Just auctioned to a suspicious buyer
So my Graphics Card just auctioned on ebay for $810, but I haven't sent it out yet. The buyers name is Russian and the address is in the USA but the street name is "Swindlers Way" (I'm not kidding) Swindler: a person who uses deception to deprive someone of money or possessions. I looked up the address and it is a real address with google street view showing a normal looking house in a suburban area.
I am already wary of selling on ebay because the last time I sold a GPU back in like 2014 to an address in Brazil, which had no tracking. The buyer claimed they never received it and ebay gave them their money back.
How likely is it that this is a scam? What steps can I take to ensure that I don't get scammed? I did pay for "Signature Required" on delivery.
nh_sales_lv
·1 year agoThis is ridiculous, if the buyer has a verified mailing address and has proven feedback, Ship it. This could be a test of the National Broadcasting System. Are you sure Putin wants your GPU and Nuclear Armageddon or is the scammer some guy named Frank Mills using Gorbachev's name.
sextons-sweet-deals
·1 year agoStop looking at the dollar sale value and do your research on your buyer(s).
Likely a scam is 1000%
From what you stated, you are going to lose the item and funds.
reallynicestamps
·1 year agobut the street name is "Swindlers Way"
What does the building look like when you check it out on Google Maps?
Is it a Long John Silver restaurant?
A cinema showing Pirates of the Caribbean or Ocean's Eleven?
tiberius848
·1 year agoIt wouldn't be much of a scam if they are using a fake address. And I don't see someone buying or renting a house to get a legit address called swindlers way just to look more scammy for you.
So I think the address is legit. I googled it and there is apparently a road called swindlers way in SC, so apparently not that uncommon.
The whole idea that new sellers are more at risk then "experienced" ones is pretty much not true.
You can scam an experienced seller who has a lot of feedback just as easy as a new one since ebay doesn't protect sellers.
roccotacodad54
·1 year agoDo as you feel best. Myself I would sell it locally but not because of the street name. One time I was wandering around on Washingtons' Olympic peninsula and came across a street named "Jack can't cook" LOL among other colorful street names.
dpr-179
OP1 year agoyeah i was just taken aback by the street name like what the hell lmao
slippinjimmy
·1 year agoI would not worry about Swindlers Way, now if we were talking about Swindlers Road in MD that would be totally different.
I have concerns about Swindler Hollow Rd in VA as well!
youn2240
·1 year agobut lets look at the facts.
russian sounding last name ( signs of a russian hacker)
swindlers way (Where swindlers live)
I hope I am wrong but it sounds like you were targeted by the kremlin for nefarious purposes.
nh_sales_lv
·1 year agoThe buyers Feedback profile screams volumes more than a street name. If his feedback looks like this (1) you already know the answer, and since your feedback profile looks like this (1) you could be the scammer.
12345jamesstamps
·1 year agoCan a scammer out scam a scammer. Inquiring minds want to know.
nh_sales_lv
·1 year agoIn this world anythings possible, Obamas got the kid convinced that Russians are scammers. Start there, you gotta work your way back sometimes to the beginning.
gurlcat
·1 year agoHow do you see the buyer's profile or even the buyer's user name?
pickapaper
·1 year ago@dpr-179 wrote: "I do have the option to trade it into the store but i would get like $100 less than selling it"
Is that before or after taking into consideration the eBay fees you will have to pay?
Not to mention the chance of something going south with the transaction such as him filing a Not as Described claim and returning a box of rocks instead of the card.. I assume you are aware that because you are a new seller, eBay will not release the money to you right away, probably not for 30 days. And, if the buyer happens to file some kind of chargeback with his credit card processor, you could lose both the card and the money and with some processors, he has up to six months to do this.
I think if I were you, I would cancel the order as a "problem with buyer's address" and even if that store is willing to pay $100 less, I would go that route just to feel safer and not have to worry about it.
12345jamesstamps
·1 year agoIt was an auction...so there is an eBay fee on the last bid...as far as I remember if something hasn't change..which always happens in eBay...if you cancel auction you still will be charged the eBay fee of that auction whether shipped or cancel.
You assume the buyers name is Russian...not even I can do that in identifying what country the buyer's name is.
I would sell it to someone who has feedbacks...and not a new eBay ID...and has made purchases like that in the past.
caldreamer
·1 year agoScammers target new sellers or anyone selling "high value items" (especially electronics). Unfortunately, there is no way to know "in advance" who will scam you. If you do get scammed EBAY will NOT reimburse you.
Any buyer can contact their credit card company and try to "reverse payment" AFTER they receive your item. If that happens...you will lose both "your money + your item".
inhawaii
·1 year agoEbay should add that to the list of reaaons for cancelling a sale: "Suspicious street name."
nyr134
·1 year agoWhat kind of feedback history does the buyer have? Do they sell, also?
simba6
·1 year agoNew sellers should never start with high value items. No legit buyer would spend that much on an unproven seller. I would cancel the sale and choose problem with address. You should have heeded the first warning........
luckythewinner
·1 year agoWhat steps can I take to ensure that I don't get scammed?
Every transaction on eBay carries the risk of fraud.
gator08041971
·1 year ago@dpr-179
If you have already sent it, brace yourself for a potential scam attempt. Problem is, there is little you can do. If they file for a return using Doesn't match Description or Photos (INAD), at least make sure they return it before you refund.
They might send you a box of rocks, but it will slow them down for a week. Do not ignore it, eBay will refund it anyway. Fighting it is usually pointless too.
If you haven't shipped and I was you, I wouldn't ship and just cancel the order and refund the buyer. You will take a hit, but you won't take a financial hit, by being out the item AND the funds.
Even with my history selling items, there is no way I will sell a high end GPU on here or anything else that could get targeted by scammers. And I plan to eventually sell a high end GPU next month, but it will be local only.
This could go fine for you, but while I sound like a doomsayer, it may not. But its up to you.
dhbookds
·1 year agodid you google the address? Not something I'd normally do......but just out of curiosity ..........
dpr-179
OP1 year agoyes and it came up on google street view as a normal looking suburban house.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoSell it local for cash.
dpr-179
OP1 year agoI do have the option to trade it into the store but i would get like $100 less than selling it
chapeau-noir
·1 year agoAs opposed to being ripped off completely?
Sell it locally.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoThat would be better then getting scammed and ending up with nothing.
dbfolks166mt
·1 year agoI do have the option to trade it into the store but i would get like $100 less than selling it
So the store offered you $710?
dpr-179
OP1 year agono i would get $689 after ebay fees from selling on ebay and microcenter trade in value is $559
dbfolks166mt
·1 year agono i would get $689 after ebay fees from selling on ebay and microcenter trade in value is $559
Not sure what you originally paid for the card but the dilemma at the moment is which way to go. If the buyer has paid, which I assume they have since you know the buyers address, then the only way to legitimately cancel the order would be using Out of Stock (OOS) which will result in a ding to your account. While the buyer will be fully refunded and you will get credit for your FVF's too many of these and your seller rating may drop or eBay may restrict/suspend your account.
As others mentioned the card is one of those highly targeted scammer items, you are a low volume seller and you do not accept returns, which does NOT equate to no refunds. Personally not something I would have listed in the first place. You are in a fairly large city so selling it on a local forum would/is an option. Those also have their share of scammers but it is easier to lower your risk.
I would cancel the order, take the ding and either attempt to sell it locally or get the trade in value. If you cancel the order don't forget to cancel the shipping label if you have already purchased one. For future reference always remember the #1 rule as a seller on eBay. Never list anything you are not prepared to take the financial loss on.
ittybitnot
·1 year agoI would cancel the order, take the ding and either attempt to sell it locally or....
@dbfolks166mt
While that makes sense, if the OP @dpr-179 is under the "new/returning seller" 30 day hold, eBay won't allow the funds for this sale to be used for the cancellation refund. That may be problematic for the seller if he/she doesn't have an extra $800+ available.
tobaccocardyahoo
·1 year agoI doubt the address is an indicator of any added risk. There are many addresses in the US which are colorful reminders of early residents.
IMO selling an expensive piece of electonics when you are a relatively new Ebay seller is high risk. Selling to gamers is high risk, and were this an Nvidia card I would say selling to crypto miners is a high risk.
This sale could go south and you could lose the money and the card. That is the risk of selling online.
bonjourami
·1 year agoAs a brand new seller who sold an expensive card, you are a sitting duck for a scam. You did the right thing with signature confirmation, but, unfortunately, that doesnt stop the buyer from filing a not as described case, and sending back a different card. Its always better on Ebay to start out small to get some experience,and dont list such expensive items here. There are no steps to protect you from being scammed.