I’ve been trolling eBay lately in search of a Windows SmartPhone. (Yes, I bought an Audiovox SMT5600 last year, but Judy fell in love with it, and being the loving husband that I am… Well, you can guess who’s using it now.) Anyway, I nearly fell out of my chair when I read this text:
I am selling an Audiovox SMT 5600… i came across this phone in a parking lot and called the owner and got no response… therefore i am selling it. This phone has ever bell and wistle anyone could ask for. Camera, Internet, Planner, Color, WINDOWS XP, and lots more. This phone is too much for me. I believe it is capable for world wide calling. It has some dings but nothing major. I do not have the charger but that is probably a 15 dollar quick fix. I have a case that it came with i will include that aswell. It has the SIM card in the back, and Blue-tooth capable. There is much more!!!
Did I mention that the seller has an eBay feedback rating of 0?
What I find most astonishing is that the item has attracted 8 bids so far. I don’t plan to bid on this one.
Ed Bott 
Yes,
IMHO eBay does far too little to discourage this kind of thing. I recently heard about a medical company that had about 40k worth of equipment stolen. Can you guess the rest? They found it for sale on eBay (themselves). They got the guys that did it and the police department of that city (I believe it was Olympia, Washington) said it was the first time they’d ever been involved with an eBay stolen goods case. No wonder thieves find it a convenient place to sell stuff–the cops aren’t looking there!