Ebay Scam ?

[Rocket]

Hope i have entered this in the right place, if not sorries..

I wonder if some one might advise.
I have been a ebay member for some 8 yrs, both buying and selling, and as yet have only had one hiccup.
I cannot remember how it was resolved, But yesterday i was hit with a similer situation.

Sold an item 1st March to a member who had only joined on the 28th Feb, seems quite sus to me and am reluctant to even forward payment details through my Paypal account, there were other bidders who are legit, one who has said he still would like to purchase the item.

Can anyone advise as to how to handle this. apart from what i have already done, and thats to report the situation to ebay...

Thanks...

 

[ekimeno]

If the transaction is via Paypal, he'll only have your email address to make a payment to, so there isn't much risk at all. I'm not sure I understand the 'situation' that needs reporting - has something gone wrong?

 

[trapper501]

Everybody has to start somewhere, are you saying ebay users should have to wait a set period before they can bid?

You aren't at much risk just producing a paypal invoice for them, you may want to insist that you deal with a verified paypal account but these sorts of conditions should be made before the auction finishes. Likewise you can remove bids from those you think haven't been members long enough but again before the auction completes.

Unless there is something more about them you don't trust than their recent membership?

 

[Rocket]

If the transaction is via Paypal, he'll only have your email address to make a payment to, so there isn't much risk at all. I'm not sure I understand the 'situation' that needs reporting - has something gone wrong?

Thanks for the reply.

Nothing wrong at this stage, however knowing that the ebay member with NO feed back only joined 28th and purchased on the 1st, seems a little sus, i was wondering whether he could pay for the item and after reciiving it claim his payment back for some unknown reason.
Its a first for me...

 

[photon]

If the item has a serial number, take a photo of it and send the info to PayPal (they won't accept email attachments).

 

[welly]

Thanks for the reply.

Nothing wrong at this stage, however knowing that the ebay member with NO feed back only joined 28th and purchased on the 1st, seems a little sus, i was wondering whether he could pay for the item and after reciiving it claim his payment back for some unknown reason.
Its a first for me...

I'm not sure what is suspicious about someone who joined 3 days before he made his first purchase. How long was your ebay auction up for? 3 days?

 

[Jim.R]

What will probably happen (if it is a scam) is that you'll provide your PayPal and then recieve a fake email saying that payment has been made, but won't show in your account until you provide the shipping reference.
It's all a hoax, and the last muppet that tried it with me didn't even bother to spoof the "from" address in the email.

 

[Rocket]

I'm not sure what is suspicious about someone who joined 3 days before he made his first purchase. How long was your ebay auction up for? 3 days?

28 days in Feb, makes it the day before when joining, the item was on there for 7 days, the ebay meber made all attempts with in the final time out,.
I still feel this may well be a scam and reluctent to go futher, I have messaged the purchaser to see if he/she/ it is still interested.

What i should have done, was to place a limit on feed back, i.e. not bids excepted from those with 5 or under feed back.

But as said nevr had this kinda prob before..

Thanks

 

[Rocket]

What will probably happen (if it is a scam) is that you'll provide your PayPal and then recieve a fake email saying that payment has been made, but won't show in your account until you provide the shipping reference.
It's all a hoax, and the last muppet that tried it with me didn't even bother to spoof the "from" address in the email.

Thanks Jim, This is the root i thought might happen.
If this is the case how would you advise to deal with it, perhaps just relist the item and egnore the seller. Or any ideas?..

regards

 

[puddleduck]

I've sold stuff to zero rated buyers before, once to a chap in Portugal! (my Nikon R1C1 rig) - and I've never had a problem.

In fact some of the best buyers are zero folks, anxious to make a good impression I find.

I'm not clear at all what this "Ebay scam" actually is!

 

[Flash In The Pan]

I don't see what the problem is, I would find it more "sus", if it were like one I had a while back, where the Ebay account was 3 years old, but no feedback had ever been received and the buyer had a Nigerian name and wanted the goods sent to a community centre in London....

Believe it or not the buyer turned out to be totally legit

 

[Rocket]

Having said the above, i have now had an email back after asking if the buyer was still interested and i am confused.
here it is below.....

Sony PSP

Sorry for the late response.
I'm really interested in your psp, and I'm buying
for my friend who wants a specified
version(downgradable). There are several ways to
check:
1. the single capital letter(say "G") on the
label of the box, I need a letter lower than G, F
at most.
2. the date code behind the battery, I need a
date code smaller than 8C, 8A/8B could be okay.
3. the origin firmware version, lower than 4.00,
3.95/3.90 could be okayThanks for the feed back.

 

[diggerz]

why don't you email him telling him that you've had an accident and seriously damaged the item and so will have to reluctantly cancel the transaction. then wait a couple of and relist it (change the photo and description a bit to deter recognition of the item) with the stipulation so many pos feedback. That should clear you of any dispute that could land you with neg feedback.

Cheers Paul

 

[Flash In The Pan]

I thought the whole idea is to be assured buy some one with 100% feed back than those with no feedback, I'am sure it must help other wise whats the point in feed back.



Thanks for the feed back.

So what your saying is that buyers and sellers on Ebay shouldn't be allowed to buy or sell until they have received feedback from buying or selling?

 

[trapper501]

So what your saying is that buyers and sellers on Ebay shouldn't be allowed to buy or sell until they have received feedback from buying or selling?

That seems to be about the size of it.

It is true that the internet seems to be entirely made up of scammers these days, but everyone needs to get started somehow. I bought my first item on ebay the day after I joined.

If you find that selling to people with no feedback or non verified paypal is a problem for you then make it a condition of the auction.

As it stands at the moment you appear to be talking about breaching your contract with the buyer, I don't think that is a good idea. Surely you should be finding a way to make it work for him/her?

 

[Rocket]

So what your saying is that buyers and sellers on Ebay shouldn't be allowed to buy or sell until they have received feedback from buying or selling?

NO, what iam saying is, I feel more comfortable with some one who has better feed back, surly this says something about the person.other wise no point in having feed back.
Am i going to purchase something from some one that has no feed back and joined a few hours ago, NO, am i going to purchase off some one that has 99% feed back, YES. simples.

 

[Rocket]

If you find that selling to people with no feedback or non verified paypal is a problem for you then make it a condition of the auction.

Next time.

 

[trapper501]

Next time.

Yes, that seems to be a good idea for you, I think especially for higher value items.

That isn't going to help now though, you have made a contract with the buyer.

Perhaps you can talk to them to gain some reassurance.

 

[Rocket]

Yes, that seems to be a good idea for you, I think especially for higher value items.

That isn't going to help now though, you have made a contract with the buyer.

Perhaps you can talk to them to gain some reassurance.

Yes true, have messaged them and got the below respose.




I'm really interested in your psp, and I'm buying
for my friend who wants a specified
version(downgradable). There are several ways to
check:
1. the single capital letter(say "G") on the
label of the box, I need a letter lower than G, F
at most.
2. the date code behind the battery, I need a
date code smaller than 8C, 8A/8B could be okay.
3. the origin firmware version, lower than 4.00,
3.95/3.90 could be okayThanks for the feed back.

 

[trapper501]

Yes true, have messaged them and got the below respose.




I'm really interested in your psp, and I'm buying
for my friend who wants a specified
version(downgradable). There are several ways to
check:
1. the single capital letter(say "G") on the
label of the box, I need a letter lower than G, F
at most.
2. the date code behind the battery, I need a
date code smaller than 8C, 8A/8B could be okay.
3. the origin firmware version, lower than 4.00,
3.95/3.90 could be okayThanks for the feed back.

What did you ask him?

 

[Rocket]

What did you ask him?

If he could confirm he still wished to purchased the item..

 

[Merovingian]

I've sold stuff to zero rated buyers before, once to a chap in Portugal! (my Nikon R1C1 rig) - and I've never had a problem

How about this:

I've a seller for an ebay item of mine. He has no feedback (fair enough), but his account was begun in Oct'08.

 

[Rocket]

How about this:

I've a seller for an ebay item of mine. He has no feedback (fair enough), but his account was begun in Oct'08.

????????????????????????????????????

I would'nt mind but there is a few £s involved.

 

[Jim.R]

Thanks Jim, This is the root i thought might happen.
If this is the case how would you advise to deal with it, perhaps just relist the item and egnore the seller. Or any ideas?..
regards

If you get this happening (and having read the rest of the thread your buyer does sound legit) just report it to eBay. The ones that have tried it with me had their accounts closed fairly quickly and I was able to relist the item with all fees refunded for the first auction.

Scammers don't tend to ask lots of questions though. Generally they just want it shipping as soon as humanly possible, normally to Nigeria.

 

[seriousrikk]

You have a buyer, there should be no 'are they still interested' and no 'Actually I don't want to sell you you' - bid, contract etc.

Send a paypal invoice. Get money.
Log & photograph the item including serial number then post it out on reciept of cleared funds using special delivery (Tracked service, paypal like this).
Then leave positive feedback and move on.

In my opinion you are making a lot more out of this than there actually is.

 

[who?]

[S1]I agree[/S1]

you seem to be vmaking a big deal out of this when it looks legit. So he joined in order to bid on something. Whats the problem?

 

[fletch5]

i would say with the specific info requested(which should have been before closure of the item) they are pretty serious. the feedback system works well, for people who have used the site before, a mild ocncern for new people, but nothing that should stop a deal. send the invoice, let them pay and with special delivery, paypal wont be able to reclaim any money off you as you will have the relavent paperwork or able to make a claim through delivery agent.