EBAY DROPOFF: Online Outpost Being Used By Scammers

Internet scams come in many cleverly packaged disguises, from the popular widow of the deposed dictator who wants to share millions to the overseas buyer who wants to buy your stuff on eBay or Craig’s list.

FranchisePick.com readers recently complained they had been ripped off by Online Outpost:

Cameron wrote:

Hi. I tried to buy a bike from a guy selling through Online Oupost. I sent him $2000, and recieving nothing….

Rich wrote:

Someone tried to scam me the same way on Craig’s List, selling a boat worth $13,000 for $3000. Wouldn’t give me the VIN or let me see it. He wanted me to pay him through the Online Outpost, but I went on the website and called all the phone numbers . They were all fake. The addresses were fake too. Beware!

However, another reader explained that it is an overseas scammer using the Online Outpost name, not OO itself.

Support wrote:

There is a person overseas that is using the Online Outpost name and is scamming people. Here’s the gist of it. You contact a person on Craigslist about a “too good to be true” cheap item. They email you back stating that they are out of town and they dropped it off at The Online Outpost to finish the transaction.

Then you get an email but if you look closely, it’s not from theonlineoutpost.com, there’s probably a - or 0 instead of an O in the address. They ask you to wire transfer the money. That should be a red flag right there!

The Online Outpost does NOT accept wire transfer AND you can always stop by the location (if there is one where these scammers are advertising) and you are allowed to see the product, pick up the product and pay over-the-counter.

To sum it up Cameron, this is a scam not by The Online Outpost, but someone using their name.