Anyone else get scammed out of a lot of money? I bought a new macbook pro 16 on ebay. I should have known it was a scam because it was too cheap and the seller had no history. I paid for it via paypal and then the seller told me she was self isolating after contact with Covid and couldn't send the laptop but would refund me. Subsequently, two refunds on paypal failed. I opened a dispute, which has now progressed to a claim on paypal.
I have reported this scam to police and given paypal the crime reference number. One problem emerging is the scammer sent something to a Tesco near me (tracking number showed this but not which TESCO) so it appeared to paypal the laptop was delivered and signed for. Paypal asked me to obtain a letter or email from Royal Mail to prove nothing was delivered to me. After holding for an hour on the phone Royal Mail agreed with me, nothing with the tracking number that paypal had for the item, had been delivered to me (the tracking number I saw on ebay for the item was fake by one different digit). RM gave me a reference number for PayPal to prove nothing had been delivered to me but Paypal want a letter or email from Royal mail to this effect and do not seem interested in the reference number from Royal Mail. That issue I will be taking up with the FCA and my MP.
I wrote to Royal Mail explaining the above and received a generic letter back asking me for further details eg senders address etc and I have just written a second time to Royal Mail . However, when I called them previously they said they did not provide letters or emails, such as I need for Paypal! In addition to that I expect the name and address of scammer that I copied from ebay is fake anyway!
The scammer has been clever because whatever they sent went through my local sorting office. I can see that from the tracking number . My local Tesco shares the first half of my postcode so is the same area . Obviously that could appear as if I am in on some scheme to defraud paypal which, I hasten to add, I am not! I have used paypal and Ebay for many years without issue and now this.
It has been a nightmare so do be careful out there. Check history and price. Don't get scammed like me. I apologise if this is not entirely clear , it has been a saga for over a month now and I am not a spring chicken, just clucking stupid! Any advice from the community is welcome and thanks for your feedback so far.
UPDATE- 12/12/20- After three letters to Royal Mail they finally phoned me (very helpful lady) and then provided an email confirming the seller had sent an item with the known tracking number to TESCO and not to my address. I submitted this to paypal to appeal their decision against me and they have refused my claim again on the basis that a tracked item has been signed for!. There is no certificate of posting or weight recorded on the Royal Mail system. This is because the scammers are printing a tracking label online and not going through the post office where that information would be uploaded. This has happened to TESCO more than once apparently and they have now introduced CCTV where mail is brought in. Good move but too late for me! Next stop credit card claim. Watch this space!
UPDATE-20/12/20- Police and bank being very helpful. After submitting screenshots and other evidence , money was refunded by my bank subject to their ongoing investigations. I expect that to mean that as long as they don't find any anomalies in my claim (which they won't) I will be able to keep the refund. However, it will be 45 days before their final decision. So, the other lesson here is take screenshots and all info from the purchase and keep web chat, you may need it if the purchase goes bad. I'll let you know the final outcome!
UPDATE12/1/21- nothing much to report except I notice on my Paypal account the case has been opened again. This is due to the bank's investigation. Interestingly it is not now listed as 'Item Not Received' but 'Item not as Described'. About another three weeks before I hear from the bank whether I can keep the refund or not. There are just too many scams going on everywhere!
UPDATE 25/2/21- 45 days has passed. Paypal still has case listed as under review. Last updated 30th Dec. No update from bank but they have not taken their money back which is a good thing.
UPDATE 13/3/21 bank made contact with me. PayPal sticking to their guns. They don't care that something was signed for at Tesco! So now bank have rechallenged with my screenshot of agreed address which is my home address. Apparently if this fails the whole matter goes to Mastercard arbitration for a decision and if they decided in my favour I get to keep the money but the bank can take the refund back if not. The bank have said this can all take another 6 months!
14/4/21 Email from the Bank this morning which stated the 'merchant' has accepted liability and I am able to retain the credit card refund of hundreds of pounds I paid for the laptop that I never received.
Case Closed.
The moral of the story is keep a record of all you do, dates, screenshots and records of all chat. I believe it was only through presenting the irrefutable evidence that I have won my case. It has taken 6 months.
I will never buy anything of any significant value from eBay again or use Paypal for same. It has been a very horrible expereince full of time scales, chat bots, multiple customer care officials, letters, emails, screenshots, telehone calls (waiting and holding) and negotiating systems that are not user friendly!
I hope this has been of some use.
Good luck with all your purchases and goodbye.
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