Scam scam scam BEWARE!

[frankienlola2]

New to scambay. Joined to bid and won an auction for an item I wanted. Seller refused to ship my item or meet for pickup. Learned that seller listed item under SERVICES category (specifically under Specialty Services) which is NOT protected under this supposed MONEY BACK GUARANTEE? MBG? Silly me for not spending hundreds of hours to learn this and joining a platform that I thought was safe only to learn you can be scammed out of your money. After hours and hours of research I learned this is a category that offers no financial protection from $.99 to $1,000?. A seller can deceitfully or purposefully (misrepresent) list an item in this category which is for SERVICES? and can then just disappear never having to prove shipment much less delivery. How can an item or goods be listed under a category that is considered a service? I guess on ebay it's study and study to learn the ins and outs or lose your money? What a scam...UNBELIEVABLE! 

If ebay allows sellers to wrongfully list and sell goods under a category called SERVICES that has no protection for buyers it is a scam and a hoax......shop elsewhere.

[frankienlola2]

By the way, pay very close attention to what category the items YOU buy are listed in because I just may try this myself while you sit at home home waiting for me to upload the tracking number while I run off with your money

[annadryl]

Listing number?

(Are you really going to try this yourself and run off with our money?)

[mudshark61369]

@frankienlola2,

While those of us who spend time helping people on these boards feel bad about what happened to a first time buyer, there is nothing we can do to help you.

It does not take hundreds of hours to find and read the terms of ebay's money back guarantee (MBG).  Actually, if the item is still in your purchase history, if you open it, on the listing page, there should be a box, that says this listing is not covered by the MBG. Just under that there is a Learn more link to the MBG policies and time frames for using it.  (link below)

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy...

Not one of the 3rd party online shopping sites is free of scammers.  Since the pandemic started, they are everywhere in increasing numbers.  So before shopping on any site you should read their buyer protection policies, because none of the sites have the resources to vet every new listing posted on them daily. 

"By the way, pay very close attention to what category the items YOU buy are listed in because I just may try this myself while you sit at home home waiting for me to upload the tracking number while I run off with your money".

Believe me, setting up scam listings is not as easy as you think. The scammers have to know how a site's buyer protection policies work, so they can find ways around them.  Then they have to create an account, with bank account info so the funds can be deposited into it. Those are are usually set up with stolen personal ID info they may have to buy on the dark web. Once they have done that, they also have to get past the 21 day hold ebay places on all new sellers first few payments, by listing some legitimate items and shipping them.  

[powell-memorabilia]

The solution is so easy - no need to read through policies for hundreds of hours.  Just dispute the charge with PayPal or your credit card.  Easy peasy.

[ittybitnot]

@frankienlola2 

Was the auction for a physical product that was listed in the wrong category....for example, a laptop listed under Services, or a GPU listed under Businesses for sale?    A few months ago there was indeed a rash of sellers that did this for physical products.  When the buyer complained, they were told the physical product did not have buyer protection.  During that time there were probably more of the hottest popular Sony cameras listed than were ever manufactured.  

We noticed that these were often listed in two categories.  The first being the proper one, while the second was a category that had no buyer protection.  That one inappropriate category was enough to deny the victim redress.  Customer service that you get by call back or chat from outsourced call centers were not help.  It was also discovered that the SECOND inappropriate category was NOT VISIBLE ON THE APP. 

If it was a physical item, you need to contact eBay via the blue send message button here at the top of the page: 

https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness

These are US based reps that are familiar with the "wrong category" issue and can help.  Give them the item number, your user ID and what has transpired.  Let us know if this helps you should you wish to try it. 

Otherwise you can contact PayPal or your credit card company as suggested.  Just don't involve more than one at the same time. 

[ms.rodriguez*]

Ebay is well aware of this scam and they let it keep going. They can easily fix it so that the bots can monitor when items are in this category.  They same way that Ebay took down my Gi JOE tiny gun auction years ago because I forgot to put a penny next to it, they can shut down these auctions for items that do not belong in this section.  Open up a case in Paypal if you got defrauded.  Post a  negative for that scammer.  Just write, " I paid and seller never shipped."  That is it.    Do not mention case or refund or the feedback will be removed.

[fab_finds4u]

If you read all the details in the listing it showed under Coverage the item was not eligible for eBay purchase protection programs.   

[frankienlola]

It was indeed a physical item listed in services. I did see those cameras, could be a tragedy in the making for an unseasoned buyer. 

The edd was 10/22-29 but under purchases I saw small conflicting print that stated it as 11/3.

    I have been debating whether to contact ebay on FB or go right to my CC knowing that will likely prevent any future assistance from ebay.

Thank you for the very sensible response, very helpful. 

Original post was on a friends mobile