Is eBay fuelling crime?

Question

Does eBay give the shoplifters and house breakers a quick and easy outlet for passing on stolen goods, therefore fuelling crime WORLDWIDE ?

Answer 1

If it wasn't eBay, it would be the local pub or club or advertised in the small ads. Ebay is simply another selling tool .... but remember eBay is an open book so the first place to look when something is stolen is to look there, isn't it? But you are right in your concern ..... this gives rise to the concern about unknowingly buying such goods, doesn't it? Its just an old case of 'let the buyer beware' I suppose. But what would happen if you bought something in good faith ( as we all would do ), only to find it was the spoils of a crime? I suppose we would be forced to hand it back? I wonder if eBay would be prepared to give a concise opinion on that as they are clearly involved in the sale in some way?

Answer 2

I would have to say yes because there are thousands or even millions of same product which can't be identified if it's stolen or not since ebay just got to do with auctions and buy it now which they can make money from listing fees and final value fees they dont really care if it's stolen or not unless they know for sure it's stolen like cars and bikes but there is something which you can prevent from giving money to those kind of frauds which is by making payment from paypal which is a strict money transfering website, if they find that they were frauds they will suspend the account and wont let them take out the money until it has been cleared, but it wont really identify stealer unless big scene happens.

Hope it helped

Answer 3

ebay may make things easier for thieves (I wouldn't know;) but it certainly isn't the fuel. If you take the fuel away the engine stops, and taking ebay away wouldn't stop crime.

There's more and more evidence showing that empathy is the key emotion in humans that determines the likelyhood of committing harm to others. If you empathise, you don't. If you don't empathise, then you will. Empathy can be learnt and taught, and should be on the school curriculum as it has more benefit to society than physics or maths.

An example. Child molestors are known to fantasize about their victims and believe that the victim actually enjoys what's occurring. When they are taken through empathy training and learn to see it from the child's side - that they don't enjoy it - the reoffending rate was cut by half.

Same goes for any crime. No need to cut the tools if there's no desire to harm in the first instance.

Answer 4

Yes I think you are right, but the police now take your mobile phone and computer as standard pratice if your are suspected of certain crimes, and examine them for child porn, eBay , copied films games etc. Also alot of good copies of such things as the 1st generation Tranformer Toys, which are made in china and are sold for at least £100 are actually worthless, I wonder what other fake stuff there is

Answer 5

yes i think you are right, but not only in the way of selling stolen goods etc, ebay is heaven for unscrupulous people to sell on their rubbish, i bought a phone this week from ebay that is obvious was sold on because it doesn't work properly, i didn't realise until the day after i received it when, alas i had already left feedback.perfect for them? they have good feedback and my money, i have a knackered phone and a lesson learned.

Answer 6

yes

Answer 7

Probably, as well as increasing prices.

Answer 8

Hmmm maybe, but with only one L in fueling

Answer 9

Yes, I think so.

Answer 10

i dont think you can buy petrol on ebay