eBay sellers beware of illegitimate buyers

November 2, 2006 (WLS) -- Let the buyer beware - that's a basic rule for any consumer. But if you are putting an item on an internet auction site -- let the seller beware. Just ask Connie Lang of Naperville -- who had to travel to New Mexico to get revenge for being stuck with a rubber check.

Connie Lang was selling her family's camper on eBay and thought she had a legitimate buyer. But after the camper was delivered, the check for more than $10,000 bounced. She tried unsuccessfully for months to get her money, but nothing was working. Now, instead of filing a formal complaint with the attorney general's office, she decided to take care the problem herself.

Connie Lang thought she was selling her camper to a nice guy in New Mexico. His $500 deposit check cleared. He hired a trucking company to pick up the camper and sent a check for $10,500. But the check was no good.

"He said he would wire money, but he never did this went on and on and on, for months," said Lang.

Finally, Connie had enough. She cashed in some frequent flyer miles and flew from Chicago to Albuquerque to find him. She tracked down his home address, and confronted him face to face at his bank with his five-year-old daughter looking on.

"I stood up, went nose to nose with him and said I've been dying to meet you, I'm Connie Lang. He stuttered, face got all red and said, 'oh, you're here,'" said Lang.

She left New Mexico with a good check that also included an extra $100 for the effort.

Others burned by bad eBay experiences haven't been as fortunate.

"As soon as he had my money, I never heard from him again," said Randy Stine, eBay victim.

Randy Stine thought he was buying a new receiver for his stereo system from a man in China who appeared to be legitimate. Randy sent a check for almost $2,000 but he never got the merchandise.

"He never responded to my emails or phone calls. His address changed and suddenly he was gone from eBay, completely," said Stine.

Randy is out a lot of money, but he's not about to fly to China to track the man down. Connie says even if she never got her money back, the trip to Albuquerque was worth it, just to see the expression on the buyer's face.

"It was an adventure. I thought it was fun," said Lang.

Connie wouldn't tell us the buyer's name. She only referred to him as 'Ken.' He hasn't been charged with any crime.

She says she hasn't heard from him since but several days after she returned home, eBay officials warned her that someone was trying to access her personal information. She has since closed her account.

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