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?

[cobwebcottage]

It looks as though you have fallen victim of a scam, which is common with laptops and phones. You have lost all of your protection by not sending it to the registered address on the order as the tracking will not prove the delivery. Unfortunately, you were too trusting and the scammers,  who are probably working together, have a free laptop.

[dancewithadingo]

Good Morning WV

That's awful.  You are now minus a laptop and £300.00 down. Report to Action Fraud. and block the buyer. As CC says you can say goodbye to goods and money. You have been scammed.  

I am sorry to hear of your bad news I am afraid that it is a harsh lesson. I suppose you could tell the so called  buyer that you have reported the matter to the Police and they may need to call on you to take a statement. If nothing else it may put the fear of god in them.

Good luck.

[4_bathrooms]

The account that purchased the laptop is probably an innocent party in all of this. Someone with a different account could easily have been watching the item, waited for it to sell then messaged the OP pretending to be the buyer. This is likely the case if the two addresses are nowhere near each other geographically.

@watrevir - you are very unlikely to get your money back from eBay; sellers only receive a modicum of protection if they send the item to the delivery address provided with the order. I would advise filing a report with Action Fraud and providing the reference number AF gives you to eBay in the "item not received" case the buyer opens. Do not refund anything unless the buyer opens a case for not receiving the item; if the original buyer tells you they can't open a case tell them you can't refund unless they open one.

[jckl1957]

As advised, you lost your seller protection when you sent to the address given - you must only ever send items to the address shown in 'order details. when you are logged into Ebay.

It will be you who has to refund your original buyer, not Ebay.

There is little point in reporting the scammer - you were not in a transaction with them and they have probably closed the account they used to scam you already.

[*guinevere*]

Adding to the good advice you've already been given it would seem that there are criminals scrolling down the "sold" pages for desirable items and messaging the sellers as they have with you, to inform them of a change of address. Most experienced sellers would see it for what it is, a scam, but probably a good percentage would fall for it making a nice little earner for the thief.

The golden rule is always only ever send to the address given by ebay.

[Anonymous]

I sold a phone to someone who then compained it was faulty even though it was not and I even got accused of BEING a Fraudster! - They sent me back a load of *bleep*  this morning and now I am hoping that Ebay will rule in my favour and release the funds..  I sent and collected from the registered address via Special Delivery and have photos of before sending and what they sent me back and it's all on a case. 

If I don't get anything back then I will contact the Police to have the phone blocked and to report them. But I am hoping they will help me. My fear is that the payment method is not legit either but we will see

Not going to use this place again regardless of the outcome. 

[*vyolla*]

The usual way foreward in these situations is that the seller accepts the return and gets their item back, if it isn’t their item they then immediately file a report with Action Fraud and get a reference number.

The seller then clicks the "Report a problem" link in the case, selects "Different item returned" as the reason and provides the Actionfraud reference number and report. This stops the automated returns process that would ultimately force the seller to issue a refund.

Then, someone at eBay reviews the case. 

[Anonymous]

okay thanksl I've been in touch with Ebay via phone a few times and they told me to call them once I got it back so I did and I did the different item returned and also uploaded the pics when I opened the case whilst on the phone to them 

AF says as the buyer is in Scotland and I am not I have to report it to 101 - but I would only do that if Ebay don't give me the funds, if they do then the phone is legally his - but if not then 101 it is and then appeal with Ebay 

[lucy_farmer]

'My fear is that the payment method is not legit either but we will see'

Just out of sheer curiosity ; what was the payment method? and what makes you doubt it?

(🤥 yes, I'm very nosey!)

[Anonymous]

Hi Lucy,

No idea - they paid Ebay directly. This is the first time I've sold since the changes. What if they used a stolen card? 

No idea - but I am a worry wart so hoping I am wrong. 

[sml192]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hi Lucy,

No idea - they paid Ebay directly. This is the first time I've sold since the changes. What if they used a stolen card? 

No idea - but I am a worry wart so hoping I am wrong. 

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If they used a stolen card then the card holder would probably file a chargeback with their card issuer at some point.  If that happens then eBay will protect you, provided you have tracking proving delivery. 

[Anonymous]

okay thank you. Yes I have e-mails for delivery and collection. I didn't keep the physical receipt from Royal Mail but it's on my account that I sent it and I can prove I paid for it. 

I will try and find the paperwork just incase. 

[4_bathrooms]

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@Anonymous wrote:

AF says as the buyer is in Scotland and I am not I have to report it to 101

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Action Fraud is a reporting service for any fraud committed in the UK. You would need to use their online reporting tool but only if you receive something back that is not the handset you sent. If you do receive a different handset back (or a lump of wood with nails in it, for example) then you use the form - you will receive a reference number and a report. Action Fraud won't actually investigate anything; they just record the crime and pass the details onto the relevant local police force. The entire point of filing a report with Action Fraud is to obtain the all important reference number from them - but you only file a report if you receive something other than what you sent back.

[EDIT] - I see you have received a different item back - you need to fill out AF's online form. It doesn't matter that the buyer is located on Scotland. Let us know when you have a reference number from AF and we'll tell you what to do next.

Out of curiosity did you record the IMEI and serial number of the handset you sent? 

[Anonymous]

I called AF and they said no - they are Ireland England and Wales only. I will do 101 if Ebay go against me - otherwise the phone is his.

Yes I did - The Buyer accused me of selling a locked phone and sent a screenshot of him asking Apple if it was unlocked - in which he shows this information. But wouldn't say what Apple said. I know what they would have said. He also wanted the receipt so I sent it - again with the IMEI number on. 

101 will provide the reference and block the phone from what the website says. 

[4_bathrooms]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I called AF and they said no - they are Ireland England and Wales only.

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You can report any fraud via the online form - you can't if you call them. You can even report an overseas buyer by using the online form. You need to create an account with AF here then fill in the online form before doing anything else - if you don't do that you will not get a reference number. Without an AF reference number you stand to lose the money and the handset.

[Anonymous]

okay thanks

[sml192]

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@Anonymous wrote:

okay thank you. Yes I have e-mails for delivery and collection. I didn't keep the physical receipt from Royal Mail but it's on my account that I sent it and I can prove I paid for it. 

I will try and find the paperwork just incase. 

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Just to add, it is unlikely that they used a stolen card.  If they did then there wouldn't be much point in them doing an 'Item not as described' return as any refund would go back to the card and not them. 

[Anonymous]

Thank you all. 

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. 

[lucy_farmer]

'....they are closing it in my favour.....'

Were you told this before or after getting an Action Fraud ref.?

(and knowing CS, I wouldn't believe it until I get it in email form either....)