Fraud Case - £10K Lost, No Support from eBay

[japan-outlet]

I am writing to share a deeply concerning experience in the hopes of getting help and raising awareness. Recently, I purchased several MacBooks from a seller who claimed they were urgently selling due to medical reasons, offering the items at a discounted price. The total purchase amount was approximately £10,000.

However, instead of receiving the advertised MacBooks, I received boxes of cereal. Despite providing clear evidence, including photos, Royal Mail tracking details, and other documentation, eBay denied my claim, closed the case, and even suspended my account. They cited “abuse of Buyer’s rights” and claimed I had excessively requested returns—despite this being my first-ever return request.

In this case, I specifically informed the seller not to post on a Friday, as the delivery address was my workplace, which I cannot access on Saturdays. Despite this, the seller shipped on Friday anyway. When I received an eBay notification about Royal Mail’s Saturday delivery, I quickly diverted the package to a nearby Post Office for collection.

Unbeknownst to me, the seller had also created two additional shipping labels, and those parcels were delivered to my office on Saturday, where I could not retrieve them until Monday. Upon opening the first one that I collected at the post office, they are cereals only.  The other two packages on Monday, I discovered that they also contained the same cereal boxes instead of the MacBooks I purchased.

This experience raises additional concerns about delivery timing being potentially exploited by the seller to claim that parcels have been received on a weekend—allowing them to trigger payment release from eBay.

This is the first time I’ve ever needed eBay’s assistance, and I’ve always maintained a good record with no negative feedback or complaints. I trusted eBay to step in and protect buyers, especially for high-value transactions like this. Unfortunately, the outcome of this case has left me feeling unprotected and powerless.

If sellers can commit fraud on this scale and go unchecked, how can buyers trust the platform? This situation not only impacts me but raises serious concerns about the safety and integrity of eBay’s marketplace.

I strongly urge eBay to reconsider this case, conduct a proper investigation into the seller’s actions, and ensure that others are not subjected to similar scams.

To anyone reading this: Have you faced a similar situation? What steps did you take to resolve it? Any advice or assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time and understanding.

Label purchased on eBay and I collect it at Post OfficeDoes not feel rightCerealsThe other two parcels that seller purchase the label at post offices, and I cannot get it collected on Saturday, but deliver to the office.When I open the other 2 parcels on Monday at the office, they are cereals as well.

[japan-outlet]

Thanks again, I did take notice of your chocolate story, but in my case, they are "unopened" cereals boxes.  

[japan-outlet]

Thanks again for yoru reminder.   

Just that in my case, they are "unopened" cereal boxes.  And it is quite difficult to put 5 "sealed" MacBooks into 10 "unopened" cereal boxes. 

I am hoping that ebay and police force will do further work and investigate these "cereal packages", as we have the 3rd party visual proof by Royal Mail. 

[papso22]

So you are saying that the cereal boxes contained cereal?

Have you opened them?

What then did the packages actually weigh (not what was put on them for posting)?

Your 'evidence' has to include what was actually sent to you, as in, what was in the boxes.

[tressygirl]

I think I watch too much of that tv programme about Australian Customs.  They are forever opening perfectly sealed,  new looking packets of all kinds of brands of food stuffs and other commodities to find them full of illegal substances.  

Does the weight of any of the cereal boxes when you lift them indicate filled with cereal or holding something heavier, there is a vast difference in weight for each item .

Have eBay given you any indication they are going to investigate this further?  Usually when a decision has been made not to refund, if sanctions are placed there's usually no turning back?   Have you reported this to the Police, what did they say?

@japan-outlet 

[japan-outlet]

Thanks for your insight on the Australian Customs, but they sound like cereals when I shake them, and not particular heavier.   

I am going to follow up with the Police in this case as well, thanks for your advice as well. 

[japan-outlet]

Thanks for your quesitons. 

They are unopened cereal boxes, and so, I do not dare to open them at this moment, especially the seller didn't incidate it the MacBooks are in the cereal boxes, or he will explicitly tell me to open it instead of keeping silence when I shared the photos of the cereal boxes photos. 

In addition, there is a risk that the packaging can be further damaged.   I guess it could be like a crime scene, better not to move the body in any case... 

[*vyolla*]

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@japan-outlet wrote:

I am hoping that ebay and police force will do further work and investigate these "cereal packages", as we have the 3rd party visual proof by Royal Mail. 

---

They won't, and there isn't actually any absolutely definitive proof that you've been scammed. 

What did the seller actually respond with when you contacted him to ask why you'd received 10 boxes of cereal? 

[japan-outlet]

Thanks for your comment. 

I humbly hope that they can carefully look at the pictures that I have sent, and start the investigation gradually. 

He didn't respond much, but just sent a partial refund of £1.  

[*vyolla*]

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@japan-outlet wrote:

Thanks for your comment. 

I humbly hope that they can carefully look at the pictures that I have sent, and start the investigation gradually. 

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They won't.  It's done and dusted if they've refunded the seller, they can't do a turn around and grab it back and they're not going to pay out £10k to you from their own coffers.

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@japan-outlet wrote:

He didn't respond much, but just sent a partial refund of £1.  

---

What does that mean? What did he say, exactly?

[*vyolla*]

I don't believe that any of us mentors can help you much further, we have no access to your eBay accounts and this really is now between you, your seller and eBay.

If eBay have stated your account is restricted then there isn't much you can do on that front; their decision is final and they don't accept appeals. A Subject Access Request may shed some light on the matter.

A SAR will let you see what information eBay holds about you and you can request anything that isn't correct to be corrected. It isn't a bargaining tool but if an automated decision was made on the basis of incorrect information you can ask for the incorrect information to be corrected then ask (not demand) for a review of the decision. Even if the decision was incorrect it doesn't oblige eBay to unrestrict your account.

You may need to complete a webform for each eBay account you hold or have ever held. 

@japan-outlet

[japan-outlet]

No no, the suggestions and support provided by the community here have already far exceeded my expectations. Thank you very much to you and all the other contributors and mentors, I genuinely appreciate the time and effort you’ve taken to help.

I initially shared this post to tell my story and, hopefully, to serve as a red flag for other users on eBay. If my experience can help even one person avoid a similar situation, it will have been worth sharing.

Thank you also for clarifying the limits of what can be done here and for suggesting the SAR route, hopefully can gain better insight into my account status and eBay’s decision-making process, thanks..

Thanks again for your support and understanding, it means a lot to me.

[japan-outlet]

Positive Update: My Case Resolved!

Dear eBay Community, Mentors, and Pro Users,

I want to take a moment to sincerely thank you all for your time, understanding, advice, and unwavering support during what was an incredibly challenging time for me. Your encouragement, in particular, made all the difference and gave me hope when I needed it most.

I’m thrilled to share some positive news regarding my recent case involving the fraudulent MacBook transaction (received via email just 15 minutes ago). After a thorough investigation by the eBay High Value Claims Team, they have reinstated my user rights by accepting my appeal, recognized my claim as genuine (receiving an item of significantly lesser value), and authorized a full refund of the amount I paid (currently being processed).

I cannot express enough gratitude to eBay and their dedicated team for resolving this situation. Their commitment to protecting buyers like me has truly restored my confidence in the platform.

I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks again to everyone in this community who provided advice and encouragement throughout this ordeal. This experience has been a powerful reminder of the strength and generosity within this group.

This situation has been a valuable learning experience, and I hope it serves as a reminder for everyone to exercise caution when making high-value purchases, especially from private sellers. That said, eBay’s robust processes and buyer protection policies have proven their worth in resolving issues fairly (though occasional flaws can happen).

Thank you once again to everyone, and I hope this update gives you confidence in eBay’s dedication to maintaining a safe and trustworthy marketplace.

Warm regards,

Timuruk

[*vyolla*]

Wow, that's amazing news, thanks for the update.

[tressygirl]

This is an amazing and great outcome for you !!  🤗

[japan-outlet]

Thanks for your support and help during this time.

Yet, I am working on pursuing the fraud reporting, because this is a criminal offense that fraud users here should be held accountable for their actions.  We need to protect the community and general public from being abused by these scammers. 

[japan-outlet]

Lucky me,  I have to say... 🙏🙏

... but we cannot let these scammers get away easily.  

[tressygirl]

Well done again! 

As we have  ' lived' through all these moments with you......  What was in those boxes ?  

[japan-outlet]

Once I've got all the fraud case reporting done properly,  I will get the boxes opened as a separate update, OK? 😅 

[tressygirl]

Oh wow the case was finalised with a full refund for that huge amount without checking the boxes !!

[japan-outlet]

As I was waiting for eBay to respond to my case, I dared not to open the cereal boxes further.  But based on my limited knowledge and experience, I guess the content of the boxes became irrelevant for the following points:

1. Third-party evidence: The Royal Mail proof of delivery clearly shows that 10 boxes were delivered instead of the 5 boxes containing sealed MacBooks as advertised. This discrepancy alone points to an issue with the shipment.

2. Sealed MacBook packages: The purchase involved 5 "sealed" MacBook packages, not "used" or "refurbished" items. It would be highly impractical, if not impossible, to divide 5 sealed MacBook boxes into 10 separate packages without raising suspicion.

3. Seller’s lack of response: If the MacBooks were truly in the 10 boxes, the seller would have responded and instructed me to open them to verify the contents. By failing to do so, the seller effectively avoids acknowledging responsibility for the cereal boxes sent in place of the advertised items.

Just IMHO. 

[tressygirl]

Aah sorry @japan-outlet   I thought the case was finalised and you have received your full refund of £10K!

So surely you can open the boxes now, or they surely must have been opened by now, to be checked for you to receive your refund.