I got an email from a fellow alum with the URL in it for ebay items described as the actual items from tests for our college exams.
I reported it to the college, as had she. Then I reported it to ebay. And then I sent a "question to the seller" and had some fun with that (see below).
But one or two voices aren't nearly enough.
May I suggest that, in support of professionalism and honesty, whether you are an Excelsior student or alum, or just care about the quality of nursing education in general, if you have some free time, go to ebay and search on "Excelsior College" or "NC" (the abbreviation for our exams). If you find items that are described as actual questions from exams, or that sort of thing, that you take a few moments to let the college know ([email protected] will work) and complain to ebay? I referred to the items as "stolen property" because they belong to Excelsior College. Period.
I also had a great deal of fun sending a "question to the seller" wherein I described just what I thought of someone who cheats like that, what I thought really ought to happen to him, and that I had reported it to both the college and to ebay. The dope had even listed some little town in Louisiana on his ebay site.
I did get an answer. Another one who apparently thinks I am male. (What a hoot.) Threatened me! Ha! Bring it on, Dufus, bring in on......
So, who'll join me? Who will take a few minutes, search ebay, find these losers and report them to ebay and the school? It's really very satisfying. Sort of like "riding the range" and "roping up the bad guys," cyberstyle.
OK, I agree this is slimey. But I looked at what he wrote, and he says he's offering study guides, which, in his experience, most questions on the exams come from...... I agree this is illegal--this is probably copyrighted information. But it doesn't sound like he's offering actual exams.
If that's what you saw, then he changed his description--it was listed as "actual test items" from "people who actually took the exams."
That's cheating, it's illegal and ebay will have the original wording in their archives.
Sounds like we got through to him.
....
Ha! No such luck! I just checked the site and it still says "actual test items." However, I did get three nasty, threatening emails from the two sellers, so something is happening! Thank you all who have written to those slimeballs!!!
Sorry about that email address, it used to work. BUT I just got this one from Excelsior College: [email protected] If we want to report cheats on ebay (or, presumably) anywhere else, use this email address and include the URL for the item, as well as the ebay user name.
Here's the toll free number for Excelsior College 888-647-2388. If you punch in 13, you should get the nursing school.
I love the fact that you're getting through to these guys and they're sending you nasty emails.
Their one auction reads:
You bidding on actual test questions for the Excelsior Nursing Concepts Exams. This is for one set only! You choose which set you want from NC1-7. They range anywhere from 300-400 questions depending on which guide you want. Having personally used these guides to study with, I can honestly say that around 80% of the actual exams comes from questions in these guides. B is the lowest grade I have made.
Anyone emailing the sellers, please be careful. You can be suspended by eBay if they report you, and eBay thinks that your emails are harrassing. I'm not saying they are, but I've spent a lot of time selling and buying on eBay, and some people do not take kindly to those who are not involved in any sale, or are going to bid on their items, sending them any sort of emails. Even stating you are going to report them can be deemed as harrassment, believe it or not.
I would definitely report to Excelsior and to eBay, but IMO I'd stop emailing the sellers. Let eBay and the college handle it. No one wants to be banned over someone else's illegal activities.
Anyone emailing the sellers, please be careful. You can be suspended by eBay if they report you, and eBay thinks that your emails are harrassing. I'm not saying they are, but I've spent a lot of time selling and buying on eBay, and some people do not take kindly to those who are not involved in any sale, or are going to bid on their items, sending them any sort of emails. Even stating you are going to report them can be deemed as harrassment, believe it or not.
I would definitely report to Excelsior and to eBay, but IMO I'd stop emailing the sellers. Let eBay and the college handle it. No one wants to be banned over someone else's illegal activities.
I'd suggest that a "kind" thing to do, if you believe scuz deserve a heads up, is to let them know that what they are doing is illegal and unethical, and, if you are going to report them, then let them know that too.
I am reasonably certain ebay will be more concerned with the lawsuits and related cost in money and reputation than they would be with punishing a whistleblower.
But, I'm also going to bet that most of us are at an age where we realize that sometimes there are consequences for doing the right thing, and we can make choices and decisions and live with the consequences. Nobody should do something they don't feel comfortable doing.
Ebay is very slow to respond to very much of anything. I'll be surprised if I ever hear from them. But if I do, the odds are very good it will be "thank you for letting us know about this" rather than "naughty, naughty, you shouldn't have bothered the scum."
I'll do the right thing and sometimes I'll get punished and sometimes I won't.
Isn't there a song with the lyric, you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything?
I'm not saying eBay will say "naughty, naughty". All I'm saying is that if the emails sent are in any way threatening (and telling you're going to report is threatening whether you do or not), the seller can forward those to eBay and possibly have the person suspended. It doesn't matter if the seller is in the right or wrong. I've seen it happen firsthand.
Yes, it stinks, but so does eBay letting people leave feedback on items they "purchased", but never sent money for. It's far from a perfect system.
I've emailed eBay many times about a woman who has no reserve price auctions, then cancels them in that last minute if they are not up to what she wants. I proved it to eBay with over 20 items she did it with. I pestered them until I did hear something, but unfortunately they'll never tell you WHAT they did with the unscrupulous seller. Maybe Excelsior will tell you however.
I'm not in any way saying don't report them. All I'm saying, and again, this is MO, is people should think twice before emailing the seller, especially since it's been replied here that several people have gotten nasty emails from the seller. More than one email to the seller about the legality of the auction really isn't needed, and could constitute harrassment according to eBay.
I just don't want to see anyone here get suspended from there. I think all of us here are all way above that level! :)
well, thanks, but i can't take credit. a lot of us made complaints. this is definitely a group effort.
and here is something to help you appreciate a well deserved sense of satisfaction. this just arrived in my email. i'd respond, but i think i like the idea of an erstwhile cheat out there rounding up other cheaters. (if i can't, can't nobody.) and i really don't need to correct his/her errors in thinking or conclusion. anyway, here's what i got.....
i dont know how you managed to shut me down on ebay when i wasnt violating any rules or laws but i congratulate you on your accomplishment. if you are all high and mighty like you say you are, i suggest you go after everyone on ebay. there is a person now selling the exact same thing i was on ebay and is still being allowed to. i have to wonder if this is a friend of yours that you kindly ran off the competition for. the item number is 5943376161. i will be reporting this person to ebay, excelsior, and the various study guide companies. if i cant sell these guides on ebay, nobody else should be allowed to either.
well, thanks, but i can't take credit. a lot of us made complaints. this is definitely a group effort.
and here is something to help you appreciate a well deserved sense of satisfaction. this just arrived in my email. i'd respond, but i think i like the idea of an erstwhile cheat out there rounding up other cheaters. (if i can't, can't nobody.) and i really don't need to correct his/her errors in thinking or conclusion. anyway, here's what i got.....
i dont know how you managed to shut me down on ebay when i wasnt violating any rules or laws but i congratulate you on your accomplishment. if you are all high and mighty like you say you are, i suggest you go after everyone on ebay. there is a person now selling the exact same thing i was on ebay and is still being allowed to. i have to wonder if this is a friend of yours that you kindly ran off the competition for. the item number is 5943376161. i will be reporting this person to ebay, excelsior, and the various study guide companies. if i cant sell these guides on ebay, nobody else should be allowed to either.
chris_at_lucas_RN, RN
1,895 Posts
That's cheating, it's illegal and ebay will have the original wording in their archives.
Sounds like we got through to him.
....
Ha! No such luck! I just checked the site and it still says "actual test items." However, I did get three nasty, threatening emails from the two sellers, so something is happening! Thank you all who have written to those slimeballs!!!
Sorry about that email address, it used to work. BUT I just got this one from Excelsior College: [email protected] If we want to report cheats on ebay (or, presumably) anywhere else, use this email address and include the URL for the item, as well as the ebay user name.
Here's the toll free number for Excelsior College 888-647-2388. If you punch in 13, you should get the nursing school.
I do think they prefer email.