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

[fargvs · Accepted solution]

Yes ... start of a classic scam.   You are being targetted because 1st Class postage is totally inadequate for an item of that value ...should be RM Special Delivery with sufficient compensation cover in case of damage, loss or claim for non receipt ... add to your blocked bidder list >

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/listings/selling-auctions/cancelling-bid?id=4140&st=12&pos=2&que...

New,  returning and occasional Seller payments may/will be subject to a 21 day payment hold although you cannot expect buyers to wait for your funds to clear before sending items ... Cash is best for collection items.

Check PayPal  for payment progress and messages eg. Held/ Pending/ OK/ Safe to send etc. only to the address given there  >

Positive feedback is not always effective and even with entered tracking details to prove delivery, there are reports that some sellers have had to wait the full 21 days for funds to be released ... see options for earlier release >

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/pending-payments?id=4...

[akirperer-0 · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your response!!

That's insane! Never thought about such a scam!

Under the options for delivery, I can't find Royal Mail Special Delivery.

Thanks for the information, appreciate it!

[akirperer-0 · Accepted solution]

I figured it out! Turns out you have to change it to business tools.

Also, any tips when selling a phone? I'm pretty nervous.

Thanks!!

[redwick1 · Accepted solution]

You are right to be nervous
That is a high vallue item.
It would be better if starting to sell on ebay that you listed cheaper items to get used to how the site works

[akirperer-0 · Accepted solution]

You are right. I really should start low. I have nothing else to sell though haha! Only need to sell this phone.

[akirperer-0 · Accepted solution]

Also, I'm not sure im understanding. What are you talking about a 21 day payment hold? I thought PayPal or debit card is an instant transaction?

Thanks.

[redwick1 · Accepted solution]

You are a new or infrequent seller and as such your money paid into paypal by a buyer will be on the 21 days hold
You check paypal to see if the item has been paid and that paypal say safe to send and must send to the address on paypal
You put tracking or 16 Digit code from a post office receipt onto the item in your Sold section when you post it
If certain conditions are met you may get the money earlier otherwise you wait 21 days for it to be released and then you can move it to your bank
Read the link on payment holds
https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/default/default/payment-holds-sold-items?id=4155

[akirperer-0 · Accepted solution]

Ohhh I see. 21 days?! Thats ages! What does adding my tracking or 16 digit code to my sold section do?


I did read in that link that you can speed it up (as you said here). Apparantly you can get it after 1 day, if you ask the buyer to write a good review. Sounds good.

Thanks.

[redwick1 · Accepted solution]

Adding the tracking or code will show ebay if the item shows as Delivered
You should always put that onto your items as soon as you post them

Dont set your heart on one day. It varies and sometimes ebay make you wait the 21 days
I hope you get it earlier so good luck
Eventually your money will be released as soon as you get it

[akirperer-0 · Accepted solution]

I see, what's the time frame for getting funds after adding tracking? (The link doesn't show it)

Yes ofcourse. To clarify, what are some "must do's" to do after the buyer has won a bid? Thanks!!

[redwick1 · Accepted solution]

It is down to ebay

The link is guide and it could be any time between now and 21 days at least.
We dont know as they dont tell us and on here we see the times vary
Check paypal to make sure the money is there and that paypal say safe to send
Always send to the address on paypal
Put the tracking or code on all items as soon as you post them

[akirperer-0 · Accepted solution]

Ah okay. Does adding tracking even speed up fund release times? (I feel as if it should)

Oh right, so once I fill the requirements to release the funds earlier (e.g, getting a review or adding tracking), do I have to contact Ebay to let them know? Or is it done in the background?

Thanks.

[redwick1 · Accepted solution]

The tracking is put on to show if the item has been delivered
This is not just for the 21 days hold but in all sales
If a buyer opens a not received dispute and tracking shows Delivered then you would win straight away

You dont need to contact ebay it should all work automatically
In most cases of selling and buying on ebay you do not need to contact ebay

[akirperer-0 · Accepted solution]

Okay makes sense.

So, the buyer just made a payment. I received it. it shows £200 on the PayPal balance. How do I know if it's on "hold"? It just shows it's available and to me it looks usable? I'm not sure though.

[akirperer-0 · Accepted solution]

I was also able to transfer the balance to my natwest visa debit card. (Said something about waiting 24 hours for it to be transferred)

Did the transaction not go through the "on hold" process or something?

[john1297576]

You can add this person to your Blocked Bidders List, but there are 100s of accounts which have been hacked and they just switch to a different ID. You just have to be wary and if it sounds too good to be true, then it isn't true.

I see you have corrected the postage, congratulations. We see so many times where sellers are advised that they are using an incorrect method and they take no notice, but we try to help them.

@akirperer-0 

[akirperer-0]

That makes sense. It's a shame, as that account was from 2005, and had a normal name, solid reviews etc, but was taken over by a dodgy character. Initially it was hard to spot considering the solid variables. But this scammer was *bleep*, I literally typed in what he typed in, and every result on google came up as a scam. (It seems that they are following a transcript lol)

Yes! I changed the postage, however the £9 postage may have scared away possible buyers.
Is there anything else I should know about when selling a phone?

Thanks!

[redwick1]

Sorry ebay page seems to be playing  up

[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