Is there a possibility of being scammed and if there is, how would the scammer scam me in this case?

[radz3714]

I have been back and forth on this for the risk to reward so here’s the juicy cliff notes: seller is (not surprisingly), 0 feedback with 1 month account. They are selling an item in healthcare (NOT business and industrial category), in an auction that no one is bidding on but the item has 1800$ shipping. If I got the item at current auction price, it would be around 15% of what this item would be worth new. Only 1 stock photo so I message the seller and ask for actual photos. They ignore my message. I call eBay support asking if there is any way I can end up getting burned since despite all the red flags, if it was legit, the deal is too good to not at least try. eBay support says if the item doesn’t come or is damaged I will get a full refund (including shipping). So far my only concern would be that if the item comes damaged, it is around 1000 pounds so I don’t know how to return it since I don’t have a forklift or truck to move it back to the delivery station. Interested in your opinion on this. (Red flags (item way too cheap, stock photo, no seller communication, seller account newly created with 0 feedback vs eBay support reassuring me I won’t lose my money if something goes wrong plus it’s not business industrial plus the deal if legit is too good to pass up on). What do you think? I am just trying to think of any angle I could get screwed over. (And what I have thought up is if the item is broken but so heavy I will have a hard time figuring out the logistics to ship it back). Thank you all and especially experienced buyers who can give me some insight on any angles that I could get burned in this transaction.

[annadryl]

Just PLEASE DON'T FALL FOR THIS.

[house*of*paws]

Hi @radz3714 

* sigh*  You seem determined to convince yourself that the seller will follow through with a legitimate sale ... despite all warnings to the contrary.  

If you are able to sustain the loss of several thousands of dollars ... then proceed at your own risk.  Good luck to you.  

[southern*sweet*tea]

Why do I feel that the OP will make this purchase, and in a couple of weeks be back here posting all over how Ebay is a scam..

@radz3714  Walk away from this, it will not turn out well.

This is exactly how con men work.  They make you want to deal with them because they're all nice and know what they're talking about.  They seem legit and above board, that's why they're called CON MEN.  They gain your confidence, then they rob you.

[stephenmorgan]

---

@radz3714 wrote:

As far as the scam of sending the item to the same zip code but wrong address, I doubled checked with ebay support prior to this and ebay support agent said that they would do internal investigation should that scam be run, which would uncover the exact address and said I didn't have to worry about that scam. 

---

That message you received from eBay almost sounds like a scam itself.  The reason I say this is because people come here often to complain about how "the same zip code scam" was used on them and eBay has closed their case in favor of the Seller with no further appeals allowed.

If eBay would actually do an internal investigation as was stated to you then these buyers would not be asking for help after their case is denied.

Not everything that has indications of being a scam is a scam so hopefully you will be ok.  

[kathiec]

If you are to the point that you're trying to match vocal characteristics to faces it's obvious that your spidey sense is screaming "no, no, run away!!!!", but you want so badly for this to be real that you're ignoring it. There's a snowball's chance in hell that this is real.  Always trust your spidey sense.

[radz3714]

Hey my peeps! Thank you all for the amazing responses! After thinking about it, I'm leaning towards not getting the item. I messaged the seller through text asking him to do a zoom call a few hours ago. So far haven't heard a response. I think if he does do a video call with me and ends up being the guy in the linkedin picture then I would feel more comfortable. As it stands now, everyone has raised some excellent points of the red flags: return shipping issue possibly with usps expedited shipping requiring the first mile (200-500$) which I can't call usps to find out now about their policy since its weekend, ebay agent call support possibly using their written protocol (although all conversations are recorded as backup evidence) to appease me and get me off the phone call quicker without actually knowing the nitty gritty details (the former 2 the most pressing issues), seller's voice according to my family (one being gifted in audio) and saying the voice on the phone did not match video online voice (although could be because of the device and distance when it was played out, and of course the obvious: seller 0 feedback, 1 month account creation. Still awaiting zoom call confirmation. All in all red flags do seem to stack up way more than the green lights. I will await further confirmation from seller (zoom call being essential) to evolve my opinion but definitely leaning towards not getting item. I also called the website number but they were closed on weekends too. Will continue updates on this riveting tail of smoke and mirrors. Stand by.

[radz3714]

tale*

also forgot to add (for red flags recap):

reverse phone call trace name not matching the name given by the seller, reverse google image lookup having a partial match

cheers!

[wastingtime101]

You are way overthinking this. Also ...

---

@radz3714 wrote:

return shipping issue possibly with usps expedited shipping requiring the first mile (200-500$) which I can't call usps to find out now about their policy since its weekend

---

USPS would not touch that item. Their limit is 70 lbs and dimensions that are likely way smaller than whatever you're looking to purchase. Your item is 1,000 lbs. There's no need to call USPS.

[radz3714]

Another thing I could do is risk flying to the seller's product since they have an option for "free local pickup". That would at least de risk me the 1800 shipping fee. It's only 6.5 hours away by car so the plane ticket shouldn't be too much and if it comes back legit can rent an enterprise truck to drive it back. Of course if it does come back as a scam then I'll have wasted the round trip plane ticket (but i think justfly can do prices as low as 40$ back and forth for such a short trip?) more like the double ubers from the aiport to the destination and from my airport back to home would run me another 100$. But possibly that would be more feasible as it would cause me to lose around 200$ if it doesn't go right while at the same time derisking the 1800$ shipping and not having to deal with the "if the item comes damaged and having to pay the 1 mile 200-500$ fee to bring back to usps from my residence"

[stephenmorgan]

If seller has excuses why you can not look at it in person or pick it up that would be of concern. Anyways ask these questions before the auction ends.

[albertabrightalberta]

---

@soh.maryl wrote:

Am beginning to get the feeling that you're so dazzled by the price etc that you are refusing to heed the warning signs.    

---

I've got the feeling that this whole thread is a test to see if the OP can convert us. Maybe the OP is actually the seller trying to "prove" their integrity. 

I'll continue reading for the entertainment value but I'll spend my time helping posters who really want help.

[albertabrightalberta]

---

@ckimodog wrote:

@radz3714 

Here are some red flags for scammers:

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

Also, remember the holidays are coming.  Here's something that was posted last year and can be very helpful:

Happy Selling!

---

@ckimodog

The OP is NOT the seller. She is the buyer who WILL be scammed by a seller. 

[ckimodog]

@albertabrightalberta 

Thanks Alberta! Sure hope not. 

[albertabrightalberta]

I said I was done here but I do have one more request from @radz3714 . 

Since you're aware that we're 100% unanimous in our opinion that this isn't a listing you should purchase, by posting the item number, you aren't risking one of us "stealing" it out from under you. 

Would you be willing to post it so we can see what's so desirable and possibly, do our own image search or research? 

[frankenhobbit]

Just one other thing. One of the things that can void the eBay MBG is if you violate any of their policies. As you have been communicating outside of eBay via text, phone call and trying to do a Zoom call, you have done exactly that.