Inside IT  'I guess I like other people's money'  Even geeks can
get scammed by online fraudsters. Ben Goldacre on his eBay shame
As a geek, I consider it a matter of personal pride that nobody
can rip me off over the internet. I laugh at my parents'
paranoia about buying online. After all, what's the point of
being a clever dick if it doesn't save you money? So it hurt
pretty badly, last week, when someone came very close indeed to
working me over for £1,100.  eBay was made for procrastination.
It's not actually a very good place to buy anything collectable,
because the prices are always too high: nobody likes to lose, I
guess, and I can tell you from personal experience that there is
a slightly sinister satisfaction to be had from outbidding a
stranger at the very last minute. But when I saw a vintage ARP
2600 synthesiser from 1973 for less than a grand: you'll just
have to suspend belief and empathise with my colossal
excitement. I've been after one for years.  So I bid, and
straight away, the guy contact