eBay buyer scams me - eBay lets them!
Buyer bought a $100 RV backup camera and returned a cheap broken Android Tablet.
While this only has happened 2-3 times in over 10k sales, eBay does not have your back!
Despite me showing photos, the fact the buyer never replied to messages - means nothing.
This is only ENCOURAGING them.
The cherry on the cake? eBay originally stated the case would be closed 1/11, but gave themselves an extra 2 days.
Can I give myself an extra 2 days to refund a buyer? Of course not.
This has me FURIOUS!
There are entire online groups dedicated to scamming folks on eBay because eBay LETS THEM GET AWAY WITH IT!
Unreal!
22 comments
mikeb24131
·6 months agoI bought a product from a seller on eBay. It was never delivered. The seller provided false tracking information that eBay is relying on to deny my claim. My credit card company is relying on eBay's denial to deny my claim. I have proof from UPS that the tracking number used is fraudulent. eBay won't allow me to present it. This is an ongoing problem with eBay, as there are numerous Facebook groups complaining of the same problem with tracking numbers for other products delivered to the same zip code being reused fraudulently. The seller is no longer listed as a seller on eBay and is not contactable. eBay claims that since I contacted my credit card company about the problem that eBay will not review the case and closed it. I believe eBay is well aware of this scam and turns a blind eye to it so they can make money off the transaction and then stonewalls customers.
inhawaii
·8 months agoQ: How does ebay know what was returned to you?
A: They don't.
tobaccocardyahoo
·8 months agoThere is always going to be some sort of crime, typically identified as shrinkage in any retail business.
Expecting Ebay or any other marketplace to protect you from return fraud is unduly optimistic. Return fraud is your problem. If Ebay tried to deal with it, the buyer would simply do a chargeback with their payment source and you would face an involuntary refund and additional fees. Ebay would also be penalized on their exchange rate for transactions if increased chargebacks exceeded a threshold. And an increased exchange rate would lead to increased FVFs.
Many Ebay sellers reside in niches which have few returns so that return fraud is not an issue. Other sellers have sufficient margin and volume that they can ignore returns fraud. Sellers with the problem need to be able to eat these costs or need to change what the sell and to who they sell it.
reallynicestamps
·8 months agoAnd also
While this only has happened 2-3 times in over 10k sales, eBay does not have your back!
Losses to returns, fraudulent or not, are business expenses and tax deductible.
Around here the minimum wage is 29c a minute.
How many minutes/ how much labour/how much money was wasted on this?
adamcartwright
·8 months ago@quadcitypickers
Report to the USPS postmaster and also to IC3 for internet fraud.
That's something you CAN do.
kibble-net
·8 months agoI assume a police report was filed? You could try taking the buyer to small claims court too. Whether that is worth your time is another story.
Ultimately, if this breaks your business, maybe it's time to pack things up and work a 9 to 5 instead. The world is not perfect and ebay can't protect us against everything.
Put yourself in an honest buyer's shoes - what if you returned an item, and the seller falsely claimed you sent back something different? Would you be OK being stiffed on the refund?
wildwalleye
·8 months agoLOL says the dude selling nothing over $49.99
It's amazing how many eBay simps there are out there.
I also love how you deflected to a scenario that has NOTHING to do with what he was asking about as your "example."
You brought nothing to this conversation other than sarcastic ignorance.
fern*wood
·8 months agoEbay does provide some limited protections for faulty returns to top rated sellers, but you have to qualify to use them. I'm unsure what your return policy is or if this is ebay motors with different rules. It's worth checking out the rules. If you don't qualify, then you may want to adjust your listings to make them qualify in the future.
I'm a top rated seller and offer a 30 day return policy, so I can deduct up to 50% of a refund on a faulty return. I don't have to call ebay, deal with phone reps or appeal anything.
rugerskick
·8 months agoHeres the problem. If its an INAD return, whether you have 30 day remorse returns set up doesn't even matter. You're taking the return regardless, the 30 day remorse return feature isn't in play here. Therefore, buyer protection shouldn't be tied to whether a seller takes 30 day remorse returns because its not at all relevant to an INAD return situation. INAD returns should automatically be protected because ebay requires all setters to take them. And ebay currently puts sellers who dont have 30 day remorse returns set up (which again, is not relevant in an INAD return), in a position to be screwed over if theres a problem issue with the returned item.
toolsandiecast
·8 months agoYour right does not give **bleep** this is last year I'm selling on here. Been selling on here for 26 years. It used to be good.
kibble-net
·8 months agoDon't let the door hit you on the way out! Happy trails.
babyers88
·8 months ago@quadcitypickers
normally return fraud is frowned upon by ebay, I would be curious to know more details of how you approached the problem step by step.
what was the first thing you did when you opened the return package? and how soon was that after it was received?
what was the 2nd thing you did?
what was the 3rd thing you did?
please include timing, i.e. minutes/hours/days
I am asking because I have never had a fraudulent return get denied.
trying to figure out what went wrong, for next time.
since the case has already been closed there would be nothing else to do at this point unless you got extremely lucky.
quadcitypickers
OP8 months agoWell when I reached out to eBay on Facebook the first agent stated the case was decided against me because it was fraudulent and "they could not determine who was telling the truth". They also lied and stated I could not appeal it.
The second agent stated the case was decided against me because I had some overcharged fees refunded earlier in 2025 and they were not going to offer any "more courtesies".
When I called eBay, the agent stated the case was not even closed yet, but would appeal it.
When I called this morning, the case had been closed but the agent "could not see the previous appeal".
So I've been given a lot of incorrect information.
babyers88
·8 months ago@quadcitypickers
that's not the information I asked for, all of that was after the fact.
what was the first thing you did when you opened the package? if you prefer not to answer that's fine, just was seeing if there was any guidance I could provide for the next time......
rugerskick
·8 months agoActually, what would be more helpful to all of us, would be you detailing the process you go through to always have ebay side with you on return fraud that happens to you. Sounds like you are able to do this properly according to what ebay needs, so it would be in our best interests if you were able to share what works for you.
Please share. Seriously.
babyers88
·8 months agoI cannot describe HOW TO in all scenario's but.....
it starts with your listing. Everything must be correct, photos, description, condition.
photograph any defects, scratches, marks and whenever possible a serial number.
Fraud has many different faces. For instance no one is allowed to open, disassemble or attempt repairs on anything, openly admitting to it in ebay messaging is a automatic loss for them. You may want to allow the buyer to self-incriminate at all times (use that thing between the eyes) ebay messages are permanent and are never deleted, even if you may think they are, they are not.
In any case upon receiving a return you should open and inspect it thoroughly, knowing the reason for return you should confirm or deny the return.
i..e. the item serial number does not match what you shipped them (customer returned something different)
in this scenario you go to ebay and report a buyer, give a general synopsis and provide photos (there is a option to add photos) it is critical to articulate your report here, pretend you are defending yourself in a courtroom, do not lie, do not name call, there are a lot of do not's, state the facts and only the facts.
Then you reach out to ebay and state you have a fraudulent return note the case # of the return and request the rep take a look.
the rep will compare the reason for return with your report, generally it is pretty cut-n-dry in this case.
This is all multifaceted because if the item is returned perfectly fine, then you are basically forced to eat the return cost, your not going to win this kind of case. And in that case you report the buyer for false return, relist and block the buyer. (these type of people self destruct eventually)
if they return something a different color, different brand, empty when it was full, or it arrives disassembled in parts and pieces, (not from shipping damage) those are normally covered.
there are so many variables I can't cover them all. Including the value of the item in question.
But always start with reporting a buyer first within the 2 business days upon receipt.
at that point do not communicate directly with the buyer it is not necessary nor required.
video or police reports will get you nothing ebay won't even blink a eye at it.
It should also be noted if you are in low standing as a seller, have lots of returns or other problems ebay considers that as well and you are much less likely to get a positive outcome no matter what the case.
Choose your battles, you are not going to win every case every time. But blatant fraud is covered. Like in the op's case that was a no loss scenario had they done things properly (covered under returned something different)
stuff4divas
·8 months ago@quadcitypickers maybe consider the seller 'free returns' program if u qualify so u can deduct up to 50% if the item returned is not the same as sent
pls-consignments
·8 months agoIt could be part of their "loss prevention" strategy that minimizes their loss from buyer fraud by passing it on to sellers. They know they need all the buyers they can muster right now. I would guess that it's their goal to post a nice buyer increase to their investors, who could care less about the number of fraudsters.
quadcitypickers
OP8 months agoWhen I reached out to eBay on Facebook, the agent lied to me and said "no appeals would be allowed" and the case was "already closed".
I called eBay yesterday to file an appeal.
I called this morning to check on it, and the agent never submitted it!
So not only does eBay allow scammers, they hire LIARS!
wildwalleye
·8 months agoI noticed that eBay shut down its Facebook connection as of today. It is no longer active. I have to wonder if that is because they were freelancers working for eBay from their homes and not doing their jobs correctly.
Sadly, there isn't much you can do about buyer fraud other than trying to reach out to eBay and beg them for help, hoping they will actually come through. It seems as if issues with bad buyers and sellers are allowed to happen for quite a while before eBay takes action and shuts their accounts down. I have seen several buyers and sellers with horrendous feedback numbers, with numerous complaints, and they are still allowed to buy and sell without limitations.
You would think eBay would put some limitations on buyers and sellers who get more than 1 complaint, but they don't because they only care about THEIR bottom line. If they lose a buyer or seller here and there, it is much less expensive than hiring people to do in-depth investigations, which probably would end up with them losing a buyer or seller anyway, despite it being a bad buyer or seller.
I had one guy try and scam me years ago, and I was able to end up having him pay me the $300+ dollars that he scammed me out of, but it took a while and a lot of effort.
I went through eBay, and despite having tons of evidence, they ruled in his favor.
I went through PayPal, but that was when they ALWAYS ruled in favor of buyers unless a buyer admitted they were a scammer lol.
I filed a Police Report where I live AND where the buyer lived. My friend, who was a local cop, called the police in the buyer's jurisdiction and talked a cop into going to the guy's home and talking with him. The cop said they could tell he was lying, but there wasn't much they could do unless a pattern formed of complaints of theft against him, or he admitted to it, and even then, it was limited as to what would actually happen to him. Having the police visit him did set him off quite a bit, and he sent me some nasty emails lol. I guess he didn't like having the neighbors see a cop car in his driveway and the cops questioning him LOL.
His unhinged response gave me the will to continue trying to find ways to get to him.
I did a background search on him and found his employer, and made a complaint to them about their "stellar" employee. The employer must have said something to him, as at that point, the guy contacted me and actually deposited the money into my PayPal to get me to leave him alone.
I stopped selling on eBay for several years, and I am just now starting up again. I won't hesitate to go the same route should someone attempt to scam me again. But this time, there are also some seller protections to use if payment is sent via PayPal, which PayPal actually honors over the buyers who can't prove their fraudulent claims.
I also won't hesitate to "Cancel" a purchase or bid on someone who has dubious-looking feedback. Ebay might allow them to keep buying for quite a while, but I won't let them buy from me.
Sadly, that is all you can do, short of paying the buyer a physical visit.
Ebay is supposed to be a fun and profitable way for sellers to make a little extra money and for buyers to purchase good products at a deal. But, because eBay isn't more restrictive with bad buyers and sellers, it doesn't always operate that way.
Best of luck to you.
jonathanbrightlight
·8 months agoUm, no they didn't. https://www.facebook.com/ebay
quadcitypickers
OP8 months agoThey shut down their messaging support.