21 charged with fake SCO fraud

US law enforcement officials have charged twenty-one people with fraud relating to fake second chance offers sent to eBay buyers. The gang are accused of collecting more than US$5 million from more than 2000 transactions.

Generally, victims who bid unsuccessfully on items were led to believe they were being given a "second chance" to purchase items and were instructed over the Internet to send money via Western Union to be picked up by the seller or the seller's agent, generally in the Chicago area.

If convicted, each defendent faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and a fine of $250,000, as well as paying back the money they stole.

As ever, the advice to those receiving second chance offers is to sign into My eBay and check the "items I didn't win" section, where any genuine second chance offers will show.