Shoestring Theory

Currently documenting the house that is eating our lives, we will return to regularly scheduled programming in a couple of more months

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eBay promises to refund money to scammed Aussies

March 10, 2008 at 11:04 am by thetheorist

The Gold Coast Bulletin in Australia is reporting that eBay will refund thousands of Australian eBayers who lost money on fake vacation packages they purchased from an eBay seller. Refunds could amount to $1 million (I would assume that’s in Australian dollars).

The Bulletin originally broke the story of the holiday sales Mar. 8.

GOLD Coasters are among about 4000 people who have paid for Queensland holidays that did not exist in a year-long scam that has netted a Melbourne man about $1 million.

Unsuspecting would-be holidaymakers went on the eBay auction website and connected with seller beachesaustralia — operated by a Robert Kobis who listed his business as Cyber Blue Booking Agency — and paid between $125 and $350 for three, five and seven-night holidays in Queensland resorts including ones on the Gold Coast.

This is the first time I remember seeing eBay promise to make thousands of customers whole due to fraud committed on the site (not to say it hasn’t happened before, but it’s the only time I know of). Usually fraud is dealt with on a case by case basis. Anyone remember similar large batch refund promises?

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