Sounds like an ebay scam?

fluffy123

Hi all,

I currently have items listed up for sale (band t-shirts) and have recieved messages and bids from accounts that seem to be based in Kelantan, Malaysia. They are asking me for costs of postage to Malaysia and/or whether I would end the auction now if I name my price?

They just don't seem right to me, especially as they are located in the exact same area and I'm wondering if these are scams?

How am I best proceeding? Messaging them back informing them that bids from Malaysia won't be accepted and cancel their bids? It's annoying as so far they are the leader in all three of the items.

I have already dealt with timewasters from foreign shores so am reluctant to ship abroad from the UK. I currently have a mobile phone which someone from the USA won and I'm still waiting for the payment 13 days on. They've messaged me apologising for the delay and they'll pay this week through the ebay case centre resolution option, but it's rather annoying.

Thanks in advance

cyberbob

Whats there feedback like? What have they bought recently? What are they bidding on now? Go to goofbay and have a look at these it will then be easier to judge.

soolin

I can't help with the Malaysia issue I'm afraid but I am concerned about the mobile to America.

Phones over £39 in value are not covered by RM if sent overseas, most sellers will therefore limit mobile sales to UK only. Personally I would now open a full NPB on them and hope to get it closed before they pay as that would mean you no longer have an issue with shipping and yet get your FVFs back. You can then relist for UK only and make sure your seller preferences are set securely.

As a new seller you might find this post of interest:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1623183&highlight=tips+new+sellers

cyberbob

I missed the mobile phone bit. I never sell mobiles outside UK (or ireland if they are under £39) There is just such a high risk of someone trying to scam you. You still can get good prices without the international market. It really is not worth the hassle of trying to sell them further afield

fluffy123

Hi all, thanks for your help.

I've already adjusted my selling preferences this morning and I'm planning on cancelling and blocking the three Malaysian ID's that I've come into contact with.

With regards to the USA thing, I didn't realise there was an issue there and I'm worried about that now. It's been 13 days since the auction ended but only 4 days since the case was opened, can I still close the case or do I really have to wait for 7 days from the case being opened?

Getting to be a right pain this lately.

fluffy123

The other annoying thing is that the USA person outbid somebody from the UK by £1. I'd have been more than happy to sell to the UK bidder for the price they bid for anyway.

cyberbob

Have you escalated the dispute yet? If not do that. Were you offered second chance offers on your auction? If so you may be able to offer it to the uk bidder once its sorted.

fluffy123

Yeah, I've opened a case 4 days ago for the mobile phone and the buyer has came back to me. But, I'm worried that that is a scam as well now.

DJANGO

hiya!

im a member of a site which keeps track of all kinds of activity from foreign ebay scammers!!

if in doubt then dont deal with the ppl who want you to end the auction early!!

the probability is that they will pay with a fake cheque, some even say they will send you a cheque for a greater value and then you send the excess cash back with the delivery of the item!...anyway...a few weeks down the line you will be charged for the fake cheque by your bank and the money will be taken back from you!!

foreigners will use ups for delivery and moneybrokers for the cheque service as these 2 companys will take any old fake id as proof of who a person is!!

if u need any more info on this then just let me kno and ill be happy to help!!

Saffronsmum

Hi, i have posted phones abroad before (1 to America) and all was fine, i would check their feedback/history first though, if it looks a bit suss then cancel their bids or just offer it to uk bidders.

50% of my clothes sales go abroad but mainly to the EU, i don't get many problems with overseas customers (more problems with the UK ones). I only take paypal from overseas customers.

cyberbob

Saffronsmum wrote: »

Hi, i have posted phones abroad before (1 to America) and all was fine, i would check their feedback/history first though, if it looks a bit suss then cancel their bids or just offer it to uk bidders.

50% of my clothes sales go abroad but mainly to the EU, i don't get many problems with overseas customers (more problems with the UK ones). I only take paypal from overseas customers.

I sell a lot of things out of the UK also. Its just that phones and electrical items are normally what scammers target which is why I dont sell phones outside the uk. Also anything over £39 is not covered insurance wise by airsure. That is why my advice to fluffy was to stick to UK sales for these items. Low priced items are not so much of a problem.