I Think I have been scammed on Preloved urgent advice needed?

[Deleted User]

As Title Suggests.
I found a 4ft marine tank advertised on preloved.
It was perfect just what I had been looking for.

I contacted the seller via email,
then we spoke several time on phone.
He seemed a really nice guy.
He lived a little way away from me so
I asked if I could arrange my own courier to collect tank.
He said that was not a problem.

He said he owned a hotel and asked if I could pay over phone as he had a card terminal at hotel.
I was not keep to give out my bank card details to a complete stranger over the phone so said no.

we finally agreed to paypal.
He sent me a invoice and I was a little concerned when received invoice as PayPal account was in different name to what he had told me.

I phoned him to query it and he explained that he did not have a PayPal Account and that it was his step brothers PayPal account.
He seemed genuine so stupidly sent payment.

I arranged and paid for courier to collect this Friday which he said was fine.

Then alarm bells started ringing in my head.
I asked him for more photos of tank set up to help me when re setting up,at first he said no problem now he is refusing and saying he wont take more photos.

Also after saying he owned a hotel, he now says he is a full time student at home all the time.
He was un responsive Monday and Tuesday not responding to my messages, then used a excuse that he had been at work all day so could not respond to my messages.

Then very early yesterday morning I received this message from him

" Paypal has just suspended my accout !!
for no reason !

i will be contacted them right now to get problem resolved !

you have probly been refunded . so you probly carnt buy tank till problem is solved sorry not my fault nothing i can do till they pull there finger out"

Firstly he is contradicting him self by now saying it is his PayPal account.
I have checked my PayPal account and money has not been refunded
and it is not showing any problems.
I sent a message but did not get a message back all day.

I am starting to get concerned some thing does not feel right.
Do you think I'm being scammed or am I just being paranoid.

As I paid by PayPal.

I have contacted PayPal to get money back. I opened a dispute and PayPal escalated to a claim straight away. But are now waiting for seller to provide additional information. They are giving him 12 days to respond which I think is ridiculous.

When sending payment via PayPal I did select paying for goods not the paying a friend option. So I am hoping I can get my money back.

I paid £175 and don't really want too loose this much money. I am already out of pocket on the delivery costs I had already paid and the cost of salt water to go in tank, as tank came with hermit crabs which I could not leave with no water.

Should I report this to some where like Actionfraud.police.uk or not


Sorry this is so long

Any advice would be much appreciated

Thanks in advance

InsideInsurance

You could try the police, their responses tend to be very hit or miss.

If you've opened a case with PayPal and have proof of the failed collection from the courier then it should be a fairly straightforward matter. If you pulled the courier and havent actually given them the opportunity for the collection then it may start sounding like buyer remorse instead.

Reality is that not everyone is available 24/7 to respond, particularly businesses, and so PayPal has to give reasonable time for people to respond. Just because they allow 12 days doesnt mean the otherside will naturally wait 12 days.

[Deleted User]

It is definitely not buyer remorse. I want tank. Seller has point blank said I can not have tank that I Have paid for. I have this in writing. I have copies of all correspondence I have had with seller.
What is the point of sending courier over there wasting there time if seller has said a I cant have tank.

Seller is refusing to respond to claim. He has just sent me another message back saying "if you want your money back sue me".

InsideInsurance

[Deleted User] wrote:

It is definitely not buyer remorse. I want tank. Seller has point blank said I can not have tank that I Have paid for. I have this in writing. I have copies of all correspondence I have had with seller.

Then this is fine and so hopefully its just a matter of time before PayPal gives you the money back. Unfortunately it does sound as if the other side will string it along but if they dont respond judgement is given in default.

For future reference, its arguably safer to pay someone directly with the card than PayPal, particularly if its a credit card because using an intermediary like PayPal causes problems with S75 protection and chargebacks to a lesser degree.