just been scammed, has anyone been contacted after an auction by a person pretending to be winner?

[robbyrob1273]

I sold an xbox and mins after the auction ended a guy messaged to say he had just won the item and could i send it to his nephews house as it was a birthday present. two weeks later the real auction winner chased up the missing xbox and i realised the scam. The message from the scammer was linked to the item number and when i clicked it, it showed the real winners name and address. Has this happened to others? Am I totally screwed with this, I even have a DPD photo of the item sitting on the scammers doorstep.

[pixiesen2012]

it's up to YOU to make sure the person you send the item to, is the person who actually bought the item,

ebay can't 'validate' against you sending to some random person who didn't even win the item!

when an item sells you only send to the address provided with the paypal payment,

if the 'buyer' asks for something different you have to tell them to change the address at payment,

if you do anything else you are no longer covered by ebay or paypal

[robbyrob1273]

Thanks but my question was, how are people making accounts on an auction platform without showing they are a real person. I had to when I opened my account. When my credit card expires I’m chased to update the details, do the scammers not have to be linked to a payment method. They created an eBay account and have bought 6 items to build up feedback from other sellers.

[pixiesen2012]

how do you know they aren't showing as a real person?

buyers don't have to be linked to a payment option

when people ask questions on an item it will link to the item they are asking the question about

you fell for a scam

[robbyrob1273]

I mean if all buyers and sellers were validated on the platform, the member that hijacked me would be traceable through eBay therefore not able to use the platform to scam people. If everyone on the platform either buyer or seller was id checked on account activation this couldn’t happen. I get the feeling you are one of them people that just use these forums to get a rise out of people. I admit I screwed up, I’ve been on eBay since it started pretty much and this is the first time I’ve been fxcked over, I’m fuming but I can only blame myself for trusting people, thinking like a nice guy and not thinking everybody is a crook. I’ve learned my lesson and will be a vigilant untrusting policeman from now on. I came here for some advice also to see if this scam was common not to get condescending comment about it’s my fault which I assure you I’m well aware

[pixiesen2012]

accounts get hacked, most of the time it isn't the account holder who commits the scam, no amount of validating members can stop this from happening,

people just have to follow the site rules and only send to the address provided with the paypal payment, then these 'scams' wouldn't work.

[*knight-rider*]

That`s alot of money to lose because of not knowing the rules or bothering to learn them and for a member of 15 years, is very complacent indeed. Number one rule when having sold anything, is only post to the address given on the paypal payment, otherwise you have no protection at all and that `can you send to my neice/nephew` is as old as Ebay itself.
Not sure what course of action you can do now other than possible legal action, which will just cost even more money.

[john1297576]

You could seek legal advice or consult Citizens Advice, but you voluntarily sent out, not in acordance with the Ebay/Paypal requirements , as far as recipient is concerned it is Junk Mail.

"The message from the scammer was linked to the item number"  All that means is he used the contact link on the item !

Just hope the real seller accepts your explanation otherwise you could also get bad feedback.

[robbyrob1273]

No he’s cool, he got a full refund and I’m out of pocket one Xbox

[tobiasd4]

Sorry, Yes you have been scammed.

You should always log in direct to paypal (not through any links) to check payment & address.

You are only covered by ebay when posting tracked to buyers paypal address,

if genuine buyer wanted item sent to different address, they should have changed it at ebay checkout.

Ask actual buyer to open case for item not received, you refund through it & at least get ebay fees credited.

[robbyrob1273]

Hi, thanks for the quick response. I’ve already done as you suggested and the buyer has been repaid. I can’t believe it was so blatant, the scammer even chased up the delivery to see where it was one day after auction. I’ve looked at the scammers feedback and he built a feedback of 6 by buying items. Do you think it’s possible to ask the sellers of these items to check the postal address? Also do eBay not do any kind of validation of new buyers? When I opened my account years ago I had to link a credit card to my account

[pixiesen2012]

how would ebay validating the buyer stop you sending the item to someone who hadn't bought the item?