Potential scam? Seller asking for passport and national insurance details before posting!

[hugsi-ri]

I have just bought and paid for a laptop for an auction I won.  The seller is asking for my passport and national insurance details before they post the item.  They are stating that the reason for this is because I am based in Northern Ireland they need to provide a customs declaration.  Any insights into what may be going on here?  Or any suggestions on how to proceed?

[rusticrye]

They don't need a Customs declaration for NI. NI is in the UK, as, I presume, are they. And even if they were shipping out of or into the UK and EU and therefore needed to complete a Customs form, they certainly don't need your passport details and National Insurance number....! That is information that a criminal gang would ask for, in order to clone your identity (ie. identity theft).  All that's required on a Customs form is the desciption and the value of the item - none of your details are required AT ALL.

This is an attempted SCAM (by a criminal gang that's hijacked some innocent seller's account, no doubt) and there is no laptop - of that I'm quite sure. (Either that or the seller is a few slates short of a roof, which I don't believe for a minute.) My advice is to tell them to cancel the transaction. If they don't, simply open an Item Not Received case as soon as you can (a couple of days after the delivery estimate on the order) to get your money back.

@hugsi-ri 

@pixiesen2012 

[john1297576]

it woud be helpful to see the item number, to determine if this is a scam or just an Ignorant Seller.

[red_magpie]

I have just bought and paid for a laptop for an auction I won.

I wish you had told us how you paid for this. I do hope it was in a way that qualifies you for buyer protection if it doesn't arrive (e.g. by PayPal or credit card, and through eBay's checkout).

There is absolutely no need for your passport and NI details to provide a customs declaration - even if one was required, which it isn't from Northern Ireland.

There real worry here is that this may have been a scam. If you want to provide more information someone here will be able to advise you of your options, if it is.

[angelah1847]

Remind them that Northern Ireland is part of the UK and there is no such requirement, they don't need to complete a customs declaration.

[pixiesen2012]

they don't need a customs declaration for Northern Ireland

[hugsi-ri]

Yes, I would imagine so. So does that mean I have probably been scammed? And they are attempting to get my identity details now?

[angelah1847]

They may just be a bit stupid and don't realise NI is part of the UK. 😞