Have I just been scammed?

Alonso14

Hi. I won the following item:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200014990875&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:UK:31

I dont know what I was thinking, but Ive now paid for this by paypal (funded from my credit card). There was a similar auction by this guy on 3rd august, and I managed to get into contact with one of the winning bidders from that auction, and he tells me that k800i phones cannot be unlocked, so this is a blatant lie in his advert. Incidently, he did the smart thing and didnt pay up. In the email I got from ebay saying i had won, it shows the sellers address etc (probably false), however, when I got the invoice for payment from the seller, it says "payment address not on file with ebay". If I have indeed been shafted, would people recommend that I pursue the mater with my credit card company first, and how long should I wait before starting the process. I have emailed the seller to ask when he will be posting the phone to me, but i dont hold out much hope. Also, no one who won the 3rd August auction has left any feedback with him, so it does look like something fishy is going on. Any views would be greatly appreciated (apart from those that say I should have known better!). Thanks

Stevenj214

Alonso14 wrote:

Hi. I won the following item:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200014990875&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:UK:31

I dont know what I was thinking, but Ive now paid for this by paypal (funded from my credit card). There was a similar auction by this guy on 3rd august, and I managed to get into contact with one of the winning bidders from that auction, and he tells me that k800i phones cannot be unlocked, so this is a blatant lie in his advert.

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?sofocus=unknown&sbrftog=1&from=R10&catref=C12&satitle=k800i&sacat=3312%26catref%3DC6&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=&a14=-24&a6=-24&a33112=-24&a33113=25644&a35=-24&gcs=1609&pfid=2139&reqtype=1&pfmode=1&alist=a14%2Ca41%2Ca6%2Ca33112%2Ca33113%2Ca35%2Ca3801&pf_query=k800i&pf=Show+Items&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D3&sadis=200&fpos=G459HS&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=

This link has lots of sellers advertising that phone as unlocked. Take from that what you will.


As you've already paid, you may aswell give the seller a chance to fulfill their obligation. If they don't, then take it up with Ebay/Paypal. If that doesn't resolve it, then inform your credit card company.

patwa_2

Be very careful when deciding about unlocked phones. a similar thing happened with the Nokia 6630 a while back - lots of people thought they couldn't be unlocked, and there were several scandals with unlocked phones being sold. Just cause there re no unlock codes floating around the net doesn't mean they can't be unlocked. Newer hones use different algorithms for their codes, and many of them,like the newest ones used for the Nokia Smartphones are known only to Nokia. In fact, until recently, there was only one guy in the UK who could unlock a 6630, he charged £10,000 for it (either single or for a batch). I used to chat with him, nice bloke (I met him once when he was into our local The Link, nd the manager there introduced me to him. I must say for all the money he's making he's very modest). Now one mobile phone network has got the code from Nokia, but still it's not in the putlic domain

anyway re: your point, give the seller a few days to send the item. Remember not every seller has exemplary customer service and informs you at each stage of the process (payment received, item sent, etc).

If you get the phone and it turns out not to be unlocked, you can raise a dispute with paypal. Trust me, you will get your money back from them, they really do favour buyers these days and treat us sellers like dirt.

If you don't get the item, it's up to you. Raise it with paypal or go via the Credit Card company. Most card companies now don't even investigate paypal problems, as fraud is so common now. Just one more way in which we as sellers get burnt using paypal.

Cheers and take care.

Hussein.

glen5213

quote" you can raise a dispute with paypal. Trust me, you will get your money back from them, they really do favour buyers these days and treat us sellers like dirt."

yeah you may get some but i would not bet on it
Glen

soolin

A 13 rated feedback seller who has never sold anything at all before suddenly selling lots of high end mobile phones...sorry but why does anyone buy from sellers like this?

This guy (who remember has never sold anything at all before) has just sold:

212 mobile phones and 50 £500+ laptops!

OK, you've been scammed so you need to try and recover your money. Firstly paypal won't take a claim until day 7 but you might want to give them a call and talk to them and explain the position. However, it i slikely the seller would have done a runner with the money by now.

If you can't recover back through paypal then try your credit card company, they should help you.

Please though in future before anyone bids do a bit of research on the seller. Just because it is ebay doesn't mean it is safe, feedback is there for a reason so look at it, look at previous buying and selling history as well. You wouldn't give a stranger in a pub £100, so why do it on ebay?

I hate seeing people scammed, so can anyone reading this thread (especially powersellers) report the guy and also watch in case he relists more items.

Soo