Ebay scam, If you are looking to sell using ebay and paypal, my advice don't do it!

Crowqueen

To be honest if an OP posts in the way this one has done it is far easier to read and offer assistance if the post is formatted with paragraphs and so on.

The OP may be distressed and frustrated but I can't read a wall of text and answer it properly, so people asking for a paragraphed version may just find it difficult to help without it.

slummymummyof3

Thanks OP, much easier to read and not lose track of the events now you have put it in to paragraphs. It was not intended as a dig saying that it needed to be seperated in to paragraphs; it was just difficult to follow in the original format.

I really don't know what to suggest other than supplying the email address that the paypal payment was received from, the telephone number that 'Chris' called you from and the premium rate telephone number you were requested to call, to paypal, ebay and perhaps the police???

I hope you manage to get this sorted out and that your landlord is sympathetic.

adsingleton

To update paypal have now sent the money back to the "buyer" I have been on live chat again with ebay, Thay have now stated they will not pay the money I am owed.

I asked them to admit they had sent a thief to my house, they said of course not I asked where my money is then?
She stated to contact the buyer!!!

I advised ebay had told me it was a hacked account and asked to again answer the question if they had sent a thief to my house

she stated she had addressed all my concerns and closed the chat window

now I am completley screwed, does anyone know who I could speak to about this?
ebay refused to tell me who their governing body is

piglet25

I know it won't help you but it might stop others from being scammed if you let us know the buyers id? One of the people on here might even be able to give you some info on them

adsingleton

piglet25 wrote: »

I know it won't help you but it might stop others from being scammed if you let us know the buyers id? One of the people on here might even be able to give you some info on them

I am happy to do that he has a 100% rating and apparently it was not him, his account was hacked they said but the buyers id was pacmania82, I don't want to cause him grief if he is innocent but I would far rather be the one who's account was hacked to make the bid than me the one giving the item to the fraudster.

Bluebirdnick

It's an obvious point, but I assume you've told the police already?

It may not help you personally, but this is a theft so they should be told.

adsingleton

Bluebirdnick wrote: »

It's an obvious point, but I assume you've told the police already?

It may not help you personally, but this is a theft so they should be told.

I haven't yet, I should have done but I thought ebay were handling all the investigating I was just desperate for the money so wanted to get it sorted asap, but I will do first thing tomorrow and then speak the cab I guess.

Astec

Give up on ebay, they really don't care. They have their own rules which really don't make sense. Anything by except motors HAS to accept paypal, everything by paypal HAS to have proof of delivery.

I gave up selling after being scammed on a £3 item. Involve the police but I doub't they could do much either. Small claims is your best bet, but you'll need info on the person.

IMO, anything worth more than a fiver, ebay isn't the place for it.

lindseykim13

Oh dear i'm afraid your not going to see your money again, moral of the story never accept paypal for a collection only item. I wish ebay would do something about this and take the pp option off if someone chooses to collect on the invoice!

soolin

Astec wrote: »

Give up on ebay, they really don't care. They have their own rules which really don't make sense. Anything by except motors HAS to accept paypal, everything by paypal HAS to have proof of delivery.

I gave up selling after being scammed on a £3 item. Involve the police but I doub't they could do much either. Small claims is your best bet, but you'll need info on the person.

IMO, anything worth more than a fiver, ebay isn't the place for it.

I have tried to avoid this thread as I do feel for the OP, I really do. However, ebay and paypal are safe if you know what you are doing. Whenever I suggest that there should be tighter guidelines in place before people are allowed to use it I think I am seen as being discriminatory.

We have established this is a very common scam, 99.99* % of us would not fall for it, just because one person does doesn't mean ebay is not safe, it just means that people need to be better educated before they use ebay. Maybe ebay should have some sort of stricter guidelines in place, make people do a tutorial or something to prove they understand the rules. It appears that merely posting warnings on every single paypal email is not enough (and yes there are warnings there on every email if you read them)

It is a very unfortunate fact of life that some people, usually those in most need are vulnerable to scams, the oP has also fallen for the scam website offering 'ebay' support at a premium rate (different thread so not relevant here).

Suggesting that we should all avoid ebay because a small percentage of people do not understand it is merely scaremongering.

I do not believe there is much here at all that can be done however on two occasions I have seen reports that paypal have reimbursed the seller as a goodwill gesture, both of those cocasions were done without prejudice and without admitting liability but as a direct result of press involvement. One of them was on watchdog and one in the financial bit of the Mail on Sunday, it might be worth considering asking for advice somewhere like that. It may mean the OP wil look quite foolish to many people, but if it results in any sort of goodwill gesture it might be worth a bit of loss of face.