AI-generated picture as proof of damage to the item - BE WARNED

[simplyessential_uk]

Thought Id share this from a post I saw on Amazon Forum - Someone AI faked an image to get a refund and It just wouldnt have crossed my mind - You can see the black in the rip is very Black but if it had been taken further away then this may not have been so obvious, but certainly something to be aware of. Good to know there are reverse sites out there (Sightengine)  that can detect is useful to know  - As you can see the seller called her you on the messaging but suggestions on the post were to ask for more than one image before refunding 

[vintage-emporium-jedburgh]

You just need to imagine or invent a fault on ebay to gain a refund

no need for pictures 

[designedinashed]

you don't even need an excuse to return anything to Amazon. 

[jonatjonatjonat]

I don’t think they had any intention to go to the effort of returning anything!

[papso22]

Generally speaking ebay requires a photo to be uploaded before a case can be opened.  However it can be a photo of anything, no-one  checks and as far I am aware, no seller has successfully won a item not as described case based on the photo alone.

Buyers don't need to go to the other of using AI.

[custom-giftsuk]

I've seen this a few times now on eBay. Buyers have claimed an item is damaged and returned it, however when the item comes back, the damages aren't on the item. They have however used the item and claimed a refund, which eBay happily oblige. Even speaking to CS has been fruitless as all they see is that the item has been returned.  We've provided images of the items once returned showing no damage to eBay CS, but once a return is back, for whatever reason... they get their money back. 

I know we can offer a % of the refund, but they immediately escalate it and get the full money back. 

It's now not rocket science to be able to do this with such apps being freely available

[sheba-knows-best]

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@custom-giftsuk wrote:

I know we can offer a % of the refund, but they immediately escalate it and get the full money back. 

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Yes - but  they will only get away with this once or twice as it will be marked on their account. A partial discount is also a report against the buyer. Ebay does block repeat problem buyers so keep partial discounting (which should also cover your costs hopefully).

[sheba-knows-best]

Good to know about scam though - thanks - new one on me.

[custom-giftsuk]

I know, in theory, that eBay block bad buyers but I frequently see bad buyers with a whole swathe of negative feedback for sellers that never get actioned. Even if those accounts were actioned, they're back with a new one asap.

[simplyessential_uk]

I dont think the buyer has any intension of returning the item and hoping the seller may take the view "if its damaged then whats the point of paying the return postage and incur more loss" so the buyers edging their bets in hoping that the seller will refund without return. 

If they wanted to return it for a refund theyd genuinely damage it.

[simplyessential_uk]

I know ppl use the excuse of item damaged to get a free return and to be honest they could genuinely damage it to get a free return regardless, so I suppose the upside is you get your item back undamaged to be able to resell but I know thats the downside of selling online - I have been told by ebay to report the buyer and can appeal for a refund on postage but Ive never looked back at my transactions to see if they did or not and just chalk it up to a loss

[simplyessential_uk]

@custom-giftsuk  & @sheba-knows-best  - I report EVERY buyer who manipulates the rules - I may not get my money back but feel if enough sellers did this then they would eventually be stopped - I had someone leave me a neg feedback, they had left loads of negatives for sellers (Baffles me why they do that as its a red flag to all other sellers about their behaviour)  and so I reported them as they were trying to get a free refund without returning the item - I see now 6mths on, that login has been "deleted" so maybe they tried it once too many times to trigger something.

[custom-giftsuk]

Ok I got a random image of a vase off the internet, see attached image. It took me 118 seconds to remove the text and introduce a crack. Admittedly I know what I'm doing but I used a free app on my phone and  looks realistic. Both images are side by side to show the difference

118 seconds. 

[irt303]

"The picture you sent us... appears to be AI-generated."

"Ok! That's fine! No worries at all!"

That's a pretty shameless response; I'm surprised they didn't add a chirpy "You can't blame me for trying!".

[irt303]

In all seriousness, though, it is worrying to think that AI will be increasingly used by scammers and other bad actors.

I wish I had enough confidence in eBay having members' backs to believe that they would use their own AI to detect if a photo had been AI-generated or digitally doctored, but I don't. And, given the level of 'I' demonstrated by eBay's AI in various areas, perhaps it's best that they don't. There are enough cans of worms open as it is.

I'm also a bit perturbed by what papso22 says above. What on earth is the point in eBay requesting a photo if they don't check to see if it even resembles the item in the case? It seems like an utterly redundant requirement, quite literally a pointless exercise if it has no bearing on the case (other than ticking a 'photo uploaded' box).

More insanity!

[custom-giftsuk]

That image I provided with the AI generated crack back a few posts ago - comes out according to sightengine as not likely to be ai generated or deepfake.

[irt303]

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@custom-giftsuk wrote:

That image I provided with the AI generated crack back a few posts ago - comes out according to sightengine as not likely to be ai generated or deepfake.

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Crikey, there's a twist!

AI vs AI - the (nightmarish) future is here!

[scancomputers_outlet]

This is a prime example why I ask customers for videos of damage 

[custom-giftsuk]

But can you upload a video to eBay in support of a case?

[scancomputers_outlet]

Sadly no but I ask my customers to upload the video to Youtube / Dropbox or whatever video hosting site