0 feedback buyer question

[bobajango78]

I just started selling on here again about a little over a month ago. Been about 15 years since I sold on ebay. 

  I had a buyer with no feedback send me an offer on an item. I accepted their offer. Then they messaged me through ebay asking me to text them by phone so they could ask a few questions. I just ignored them because I was skeptical. Why would they ask me to text them when they are texting through ebay messaging. So I figured it is just someone fishing for contact information. But had to wait 3 days to cancel and relist the item.

Yesterday had another 0 feedback buyer send an offer for $75 on an item I have listed at the same price. I did not accept the offer because I figure if they want it just buy it, why send an offer for the same price.

Does my information pop up to the buyer when they send an offer and I accept or counter offer? I know if I accept an offer I see the buyers address and phone #. So was wondering if at any point they see mine? And what is it that these people are doing and any other steps I should take in future instances like this?

Thanks

[lamber9347]

@bobajango78 Because you have such a low feedback count, you are a magnet for scammers. They see you as someone who doesn't understand how online selling works. You really should not list items over $50 because that is attracting them. Keep your lower priced cards and hopefully you will start to build up more feedback. You can post your higher amount cards once you build up more FB. Also, your buyer feedback will count so make more low-priced purchases using this account. You are handling these scams correctly so far so good on you for that. Buyers don't receive your information until they actually pay. Best of luck to you....

[ckimodog]

@bobajango78 

Hello and Happy Holidays...

These are scam attempts.  They have no intention to pay you.  They will ask you to text them, send them your paypal account number so that they can pay directly, which is no longer allowed, ship to another address and add a gift card.  They will also ask you to pay thru Instagram...another no no.  Ebay has the preferred payment methods on the listing page that they accept.  Anything else is a scam attempt.  

Honestly, since you've been sort of a sporadic seller (now and then) so my suggestion is just to use the buy it now fixed price, with immediate payment required checked oo and DO NOT use the best offer option or they will continue to hound you.  This is the way it is on Ebay these days and not for the better.  Make sure at day 5 of non payment, you cancel the sale citing the buyer didn't pay, block them and report them.  Running auctions these days on things that don't warrant auctions is only going to cause you more grief and headaches.  

Happy selling and hope this has been helpful. 

[cardxcraft]

There's many posts on these boards with the same issue.   It's a scam.  They target "new sellers". They want you to:

1.  Accept the offer

2. Contact them so they can get your email and send you a fake payment notice.  The idea is you'll ship out the item to them without the scammer paying.

The only wat around is to be vigilant and/or turn off best offers and only have "buy it now".

[cardxcraft]

As far as I know, they can't see your address.  When I buy I never see the sellers address.  

[nobody*s_perfect]

The right response is to just ignore or decline an offer from any potential buyer who makes you uncomfortable. Both of the cases you detailed here are certainly potential scammers who you do not want to deal with. Most often, the scammer gets your phone info and then sends a fake payment notice. All correspondence should be strictly through eBay Messages.

No, buyers do not see any of your personal information, except for the return address on packages.