I am getting a lot of SCAMMERS posing as buyers
What should I do?
They're coming from overseas and making an offer, which I accept. And then I get an email from them asking me to contact or call them.
**bleep**? EB??
11 comments
What should I do?
They're coming from overseas and making an offer, which I accept. And then I get an email from them asking me to contact or call them.
**bleep**? EB??
liawri-75
OP3 years agoThis is getting annoying. Another one today. They make an offer and EB sends me a notice that they haven't paid. Then they message me to call them to discuss payment.
It's time consuming.
slippinjimmy
·3 years agoYour best move would be to dump the auction format, for what you are listing it is nothing but BAD (buyers don't want it, scammers see you as an easy target).
I see you also had best offer of some of your older listings, get rid of that as well.
Just set the price at what you want and list as Fixed Price without or without Immediate Payment Required.
liawri-75
OP3 years agoThis was a buy it now with an offer. NOT an auction.
southern*sweet*tea
·3 years agoYes, those buyers are scammers. All contact should always be through eBay messages. Do NOT, under any circumstances, give your phone number or email address to a buyer. Do not send a Paypal invoice, either. Your email address can be found on the invoice. Do not click any link sent from a buyer claiming to have payment issues. There is no legitimate link for buyers to fix a payment issue.
Scammers will try to get you to take the sale off of eBay, or get your personal information so they can send you a fake payment email, hoping you are too new and naive to verify that you have actually been paid. No LEGITIMATE buyer needs that information.
Here are some red flags to watch out for.
1. Buyer asks for your email address, Paypal address
2. Buyer sends you a phone number to text/call him/her
3. Buyer asks you to buy gift cards to go with the order
4. Buyer asks you to send the item to a different address after paying
5. Buyer wants you to send the item overnight/express and will pay you a lot extra to do this
6. Buyers says that they cannot pay through the eBay website and sends you a link to click on so that the payment will go through
7. Buyer offers more for your item than the price you have it listed for
If ANY of the above happen, do not contact the buyer or respond to any messages from them. Block them here: https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/BuyerBlock This will prevent them from buying from you.
If they actually purchased, won an auction, or you accepted an offer, after four full days do an unpaid item cancellation. You can do that here: https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/cancelling-transaction?id=4136 Once you do that you can relist.
Also report the buyer: https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/reporting-issue-buyer?id=4084 Use the reason "asking to complete a sale off eBay"
You need to list at a buy it now price, NO auction, NO best offer, and use immediate payment required. Scammers avoid these listings because they know they can't steal your stuff without paying for it first. When you use immediate payment, the listing stays live on site until it is actually PAID FOR, not just purchased or won at auction.
Switch to the unified listing form if you're not already using it. (If you have the option to add video in the form you are using, you are already in the unified form.) To switch, when you are making a listing, click the dots at the top right side of the listing form and switch to the unified form.
Decide on the price you want for your item. Be sure to take original cost of goods and fees into consideration. Go to the preferences section at the bottom and check the box to allow immediate payment.
ms.rodriguez*
·3 years agoWhenever you sell something, do not send an invoice. They have 96 hours and 1 second to pay. After that time, cancel with BUYER DID NOT PAY. BLOCK the buyer and then relist. Everytime, you send an invoice the clock resets. By far, one of the stupidest changes on that ebay has ever made. Don't do auctions unless it's some that is rare. Don't do them until you have some experience.
robbie31415
·3 years agoHow are they emailing you ?
Are you giving it to them ?
You aren't supposed to.
liawri-75
OP3 years agoThey are sending messages through EB message board. They make an offer, I accept. Then they write something like this: Hello seller i have a very genuine question about your products before making the payment check my profile my number and text me so we can talk before completing the purchase thank you.
This is the 3rd time it's happened.
I went to block the buyer and he's not a registered EB customer.
ms.rodriguez*
·3 years agoInsert the following statement on ALL of your listings until you are no longer a rookie. Cut and paste. This will drive many scammers elsewhere.
ALL payments MUST be through the ebay PAY NOW button. ALL payments will be verified in MY EBAY. ALL items will be shipped ONLY to the address in the ebay payment. ALL communications will be done through ebay. ASK questions before you bid/buy.
This will keep them away. Now if you have no clue what My EBAY is, do NOT list anything else until you know where it is. If there is NO payment here, you did not get paid. NEVER give out your phone or email address. I have been here since 1998 and I have never had the need to chat via phone /text/email with a seller or a buyer.
inhawaii
·3 years agoHow about just "no scammers"? 😉
ms.rodriguez*
·3 years agoI wish but there is always one that thinks he can try something and fool the rookie seller.
susanseeks
·3 years agoHi. That has not yet happened to me. However if it did I would politely tell that buyer that I could not do that as it was against eBay rules and policies. And then I would see how they would respond...depending on what they say, I would call eBay and ask them to step in?
Hope that helps.