Wow....Scammer contacts his bank after eBay see in my favour as seller

shapala

So, good and bad here. Buyer opened a case for a brand new and sealed item, returning an empty envelope for a relatively expensive electronics item on my biz a/c. Couldn't have been more blatant. 

Pictures were taken the second it was put thru my door. After speaking with eBay at the outset, I was told to send a message to the buyer asking him to send the correct item and wait a few days, which I did without a reply. Moving on from that, I went thru all the steps with eBay and for once it was all quite simple - I responded to the SNAD case he opened by both reporting buyer and disputing the case. eBay were very good when speaking with them all three or four times, I grant them that.

Once exhausting all the necessary steps (in the right order) the case was seen in my favour having supplied the evidence required. It was also mentioned after the outcome of the case that the buyer was not given a refund so no freebie for him, quite rightly.

10 days later, I receive an email from eBay to say he has opened a further case with his bank and I need to respond. I once again got in touch by phone with eBay and reassured they will cover me whatever the bank decided thanks to seller protection. In the comments box, I mentioned the facts of the case with dates/times, photos etc, eBay has seen in my favour, he has been reported to Action Fraud (which he has) and if his bank defend him, they are supporting fraud.

The reason for my posting is I'm incredulous at a clear scammer doing all they can to recoup their money. I also notice he is no longer an eBay member so guessing he was additionally banned by eBay. All I hope is that when it lands in the hands of whomever investigates at the bank they will read my reply and actually investigate this person in the hope he's looked into, flagged etc. Though banks being banks I've no idea. 

Hoenir

People are well known for doing dumb things. Not as clever as they think. 

Rantband

Have you got proof of delivery with tracking of original sale ?

shapala

Rantband said:

Have you got proof of delivery with tracking of original sale ?

Yes, both proof of posting at the PO and a screenshot of postie's delivery (sent Special Delivery) which has a photo of the box in the buyer's hands. This was added as part of documentation, both for the initial case and also this new dispute.

TripleH

People don't think things through or they get so blinkered that they miss the obvious. The buyer seems so obsessed with pulling a fast one that they are probably indignant that things are not going their way thatcthey believe the Op is the scammer.

Anyway, the issue here is that the longer they drag it out and escalate, the bigger the loss for them as corporate bodies like many are lazy and if everything is saying the person is acting improperly, then it becomes easier to just stick a warning flag on their file which future them won't like.

ballisticbrian

You often see this behaviour, I don't know quite how to word it, other than the would-be scammer tries everything and anything at their disposal and will often simply be clicking on "what can I do next" suggestions at the end of their last failed action.

shapala

UPDATE: fortunately I was covered by eBay's seller protection in this instance having received an email from eBay to say the buyer's banking institution found in his favour.  

Whether the bank doesn't care and couldn't be bothered undertaking any investigation I'm unsure, but they have so much information, in addition to my mention that buyer had been reported to action fraud too. If I were the bank, I certainly wouldn't want someone like that on my books. So fraud obviously pays!

What's worrying is if a dispute is lodged by buyer via their bank when an eBay case can't be opened (say a year after purchase) and send a different item back - then you'd be stymied since there's no eBay case (with that any seller protection). Suppose you could go to small courts with all the evidence but even if found in your favour the buyer conveniently probably can't be found and money never to be recouped, in addition to all the stress caused and time wasted. 

Fortunately seller protection saved me from this unscrupulous so-and-so but it leaves a bitter taste.

Murphybear

I was horrified to read your story but pleased it turned out well for you.

Is what the buyer committed actually fraud.  If so it is a criminal offence in the U.K.  I strongly suspect the police wouldn’t be able to help here but if they contacted the buyer it might scare them into not trying it again.  

MattMattMattUK

shapala said:

Fortunately seller protection saved me from this unscrupulous so-and-so but it leaves a bitter taste.

I am pleased you got a positive result and seller protection worked as it generally seems from both other people and my personal experience that eBay will go out of their way to screw sellers over when things go wrong. Possibly there is a difference because you are a business seller vs private. 

Either way, pleased you got a positive outcome.