Pedal Wench

Hi Folks,

I mentioned this in another thread, but they're back and I want to make sure no one falls for it. Akron-Bike, with some number afterwards, is selling a bunch of high-end bikes, but they're a scam. Check out their 'shop' at www.akron-bike.com. Pretty funny stuff. The address doesn't exist (called the hotel across the street) and the phone number isn't listed. I contacted eBay who shut them down twice now, but they keep changing the number after their name (from Akron-Bike1239 to Akron-Bike1245 to Akron-Bike1243) They keep stealing member's feedback, so they have impressive histories. Just none actually selling bikes.

Buyer beware.

Here's a current link. They tend to post for a few days, disappear and then return a few days later. I'll try to repost them as they come and go:

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...935646738&rd=1
Edit: this one has been pulled down, either by eBay or the scammers. I'll repost when a new one shows up. Hopefully, eBay will permanently pull them down.\\
Here's a new one - with two bids. Hopefully, they'll do their homework too:
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...935731870&rd=1



Nope - here's one from the latest: https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...338805846&rd=1


And, the latest: https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...338911702&rd=1 They are now Akron-Bike1246

hi565

hahahahahahahahahahaha thats funny, to the impulse buyer they would have bought something and not thought of that

catatonic

Hmm, you would think EBay would take legal action against them just to cover their own six. Considering terminating their acct is a way of saying "we dont want your business" and all.

aiguy

From their website: "Akron Bike Shop was open in February 2002. Run by motivated and experienced staff always striving for providing the best possible service to our valued customers, we have quickly become one of the largest online bikes store located directly in the heart of California.

All of our products are warrantied by the original manufacturer Warranty claims can be handled directly with the manufacturer.

We ship by UPS. FEDEX or DHL.We provide the shipping details.We take the shipping and insurance costs.

We will sign a contract with every partner and we will respect it.We also send the invoice for your company records.We offer references from our former customers.

Time is our enemy! We need to sell very fast"
___________

Spelling, syntax, and punctuation are also their enemies!

Rev.Chuck

The photo of the shop has a clearly photoshopped sign, as well as the C-Dale sign to the left. Also the bikes in front of the shop are trailmates and some no name cruisers. Couldn't make out anything else on magnify.

Pedal Wench

Oh! When I started to get suspicious, I emailed asking what size bike the auction was for. Here's their reply. I particularly love their explanation of why they don't take PayPal or credit cards

Here's the letter from them:

Hello,

We are overstock in 2004 bike models and because the 2005 models
appeard, we took the decision to sell these bikes more cheaper. There is
stock limit.

The bike is in perfect condition, new, no problems or scratches on
it.It will come in original box with all the papers, manuals and
manufacture warranty documents. We have all sizes available.

The buy it now price for the bike is US$2,300.00. In this price the
shipment costs are included too. You don't have to bid on the auction.
We will end the auction early after payment is received and in maximum
24 hours shipment will start and we will give you the tracking number of
shipment.

We will ship the bike using FedEx and in 5 work days the bike will be
at your door.We will support shipment insurance. The bike will be packed
professionally at our store.We will ship the bike with the option AS A
GIFT and you will not pay any extra taxes.

After some complaints regarding Paypal (please visit
www.paypalsucks.com) we will not accept this method anymore.

We had many problems in past with stolen identity using credit card
payment and we took the decision not to use direct credit card payment.

We have 2 ways for payment: one via bank wire and is available for US
and international customers and the other one is via cash transfer. Bank
wire can take few days the money to be confirmed in our bank account and
that's why he have the seccond payment option which is easy and fast. It
will take only few minutes the payment to be confirmed to us after you
will send.

Please email us what is your prefer payment method and we will give you
instructions.

After payment is confirmed in our bank account, it will take maximum 24
hours your order to be processed and shipment to be started. We also
will give you the tracking number for shipment to track your bike.



We will give you 3 days of inspection of the bike. In case that you will
not be satisfied with it, you will return the bike back to us and we
will fully return your money back. We will support all the costs.



Waiting your email,

Akron Bike Shop

address: 515 E St., San Diego, CA 92101

phone: 866-376-2573

website: www.akron-bike.com

email: sales@akron-bike.com

sorebutt

Hummmm... doing a "whois" on the domain akron-bike.com yielded this:

HoboRandy

I hate the scams. Report 'em to eBay, and if you have the means of acquiring an extra eBay account (where your buyer's feedback won't matter), then bid $1000000 to protect someone else from falling for it before eBay can shut 'em down.

It'd be kinda funny if we all went and bid on one of these, and all the bids amounts were in the $millions. Even if they tried to cancel the bids, there'd just be more and more of them.

Juha

That is hilarious. On their site only Trek models are displayed with tech info, cut and paste from some real source, no doubt. All other links (Cannondale, Giant etc.) show "site is updating" -page. "Search" is conveniently linked directly to Google, "Cart" displays their ISPs generic "page not found"... good job!

--J

Bockman

whois -h whois.geektools.com akron-bike.com ...
GeekTools Whois Proxy v5.0.4 Ready.

Checking access for 70.17.68.195... ok.



Checking server [whois.crsnic.net]



Checking server [whois.easyspace.com]

Results:
Registrant:

Mr Derek S Riewe

2608 Llano Encantado NW

Albuquerque

NM

87120

US



Domain Name: AKRON-BIKE.COM



Administrative Contact, Billing Contact:

"Mr Derek S Riewe"

Phone: 2547635589

Fax: (none)

This coupled with the contact info on the webpage:

AKRON BIKE SHOP

515 E St., San Diego, CA 92101

phone: 866-376-2573

sure smells fishy.

lsits

Interesting. I thought that the California Attorney General might think so too. I dropped them an email with links to their site and this thread. (I don't know if I should have asked permission about that, but it's too late now) Maybe that'll scare him (and others) into knocking off the scams.

alanbikehouston

You have shown us that this guy is not who is claims to be. It speaks for the ethics of the execs at E-Bay that they PRETEND that stopping scams is beyond their technical abilities.

Pedal Wench

COOL!!!! You rock!!!!!! Thank you! I was afraid that eBay was letting them slip, but this should help! Cool - strike one up for the good guys!

CMcMahon

I like the blatantly obvious Photoshop job on the sign for the store.

drumbum

Looks like Ebay caught on...both links are linking to Invalid items.

genec

and just doing a google on the phone number gets this:

Your search - 8663762573 - did not match any documents.
No pages were found containing "8663762573".

Suggestions:

- Make sure all words are spelled correctly.
- Try different keywords.
- Try more general keywords.

The address is downtown San Diego... If I get a chance I might just cruise down there and see what gives.

Pedal Wench

Don't bother! I already called the hotel (Gaslight Plaza Suite, or was it Gaslamp?) that's located at 520 E. St., supposedly across the street. The guy said that there was no bike shop across the straight - no way. Did I tell you that he told me that someone else was in there that morning - also looking for the bike shop. I really hope that person hadn't fallen for the scam.

Pedal Wench

Nope - they just keep relisting: https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...338805846&rd=1

RegularGuy

Maybe the New Mexico Attorney General should be contacted?

slvoid

Ahahahhaha look at the seller's feedback then go to the 2nd one:
Seller jcvideoz (private) Nov-08-04 06:50 5529408668
Click on the auctioned item.

A half eaten mini pumpkin:

ofofhy

Never mind the pumpkin. Whoever is using that account has some pretty terrible taste in clothing.

hi565

Im going to contact them and tell them that we are on to them. Just for fun, tell me what to say

Pedal Wench

I contacted eBay one more time, this time with a different approach (they sure make it difficult to report problems!) If someone knows how to get in touch with attorney-generals, I like that idea best. If they know that people are really on to them, they'll just change the names and products. I find them because they show up whenever I search eBay for Bianchi. If they change their name and their products, they'll just find new people to scam, and we won't be able to follow with the fun. Let them hang out there long enough for either eBay or the other officials to get to them. If anything, play along. Bombard them with bids. Leave messages on their answering machine. Send tons of emails, asking lots of details. Tease them so they hang out long enough for the attorney general to get them, permanently. Could someone make sure the NM Attorney General gets wind of this? I'm good at the detective work, lousy with the official details.

hi565

umm i think you should do that, a little too much for me

cant process it

ofofhy

I called their 866 number, and all you get is a recorded message telling you that the phone line is busy and that you should email them.

And that number for Derek S Riewe has been disconnected.