Possible scam? Suspicious buyer.

[akirperer-0]

This is my first exeperience as a seller. Selling a £200+ phone.  Account made in 2005 with over 50 reciews as a buyer. Here's what happened.

Buyer told me it's a gift for their grandson. Apparantly in West Africa. Perfect English, which made me second guess it. Apparantly the eBay buying system doesn't work for her. The buyer is requesting my PayPal email. They gave me their personal email (which apparantly breaches eBay policies). They also offer £200 over the price, which is plain ridiculous.

Researched it, and it seems to be a scam. Which shocked me. But how do I stop this person bidding at the end, and spoiling my entire bid?

What shall I do?! I want this person banned, I mean, what a scumbag thing to try and do.

Thanks.

[akirperer-0]

Hey guys, check out my other thread. Still need advice haha!

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Seller-Central/Selling-Phone-Update/m-p/6789559#M509406

[redwick1]

Why do you still need advice after the advice given on here.

This is the Member to member Support thread
Your othe post is on Seller Central
Why do you need to do both
I dont reply on those threads and I dare say some of the others on here do not either

[redwick1]

Its a scam 

New sellers with high end items especially phones are a scammers target

If you give them your email they you will receive an authentic looking email saying they have paid

They dont need to tell you why they are buying or your email address ebaysend an invoice as soon as the item seller

If they have bought and they dont pay just open a non payment dispute

If you have a non payer you open a non payment dispute at the bottom of the page under Resolution Centre.

You can open one after 2 days and close after another 4 days.

You get your final value fees back the non payer gets a strike and neither of you can leave feedback.

If you dont do this then ebay do not know you did not get paid and you have to pay the fees.

You have 32 days to open a dispute

[akirperer-0]

Thanks for your response.

It sucks that people attempt such things. Luckily I stopped when they started mentioning PayPal details.

Thanks for the information! Is there anything I can do to stop these scammers? I just know that people of this nature would just go around and attempt to scam other sellers sadly.

Thanks!

[redwick1]

It is something that happens not only on ebay but in everyday life.. There are scammers everywhere and up to us to keep ourselves safe. You realised what was happening and have come on here to ask. That is good so well done.
Having said that there are many good honest people on ebay and it is a good place to buy and sell.
Should add.
If you have problems with a member then put them on your blocked bidders list to so they can not bid /buy
https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/blocking-buyer-ebay?id=4082

[akirperer-0]

Ah I see. that's a shame. As I mentioned above, it was kind of hard to spot considering that the buyer had a normal name (especially the name, as she sounded like a genuine grandma lol), normal reviews and was a 15 year old account. But was spotted when the message was looking like a scripted transcript.

Thanks for the link! Added the buyer to my blocked list.

Any extra tips? Still kind of nervous despite changing my delivery. Thanks!!

[redwick1]

They actually have to buy the item on ebay and your phone had not been bought or has any bids.

Once it is bought then the item comes off ebay and goes to your Sold Section

When it is paid for then you go to Paypal and check the money is there and safe to send

You may not realise but as a new or infrequent seller your money will be on the 21 days hold for all new or infrequent sellers which means you will not get the money immediately and may have to wait 21 days before it is released
You still have to post if paypal says it is safe to post.

You need to put tracking onto the item in your Sold section

Read the information on this link on how to try and get your money earlier than the 21 days
https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/default/default/payment-holds-sold-items?id=4155