Another Ebay Scam? $8 30V 10A Power Supply

[Microcheap]

I was randomly browsing AliExpress and ebay for the usually crappy Chinese electronics stuff, as I always do, and stumbled on this power supply:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/0-10A-0-30V-220V-LCD-DC-Power-Supply-Adjustable-Precision-Variable-Digital-Lab/253713924223?hash=item3b1287407f:g:1-gAAOSwjUxbMwTn

Not that I really wanted one but at that price, who could resist? Off course that  my instantly went off, the price is too low (same psu is normally sold for $30/$50 from China), seller has little feedback and no other products listed but with free shipping overseas (i am not in the US) I bit it. Well, it is a bet, I am hoping that the buyers protection got me covered but if I ever get it it was big win, in my country I cant get the leads for that price.

Is it possible that it is just some one unloading some surplus stock or some items acquired in an auction or it is definitely a scam?

[ataradov]

It is 99.9999999% scam, but with refund from eBay, there is no real risk, except for wasted time.

[Microcheap]

Yes, I also think so. I dont have any expectations, but in about two weeks I will know for sure

[Brumby]

Shipping comes up as US $57.86 to Australia.  I plugged in a California zip code - and then it came up with free shipping.

You know the old saying, though - when something seems too good to be true .......

[BillB]

It must be awfully expensive buying anything when you live in Antarctica?

[tsman]

100% scam. Probably a hacked eBay account. Their seller history is all clothing with the odd random electronic game and it is all 12+ months old. Their feedback in the last 12 months is only for buying a handful of items from sellers that don't sell anything like this PSU.

[ataradov]

Let us know what happens.

[edpalmer42]

I couldn't resist.  I got the last one.

When I went to checkout, I got the message that "The seller can’t accept payments right now. Please contact the seller.".  Maybe ebay froze the account.

[Microcheap]

100% scam. Probably a hacked eBay account. Their seller history is all clothing with the odd random electronic game and it is all 12+ months old. Their feedback in the last 12 months is only for buying a handful of items from sellers that don't sell anything like this PSU.

That makes sense, probably somebody's mom got the account hacked (noticed the "seller" user name: mom2425).

[BillB]

Something indeed went wrong.

You may want to obscure your personal info in that pic!

... nevermind.

[Microcheap]

Let us know what happens.

Absolutely, I'll report back.

Maybe ebay froze the account.

Maybe, I've got the receipt from PayPal but on the ebay orders status page the payment is showing as "being processed" yet. By know, I dont have any hope that it is legit, but I will wait until Monday or Tuesday to see if something is actually shipped, otherwise I'll just cancel the order and ask for a refund.

[edpalmer42]

I paid with Visa rather than go through Paypal.

It's been about 45 minutes since I made the purchase.  I still haven't got an email from ebay congratulating me and reminding me to pay.

I suspect that everything will stay frozen until ebay hears from the seller or gives up and cancels all the sales.  But, by freezing the account, I'm guessing that there's no way the scammers can get any money.

[Microcheap]

Just received an email from ebay, this was definitely a scam and the transaction was cancelled.
Not that I'm surprised, I'm used to buy cheaper stuff on ebay and aliexpress from new sellers selling at lower prices to gain reputation but in this case the signs that something fishy was going on were too clear.

Well, apart from some time at least I didn't lost anything.

 

[edpalmer42]

I got the same email.

[bitseeker]

Seems to be scam season again. The account mo2005west may have gotten hacked, too. Lots of recently created listings with stolen photos that I recognize from prior hacked eBay accounts, super-low starting bids, free shipping, 24 hour close (get the money before anyone notices!).

[ignator]

If you look at the link in the OP, it has been removed.
It took a month for me to get a refund from a seller that said he was in New York, NY, but actually in Thailand. It was for a Panavise model 201. Fake tracking number was provided, which had the item already delivered. But I first had to communicate (filed not delivered) with the seller before ebay would do anything (they already knew he was a scammer), and then wait the prescribed period of time (waiting for seller to respond) before they would step in.
I see this morning that he has a new user name, and is selling the same vise. I reported it, but it will take a few days for the fake tracking numbers to be produced on the items others buy (not me again).
I've seen several sellers that are selling an item at 25% of its normal value. They disappear from ebay.
What I don't get is what does this scam do. They can't get their money from PayPal as it's held. Are they harvesting eBay account names and personal names, email address, and addresses of buyers. What can the do with this?

[bitseeker]

Information harvesting and resale might be part of it. Well-established sellers don't have payments held as long as new accounts, hence old eBay accounts are the preferred target for working the scam listings.

[Geoff-AU]

Not that I really wanted one but at that price, who could resist?

Me, easily.  My day is short enough already, no desire to spend time messing around with cheap bullshit that doesn't work properly.

Also when power supplies fail to regulate they'll usually blow up whatever you've attached to them too.

[innkeeper]

not sure you would have wanted the psu even if you got it.