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View Full Version : interesting Ebay con by "buyer"


ackmondual
09-01-2006, 04:39 PM
anyone ever heard of this scam? Not necessarily this exact one or on ebay, but anywhere PDAs are sold online.

Q: Hi! I'm really interested in your item, but wanted to find out some info first. 1) Do you accept paypal? Also, 2) could you give me the palm I.D. code on the back of the CD sleeve is? It should be on a sticker on the back of the software sleeve. I just want to directly check with Palm the validity and registration status of the palm you're selling and its software. If it looks good, I plan to bid and pay by paypal immediately, or by money order if needed. Thanks very much for your time!
Sep-01-06
A: shrivabeaver2 you are being reported for trying to scam a seller. Palm told me that if you had the code, you would be able to report this stolen. NICE TRY! Other sellers, BEWARE!

i've heard of a similar scenario for ipods. Since many ipods and Palm PDAs (even those with wifi) don't go online (unlike cellphones or laptops), the mechanism is if u register that #, someone else who tries to get tech supp claiming that same # without having it legally transferred to him will get a "red flag". If the person is at a Palm store for this tech supp, or maybe a retailer like Staples or BB (tho i doubt it. Some of them don't care enough about PDAs to sell them and answer "hard-hitting" questions beyond reciting Palm marketing specs), the folks may call authorities and have this potential theif questioned. Don't know what they could possibly do if you're calling through phone.

My questions are, if the buyer did get the code and the seller didn't register it yet with Palm...
1) would it matter to another buyer if he nevered used tech support?
2) This WOULD be a concern if tech supp hasn't been initiated yet, since it's 30 days complimentary from your FIRST call to them and not your date of purchase?
3) are there any other bad things could happen if this Palm ID code fell into the wrong hands?

potter
09-01-2006, 05:05 PM
That code is used for the Palm Pay Back (http://clients.eprize.net/palm/loyalty/consumer/gateway/) program. Therefore, if the code has not been used on the Pay Back program, this code could be worth $15 to $30.

Palm's Tech support uses the serial number, the number on the back of the device, and not this CD sleeve number.

Dick Tracy
09-01-2006, 05:13 PM
Old scam. Probably hoping to harvest from the back to school crowd.

ackmondual
09-01-2006, 05:24 PM
thanks for the prompt replies, altho i should have mentioned the listing was for a used T|T3. I checked that link and it doesn't appear Palm takes T|T3's for payback

potter
09-01-2006, 06:14 PM
thanks for the prompt replies, altho i should have mentioned the listing was for a used T|T3. I checked that link and it doesn't appear Palm takes T|T3's for paybackBut the "scammer' may not have been aware of that.

Hmm, on the Eligible Products (http://clients.eprize.net/palm/loyalty/consumer/us/index.tbapp?page=eligible_products) page it does not list the T3. However on the Credit a Purchase (http://clients.eprize.net/palm/loyalty/consumer/us/index.tbapp?page=alt) page, the T3 does appear in the product pull-down. The scammer may have based their list of targets off of this form.

Tam Hanna
09-03-2006, 12:58 PM
Hey, should have done this with my E2 and my loaner Z22...

(nah, just joking)

But honestly, what is this Pays Back program all about?

Romeol
09-03-2006, 01:23 PM
Potter, thanks for that link. I was just starting to do this yesterday and realized that my T3 wasn't on the first list. :) Awaiting 13000 points. :)

ackmondual
09-03-2006, 02:16 PM
Potter, thanks for that link. I was just starting to do this yesterday and realized that my T3 wasn't on the first list. :) Awaiting 13000 points. :)

:eek: :eek:

uhmmm, u sure it's not really 1,300 as opposed to 13,000? The T|T3 was great and still is, but it's hard to believe that Palm deems it's worth 6 to 7x the points of a LD or T|X.

Romeol
09-04-2006, 01:25 AM
Actually, I registered 3 T5's, a Zire 71, and some other PDAs too. Still gotta get a TX and some stuff.

Look here (http://www.grassnet.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=52&start=30).