Delray Beach, FL (PRWEB) — Marc Ward, an avid Land Rover enthusiast from Barbados, launched his auction just ten days ago with high hopes of making eBay history, since it featured one of the most unusual high-value items ever offered on the world�s most popular auction site. The high-end eBay auction item was for a custom-built Dakar racing team, featuring a Drew Bowler TomCat racer. (See the original Press Release here:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/6/inktomi398031.htm

The auction was generating a lot of excitement, with over 7,000 visitors and several high bids. Marc was looking forward to the final day of the auction when the action would really get hot. One day a PayPal promotion appeared in the auction in the form of a �Seller Addition.� Since Marc doesn�t use PayPal, he asked eBay to remove it. Instead, eBay employees thought their own PayPal promotion was a third-party security breach - they apparently didn�t remember that PayPal does this normally. Despite several assertions that it was not a security breach, eBay employees de-listed the auction. In the end they admitted that it was a mistake � and allowed the auction to be re-listed (go to:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4653966446&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT.

Though eBay is the biggest target for auction fraud, that is still only a small percentage of all online fraud. eBay however, seems inclined to err on the side of caution. Online fraud includes:

� Misrepresentation: The merchandise ISN’T what iwaqs represented in the auction description.
� Failure to ship: The seller takes your money and runs.
� Failure to pay: The use of fake money orders, bounced checks, stolen credit cards, or a number of other techniques, the to get the goods without actually paying for them.
� Shilling: Artificially inflating the price on an item by use of fake bids from phony user IDs or accomplices
� Bid Shielding: Using high bids from phony accounts to run up the price and scare off potential buyers, the actual bidder then retracts the higher bids, getting the item at a much lower price.
� Piracy and counterfeiting: The sale of pirated music and software or counterfeit art, phony jewelry or gems, and forged collectibles.
� Internet Fencing: Selling stolen goods through the auction.
� Triangulation: The seller offers to send you the item (usually new, brand name goods) on approval. They then use stolen credit cards to order the item shipped to you. You pay for the goods (in cash) after receiving them, and get a visit shortly thereafter from the police.
� Credit card fraud and theft.
� “Buy and Switch”: The buyer gets the merchandise and returns a similar item that has been damaged, or a fake, with the claim, “It isn’t what I expected.” The seller refunds their money, and is left with broken and unsaleable product.
� Fee stacking: Fees, usually “related” to shipping costs, are added to the cost after the sale has been made.
� False Loss or Damage Claims: Often these claims are a result of the buy and switch, or careless handling by the buyer.
� Shell Auctions: No merchandise exists. The sole purpose of the auction is to get money or credit card numbers from unwary buyers.

You can see Marc’s vehicles, with detailed specifications and high-resolution photographs, at:
http://xtremelandrover.com

Marc Ward, an avid Land Rover enthusiast is launching an auction this month destined to make eBay history, since it features one of the most unusual high-value items ever offered on the popular auction site - the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own your own Dakar racing team.

Delray Beach, FL (PRWEB) June 14, 2006 — Marc Ward, an avid Land Rover enthusiast from the idyllic island of Barbados will be launching an auction this month destined to make eBay history, since it features one of the most unusual high-value items ever offered on the world�s most popular auction site. Unlike the attention-grabbing �oddball� auctions that often make their way into eBay lore, this auction is for a real once-in-a-lifetime opportunity � the chance to own your own Dakar racing team, featuring a customized classic TomCat race and two rebuilt, customized Defender110 support vehicles.

THE YEAR 2000 was the beginning, both of a new millennium and a new dream � Marc Ward�s �Xtreme� Land Rovers! It all started when Marc decided to turn a dream into reality� to build a �team� of the most extreme Land Rovers ever built outside of Land Rover�s own shops.

First on the drawing board was a street-legal endurance racer capable of anything from a drive to the supermarket to winning the 7,000-mile Dakar Rally. Next up, two amazing support vehicles later dubbed �the Rhino Chasers,� featuring a custom-built trailer made from the rear quarter of a Defender 110. Together, these would be the ultimate in speed, strength, convenience, quality, comfort and exclusivity! It took three years, countless hours of brainstorming, planning and collaboration � and now they�re available for sale to the discriminating enthusiast!

Marc shipped in all new body pieces from the UK. All three chassis were painted with the same coal tar epoxy used on supertankers, which Marc chose for its excellent moisture-resistance. The paint also acts as an extra insulator to prevent galvanic corrosion. Next came the custom roll cages, designed to withstand a tumble down a ravine. Simon Gilmore of SRG Engineering and a top rally car builder himself took 3 months to build these cages to full FIA specs.

Marc acquired 3.9-litre fuel-injected V8 engines to power the two Rhino Chasers. For the racer, Marc went to a 4.6 litre Cross Bolted Range Rover V8 Engine featuring stage one heads and stage two valves, with a Lucas gems hot wire type ignition system. This is a single fuel rail design similar to the one used in the BMW straight six X5 and is ultra reliable. Then he added a Range Rover Transverse Gearbox, Low+High and Lock or unlock diff., Front Range Rover Axel with Teflon Balls, Rear Range Rover Axel with Detroit Soft Locker, and Headman Headers going into 2 flow master mufflers. Topping that off are an Earls custom Oil Cooler, 2 Bosh 12 V High Capacity Fuel Pumps on Separate Circuits , 2 Billet Reusable Eldebroc Filters and an Aeromotive Fuel Regulator set at 50 PSI. Drew Bowler supplied a TVR chip which will turn the engine into a snarling monster � but has not been installed as yet.

Marc�s friend Drew Bowler, considered one of the finest off-road racers in the world (Bowler Offroad, Derbyshire, England) provided R380 gearboxes and transfer cases that had only been used briefly in test vehicles at Solihull, where they had been meticulously maintained. This is a 5 speed constant mesh transmission custom-designed for four-wheel applications. The full list of custom, state-of-the-art specs is too long to list, but is available on Marc�s website, www.XtremeLandRover.com. You can be sure that every luxury has been thought of.

The auction began on June 11th, 2006 at 9:30 PM EST, and will run for ten days and re-listed if necessary. It can be viewed by going to eBay Motors auction number 4650305553, or click here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4650305553&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

You can preview the vehicles, with detailed specifications and over 100 high-resolution photographs, at:
http://xtremelandrover.com

While the auction is running, interested bidders and/or their representatives can have the opportunity to inspect the vehicles on request. The TomCat racer is stored in Florida and the Defender 110 support vehicles are on display in California.

Sample Specs:
Land Rover Hybrid Racer, 1972/2005:

* Range Rover 4.6 L. Cross Bolted Stage 2 V8 Engine
* Range Rover Transverse Gearbox
* R.380 Five Speed Gear Box
* Custom Drew Bowler Tom Cat Tube Frame mated to Defender 100� chassis
* 2.5″ steel-bodied Nitrogen charged FOX Reservoir Shocks
* Custom Land Rover Double Diaphragm Servo Brake System
* Custom Halon Fire Surpression System
* And much, much more!

For more information and full specs on all vehicles, please visit the website at www.XtremeLandRover.com. To schedule an interview with Marc, please contact at P.J. Ward (561) 865-9247.