safe2star sells false capacity memory cards and mp players on eBay. This seller has been frauding eBay members for months. On March 9, 2009 SOSFakeFlash issued: safe2star Ebay Fake Flash Seller Alert Devious – Hong Kong to warn consumers.
eBay stands by idle and does nothing to protect it’s members from this powerseller. safe2star generates a great deal of revenue for eBay.
The charges against safe2star continue to grow:
- Private Auctions
- Blackmail – Demand For Positive Feedback
- Encouraging Customs Declaration Violations
Private Auctions
safe2star’s listings do not qualify for eBay’s intent for private auction listings. Read eBay Private Auction Listings – eBay Fake Flash Sellers Prefer – Victims Learn The Meaning The Hard Way – A Guide
This kind of auction is used to avoid detection according to SOSFakeFlash. It is not in the interest of buyers but to be able to hide information from buyers. Currently memory cards are not under private auctions but mp players continue. SOSFakeFlash believes that several individuals are selling together under this eBay id.
Blackmail – Demand For Positive Feedback
Sellers do not have the right to advise buyers on the kind of feedback they are to leave for a seller. They may not demand that buyers change feedback left. Read: eBay – What To Do When Sellers Demands You Change Your Negative Feedback To Positive For A Refund Or Demands Positive As A Condition Of Refund – A Guide
Recently SOSFakeFlash Received this report from a victim:
From seller: SZETO CHAK PUN op 24-09-2009 19:31 PDT
Sorry to hear that.It’s really strange.For out items are strict examined by our QC before them shipped out.Maybe the supplier made a big fun on us.Or maybe we made a mistake for we have so many orders everyday.Really sorry for the trouble.If it really not the right one.could you kind keep it and get a partial refund?or could you kind leave me positive feedback for full refund?Sorry for the inconvenience caused.From buyer: xxxx(me) op 24-09-2009 09:54 PDT
I bought a “New 16GB GB SD SDHC Memory Card Secure Digital Class 6” and its only a 2gb card.Fake memory flash card.With google I found he does this more often:http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/safe2star-ebay-fake-flash-seller-alert-devious-hong-kong/I want my money back asap.
One of the reasons eBay seller safe2star has been able to continue frauding on eBay is his ability to use extortion – demanding positive feedback for a full refund or that buyers revise their negative feedback.
It is a clear violation of eBay rules.
In demanding positive feedback, safe2star is able to hide the truth. It allows more eBay members to fall victim to the seller. The cycle does not end.
SOSFakeFlash frequently hears from victims who chose to buy from a seller based on the seller’s feedback.
Victims learning the awful truth about the item purchased, do not understand why so many people leave positive feedback for the same item that their testing confirmed to be false capacity flash memory. safe2star demonstrates “WHY“.
eBay members foolishly agree to change their feedback. Their focus is on getting “their” money back, forgetting the fact that in changing their feedback or in leaving positive feedback for a false capacity flash memory item – they contribute to the problem and allow it to continue.
Some do get a refund, many do not. Many eBay members are even tricked into closing their PayPal cases with the promise of a refund. Once closed it can never be reopened. It goes without saying that the moment it is closed the seller ignores the victim.
To date, safe2star has not been reported as attempting to have members close PayPal cases prior to a refund. He is skilled enough that he does not have to go so far. So many buyers actually fall for the “QC” testing. According to SOSFakeFlash it is the number one ploy used. The second, is that a seller was deceived by his supplier. The evidence collected by the FrankenFlash Project indicates this is almost never true. When a powerseller is invloved it is very unlikely.
If any eBay member receives an email communication from a seller demanding positive feedback, or attempts to bargain refunds with a condition of positive feedback for a full refund or asking that negative feedback must be changed to positive, the member should report the violation to eBay immediately! You may also send the emails as proof. eBay can not ignore the evidence you have.
Encouraging Customs Declaration Violations
Using the postal system to send or receive counterfeit merchandise is against the postal laws of most countries. False capacity flash memory is counterfeit. It does not have to be from a brand name.
Anyone who send or receives packages internationally is required to be truthful in their declarations. There are penalties and legal actions individuals can be subject to for false declarations.
safe2star requests that people falsify the value of items being returned. In doing so this seller is encouraging eBay members to violate the laws of their country and also the country the item is being returned to. Any eBay member who has agreed to do this, has committed a violation of customs law. The reason why safe2star asks buyers to do this is to avoid having to pay import duties.
Recently a victim who was code named Jfort by SOSFakeFlash submitted the following email:
safe 2star <safe2star@gmail.com> 20 août 2009 10:49
À: Jfort<jJfort@gmail.com>Dear friend
Sorry to hear that it still can’t work well,.
If so ,could you kind send it back for a replcement or refund?
I’m sorry for the inconvenience.
Please ship the item without the accessories back (just the card ) to us by the cheapest shipment (such as air mail or send by stemps )to avoid the high fee.
And please let me know the shipping fee of the return item before the shipping/
and after you send it back pls kindly keep the receipt and scan acopy to me,ok?Address:
PANG YEE FUNG ( s f )
Room 2506
Block AGuoJiMingYuan
JiangBeiLu, Luohu District
ShenZhen 518000
ChinaPlease kindly write down the detailed information of the item in the package when you ship,
including the item number and the problem.Please indicate low value on Customs Declaration.
When the item is shipped out, please send me a shipping confirmation email with
Your eBay ID
eBay item Number
the scan of the receipt or the tracking no
I shall email you upon reception of the returned item.
Please accept my sincere apologies.
Best Regards
sf
TechReporters at FakeFlashNews wonders how long eBay and PayPal will permit safe2star continue to fraud.
SOSFakeFlash asks all buyers of safe2star to test any time purchased to determine the true capacity of memory. If you did not receive the advertised capacity, please report in to SOSFakeFlash using the Report A Fake Tab.
You are also asked to file an immediate claim with PayPal, to leave negative feedback and to assist in warning other buyers of this seller.
Bruce
February 19, 2011
Hi.
Too bad I didn’t google “safe2star” earlier. I was ripped off as well. Bought a 32gb memory card that always stayed on locked. Complained to safestar and they said “sorry, you can have a partial refund or we can send out another one”. This was only in January this year. I see that it goes as far back as 2008.
And ebay STILL let them carry on their scam business. I am definitely going to demand a refund.
Cheers.
Bruce.
ians12
December 22, 2010
The people behind safe2star (there is more than one person running this) make a living out of advertising and selling items like mp3 players and memory cards that have been modified to conceal the fact that the memory chips inside them are far smaller than a) the stated capacity on the ebay listings and b) the capacity as reported by DOS/Windows. This is deliberate fraud and Paypal/ebay are doing very little to stop it in my opinion. The inference (by Cristal) that all China based sellers on ebay are selling cheap fake items is, in my opinion just not true. There are many reputable and reliable sellers of genuine items at reasonable prices. I will buy things from Hong Kong when it suits me, I expect the sellers to have the same integrity and to be honest when it comes to refunds as other ebay sellers in other countries. Its a reasonable thing to expect. The sooner ebay eradicates the likes of safe2star the better as it damages the whole relationship between buyer and seller for those who are genuine and who sell honest items. The price paid for an item is irrelevant, particularly in an auction environment were goods may sell for their initial offer price which may well be 99p in some cases! The principle remains the same though, the goods must be “as described” and to describe a device as “16GB capacity” but disguise a 2GB chip within to show this is just not on. Low prices do not excuse fraud.
Cristal
December 18, 2010
I just stumbled upon this article and was trying to figure out why people would be dumb enough to order flash from china and expect it to be good. I dont blame this on the seller at all. I have ordered an mp3 player from safe2star a long time ago and it still works great. When you order a product from hong kong, you are taking a gamble. It is with your discretion that you order it. If my mp3 player came to me broken or non functional, then the seller is at fault, but if it’s a crappy version of the real thing, then that must be why it cost 20 bucks. lol
ians1
April 17, 2010
Dear safe2star,
Copy of email received:-
If you check my ads.you will see you need to return the item to me for full refund
I didn’t ask you to return the item to me because i don’t want to trouble you
but now i change my mind
I am just take my legal action to protect my right
You owe me my item
Return it to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply:-
If you check ebay guidelines you will see it is illegal to post counterfeit items in the UK and as such this item can only be picked up in person by yourselves or your agents.
As such the item remains at the buyers address and is available for collection at your earliest convenience.
If not collected within 14 days the item will be deemed to be not required by yourselves.
Kind regards
BN
March 25, 2010
From: safe 2star (safe2star@gmail.com)
You may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk
Sent: 16 October 2009 09:24:28
To:
Dear friend，
Sorry to hear that it still can’t work well,.
If so ,could you kind send it back for a replcement or refund?
I’m sorry for the inconvenience.
Please ship the item without the accessories back to us by the cheapest shipment to avoid the high fee.
and after you send it back pls kindly keep the receipt and scan acopy to me,ok?
Address:
PANG YEE FUNG ( s f )
Room 23B
Block A
Elegant Residence
ChunFeng Road, Luohu District
ShenZhen 518000
China
Please kindly write down the detailed information of the item in the package when you ship,
including the item number and the problem.
Please indicate low value on Customs Declaration.
When the item is shipped out, please send me a shipping confirmation email with
Your eBay ID
eBay item Number
the scan of the receipt or the tracking no
I shall email you upon reception of the returned item.
Please accept my sincere apologies.
Best Regards
Sf
has sent a question about item #300341129965, that ended on 25-Aug-09 14:11:00 BST – NEW 16GB 2.8″ LCD Touch Screen MP3 MP4 FM VIDEO PLAYER
From: safe 2star (safe2star@gmail.com)
Sent: 10 November 2009 07:32:26
To: )
Dear friend,
Thank you for your confirmation,
I will arrange the shipping within 48 hours,
Please kind wait for 9- 25days for the shipping.
Hope you will receive it in an early date.
Best regards
SF
Still waiting for new unit and he will not reply to e-mails
Sergiy
September 30, 2009
ebay not stop safe2star! fu*k stealers.