eBay

repeaterguru · ‎04-25-2023

Hello all, I'm looking at a vehicle for sale on Facebook Marketplace. The seller is located away from home at a military base. The seller explains that eBay is a 3rd party who will hold my money while the vehicle is delivered to me at no cost. Then I will have 5 days to test and inspect. If suitable I notify eBay to release the money to the seller. If not suitable I can return the vehicle at seller's expense, and eBay would return my money.

The vehicle seems like a pretty good deal. But, not being familiar with all of the scams out there, nor how eBay could or would be involved as described, perhaps someone can tell me if this is legit or not.

Thanks!

repeaterguru

evry1nositswindy · ‎04-25-2023

Every word of this is a lie and this is a SCAM! Do not lose your money.

evry1nositswindy • seller since 2013
Volunteer Community Mentor

eburtonlab · ‎04-25-2023

Beware scammers who advertise on other sites and tell you that the transaction will be handled through eBay.

That is not how eBay works. eBay does not rely on users finding ads on Facebook or other sites and sending contact information to a seller. Likely the seller will send a phony "invoice" that appears to be from eBay but is not, asking you to pay with gift cards to have the vehicle shipped to you for a free evaluation period.

eBay has no warehouse and does not ship vehicles. eBay does not handle such transactions or provide "vehicle protection orders". Scammers often promise those things, though. Any phone number you may receive on such an "invoice" does not connect to eBay, but to the scammer.

Anyone that asks you to purchase gift cards or to send card codes to them to complete a transaction is trying to take advantage of you. Anyone asking for a gift card is looking for a gift at your expense. Once anyone else knows the code, your money will be gone and you will have no recourse.

See here for some info about avoiding such scams (US links):

https://pages.motors.ebay.com/buy/security/index.html

https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-fraud-schemes/online-vehicle-sale-fraud

The only way to purchase a vehicle on eBay is to sign in to eBay, find the vehicle on eBay and complete the checkout process on eBay, so that the item appears in your Purchase History. Then you typically meet the seller to inspect the vehicle, pay the seller, and collect the keys, title and vehicle.

If you encountered an ad on another site, contact that site to have the ad removed. eBay is not involved with any ads listed on sites other than eBay itself.

lady_madonna · ‎04-25-2023

@repeaterguru

S C A M ! !

lady_madonna
Volunteer Ebay Community Mentor

quiltgeek · ‎04-25-2023

SCAM Here's a few reasons why:

A listing on another website has NOTHING to do with eBay.
The fake owner is often portrayed as military, either about to deploy or already posted outside the US and not available. The fake military status is intended to impress you.
No seller would risk paying for shipping a vehicle and sending it to a total stranger for evaluation.
No seller would pay for shipment of a vehicle, wait for a total stranger to either pay for it or reship the vehicle with no way to know what might have been done to the vehicle.