper Aaron Hayden and maybe jacrab (Terry, SGMJ2412 NOTICE THE J), although I could never 100% confirm his identity and suspected him of also being Jarod (look at the notes under "allies" and the first internet site. If this is also Jarod, that would be an interesting turn of events as I had been sharing info with this guy for some time. I would suggest getting in touch with "Terry" if possible and asking him what his ID SGMJ2412 stands for. I have left this trail cold for a while, but can get back on it if you need help and are actually going to work at it.

Jarod Bryan, A.K.A.--
No Longer A Registered User ID's=

branbryan2
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=branbryan2&iid=

hhornybuyer
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=hhornybuyer&iid=

helathor (now =dd168miller),
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=dd168miller&iid=

helasthor5,
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=helasthor5&iid=

helathor5 (Now=toddhor5)
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=toddhor5&iid=

helathor3 (Now=helahor3)
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=helahor3&iid=

sgm2400,
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=sgm2400&iid=

sgm2412,
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=sgm2412&iid=

dcrommett55 (Now=thbird55)
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=thbird55&iid=

helathor4
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=helathor4&iid=

helathor6
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=helathor6&iid=

hellacheapskates (Not sure on this one)
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback

Active ID's=

daredevil,
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=daredevil&iid=

daredevil80,
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=daredevil80&iid=

mpaulhela,
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=mpaulhela&iid=

nopimps (now=nopinups),
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=nopinups&iid=

zhornby
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=zhornby

jpot66 (Pretty sure on this one)
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=jpot66&iid=

jarad03 (Not positive on this one)
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=jarad03&iid=

jaradb (Not sure on this one)
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=jaradb&iid=

sagor1ms (Now= sagor1m, Not sure on this one.)
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=sagor1m&iid=

His newest ID= bbutercupp (not sure on this one)

These are my notes on some allies--
veggiefans = eBay ID
mamia262 = eBay ID
fluffandfriends = eBay ID, real name= Lorrie Schaller, Lschaller@zionsbank.com

Terry = jacrab1@yahoo.com = eBay ID's JACRAB/SGMJ2412= sgj2412@yahoo.com
SGMJ2412--------MY EBAY ID IS JACRAB..TERRY RABBITT I USE SGMJ2412 WHEN JAROD GETS ME SUSPENDED.. MY BROTHER'S ID.. MATT ATKINSON..BOTH ARE ME..TERRY

acilecboy - burned on ultimate spider-man 1,2,3 CGC 9.6
rsstratton01

mamia262
mommamundo@aol.com.- His name is JIM.



Now for some internet sites
Look at the third paragraph down on the left. By the way SGM2412 probably stands for "Saco Grand Master" and I believe the # was his score standing. But if that is so then it's weird that Terry (Jacrab) had an original name that is so similar. My first thinking was that J-Rod set up the SGM2412 Id to mess with Terry, but SGMJ2412 really converts to Saco Grand Master Jarod 2412 (I bet you could find some where that that is or was his score at some point) way too easy.
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:mWcmT00byuwJ:www.wikiverse.org/saco-maine+%22jarod+bryan%22&hl=en&client=firefox-a

Don't know what to make of this.
http://www.ams.sunysb.edu/cgi-bin/csg?bryanjar

page 5 in case it doesn't come up right away.
http://germain.umemat.maine.edu/faculty/bray/vita.pdf#search='jarod%20bryan'http://germain.umemat.maine.edu/faculty/bray/vita.pdf#search='jarod%20bryan'

And that is A PHOTO OF HIM on the right there.
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:UTjsU8qLA_AJ:mainechess.org/news.php+%22Jarod+Bryan%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2

He lives with his Mother, who is apparently afraid of him and wants him to leave but cannot get him out. She is aware of his activities and they have no internet connection in the house. I've been told that he has boxes filling his room of eBay transactions and that he keeps records in a code of his own design. He buys comics on eBay and then sells them, so a good way to find his newest IDs is to watch what the the ID's you know about bid on and win and then keep looking for those things to be sold again. I have seen him buy two CGC'd comics in a lot and then sell the same comics in a lot using almost the exact same description the original seller used.
His phone # is 207-445-2009 (I think).
He graduated from the University of Maine in 1990
Graduated Cony High School, Maine 1986
He has a white car, I forget the make, and uses it when he leaves his house every morning to use computers at varioous libraries around his area. Another venue to explore in order to shut him down is to contact the local libraries and Universities and let them know that he is comitting FRAUD and THEFT using their systems. Close to him are the cities of Augusta=10 miles, Waterville=12 miles, Gardener=15 miles, Portland=90 miles.
He loves to set up Id's using his enemies info so that they get harassed by the people he burns. He probably has Id's set up that are very similar to your name and may be using your address as well. He will send off packages, usually empty with delivery confirmation, to people using his enemies address as the return address.
He worked for Helaine Hornby for a little while, got fired, and then Harrassed her for a year with nasty phone calls, and had set up Id's (he used to rip people off) using her info. She was getting nasty phone calls from a person he burned, until I let that person know that she was a victim and not Jarod, I believe that that was Jacrab (Terry). The funny thing is that she is the wife, or X, of a FEDERAL Judge, but still nothing happened to Jarod.
His neighbor is Darrel Crommet and Jarod stole his identity and used it to create eBay Id's as well as charging to his credit card. Darrel is completely computer illiterate and therefor cannot contact eBay to let them know that he is a victim. I contacted eBay for him, but eventually gave up, frustrated, by eBay's lack of any attempt to help. He used Darrel's card to charge to Minnesotta ASO Enterprises (Russell Altomare) 1-800-978-9696. I never tried to find out what he charged or contacted this 1-800 #, it might be a good lead to follow and that guy may get you in touch with the credit card companies investigator.
He is being investigated by Trooper Aaron Hayden of Maine,
Aaron.d.hayden@maine.gov 207-624-7076. He's a nice guy and will give you info, but his hands are sort of tied, but I haven't contacted him in a while so he may have new leads. I was supposed to send him a written statement, but never did because I eventually sort of gave up on Jarod and focused more on my schoolwork.
Jarod's brother is
Todd Bryan
679 Eastern Ave.
Augusta, ME 04330
207-626-9004
He is a nice guy and not involved with Jarod's shit at all.

I want this guy shut down and will do all I can to help.
Thanks, Keith

[marvelguy]

Damn! What a crook!! If you use the metaphor for terrorists, he sounds right up there in terms of cowardly acts by using his enemies names for phone calls, empty packages, etc.. It's a shame you know who he is and where he lives but cannot stop the madness while we can't friggin' find OBL.

I guess this calls for extreme measures, huh?

[SILLYSHIP--pirate eye--]

First of all I would like to thank Hoss for the board and CK for this thread and his dilligence. I'd like to quote CK

Ebay won't let you do it on their board. That's one of the reasons the first Corral got started up in the first place. If you are still hesitant to do anything about it yourself after a scam is discovered, uncovered, or verified here in The Corral, I will be happy to use my own ID to get it out on the ebay airwaves and make reports myself.

Uhmm, I guess I didn't clip the first part, you gt the idea.

http://www.comicscorral.com/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif
TalkingAs far as Jarod is concerned I heard it throught the grape vine that he has been jailed. I cannot verify that though. As far as drastic measures, I guess I kinda feel sorry for the guy and wouldn't want to see him hurt, yeah sure he's a thief, but that sort of stuff tends to come right around your backside no matter what you do. I just wish someone, (EBAY!!!), would have stopped him before all those people had to get burned, financially and emotionally. It sucks getting ripped off. But I guess he and some others, (EBAY!!!), made a lot of money and that's all that matters to some.

This is a link to a report that may be about Jarod.
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3270955.shtml
in case it disappears this is all it said

Sunday, October 29, 2006
Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
"Friday at 6:30 p.m., Jarod Bryan, 38, transient, was arrested on a charge of violating the terms of his probation."