Worried about a scam buyer

[arkham187]

Hi everyone 

I just sold a games console and I am worried that the buyer may be a scammer. He has been registered since 2017 but has zero feedback, and has been asking random questions that makes me think he isn't really sure what he is buying. 

I am probably being overly cautious but if the worst happens, is there anything I can do? I have been scammed in the past and eBay sided with the buyer.

thanks so much for any help

[**peaseblossom**]

You're right to be cautious.   Sounds like it could be a dormant account that's been hi-jacked.   Go with your gut.   If you decide to cancel go to the dropdown arrow on the far right of the item on your sold page > Cancel order > Something wrong with buyer's address.

And put their ID on your blocked bidder list:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/bmgt/BuyerBlock

[arkham187]

Thanks so much for your reply. You could be right. I'm nervous about cancelling as I've read I will be charged the final selling fee and could be just being over the top

[**peaseblossom**]

If you cancel using "problem with buyer's address" you won't be charged.   Unfortunately we don't have the option of "problem with buyer" so that's the nearest we have but it does the trick.   It's up to you but ebay tend to side with buyers in disputes so if the buyer is up to no good you could lose out.

[tressygirl]

Cancelling,  as peaseblossom suggested,  citing Problem with Buyer's Address will refund you your seller fees,  and your seller performance is not affected.

[qu906765]

Unfortunately, it seems like the whole system is a scam to me, I just sold a model car, an expensive one. The buyer kept it for two days, took parts off it and then returned it.  eBay still makes money from these scammers because they hold the money for millions of transactions thereby gaining the interest. I have only lost the price of shipping both ways and parts off my model, which now has parts missing. I shall not ever use eBay again, stick to car boot sales and other ways where buyers can look at your goods and pay you in cash.

[tressygirl]

eBay do not gain any interest on money held, but there is a process to follow if you receive back an item not in the same condition as sent out.

The buyer here has broken eBay's 30 day MBG Money Back Guarantee policy by returning an item in a different condition.

Did this happen in the past, so too late to contact eBay now.  Presenting your findings,  eBay would then have to decide who is telling the truth here, as they cannot see the actual item, but photos of the condition of the return,  I'm sure would have helped your case..

Money is always placed on hold when a case is opened, but as explained , being a digital payment, it doesn't earn eBay any interest.

@qu906765 

[zoomingmouse]

To add... If you have not refunded already <I'm assuming it's the James Bond car>, in the case you should see a link  "Report a problem" .

Click on that & then choose returned damaged or the nearest option that fits etc.

There have been a couple of cases lately where Ebay have refunded themselves & sellers have kept their money.

You can also report the buyer here for misuse of the Money Back Guarantee

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/rules-policies-buyers/abusive-buyer-policy?id=4374&st=3&pos=3&q... 

And block them too!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/bmgt/BuyerBlock? 

[liis_8391]

I reported a buyer for being a scammer,  broke my phone and requested partial refund. I declined asking to sent it back. And he closed the return.

Left me negative feedback calling me scammer. I left back to him feedback being a scammer, and noticed that has another feedback doing same thing with another seller's phone and I am now reported as I broke the Defaimation policy. This is outrageous.

[lookinpandorasbox]

The easiest way is to add the potential buyers id name to your blocked list if you have doubts about their validity