In April of 2007, I posted here about an e-mail I had received from "Max Merr" seeking my help selling for him as an eBay Trading Assistant. I got no responses to my post here until last week. And I'm now learning that "Max Merr" is indeed actively scamming, using eBay Trading Assistants as his unwitting partners in crime. And this crime is quite elaborate. Here's how it works ...



1. Max Merr tells eBay Trading Assistant which products to list on eBay.

2. Customer sees product listing and purchases via PayPal.

3. eBay Trading Assistant informs Max Merr of the order.

4. Max Merr steals third-party credit card (identity theft victim).

5. Max Merr changes billing address at third-party’s bank to match eBay customer's address, so that authorized dealer will get an AVS match when running the stolen credit card.

6. Max Merr places order at authorized online dealer to ship to customer, using the stolen credit card as payment.

7. Authorized online dealer emails order confirmation email with UPS Tracking number to Max Merr.

8. Max Merr emails order confirmation information and UPS Tracking number to eBay Trading Assistant.

9. eBay Trading Assistant emails confirmation information and UPS Tracking number to customer.

10. Authorized online dealer charges third-party’s credit card.

11. Authorized online dealer physically ships product to customer.

12. Third-party sees charge on credit card statement and contacts his bank.

13. Third-party’s bank issues chargeback against authorized dealer.

And Max Merr pockets the money the eBay customer paid to begin with, minus a small cut for the eBay Trading Assistant. It seems that the Trading Assistant is wiring the money overseas to Max Merr. At least in the one case that has been followed-up on by law enforcement. Max Merr is currently using the email address: merr@easy.com.

Anyway, if you have any questions or further information about this scam, please get in touch with me. And if you are an eBay seller and you get an e-mail from Max Merr, DELETE IT!! DO NOT get involved with this criminal!!