Be very careful of these ebay user ids

Hi all - there are some sellers on ebay who are selling high end projectors that happen to all be the same guy. (Ebay Australia)

Confirmed so far (all the ads have the same mobile number): We think that its a guy named "Shonky Steve" who frequents alof of forums selling dodgy equipment. On one forum, messages were posted warning people about this guy. He then posted messages saying how he was really a good seller etc and tried to discredit the orignal person who complained. He then sent fake 'cease and desist' emails to the forum admin (same mobile number, and the same ip address of the guy who claimed he was a 'good seller'). Then two new users sprung up "supporting" him - but with the same grammar, spelling and most importantly - ipaddress!

When posts were made about this - he (under a username OzCRT) came back and threatened me with more legal action.

He misrepresents gear, saying it is "9/10" when in fact the tubes are worn out. He doesn't answer direct questions. His auctions are now all private but ebay's statistics confirmed that many of the bidders at his (all user ids) had high bidding activity rates with the same user. He has to relist items frequently (using shonky excuses). Often the same gear is listed again (if any of his shill ids win). With each ID, he sells a whole lot of cheap stuff until he's sold about 30 items with 100% rating - then starts selling the shonky expensive stuff. When/if someone gives him bad feedback or starts posting about him in forums, he starts this process again.

The usernames confirmed so far: (same mobile number) XXXX744804 (edited)

ozsellingstuff, finedigital, bigscreenrush

Here are two auction examples of 'these guys':

http://cgi.*********.au/SONY-1252-PR...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.*********.au/BARCO-GRAPHI...QQcmdZViewItem

Be VERY careful dealing with anyone that has the same "format" of ads as this guy. There's a lot of information about him around but until now, no-one was sure that he was being a phoenix with his user-ids.

Even if Ozcrt and Steve aren't the same person, OzCRT, ozsellingstuff, finedigital definately are (unless they share the same mobile number and copy writer). Shonky Steve and OzCRT definately use the same shonky practices.

When someone acts like he has, frankly - the community needs to be made aware. Check for yourself! I almost bought a Barco 1209S off the guy that is now relisted (probably because his shill ID won the auction) - even if its another piece of equipment, how do you explain the same mobile numbers on all the different userids?

I'm not saying he hasn't sold good gear, but he has sold alot of really bad gear and misrepresented it. Anyone that goes around using mutliple user names etc SHOULD be exposed for what they are before other people get ripped off. IMHO.

I' m very wary of putting any sort of blame on the victims. They don't deserve to get ripped off at all. Ebay should be a safe place where ads are actually accurate. There should be no shill bidding, misrepresentation or fraud. Remember, a lot of people that buy stuff are noobies - I had -6- guys contact me today and thank me because they were going to bid on that projector - 4 of them had never owned a projector before and were hoping (as we all do) for a bargain. I've pointed them towards a reputable dealer whom they will definately get a good price and a great projector off.

That's just 6 people who actually contacted me - imagine how many others are out there that are unaware and uneducated. Its not right that sheisters like this do what they do and get away with it. I spoke to someone in law enforcement in Australia and he tells me what they are doing is obtaining financial gain by deception and fraudulent - and that's not just wrong, its criminal! (apparently one off people doing it isn't, but people who are doing it as a business - that's a different story)

All I have done is written down the facts. Its nothing about "bashing" - if I didn't write the facts down, people would say to me "what you have written is unsubstantiated, how can you write such awful things" Imagine if I said "be very careful with certain sellers and nothing else - THEN I would be open to criticism
If he was only using one user id - well i might not have said anything - but the way he works means that no-one can be sure who is who.

Honestly lewis, how can anyone defend people like this in -any- way? Far from being criticized , as I mentioned, I have had a lot of people contact me - to thank me. Not just 1 or 2 - but a LOT! Alot of people are angry (rightfully so) with this guy.

Look at this for what it is. A genuine warning to the community about someone who regularly practices "all sorts of shonky". I'm sorry if what you see offends your sensibilities, but I hope it offends you less than someone saying "I've been ripped of $5000 and I got a projector with burnt out tubes and broken neck boards and all people are saying to me is I should have been more careful". Some don't feel sorry for victims - that's their choice. I'm not one of those people.
Especially as I almost got caught out by the guy.


Another Person99 comment I agree completely with.

Thank you Draganm - I appreciate your thoughts.

I ended up going with Curt. The guy has been absolutely fantastic. I've bugged him with so many 'silly' questions but he cheerfully answers each one and there's always a laugh in each reply (he has a GSOH!). Well recommended.

For mods I've been talking to Mike and Greg - even though they are in competition to each other, well lets say these are two I'm having real problems choosing between, both are very helpful and obviously masters of their craft.

I probably wouldn't have said anything about OzCRT but you should have seen the things he wrote on Curt's forum. He was actually foaming at the mouth (virtually) and threatining me with legal action. He was denying everything - then when a few people noticed the mobiles were the same number, I posted this and no-one has heard from him since. Vanished with shame. I hope we've disrupted his shannigans.

I know people that have read these threads will certainly be keeping an eye out for sellers with the same MO in the future.

Kind regards

Same goes for me

I don't sell anything. But when someone tries to rip me off, I'll let others know if applicable.

If they help me and have been fantastic, I'll also let people know.

Nothing "suspicous" about it.

What I love is how the guy is there being very active - he denies (especially how "I do not use multiple user ids) everything until its pointed out that all his ids share the same mobile number.

Then he vanishes in shame.

FYI another userid of this guy has been uncovered: Satguy

PM me for more details

What is so hilarious is that Satguy is another one of Ozsellingstuff/Ozcrt/finedigital/bigscreenrush's IDs!! I love it when his aliases come and defend "himself"