Trying to Recognize a scammer
I posted a computer for 3000 with a buy now for 4000. The person offered for 400. Their about on their profile reads “
Hi just few questions about the item before proceeding with the payment kindly send me a message thanks I will be waiting for your message and sorry for the inconvenience I can't send a reply on eBay now because I am leaving for work and I won't be able to access my laptop for a while thanks and also if you can't send me a text kindly cancel the order at your end because i won't be able to reply after this message thanks.†Could this be a scam?
18 comments
luckythewinner
·2 years agoYes it is a scam.
They are using your excitement about the potential sale against you. One of the hallmarks of social engineering is to create a false sense of urgency in hopes that you make a mistake.
They want you to text so they can communicate outside eBay in order to scam you.
If they claim they cannot reply to you in the future on eBay, how in the world are they going to complete the transaction on eBay?
mrjs85_4
·2 years agoI had this individual try to scam me as well. Texted me from (470) 360-8495 with a message that had red flags all over it. Almost the same message that you got.
ittybitnot
·2 years ago@kevonvan78
You can report this right in the eBay message under the Action Tab dropdown. Do it.
Classic "text me" (message me) scammer, second cousin to the "change of address" scammer. These are the easiest to avoid since they never really pay, just send phony notifications disguised as eBay notices that you have been (TAKEN for a ride).
Never sell anything here that you cannot afford to lose. Anything can be had for free on eBay with the right kind of phony claim, even after you are paid. Know your tolerance for risk before you sign on.
southern*sweet*tea
·2 years agoScammers 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 equal or more for your item than the buy it now 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.
Also be aware that as a new seller when you get paid your funds WILL be on hold for up to 30 days:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/payments-hold?id=4816
reallynicestamps
·2 years agoYou can accept, reject, counteroffer or ignore any Best Offer.
Since you don't want to deal with this person and you are busy in any case, just ignore it.
Then.
When you have a minute, go to your listing and REVISE it so that you automatically reject any lowball offer.
The lowballer gets a polite letter from eBay and may if they are sincere make a few more offers.
You won't see any of those until the hit the point you would consider.
You can also set an automatic acceptance.
Since you are a new seller, you are probably being scammed.
The note on their profile is beyond suspicious.
Do NOT phone or text.
ALL messages should be through eBay messages.
BTW, have you registered for Managed Payments?
Without your SSN and checking account information, eBay cannot transfer payments to your bank.
And in any case there is an automatic Hold on payments to new sellers for up to 30 days.
But you will be notified when the real buyer has really paid and instructed to ship.
Note that this is on the same page as the buyer's address, do NOT trust any emailed addresses.
Others will have told you about the problems with selling high value/high fraud items online early in your career. Listen to them.
bennotbill
·2 years agoWhy would you even want to consider a $400 offer on a $4000 item?
a_c_green
·2 years agoI'm guessing that's a typo, and the OP just dropped a digit while writing about an offer of $4000.
When a seller is already showing a BuyItNow price of $4000, it makes no sense for a prospective buyer to do a Make Offer of $4000, but he will, in the hopes of working around an Immediate Payment requirement on the BuyItNow price and let him send fake payment notifications to the seller instead.
Hopefully the new requirement to upload payment info before making an offer will reduce the amount of scams like this. (I know it won't eliminate them altogether...)
ckimodog
·2 years ago@kevonvan78
New seller selling a high dollar electronic item...what could go wrong? Yes, it's a scam attempt. Ignore and block. PS This is something you really should not be selling here on eBay. You are an inexperienced seller and are setting yourself up for more scammers. You should sell that computer locally for cash. Here's somethings to look for as a new seller, especially this time of year:
Be careful!
a_c_green
·2 years ago@kevonvan78 : Let's not beat around the bush here. That is a scam, period. The text you quoted is a standard script (notice that it never mentions your computer by name; it just calls it "the item") that is copied and pasted to as many sellers as possible before the scammer's account is nuked. The reason that they're asking for a text message from you is to get an off-eBay contact method for you, to be followed by completely fake payment notifications.
Just stop responding; there is no real offer to be accepted here.
Unfortunately, as a new bidder with a high-value item, scammers will be coming from miles around to take a whack at you. It would be better to sell that locally for cash.
mantle1951
·2 years agoYou rec'd an offer for $400.00 ?????
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoAnyone trying for make a purchase for $3000. will have to text the credit card that it is OK for the purchase to go through. No credit card will let such a payment go through unless the buyer spends thousands every month on eBay.
That kind of a sale has to be approved by the card...and usually by a text on an iPhone or by phone by the credit card company.
As an American Express cardholder...even I can't just make a purchase for $3000. without letting the credit card company talk or text me.
An besides...you not selling anything in a month...if someone bought it your funds from this sale will have a hold on it for 30+ days even though you have to ship it out.
css2001
·2 years agoYou should kindly avoid this buyer
buybuy42
·2 years agoCould be a scam. Probably a scam.
As a 0 seller, nobody is going to trust you with this listing thinking you are the scammer.
frankenhobbit
·2 years agoScam. You are selling a high value item and as far as your profile indicates, have little or no experience selling. Scam magnet.
I honestly would not sell it on eBay.
redlinear
·2 years agoWhen was the last time you said "kindly"?
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoIt's very common in non-US English.
alcoforever
·2 years agoDefinitely a scam. Anyone who wants to communicate outside of ebay is a scammer.
Unavailable member
·2 years agoSounds like a scam in the making or a buyer without a clue, just ignore the offer and block the buyer.