Hey Kevin. These thieves' MO is to run an auction with 'contact me for Buy-It-Now prices' and then close it in two or three days, tops. Each new auction has a new seller that looks legitimate (They might be hacking into legitimate members' accounts) and new contact information. The RealDoll thief will be back in a few days, with the same old pictures of the same item. They are looking for new eBayers that are not wise to dealing on the Internet.
PayPal is becoming unsafe, also - well, as if it ever really was safe. Yesterday I had to run to the ATM and strip my account, as some Internet thief was making bogus charges to my PayPal account. Tomorrow I get to go to my bank and close my account and start a new one. Lucky for me, they were making charges on an account I keep minimized, so they got 'rejected' on their requests. PayPal will not let me close their accounts (I am closing them all!) until all business is concluded. I do not feel like giving thieves my money so PayPal will close the account, so further attempts to steal from me cannot happen.
I am pretty much known for putting my money where my mouth is, and in this case, removing it. I have decided no more Internet dealings when it comes to the money end. All transactions will be done over the phone, and from an account that has just the amount of money in it to cover the transaction(s). Just like with the 20 junk e-mails I have to weed from my box ever day, I now have added inconvenience for buying stuff off the Internet. Here in the Wasteland, with so little offered locally, the Internet is almost a necessity. I am not complaining here (sounds like it to me!), just trying to convey to others to cover themselves before they get burned and not to let convenience cost you too dearly. I don't know about other nationalities, but we Americans do love convenience!
