Buyer with Zero feedback

macfly

I wouldn't bother doing the lottery. I sold 26 PS3 units 18 months ago bought at an auction. No problems at all.
Perhaps this type of scam is on the increase. Just how many accounts can be compromised in this way?

carolinabirichina

macfly wrote: »

I wouldn't bother doing the lottery. I sold 26 PS3 units 18 months ago bought at an auction. No problems at all.
Perhaps this type of scam is on the increase. Just how many accounts can be compromised in this way?

Perhaps I ought to start another thread on here "PS3 seller scammed on ebay by zero feedback buyer" and see how many others respond with tales of the same scam done to them!

carolinabirichina

Simmysim wrote: »

I have sold 3 ps3 over the last few months, each of those first sold to a 0 feedback account set up that very day, each of those accounts immediately sent

When I read that message I posted on the forum asking did anybody think it was a scam, and was directed to two identical threads with the same messages. The 3 addresses I sold to were all different, Wales Scotland and England, so its not the same person at each house. I made up my mind immediately that I wasnt sending out the Ps3. Its a scam, its impossible to get a word for word message from two different people 4 months apart. Then a few hours later I got a message from ebay saying No hassle there :T

The second one I sold (4 months later) I got the exact same message, immediately contacted Paypal by phone, told them it was a scam explained what happened last time. They didn't care said payment looks ok and to contact eBay if I thought it was a scam. Contacted eBay, they told me I was obliged to send out the item, even though I told them it was 100% a scam and even directed them to a year old thread on their message boards with the exact same word for word message for a sold PS3. Again I was told I was obliged to send it out :mad:. So I posted it with Parcelforce. 18 days later I recieved a message from eBay saying
[FONT=Arial, Verdana]

[/FONT]I have heard nothing else, I dont know what they will do with the payment. I still have it, but I have also sent out the item. I do have proof of course but I'm afraid to even spend the money as I'm afraid they will freeze and Investigate making a negative balance and messing me up for Xmas.

And I listed a 3rd PS3 two days ago it sold, and guess what message I got. So I don't know what to do with that one

You've had more than your fair share of bad luck!

So, the payment for the second PS3 is still sitting in your Paypal account? Have Paypal not tried to reclaim it at all? How long ago did you receive it? There must be a time limit after which the money is rightfully yours and they can't claim it back - perhaps someone knows the answer to that on here?

For the 3rd one that you have just sold, as it now appears to be an outright scam I would contact the buyer with apologies that the item is no longer available as it has been damaged and that you are unable to proceed with the sale - although would they have to agree to a cancellation so that you get your FVFs back? Not sure to be honest as so far I've never pulled out of a sale.

carolinabirichina

Mojo_Fones wrote: »

I'll bet a few earlier contributors to this thread are feeling a bit sheepish now.

Hmm - yes, they were very vocal before, now they are notable by their silence!

Simmysim

carolinabirichina wrote: »

You've had more than your fair share of bad luck!

So, the payment for the second PS3 is still sitting in your Paypal account? Have Paypal not tried to reclaim it at all? How long ago did you receive it? There must be a time limit after which the money is rightfully yours and they can't claim it back - perhaps someone knows the answer to that on here?

For the 3rd one that you have just sold, as it now appears to be an outright scam I would contact the buyer with apologies that the item is no longer available as it has been damaged and that you are unable to proceed with the sale - although would they have to agree to a cancellation so that you get your FVFs back? Not sure to be honest as so far I've never pulled out of a sale.

2nd one was sold on the 18th Nov, contacted by eBay on the 2nd Dec.

As for my share of bad luck, Im pretty sure its common, my thinking is (I may be way off) people are buying PS3's cheap on a less reputable site. The scammer then sets up a new ebay account and funds paypal by gift, asking for no invoice means the person receiving the PS3 would have no idea where it was from.

carolinabirichina

Simmysim wrote: »

2nd one was sold on the 18th Nov, contacted by eBay on the 2nd Dec.

As for my share of bad luck, Im pretty sure its common, my thinking is (I may be way off) people are buying PS3's cheap on a less reputable site. The scammer then sets up a new ebay account and funds paypal by gift, asking for no invoice means the person receiving the PS3 would have no idea where it was from.

Sorry, I must be a bit naive (or thick!) but I can't follow how that works?
I assumed that the scammer opened a new ebay account using a stolen credit card to pay for the PS3, he gets it delivered to an address he has access to, then legs it with the PS3 before ebay/Paypal realise what has happened.

Simmysim

carolinabirichina wrote: »

Sorry, I must be a bit naive (or thick!) but I can't follow how that works?
I assumed that the scammer opened a new ebay account using a stolen credit card to pay for the PS3, he gets it delivered to an address he has access to, then legs it with the PS3 before ebay/Paypal realise what has happened.

Maybe, but I doubt they could have access to all these houses. And it only seems to be PS3's so my thinking was.. Person sees PS3 cheap on site we wont name, buys it. The person they buy off just goes to eBay sets up a new account and uses stolen credit card and gets it sent to the address of the person who bought off him.

carolinabirichina

Simmysim wrote: »

Maybe, but I doubt they could have access to all these houses. And it only seems to be PS3's so my thinking was.. Person sees PS3 cheap on site we wont name, buys it. The person they buy off just goes to eBay sets up a new account and uses stolen credit card and gets it sent to the address of the person who bought off him.

Oh, that's clever! And devious!

cherry_laurel

carolinabirichina wrote: »

Hi all

Just looking for a bit of advice - I sold an expensive item today (approx £200) on a BIN and the buyer has zero feedback and only joined ebay today presumably to buy my item.

He has paid by Paypal and has emailed me wanting to know when I will post it to him.

I'm going to send it by trackable courier service and also send insured - is there anything else I can do to try to safeguard the transaction?

I have obtained his contact details from ebay and have got his mobile number.

Obviously worried that something may go badly wrong and I end up losing the item and the payment!

Thanks in advance for any help

SEE UPDATE BELOW Chargeback now claimed & PS3 scam

Hi
Provided the transaction has appeared in your PayPal account then you really need to treat the buyer as genuine!

Send recorded delivery and trackable if poss.

We all need to remember, when your new to eBay you start with zero feedback!! Have to start somewhere, just a shame if genuine that its for quite a big first time purchase, always going to look a bit suspect.

carolinabirichina

cherry_laurel wrote: »

Hi
Provided the transaction has appeared in your PayPal account then you really need to treat the buyer as genuine!

Send recorded delivery and trackable if poss.

We all need to remember, when your new to eBay you start with zero feedback!! Have to start somewhere, just a shame if genuine that its for quite a big first time purchase, always going to look a bit suspect.

If you read my update further down the thread you will see that it was actually a scam and a chargeback has now been claimed which Paypal are investigating.