Anyone notice an increase in selling scams?

[dahardd1]

Typically a seller with OK feedback offers goods at a low, but not crazy, price. They then stop sending items and slowly their feedback rating falls as buyers respond, so the whole thing is over in a few weeks when their feedback is obviously appalling. I’ve come across a couple of these in the last few weeks, very annoying as when I bought the items feedback was OK, but by the time I raise a case with Ebay feedback was below 70%. In both my cases ALL feedback was for private listings, so impossible to see what, and how much was paid, for the initial positive feedback. All the negative feedback appears, obviously, in the last month.

[john1297576]

You don't give any details such as how long these sellers had been members or how many feedback.

Aswell as already suggested, seller could have died or be ill, many genuine inactive accounts have been hacked then reactivated by a scammer or if a fairly new member the early feedback was just scammers buying and selling from each other to give an appearance of a normal account. 

As you say they were private listings then my last suggestion is likely to be the answer. 

All IDs are now anonymous a***b for example so the need for Private Listings is now redundant, but it is abused by scammers and shill bidders.

Private Listings were originally intended to hide embarrassing items from prying eyes.

[angelah1847]

It is possible that something has happened to the seller and neither they or their family are able to access the account to manage the listings.

I am aware of at least 2 sellers who passed away and exactly what you have described happened to their accounts.

Ebay will eventually pick up on it or listings will stop relisting / stock will sell out.

All buyers will have been covered by ebay's money back guarantee so won't have lost their money.

[dahardd1]

I guess that could be the case, I have just been very unlucky to pick two sellers who have dropped out, and yes, no problems so far with refunds.