What to do when Buyer does mail fraud
Summary: whitepcb shared their experience of receiving a fraudulent return request for a CPU on eBay, suspecting the buyer of conducting mail fraud by returning junk instead of the original item. They planned to record the unboxing process with a mailman present and report it to eBay. Several participants advised whitepcb on how to handle the situation, with some suggesting contacting eBay to report the buyer. Despite concerns, whitepcb updated that eBay closed the return case and banned the buyer, sparing them from issuing a refund. This news was shared with relief, confirming that no further action was needed.
I've sold over 100 items on eBay, and thankfully the vast majority of buyers have been honest.
Recently, however, I received a return request for a CPU. The buyer claims it doesn't work. I thoroughly test every CPU before shipping, and I package my items extremely well enough that the package could probably survive being dropped from a second-story balcony without damaging the contents.
After looking into the buyer's history, I found multiple feedback comments from other sellers alleging that the buyer returned boxes containing swapped-out junk instead of the original item. I even contacted a couple of those sellers directly, and they confirmed their experiences were legitimate.
The return package is expected to arrive in about three days, and based on everything I've learned, I'm highly concerned that the original CPU won't be in the box.
If the buyer does return a different item or an empty box what steps should I take? Has anyone here dealt with a similar situation, and what would you recommend?
His address looks to be a Turkish reshipping warehouse to turkey.
ALSO: The buyer also sent me photos as "proof," but after examining them closely, they appear to be AI-generated images of a computer rather than actual photos of the system or CPU in question, which immediately raised red flags.
UPDATE: Today I received a email : Hi *****,
We closed this return, and you won’t have to issue a refund.
Your seller performance won’t be affected, and we’ll protect you from negative feedback. There’s nothing else you need to do.
The Buyer account got banned. LOL
I guess I didn't even need to wait until the item comes back now.
I knew I was right, anyways im sure the item he sent back is still a piece of junk, anyways
For those who wants images: https://imgur.com/a/fIH3end
Thank you , I was only able to keep my money because I wasn't the first victim by him, and ebay finally caught on.
inhawaii
·1 month agoThanks for coming back and letting us know.
Glad it worked out for you.
whitepcb
OP1 month agoUPDATE: Today I received a email : Hi *****,
We closed this return, and you won’t have to issue a refund.
Your seller performance won’t be affected, and we’ll protect you from negative feedback. There’s nothing else you need to do.
The Buyer account got banned. LOL
I guess I didn't even need to wait until the item comes back now.
I knew I was rigght, anyways im sure the item he sent back is still a piece of junk, anyways
onefootflipper
·1 month agoFact is they got you and there isn't much anything you can do about it. Sure, report the user, but no video of any sort will do anything for you. Computer components are a higher than average fraud category (returns as well) and that is a part of the cost of doing business in that category.
Just accept the return and hope they never manage to ship anything back. If you don't do this then there is a very high chance that the customer will get their money back from ebay without having to jump through any hoops to send you a piece of trash back. Actually using your label can be difficult for overseas scammers to do if they don't have a partner in the US to slap the label on something for them.
anything.gadget.inc
·1 month agoI had a few buyers who bought sata m.2 drives, and they were clueless regarding their motherboard ( Some only allow 1 Sata m.2 drive to be installed and not 2, and some only allow it on the bottom of the motherboard \ or top port. Either way, I received the drives back the same exact condition, I even tried to offer troubleshooting but some buyers are just clueless regarding computers, Maybe they installed the CPU into the wrong motherboard ??
luckythewinner
·1 month agoBuyer fraud is a reality on eBay.
There is no way to completely protect yourself.
A momento of the time you got defrauded?
comics-scifi-collectibles
·1 month ago@whitepcb #1 thing to do is issue the return shipping label if you have not already done so.
"His address looks to be a Turkish reshipping warehouse to turkey."
Please clarify... did you ship to a US location and then the buyer reshipped the package?
OR did you ship to Turkey either directly or using the EIS program?
The answer to these questions does change your rights as a seller.
whitepcb
OP1 month agoUS Address but the address is a warehouse that reships items straight to turkey, its a medium size reshipper company
comics-scifi-collectibles
·1 month ago · Edited@whitepcb Reshipping voids the eBay MBG. Did you provide a return shipping label to the US address? If they are able to use that label then that is proof that it's a scam otherwise the buyer wouldn't have been able to return to the item.
No guarantee though that eBay will see the truth. Normally I NEVER recommend contacting customer service but I would on this case on social media ONLY. Be sure to bring up the AI photo. This is a newish wrinkle in these types of scams.
Try uploading the photo to Chatgpt or similar and ask if it is AI generated. It might not catch it but if it does that would be excellent proof for eBay.
Have them look at the feedback left by others for the buyer. Also point out the eBay MBG policy states that reshipping VOIDS the eBay eBay MBG.
The item was sent to another address after original delivery
Covered:
The item was forwarded as part of an eBay program such as:
Global Shipping Program
eBay International Shipping
eBay Authenticity Guarantee
Not covered:
The buyer used third-party freight forwarding or mail redirection
Contact customer service on social media using a PRIVATE message>
https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/
6-6 Pacific Time M-F
As others have said eBay does NOT accept video evidence.
ryry-jj
·1 month agoNo video will help. This is a risk we all take as sellers. Report the buyer and hope the other sellers had reported as well. Abusing the MBG is a reason for permanent suspension from eBay.
If you qualify, you can deduct 50% of the return for an item not returned in the same condition it was sent
bonanza125
·1 month agoI would immediately report the situation to Ebay and also file a report. Now you will have to refund them but they will be on record for a report. Now if you are using the EIS program then Ebay takes care of it. Another thing you might want to limit the value of item you sell. Things like this happen where you will have someone who is dishonest and will try to fraud there way. That only happens for so long. Eventually if they continue to file cases and get reported Ebay will removed them.
kensgiftshop
·1 month agoIf they get Ebay involved now, it probably won't turn out very good for the OP.
whitepcb
OP1 month ago · EditedI want to simplify what I just said; It's not an IF : It's i know what's in the box is gonna be junk: I WILL upload a video of me opening In front of the mail man. My question is: is it even worth fighting it, or do I just accept the loss and refund him after.
FOR Those who thinks otherwise: I will personally upload this video of me recording me opening his return package here in a couple days. With the mail man there, Will keep you updated.
WiIl update YouTube video here in a couple days for ALL to see.
kensgiftshop
·1 month agoYour video would be a waist of time, no on e will look at it.
When you receive the return, refund the buyer.
If they do ship back a different item, you can report the buyer, but won't make any difference.
yo0339
·1 month ago · EditedMel Brooks: "The Lord Jehovah has given unto you these fifteen... oy! Ten! Ten commandments for ALL to obey!"
inhawaii
·1 month agoIt is NOT mail fraud when a buyer claims an item they bought is not working. To think that it is a false claim just because unit was tested before it was shipped is ludicrous. Do you know how many millions of items are working fine before shipped and not working when received?
whitepcb
OP1 month agoI believe you missed my entire post.
inhawaii
·1 month agoYou'r right.
I only read the first paragraph.
whitepcb
OP1 month agohttps://imgur.com/a/fIH3end
Buyer is now banned and the return was closed: If you care :)