GREELEY, Colorado - Keith Cox says he wanted to buy an iPod Nano for his girlfriend, but they were sold out in the stores. So he decided to buy one on eBay.
The seller, "Alisher71," told him it would be mailed out December 12th. When Cox checked the auction site a couple days ago, he found out the bad news.
?There were hundreds of negative feedback postings,? Cox says. ?I soon figured out that this was a scam.?
Cox is believed to be one of hundreds of victims in what could become the largest case of fraud in eBay history. Authorities in Florida say Alisher Mardonov and Shahnoza Khakimova have fled their home near Naples. They're believed to have more than $40,000 in cash from electronics they auctioned on eBay but never mailed. The couple is originally from Uzbekistan.
Cox and the other victims are organizing. They've started an online petition in hopes of convincing eBay to reimburse them. They feel the auction site didn't heed ?red flags? about the seller that could have kept them from losing their money.
In the meantime, Cox has some last minute Christmas shopping to do for his girlfriend. ?I'll find something, though it probably won't be from eBay.?
If you know someone who also ordered from "Alisher71," call the WZZM 13 Newsroom at 616-559-1300
Tim Dietz, KUSA - GannettIn your voice
