Buyer asking for serial number - says computer was stolen

[thomak-55]

I sold a laptop about a month ago, and I received a message today from the buyer saying that it had been stolen. They said the police could help them but only if they had the serial number. Is it okay for me to give them the number? I just want to make sure I'm not going to get scammed in some way since eBay has yet to release the funds from the sale to me since I'm a new seller.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[simba6]

If they have the computer, they would have the number. So, I don't see any issues with giving it to them.

[mtgraves7984]

Well, I must admit that this is a new issue. I don't see the laptop among your Solds, but was hoping that I'd find a listing with a photo of the serial number in the listing. If so... you could direct the buyer to the listing. Did you ship it in the original box, and did the box have the number on it?

Can't say why this feels 'off', but it does. (Maybe since you haven't been paid.) Does the buyer know you have the #?

[inhawaii]

The buyer has the laptop and is asking YOU for the serial number?

How odd.

I wouldn't have a problem giving the buyer the serial number (if you have it).

[lacemaker3]

You can give the buyer the serial number. I can't think of any way that you can be scammed by doing that. Make sure that you are sending the info to the buyer's user ID that made the purchase on eBay.

You apparently sold the same laptop twice, on Feb 13 and again on Feb 25. Make sure that it's the real buyer who is asking for the info. The non-payer doesn't have any right to it.

@mtgraves7984  and @inhawaii ...

If the laptop has been stolen, then the buyer doesn't have it anymore. Presumably, any paperwork that was sent with it was also stolen, so it seems reasonable that they would have to ask for the serial number.

I checked for the listing as well ... the listings for the laptop are not showing up in completed/sold listing search, but they are:

Feb 13:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/304796071938

Feb 25:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/304806811389

[dirk12955]

Let's be clear that the BUYER is claiming the computer has been stolen from him AFTER he bought it from the OP and  NOT that the buyer is claiming that the seller has sold him a stolen computer.

Just seems fishy to me that the buyer is asking for this info and the OP is still waiting 

for his funds a month later.

Just sayin........

Of course,   The OP wants and probably needs to be helpful.     The OP should have had the serial # recorded before shipping the 

computer off to the buyer.   

[inhawaii]

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@lacemaker3 wrote:

@mtgraves7984  and @inhawaii ...

If the laptop has been stolen, then the buyer doesn't have it anymore. Presumably, any paperwork that was sent with it was also stolen, so it seems reasonable that they would have to ask for the serial number.

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Ooops. I was under the impression that he buyer was trying to imply that they bought  a stolen laptop, not that the laptop they bought was stolen.  I would definitely give the serial number to the buyer under these circumstances.

[thomak-55]

I forgot to put up a photo of the serial number when I sold it. 

The buyer doesn’t know that I have the number, but I do. 

[mtgraves7984]

@thomak-55 

Thanks. Still feels a bit askew... but I seem to be in the minority. If I can put a finger on my unease, I'll be back...

[thomak-55]

eBay told me the funds wouldn’t be available until March 27 since I haven’t really sold that much. 

They are NOT claiming I sold them a stolen computer. It’s probably not been quite a month, but they’ve had the computer for three weeks or so. They’re saying it was  

[thomak-55]

I had a couple people offer to buy it and then flake out/try to scam me so that’s why it’s got multiple sold listings. 

[thomak-55]

They’re saying it was stolen from their car. 

[lacemaker3]

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@thomak-55 wrote:

They’re saying it was stolen from their car. 

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Thanks for clarifying that, @thomak-55.

I think the other responders may have been confused. They may have thought that the buyer was accusing you of selling a stolen laptop, or possibly that the buyer's package was stolen from their porch, and they were trying to hold you responsible for it.

I didn't take it that way, and based on this, it does not appear to be the case.

I don't see any issue with helping the buyer out. They probably  need to file a police case to support an insurance claim, since it was stolen from their car.

[janet9988]

I would think that their car insurance or homeowners insurance can help them. The police will only be ale to help the buyer IF they find the stolen item....Then it can sit for months as evidence for a case and may not be released to the buyer.

[1richdoug]

If the sale of laptop is the one you are waiting money on; then i wuld wait till clears.  This is not sounding great!  if, was stolen he is not getting it back, bet on that!   Id be very careful, maybe can switch an old ID  tag for your number, and say wasn t one you sent!  The police would be looking for a wrong number. A thief would tell EB the number wasn t the same, and the police cant help. Not sure what ebay would do under that situation. If was stole, any thief would remove ID.  Let us know what you did, thanks