Interesting ebay incident...

[dmwill]

Came across this on another forum...

Bloke buys RX7 from ebay, problem after problem with payment, travels several hundred kms to collect car only to find it in pieces...

Although the age old term 'buyer beware' should be given some thought, I feel pretty sorry for the poor bloke...

http://www.robshilimon.com/
http://www.rippedoffbyrob.com/

[VT SS]

i thought i was going to get rick rolled when i opened this thread...... disappointed dave

[c.rusli]

ouccch thats is painfull..

use paypal! whenever you can!

[Fukushima]

Also dont buy anything from someone with alast name like Shilimon

[Magic]

paypal or not, I wouldnt buy a car over eBay.

[shifted]

PayPal or not, I wouldnt buy a car over eBay.

QFT.

[ecent]

What a dog!

[Gladio]

Needs to burn in a fire.

[Adr3naL1N]

as said above, buying cars off ebay is a no no but i feel for this guy, it was his choice, but the seller is a dodgy pingpingpingping and i hope karma bites his ass.

[ovaxitd]

the car in qn is for sale again.....

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260593499155&_trksid=p2759.l1259

[dmwill]

^^^Different paint job, rims etc to the one in question though.

[ovaxitd]

true... same mods diff pics.... dodgy seller haha

[brynj]

WTF! Why on earth would the seller relist it.. after all that.. christ.
I refreshed the guys page a few times to add a few hits to the counter, fuck you Rob.

[Daisy]

probably trying to prove his defamation claim that he loses income by the guys website, i.e. if people post on that auction that he`s a crook etc therefore he cant sell any other stuff.

[Skitzo]

I think its a different car.

[brynj]

Good point.. Doesn't sound like they had even terminated the previous sale contract though? Would've thought he'd have to try to sell different products now..

Actually yeah, does look like a different car.. didn't look at the original.

[DTM-031]

same guy, different cars. one is 13B, one is 12A

[karnage]

another bloke from the ausrotary thread:

"Just last week i had a gearbox more than likley (can't be proved but i'm 99% sure) stolen by this bloke, I was on the recieving end of an ebay transaction. I made a small error and also believed he was an honest reputable buyer/seller.
Am really sorry to hear of your trouble too!!"

[Adr3naL1N]

Different car but same guy tryna pedal another dodgy deal.

[ovaxitd]

asked if it was ale to be seen running etc and he has welcomed me to come and view and it is in great running order..

the mods list is identical, brakes, ratios etc but seems to be diff car

[Adr3naL1N]

asked if it was ale to be seen running etc and he has welcomed me to come and view and it is in great running order..

the mods list is identical, brakes, ratios etc but seems to be diff car


probs where all the parts went to when he stripped the other car he had for sale, the one the dude went to buy.

[RK 86 WA]

sounds like a pingpingpingping.

hope karma fucks him in the ass

[s1mon]

Not all car sellers on Ebay are shonky, theiving mugs will use every medium they can to rip people off.

[1JZVL]

I've actually been ripped off more (in parts stolen etc) and know how it feels...but I'm over it now ;)

in all honesty, buying shit over the internet is dodgy (ebay etc)...but it's a risk you take. Just gotta make sure you're using someone that everyone trusts....and paypal I guess. And if it's a car, it's always best to inspect it with your own eyes before buying.

[Rantopotamus]

I bought my torana over ebay. Flew over handed him cash - drove it to TNT put it on a train then came home.

Can't go wrong.

[SINISTR]

Was looking to get an imac few months back - won an action for it too but I wanted to see it before I paid for it, guy started making up excuses, he's not there, that he'll have it sent to meetc, he even said 'you're paying paypal - how more secure you want?' but i refused and said that someone will need to pack it for shipping so i'll meet that person and after viewing transfer the $ over. Also notified ebay about not having any luck coming to an arrangement and that I was not going to pay 1K for an item which is local and I cant even see it - 2 days later the guys account was removed - I uncovered a scammer and ebay acted on it right away!

You know you guys can actually report this guy as people who have heard about a scam and point ebay to the site? maybe will take more shape and he'll actually be banned?

Ive also bought my trailer off ebay but the first thing I ask (even if they have paypal security etc etc) - can I pick up and pay on the spot? guy said yes and i proceeded to buy it. Paid him cash, did the transfer papers.

I think its how you secure yourself, if they aren't willing to play nice - don't buy it!

[Douche Bag]

I've been done through Paypal. It is not always safe.
I got done cause a hacker hacked some guys paypal account and used it to pay me for stuff I sold... In the end paypal concluded it was my fault and closed and banned me from paypal.

[Milhouse]

both links dont work for me

[Rantopotamus]

RippedOffByRob.com
Hello World

My name is Matthew Harding, I am a 35-year old mild-mannered IT Consultant/Generalist, a family man and generally a good guy... I think it's fair to say people who know me will agree with that. I live in Ballarat, VIC, Australia; where I operate as an indepenent IT Service Provider to Small-to-Medium Enterprise.

I've been stressed, stressed and depressed; in a consultation with my doctor it was suggested that I do something for myself; we talked about what this meant; I made the decision to make the long-delayed dream of competing in motorsport materialise. I've been looking forward to getting into Improved Production Racing (IPRA) for years, for many years I pit-crewed for friends to be near the action... now encouraged to make the plunge as a way of making some positive change in my life I started looking for a good value car car to get in...

I found an RX7 on eBay, previously raced by the daughter of Allan Kendall in NSW, the listing looked great, I called the current owner, Mr Rob Shilimon (NOT ALLAN) and asked;

* has he raced the car much since he has had it; the seller responded that it had not been raced at all since he has owned it
* has the car had any work done to it; the seller responded that no work had been done to it
* was it ready to go racing; the seller responded that it was, his words were almost presicely "yeh mate, good to go"

Note: our call logs will support this call taking place before the end of the auction, but of course the actual conversation will be hearsay; although I'd like Rob to explain what else we might have discussed.

the original listing can be viewed here; http://www.profix.com.au/rx7/listing.pdf

I bid and won the car for $5000

Within hours of the auction finishing I paid the seller $1000, contacted him to make him aware that I needed to pull the remaining funds from a term deposit. I am self-employed, over the next couple of days I received payment for invoices so I made 3 more payments of $1000 each to keep the seller super-happy. In total I paid Mr Rob Shilimon $4000 towards the car in good faith.

When the last of my funds came through I contact the seller, and in passing asked if he had found the logbook... it is at this point that things turned;

* the seller tried to extort another $1000 from me for the logbook, a document owned by CAMS which belongs with the vehicle.
* The seller then demanded I make final payment or he would keep my deposit & relist the car!

See our entire SMS history for a word-for-word account; http://www.profix.com.au/rx7/SMSHistory.pdf

Note: the first enquiries regarding a logbook were prior to the auction ending.

So I borrowed a utility, hired a trailer, and set off on a 980km drive to pickup my car in person. In all I travelled 2020km and incurred 2-days trailer rental and the cost of one nights accomodation as a direct result. To date these particular costs total approximately $475.

I was receiving dodgey eBay messaged and SMSs from the seller on my way up to NSW... i was getting very nervous; he stated on a number of occasions that he would not be available, that he would push the car out onto the street so I could pick it up. The address he gave was 7/64 Hassell Street, Wetherill Hill, NSW - his last claim said he was pushing it out regardless of receiving the final payment!!! alarm bells were going off and my GPS said I was many hours away and would not arrive until something like 10pm.

an eBay case ws opened, the transcript can be read here; http://www.profix.com.au/rx7/eBayCase.pdf

Note that I closed this case to transfer it to the eBay Trust Center... I have not heard from them yet

While still travelling to NSW I made calls to Police (unable to help), Private Investigators (none available), Security companies... found one that would send a guard to watch the premises until 10pm for several hundred dollars... broke, and feeling like I was already in the middle of a planned fraud setup I did not want to throw more money away.

I googled the address the seller had provided and found a listing for a motorsport company at an adjascent address, I contact this number. The person I spoke with apologies that they had in-fact moved from Hassall Street, but wanted to know more, and offered their sympathy & much to my surprise and appreciation offered to look into the situation for me. Props to Mario from Incar Motor Sport... though they are not actually a motorsport company in the sense that I had imagined, they were terrific.

Mario called me back to let me know he had discovered them dismantling my car! the engine and box were out... he said he had words with them. He called a little while later to tell me that is was worse than he's first seen, that much of the car had already been stripped; but that he had encouraged them to put it back together. I thanked Mario for his help but he understood when I said that as this point I would be seeking my money back.

When I arrived in NSW I spoke briefly with Mario to thank him, then went straight to the Fairfield Police Station... I spent some time with a constable who took sympathy in my situation, he called the seller and advised him that he would need to repay my money, then put me on the phone. The seller was rude, abrupt and irrational, he refused to accept that he would need to refund my money and told me that the car would be ready to go at 9am the next day.

The next day I arranged to meet police at the address that the seller had supplied, 7/64 Hassall Street, Wetherill Hill, NSW. I arrived before the police so i parked the car close by, purchased a drink from a corner shop next-door and sat under a tree watching the premises for any sign of my car. After several hours (no police), a person came out and spoke to me from No. 7 - he was adament that his business know nothing about, and had nothing to do with my vehicle. He knew the car I was describing and suggested that it was in-fact 2-sheds up in No. 5 ! I video taped this conversation with my iPhone

My phone was getting flat as I had been using it to post on facebook & ausrotary.com, so I sat back in my car to put the phone on the charger. A short time later the police knocked on my car window. to see my post on ausrotary.com: http://www.ausrotary.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=188938, but I think trader feedback might be a members-only section.

As it turns out the police were not there for me, they were there to quiz me on threats that the seller alleged he had received!!!!

After convincing them that I was not involved in any threats (and I am not) the constables came with me to speak with the seller. This conversation took place within the business WESTERN CARCARE GROUP located at 5/64 Hassall Street, Wetherill Park, NSW. Police Constables Robinson and Raft from Fairfield Police Station were present and witnessed the sellers admissions that; the photographs used to advertise the vehicle were very old, not a current representation of the vehicle; and that the engine and gearbox were removed from the vehicle.

It has been suggested by a concerned and supportive reader that WESTERN CARCARE GROUP is a Shilimon family owned company, if this information is in the public domain I will attempt to confirm as it may have bearing on how the case evolves; regardless of this Rob Shilimon is employed by this business, and through his actions he has involved them.

Some discussion took place before the seller insisted that I could take the vehicle for the $4000 already paid and no more money needed to change hands, that he would load the engine and gearbox into the boot or passenger compartment of the vehicle; I indicated that I would consider this offer, at which point I asked for a closer visual inspection. On entering the workshop I asked that the car be lifted on a hoist, I was told it could not because it was too rusty! A quick look over the exterior of the vehicle revealed considerable rust that was not evident in the images used to represent the vehicle on eBay.

I once again made it very clear that the contract of the sale had been breached and that I was seeking a full refund of the $4000 already paid in good faith; the seller refused a number of times. I made the seller aware that if I was forced to take civil action I would also be seeking for him to reimburse my expenses including fuel, trailer rental, accommodation and legal costs, and that it would likely cost him significantly more, Mr Shilimon then told me to “f&*^$% off”. At this the police suggested there was no more to come from any discussion and we left.

There is strong evidence of premeditated criminal fraud associated with this case;

* The seller twice indicated in writing that the car was located at 7/64 Hassall Street, Wetherill Hill, NSW; that he would not be able to meet me; and that the car would be pushed out into the street and left unattended so that I could pick it up.
* The vehicle was actually located at 5/64 Hassall Street, which is occupied a completely different business with [according to the business owner], no relation to the business at No. 7
* 5/64: WESTERN CARCARE GROUP
* 7/64: is DORA TYRE & AUTO SERVICE, who were not at all happy to be implicated!
o I found the owner of DORA to be pleasant and he showed genuine concern for my case, seemed like a good guy
* Consider that while sending these messages the vehicle had already been stripped of major components, with no intention of refitting them before I arrived!

* The seller unsuccessfully attempted to extort an additional $1000 from me to supply a logbook; i.e. a document owned by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS);
* the seller has admitted that he was never in possession of this document
* this document cannot be brought/sold independent of the vehicle

I am posting this for several reasons;

* I want my money back
* In case anyone out there in this wide world can help me
* To warn the community about this seller;
o Mr Rob Shilimon
o believed to reside at 21 Shamrock Street, Smithfield, NSW, 2164. An address the seller uses to store/sell vehicles. Note: this information is already in the public domain via the Whitepages
+ It has come to my attention that this property is also owned by WESTERN CARCARE GROUP
o Trading from 5/64 Hassall Street, Wetherill Park, NSW, 2164; under the business name WESTERN CARCARE GROUP
o eBay Selled ID: Turbo-World
o mobile: 0450 755 575
o phone: 02 9604 1762
o email: racing.parts@hotmail.com

* and as a cautionary tale...
* USE PAYPAL! I did not... my funds are now tied up in an exhaustive civil legal battle.
* VIEW A VEHICLE BEFORE BIDDING!... do not trust anything any seller tells you, regardless of how good their eBay score looks!

I have heard imperical and anacdotal evidence that this seller has been responsible for other scams, if you have similar substantiating proof I'd be happy to share it with the world.

I can be contacted at the following email: somethingaboutrob@profix.com.au

Thankyou

Matt Harding



NEWS:

We've reached 2000 hits in far-less than 24-hours, I am receiving may supportive messages via email and forum posts. This morning I made the seller aware of the site. I need to give him every opportunity to consider the situation, his reputation, and to do the right thing.

Apologies to the businesses who's images were displayed by an old street-view photo from google earth. These have been removed.
CALL LOG:

Note: police advise that if I record the precise day & time of calls that the calling party can be identified;

April 28, 2010 @ 5:44pm - abusive phone call taken - recorded using handy iPhone app

April 28, 2010 @ 5:46pm - call received, caller asking me about the condition of the other car for sale, gave up, heard talking to someone sounding a lot like Rob Shilimon before hanging up - recorded using handy iPhone app



UPDATES:

Received 28/4/2010 via eBay message:

From: turbo-world
To: berniel0max
Subject: turbo-world has sent a question about item #260575001645, that
ended on 04-Apr-10 12:16:10 AEST - Mazda RX7 1982 Super Deluxe
Sent Date: 28-Apr-10 01:08:26 AEST

Dear berniel0max,

HI JUST TO LET YOU KNOW IVE REPORTED TO EBAY THE MESSAGES YOUR FRIENDS
ARE SENDING ME AND IVE ALSO PRINTED THEM OUT ALONG WITH PREVIOUS MESSAGES
THAT WERE SENT TO ME ON YOUR BE HALF I WILL BE NOTIFING POLICE AGAIN AS
YOU DID AND IVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO MY SOLICITOR ABOUT YOUR CIVIL CLAIM YOU
HAVE TILL THE END OF THE WEEK TO COMPLETE YOUR TRANSACTION STORAGE FEES
WILL APPLY ALSO THANK YOU

- turbo-world

My Reply 28/4/2010 via eBay message:

If you spoke to a solicitor and explained the situation truthfully
he/she would only have 1 piece of advice for you; refund the money.

Any thoughts on the matter you may have received are far more likely to
have come from people I have never met. There is s chance I can help
you out there, I can tell the world you came to your senses once I am
repaid.

www.robshilimon.com

the hit counter at the bottom is real; I thought I might have to fake it
to get you're attention, but it seems I've found considerable support
from the greater Internet community.

As to how the story end, and how soon people all over the world stop
reading about you? That choice is yours. Let's see if you've got it in
you to do the right thing.

Matt




Received 28/4/2010 via eBay message:

From: turbo-world
To: berniel0max
Subject: Re: turbo-world has sent a question about item #260575001645, that
ended on 04-Apr-10 12:16:10 AEST - Mazda RX7 1982 Super Deluxe
Sent Date: 28-Apr-10 09:11:05 AEST

Dear berniel0max,

I HAVE CONTACTED POLICE OVER THIS MATTER AND I WILL MAKE A STATEMENT TO
POLICE AND GIVE THEM THE EVIDENCE THEY NEED IN THIS MATTER THIS IS
"DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER"

Criminal Proceedings.

26. Any person who unlawfully publishes any defamatory matter concerning
another is liable, upon conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for any
term not exceeding one year or a penalty of such amount as the court may
award or both. Unlawful publication of defamatory matter.
cf. Act No. 32, 1912, ss.14,15; Crim. Codes, Qld. s.380; Tas. s.212; W.A. s.360.

If the offender knows that the defamatory matter is false, he is liable,
upon conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding
two years or a penalty of such amount as the court may award or both.

27. (1) Any person who- Publishing or threatening to publish defamatory
matter with intent to extort money, &c. cf. Act Bo. 32, 1912, s.13; Crim.
Codes, Qld. s.383; Tas. s.216; W.A. s.363.
(a) publishes or threatens to publish any defamatory matter concerning another, or
(b) directly or indirectly threatens to print or publish, or directly or indirectly
proposes to abstain from printing or publishing, or directly or indirectly offers
to prevent the printing or publishing of any matter or thing concerning another with intent-
(i) to extort any money or security for money, or any valuable thing from that other
person or from any other person, or (ii) to induce any person to confer upon or
procure for any person any appointment or office of profit or trust, is liable, upon
conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three years.

- turbo-world

My Reply 28/4/2010 via eBay message:

Dear turbo-world,

make sure you take this along with you.

Fair Trading Act 1999

Part 2, Section 9 - Misleading or deceptive conduct
Part 2, Section 10 - Misleading conduct in relation to goods
Part 2, Section 12 - False representations in relation to goods and services
Part 2, Section 19 - Accepting payment without being able to supply as ordered
Part 2, Section 24a - Right to payment for goods and services not supplied

Part 2A, Division 3, Section 32H - Supply of goods by description
Part 2A, Division 3, Section 32I - Merchantable quality of goods supplied
Part 2A, Division 3, Section 32IA - Fitness of goods for purpose

Part 2C, Division 2, Section 32ZH - Court may allow amounts paid or payable to be recovered or paid
Part 2C, Diviaion 2, Section 32ZJ - Calculation of expenses incurred

Part 4, Division 3, Section 73 - What must the supplier do on cancellations?

Part 4, Division 4, Section 82 - Recovery of money

Just as a reference.

- berniel0max

Note: seller seems to have missed a key paragraph from his own copy/paste "If the offender knows that the defamatory matter is false". Nothing but a clear and concise statement of fact above, backed by evidence and witnesses. One comment is recognised as heresay; it is not defamatory in nature.



Hit Counter: 6788...

[RK 86 WA]

I've been done through Paypal. It is not always safe.
I got done cause a hacker hacked some guys paypal account and used it to pay me for stuff I sold... In the end paypal concluded it was my fault and closed and banned me from paypal.



wtf? thats just stupid

[V70R]

Scams happen everywhere.
Ebay, Carsales, forums, even jewelery shops in the city.

I have lost close to $1000 on numerous ebay scams and even on forums like these by established members.

If it sounds too good to be true - it usually is.