Question SCAMMED in Member To Member Support DO NOT DELETE

SCAMMED

cormaduff0 — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:29:29 GMT

To a hopefully understanding community,

I will not be the first person posting here banging my head off a wall for being stupid. Those inclined to scoff at my naivety should leave now in fact, as I have already had my fair share of judgement from people who actually matter to me.

To those that are willing to offer some guidance and advice, I will summarise what has happened in the hope that there may be some course of action that I am still able to take. Here is a sequence of events:

1. I responded to a post on a classifieds website, asking for eBay sellers.

2. I exchanged eMails and text messages regarding the process. It was explained to me that this individual was a full-time eBay seller but their accounts were full/unable to add any more items. They wanted to use my account to sell additional items, and would give me a % of the sale for allowing them to use my account. No PayPal/bank details would be exchanged. I was obviously very reluctant, but also felt reassured by the answers being given

3. Yes, stupidly, I shared my eBay log in details. I am aware, having spoken to some apathetic eBay customer service representatives, that this is not in line with eBay policy and therefore there is nothing that can be done. More on that later.

4. Next, the person listed a few items on my eBay page - a phone and a watch. Miraculously, both items sold within 10 minutes of being posted with multiple offers, which seemed somewhat odd to me. The person explained to me that he also had access to the buyers' accounts. Starting to sound very fishy, but okay.

5. The money from the sale of the 2 items goes into my PayPal account. The PayPal "up to 72 hours" policy is upheld to the second, much to the chagrin of my "selling partner". Countless messages hounding for an update on the money. In the meantime, the individual was responding to messages using my account, and was receiving nearly instant responses with very similar level of English being used. Odd.

6. The money comes in and I am instructed to transfer X amount to his bank account, which I do immediately. Within minutes, coincidentally again, I receive two eMails from eBay saying both "buyers" raised issues with the sale and demanded an instant refund. All of a sudden I had a negative PayPal balance of over 1K. I contact the individual but he has now blocked me on WhatsApp and his phone is switched off.

7. I contacted my bank to reverse the payment made. Nothing they can do. I contacted eBay. Nothing they can do. Or will do.

8 That evening, the individual contacts me from a different number, asking panickly what I had told eBay and what case I brought up. He then offers to "sort out" my PayPal balance the next morning. The next morning comes, nothing needless to say, until late afternoon he calls me and tells me he has a friend that is able to "clear PayPal balances down to zero" using some fancy computer programme. But here's the rub - I need to pay more money to do this. No thank you.

9. During this conversation, the individual admitted to using the buyers' accounts to 1) make the purchases of these fake items he posted on my page, and 2) message my account back and forth. He claims he "hacked into" these accounts, which I find remarkably difficult to believe given these message exchanges went on for 2-3 days. My suspicion is these are all accounts used by him and his buddies to scam idiotic naive individualised like I.

10. In sum, as it stands, the "buyers" have been issued full refunds by eBay. My PayPal balance shows -1.5K. And these scammers have most of the money from the original sale of items as I transferred it to them. If my suspicion is correct, these "buyers" have just made a tidy profit.

My question is this: Can, or will, eBay investigate this activity? They have simply sided with the "buyers" based on the fact that I was in breach of eBay terms of service. I would hypothesise that these "buyers" are in breach of far more than that.

Any advice would be massively appreciated. Again, I did not come on to be lectured, so if that is the motivation fuelling your response, please channel your energies elsewhere.

PS - The Resolution Centre does not even offer the opportunity to raise these issues as a "seller".

Thank you.

Re: SCAMMED

profgaz — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:57:20 GMT

The only thing I can really say is that I would advise you to contact both the police & a solicitor, if only to try and prevent others being scammed in the same or a similar way.

Plus you might need to find out any implications you have.

You could also try Citizens advice for help.

It would seem unlikely for you to get the money returned, since it seems you took a part in the scam, however unintentionally.

But we all make mistakes & true scammers know how to scam us.

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Below is the usual advice I give for hacked accounts, some of it might help:

Report to eBay "someone as used my account" (use help & contact to do that)
Your Account will be locked & They will require you to change your eBay password.

However, I'd also recommend Changing all passwords (paypal + possibly email)

Contact your bank

Update your computer security (Unsecured devices are an invitation to hackers)

Check all your eBay and Paypal details are correct.

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/account/securing-account.html

https://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/account/protecting-account.html

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/account/protecting-account/get-help-hacked-account?id=4196

Accounts can often be hacked by an email pretending to be from somebody its not. If you click a link in these emails, hackers can gain access to your information. Best just to check any messages on the site in question.

Also, when using any site that requires you to log in, Don't Use public Wi-fi

Remember: Security of your Account is your responsibility, so its always best to keep all devices secure and up to date.

Anti-Virus Software is Essential on all types of devices.

There have also been reports of devices being hacked via Bluetooth.
If your Not using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth - Turn them Off + they're a drain on the battery anyway, when switched on.

Re: SCAMMED

1956glyn — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:44:18 GMT

No lecture just facts.

You are responsible 100% for all activity on your account (unless you are hacked which is not the case).

Unfortunately Ebay will not help you get the money back. I am sure others have fallen for the very same scam unfortunately as adds for accounts do appear on other social networking sites all the time. You are the one that will end up having to repay the money.

The only thing you can do to try and stop this is report everything to Action Fraud and maybe speak to your local Police Station.

Sorry this has happened to you BUT there is no such thing as easy money and unfortunately these scammers are very convincing.

Re: SCAMMED

pixiesen2012 — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:44:02 GMT

absolutely nothing you can do through ebay or paypal,

get yourself some legal advice ASAP

Re: SCAMMED

cormaduff0 — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:45:42 GMT

Thank you very much for your helpful response. Indeed, I am fully aware of how stupid and naive I was in ever getting involved in something like this.

I suppose my only question is are eBay not interested in following up on suspicious looking buyer transactions? It seems to be that if anyone put 10 minutes into looking at these particular transactions, they would see a lot of coincidence that would suggest the buyers' accounts are not legitimate and/or had been compromised also.

Re: SCAMMED

cormaduff0 — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:48:16 GMT

Thank you very much. Would it be okay if I sent you a private message? It will be quick.

Re: SCAMMED

profgaz — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:52:47 GMT

I never said you were stupid or naive.
I was sympathetic when I said we can make mistakes.

eBay often seem to just side with Buyers and the only thing that seems to interest eBay is their fees.
Of course, if you did involve the police then eBay would have to take a little more notice but I'm not sure how much.

Re: SCAMMED

cormaduff0 — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:58:04 GMT

Apologies - I didn't mean to imply that you said either of those things, I'm again qualifying my gripes by completely accepting my responsibilities. I have some comprehensive evidence to show this so will be going to my local police station.

I would like to sincerely thank you for your time.

Re: SCAMMED

*vyolla* — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 12:05:48 GMT

@cormaduff0

This is outside of eBay's arena I'm afraid. You've been complicit in a scam in which the victim is you. It's not an uncommon scam, but we're seeing way less of this one as people realise that it doesn't sit right.

I know you don't want a lecture, but the bottom line is that there is nothing you can do except to report it to Actionfraud where it will just be logged. These guys are from organised crime rings, they completely know what they're doing.

It does annoy me when common sense goes out of the window and greed kicks it (because, let's face it, this is what blinds people to being duped), because you've basically funded these guys to continue with their other crimes which include people trafficking (this also includes child trafficking).

I must warn you, having been duped so easily, your details have been 'scraped' and are now on the Idiot list (not my term, no insult meant there, this is actually name of the list that's for sale) on the dark web of people who are easily parted from their money. Be on guard for phishing emails, real life letters, phone calls etc from bad guys out to part you from your money.

Re: SCAMMED

plpmr — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 12:07:35 GMT

Sorry you got caught and best to seek legal advice and you must speak to the police [as advised] as, from what you say, you have been sucked into criminal activity.

This scam usually asks for you to list items for sale and then send the scammer the money less your commission etc and they [the scammer] will post the item out.

Unfortunately you have seriously weakened your position by sharing your confidential details with the scammer and letting them use your account themselves.

eBay won't help as they 'see' you as a willing partner.

Re: SCAMMED

cormaduff0 — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 12:09:59 GMT

Yes, unfortunately, I fell for everything. It's sad what desperation, more so than greed, can do to cloud one's judgement.

I appreciate your advice, and look forward to more correspondence from the dark web.

A healthy dose of scepticism and suspicion never did anyone any harm, and if that's the price I have to pay to realise that, so be it.

Re: SCAMMED

arkwebus — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 12:10:33 GMT

I hope that no one here will scoff at you. You have been caught out - with others in the past - by a credible scam. Please follow the advice given as to who else to contact if only so that the police and action fraud will be aware.

I doubt that you will get much redress. Action Fraud simply gather data; they do not deal with casework.

@cormaduff0

Re: SCAMMED

cormaduff0 — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 12:13:22 GMT

Thank you very much for your advice and guidance.

Yes, it appears to me on top of what you have explained that these guys are also posing as buyers, which is even more worrying.

Re: SCAMMED

cormaduff0 — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 12:14:37 GMT

Thank you very much. Yes, I have already contacted Action Fraud, and intend on attending my local police station shortly.

There is a piece of juicy evidence I have that I hope the police will be interested in.

Thanks again.

Re: SCAMMED

arkwebus — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 17:58:50 GMT

I hope that you are right about your visit to the police. The problem - as I'd guess you can appreciate - is that to do anything worthwhile they have got to establish who - and where - the real con-artist is. Although it might seem that he was in the UK that might not really be the case and if abroad the police's powers will be exceptionally limited.

Do please let us know how you get on with this. Best wishes

@cormaduff0

Re: SCAMMED

corred — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 18:15:21 GMT

@cormaduff0

eBay may investigate but only at the behest of the relevant legal authorities such as the Police in connection with a fraud investigation.........they will not investigate on your behalf as unfortunately you willingly gave away access to your account information to allow this fraud to be perpetrated ......they will not even give out such info or investigate where the victim has unwittingly given away the information where their account details have been phished or where their details have been accessed from fake free Wifi access points

Re: SCAMMED

red_magpie — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 22:22:46 GMT

My question is this: Can, or will, eBay investigate this activity?

Thje short answer is no, they won't, at least not on the basis of anything you say. They will point out that the activity on your own account was entirely your own responsibility. With regard to the possibly fraudulent buying accounts, they may well close these but they won't give you any information. The probability is that these were hijacked accounts, so the whole thing could have been masterminded by one person.

Incidentally, I suspect that some of the messages you received "from eBay" may have been fake, because there is no eBay procedure to require instant refunds. There has to be a period of 8 days for the seller to resolve the issue before eBay will step in.

The only way that eBay would make any further information available on request from the police, after you have reported this and obtained a crime number.

This has all the hallmarks of a skilled and professional con trick. I'm afraid that anyone clever enough to have carried it off is likely to be clever enough to have put themselves and your money beyond reach, too.