Fraudulent 'Buyer'

[watrevir]

I sold a laptop on EBay and received a message from someone purporting to be the buyer saying their address had changed and it wasn't the one EBay had.  I told them just to change their EBay address and they said they had issues with the app and sent me an address in a message.  I sent the item to them and received a message from what turned out to be the real buyer saying they hadn't received their item.

I apologised to the buyer and said to start an Item Not Received process to get their money back straight from EBay hoping that I'll be able to let EBay know what happened and see if I have any protection at all n these circumstances, or at least to be able to report the scammer (which EBay makes it very difficult to do).

Anyone have any advice?

[Anonymous]

After - I added it to the case and then called them and the agent also added it (or so he said) 

Just waiting for the e-mail now. 

[lucy_farmer]

'After - I added it to the case'

Brilliant, the AF thing works!  it's good to know we have a little protection from Scammers Inc. 🙂

[Anonymous]

Yes thank you all for the advice. I now have the confirmation that I won the case 🙂

[Anonymous]

I didn't want to do an edit in case it was missed - but do I still report this to 101 and give them the details? I ask you wonderful bunch of experienced people. I guess now he owns the phone - but is it the way he obtained it? 

[lucy_farmer]

I'm sure it wouldn't do any harm to report what has happened ...

[Anonymous]

okay thanks Lucy I will call 101 later. Just incase the AF bit is correct when they say Police Scotland now handle it all

[4_bathrooms]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I called Ebay with the CRN and I have been told the Buyer is not covered and they are closing it in my favour. I will beleive it when I get it in writing and also get the money but I am relieved. 

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Don't believe what a customer service rep tells you; they'll often tell you what you want to hear to get you off the phone (or chat session).

At the bottom of the case there should be a "Report a problem" link - ensure it states "Report a problem" and nothing else. Click on that link, select "Returned a different item" then fill out the report ensuring you provide the crucial reference number you received from Action Fraud in your report. If AF also sent you a report by email you should be able to attach that to the eBay report as well.

[Anonymous]

They were right. I got the e-mail about 20 mins later.  I got into problems when I tried to withdraw the money  and now I have a banner saying "Your payouts are currently on hold because your eBay account is restricted. You'll start getting paid again when your account is reinstated" after they said the funds were available. I've had to send in proof of ownership and stuff like that. The buyer is no longer a member and the case is closed in my favour but I hope they are not disputing it

Christ's sake!

[lucy_farmer]

If the buyer is 'no longer a member', ebay must have kicked him out. (I don't think it's possible to leave ebay yourself without it taking quite a long time; like a few months...?)

If they kicked him out they must have had evidence that this wasn't the first time he'd been trying to scam.

So I do not believe the buyer *can* be disputing the case; non-members can't !

Your account is probably still 'held' as it seems to take a suprisingly long time for ebay's systems to 'catch up with themselves' ....

[Anonymous]

Thanks Lucy, 

I got an e-mail 12 mins after the e-mail to say about the case being closed to ask me to provide proof that I owned the phone. I did so and I am now waiting - Will see what happens tomorrow 

[pillarboxred]

Sadly, you have ignored eBay's advice. This is now a criminal matter only the police can deal with. EBay will co-operate with a police investigation. If the police are reluctant to act, write to your MP demanding the police protect the public. That might work but MPs and the Police aren't interested in our small time problems like stolen laptops when scaffolders are wolf-whistling women parading in suspenders but they will have to reply to your letter.

[papso22]

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@Anonymous wrote:

They were right. I got the e-mail about 20 mins later.  I got into problems when I tried to withdraw the money  and now I have a banner saying "Your payouts are currently on hold because your eBay account is restricted. You'll start getting paid again when your account is reinstated" after they said the funds were available. I've had to send in proof of ownership and stuff like that. The buyer is no longer a member and the case is closed in my favour but I hope they are not disputing it

Christ's sake!

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Those two things should be completely unrelated.   At least I have never heard of them requiring proof of ownership in an appealed money back guarantee case.

[Anonymous]

Morning all,

So the e-mail from customerhelp@ebay.co.uk says this.

"Hello petecov4,

We require additional information to review your account. Your payouts are on hold until the review is completed. For more details on payout holds, see the Payments Terms of Use.

Here’s what you need to do:
- Upload documentation showing that you purchased the item(s) recently listed on eBay. This can include a manufacturer's invoice or a receipt. You can upload your documents at the following link: https://ocswf.ebay.co.uk/mudcwf?deptName=UKMerchApp
Make sure your documents are current, valid, and legible. Your name and username should appear on each document.
We are looking for documents regarding: iPhone Pro 15 Max 256gb.More specific details are provided below.
Once you complete these requirements, respond to this email, and we’ll review your account. We may ask you to provide additional information during our review. It may take up to 3 business days to review your information"

So I replied stating it was done at the link they gave me and I got a bounceback saying they don't take replies. 

This is how it went.

Ebay closed the case in my favour and said the funds were available, I went to withdraw said funds - got told my account was now in review and to wait.. I then get an e-mail with the above so I sent in my receipt (which the Buer also has) and an extract from my Credit Card statement showing the purchase to match the receipt and also a pic of the Credit Card used with all but the last 4 digits showing and my name etc. 

I am hope this is just a precaution because I have not sold in a while and not since the new changes.

Otherwise I have no idea what's going on. 

[*vyolla*]

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@papso22 wrote:

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Those two things should be completely unrelated.   At least I have never heard of them requiring proof of ownership in an appealed money back guarantee case.

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I think it might be because they're a new seller and they've 'sold' the same phone on consecutive days, so eBay want proof of ownership to be sure that there is a scam going on here on the buyers part else, if you think about it, the scam can work against eBay if two people work together.

[Anonymous]

Ah,

The listing at the bottom was someone who tried to scam me by buying it and then sending me e-mails to my e-mail stating the money was on hold with Ebay.. I didn't fall for it so I cancelled the sale. The funny thing is they asked me this

"Hello, I need a short video clip of the Item forwarded to my email: @******@gmail.com before I proceed with the eBay payment want to be sure the item is 100% genuine many thanks

But turned out to be a scammer - but I used the video in my Case 

I understand now - that's fine they can do what they need to do in that case. I'm not a new seller I sold a phone about a year ago - but it was on the old system so that's probably why. 

[4_bathrooms]

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@Anonymous wrote:

The listing at the bottom was someone who tried to scam me by buying it and then sending me e-mails to my e-mail stating the money was on hold with Ebay.. I didn't fall for it so I cancelled the sale. The funny thing is they asked me this

"Hello, I need a short video clip of the Item forwarded to my email: @******@gmail.com before I proceed with the eBay payment want to be sure the item is 100% genuine many thanks

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As you discovered the only reason the "buyer" asked for a video via email was to obtain your email address so they could send fake eBay notifications about a payment. Typically they'll state something about the payment being withheld until tracking shows the item has been despatched - this is in the hope the seller sends the item out even though the "buyer" hasn't paid and has no intention of doing so.

I agree with @*vyolla* - it sounds like eBay want to check that you are the victim of an attempted fraud and not themselves. This is likely due do the sum involved. 

[Anonymous]

No problem. I am happy for them to do what they have to do. The case is already won in my favour so I guess this is part of it. 

And yes - that's what they did - I gave them a throwaway e-mail address anyway