Can Buyer Fraud Over International Boundaries Be Prosecuted?
Through a rather convoluted con process, a Buyer in Canada has stolen $530 from me. I am an honest seller, too trusting apparently. Yes, I anticipate some will call me naive. Ebay has thoroughly roablocked any remedies within their system. Through investigation aided by a couple of my law enforcement friends, I have amassed extensive negative background information on the individual responsible for the theft. He's all over social media and has public records which are, to say the least, are derogatory. I am thinking that reporting this as wire fraud or similar can direct his local police to contact him. This is early in the process, and I have many possible remedies to consider. All I really want here is if anyone has more experience in dealing with criminals on Ebay, how did you take them down?
kensgiftshop
·3 years agoThere was no fraud, you refunded the buyer before the item was returned.
onefootflipper2
·3 years agoIt really all depends on how much more you want this to cost you.
You are already out $530.
How much money do you want to be out in just in time spent pursuing this.
Are you going to go to Canada to testify in court? Would you even win if you got there?
Would they ever even pay the judgement if you got one?
robbie31415
·3 years agoSince you provided no details, I'm curious if an actual fraud occurred.
If they got the item and money due to lack of following eBays policy then they are entitled to it based on what you agreed to to sell here.
If they mailed you back a rock, that would be a fraud.
buyselljack2016
·3 years agoI believe more details are in the OP's other thread referenced by onlinecentral
comic_box
OP3 years agoBuyer manipulated me (my fault) into issuing a refund before I actually received the item back. Then went completely dark and will not return the item. Buyer is clearly a criminal.
stainlessenginecovers
·3 years agoYou did this on your own.
You 'voluntarily' refunded someone.
Doesn't matter if they were your neighbor, much less from 'another country'.
It is NOT criminal for a person to 'receive a refund'.
In fact, this site allows you to 'do that' when an official 'return for refund' is started by a buyer.
Game Over.
Nothing you can do.
Being 'naive' on how systems work is nobody's fault but yours.
traditonalproducts
·3 years agoBINGO! OP loses.
robbie31415
·3 years agoThey don't have to return the item.
EBay even issues you a warning not to refund unless the item is returned if you want it back.
The money was sent voluntarily.
Now, I know bad buyers are out there, but it's better probably not to pursue any legal action over this as it would most likely cause you loss of more money for something that would be extremely difficult to win.
So use this as a learning experience.
If you want your item back do NOT refund.
GL
fashunu4eeuh
·3 years agoHow did the buyer scam you?
In case you didn’t see this, below is a link to eBay’s security center resources that has a portal for law enforcement. Good luck.
https://pages.ebay.com/securitycenter/law_enforcement.html
dirk12955
·3 years agoIMO the answer to your question in right there in your post.
"Law enforcement friends" should have the experience of how to handle, to or where to go
for help and guidance.
When I had a Canadian buyer claim non delivery on a $150.00 order, After I refunded them (No DC)
I told them that I was not satisfied being a victim of a theft. I then told them that I was going '
to contact the RCMP and file a theft report and that they would be contacted by RCMP, suddenly my stamps got delivered and they paid me back.
comic_box
OP3 years agoThis sounds amazingly like the scenario I experienced. I have considered contacting RCMP as well. I wonder if it was the same buyer.
dirk12955
·3 years agoBuyers and sellers, Both groups have people that will constantly try to game the system
and make their trading partner into a victim.
Sometimes the best way to salvage a bad situation is to call their bluff or at least threaten to do so.
It's hard to separate the crooks from the inept or the lazy. They all look the same at first.
onlinecentral
·3 years agoDid you refuse to accept a return? Did the buyer file a charge back through their credit card issuer?
Message 43 of this discussion details who you should report the issue to.
Scammed out of $3,000 worth of Pokemon vintage packs (eBay not providing seller protection)
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Scammed-out-of-3-000-worth-of-Pokemon-vintage-packs-eBay-not/m-p/33886066#M2248809
kensgiftshop
·3 years agoNo, they refunded the buyer before the comic was returned.