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Buyer EBay scams
I recently began using Ebay again. I am concerned over the enormous scams happening. I recently listed 3 items and the same buyer purchased all 3 high tickets items.
says they are from Australia but ship to Indiana. Of course it feels like a scam. next thing a I know eBay puts a hold on my payouts. How do I verify?
6 comments
tenbigdogs
Mentor2 years agoHi @ger2189 There is no question in my mind that it's a scam. I doubt if the buyer is even in Australia. Only you can see their User ID and feedback profile, but it reads like a highjacked account. Have they been inactive for a long time, all feedback received over a year old? Except maybe a few things bought recently enough that the item number link is fresh? It's a highjacked account and you should report it to eBay Trust & Safety.
When they haven't paid through regular eBay check out at the end of four days, you can cancel for Buyer hasn't paid. Link below. eBay will refund any seller fees.
You've been away and the very first things you list for sale are a $2,000 mink coat and shoes for $600 to $1,000? Unfortunately, the combination of a zero-feedback seller and high ticket items is a scam magnet. Legitimate buyers are not going to buy from you because they think that you are the scammer. After you resolve this situation, you would be smart to not relist those items unless and until you have a much higher feedback score. It doesn't matter if it's for buying or selling, it just has to be feedback. The fastest way to get it is to buy things you want anyway on eBay from sellers who reliably leave feedback. Then start selling a little bit smaller. Like under $25 smaller until you get your sea legs.
The rule for many sellers is don't sell anything on eBay you care about losing. eBay's International Selling Program is now the safest way to go, and you have all the international countries blocked. If you care about losing the coat and the shoes and never seeing any money, you might reconsider your selling strategy. Good luck!
Another avenue to contact eBay - eBay Contact Us re Hacked Account: Use the automated assistant and type in the word Agent and you will be connected to a real person to report the buyer's account as highjacked:
https://www.ebay.com/help/account/protecting-account/get-help-hacked-account?id=4196&st=3&pos=2&query=Get%20help%20with%20a%20hacked%20account&intent=highjacked&lucenceai=lucenceai&docId=HELP1109#contactWay
"If the buyer still hasn't paid 4 calendar days after the listing ended, you can cancel the order by selecting the Cancel order button below and choosing Buyer hasn't paid in the drop down menu."
eBay Help Page on Unpaid Items: https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/resolving-unpaid-items-buyers?id=4137&st=3&pos=2&query=Resolving%20unpaid%20items%20with%20buyers&intent=item%20not%20paid&lucenceai=lucenceai&docId=HELP1091
mam98031
Mentor2 years agoThe mere fact that an international buyer has what they purchased shipped to a US address does not man it is a "scam". The buyer could be here on vaca, working, visiting, etc. etc. There are many legit reasons for them to be in the US.
Ebay has had a rule for many years that pertains to New Seller and sellers that have been away from selling for 90+ days. The following is the policy that outlines why you money is likely on hold.
https://export.ebay.com/en/fees-and-payments/payments/payment-holds/
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/payments-hold?id=4816&&redirectedFrom=4155
comics-scifi-collectibles
Mentor2 years ago@mam98031 Did you see the feedback that the buyer left? That's what makes me the most suspicious in addition to the random high priced items purchased from the new seller.
I agree that many foreign sellers use US addresses and that alone is not an issue.
mam98031
Mentor2 years agoIt is a new buyer, it may be the way they think they need to communicate. I've had buyers do that in the past. All I see is a request for more information. Something they certainly should have done before the purchase but I'm not sure at this point that "scam" is appropriate. Some members jump to that conclusion with incomplete information.
Always being cautious on these higher dollar value transactions is important. So the OP needs to make sure they keep all the information in case at some point it becomes important.
comics-scifi-collectibles
Mentor2 years ago@ger2189 Has that buyer even paid yet? I see they left feedback asking you to message them. It seems fishy all around.
It is best to start out selling lower priced items until you get the hang of eBay.
Fund holds are normal but this buyers activity is not.
I recommend contacting eBay for business on social media and reporting VERY suspicious activity.
If you cancel the sale it's going to come from your credit card or bank, as that's how refunds work even for canceled sale.
Contact eBay For Business on FB>>
https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness
The agents are more experienced and tell them what happened INCLUDING the odd feedback they left. The buyer left their email in the feedback because they could not leave it in an eBay message as it's a policy violation and sets you up to be scammed.
This may be a bad buyer account.
comics-scifi-collectibles
Mentor2 years ago@ger2189 Tips for staying safe selling on eBay>>
Only ship to the address the buyer provides at checkout. Never message a buyer outside of eBay, only use eBay messages.
1. The only way to avoid this problem is to list as Fixed Price immediate payment required, only NO auctions and NO best offers**.
**( eBay does have a new setting you can turn on to require buyers to provide a payment method before they make an offer. It is at the bottom of this page: https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/buyerrequirements. This will not apply to auctions)
To have the immediate payment required option you will need to change listing tools if you are using the Quick Listing Tool.
Sign up for Seller Hub while working from your computer to create your listing using the New Listing Tool.
A. Go to https://www.ebay.com/sh/landing
B. Click Start Using Seller Hub
C. To create a new listing go to your active listings page:
https://www.ebay.com/sh/lst/active and click the blue Create listing button near the top, right-hand side of the page.
D. The IPR box is located by selecting edit all fields in the payment section for this listing tool, then click on the blue hyper link for Payments Managed by eBay. On the next screen you will have the option for Immediate Payment Required.
2) If you have offers from suspicious buyers or they don't pay then add them to your blocked buyer list:
https://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?BidderBlockLogin
3) If buyer doesn't pay then on the 5th day after sale cancel as buyer hasn't paid. This prevents the buyer from leaving feedback and they receive a strike. Final value sellers fees are not charged until an item is paid for.
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/resolving-unpaid-items-buyers?id=4137&st=
4) Have you set up your shipping preferences and buyer requirements in account settings:
1. Exclude shipping locations
https://www.ebay.com/ship/prf/excludeRegions
2. Block buyers whose primary shipping address is in a location I don't ship to AND block buyers with 2 or more unpaid items in 12 months.
https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/buyerrequirements
Buyer requirements:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/creating-managing-listings/setting-buyer-requirements?id=4152&st=