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!

[1richdoug]

correction;  appears sale was over a year ago== then you are safe    i saw no other recent sales on this account

[thomak-55]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for their responses and suggestions. I still haven't sent them the serial number yet. I'm thinking about just taking the night to think it over.

[dirk12955]

Listen to the little voice,   It's rarely wrong.

[retro_entertainment_collectibles]

The only reasons need a serial number would be to register the device w/ the manufacturer or as another stated, if it truly were stolen then police can only knows that it's the stolen laptop should they recover it, which is unlikely.  Police can run the number against a database of pawn shops as pawn shops who obey the law in most states need enter that data and hold items before reselling them, some do, some dont.

How's the buyers feedback look?

[stuff4divas]

@thomak-55  I'm with @mtgraves7984  it feels off.

I would ask the buyer for the police phone and report numbers so you can verify the purchase to them, thereby not admitting u have the serial number but also showing your willingness to help and that you will try to get the serial number.

If it sounds legit, u can really give the serial number to the police.

[retro_entertainment_collectibles]

Very brief google search there are buyers who will request serial number so as they can make a false police claim of items being stolen.  I don't know that equate to you're scenario but that's what I found.

[ms.rodriguez*]

It sounds fishy to me too.  I doubt that the police will find it even with the serial number.  If it was stolen from the buyer's car, his insurance should cover it. He can always send the insurance company a copy of the ad from his PURCHASE list. He can also get proof of payment from Paypal if that is how he paid.  For now, I would tell the buyer that you don't have it.

[thomak-55]

They only have six feedbacks, but they're all good.

[12345jamesstamps]

There is a refund for computers of one company that computers have had a problem the past. I think it's around $200.+ or so. But you need the serial number to get the refund. Had something to do with a sticking key. I returned my old computer for recycling and didn't save the serial number for the refund.

[retro_entertainment_collectibles]

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@12345jamesstamps wrote:

There is a refund for computers of one company that computers have had a problem the past. I think it's around $200.+ or so. But you need the serial number to get the refund. Had something to do with a sticking key. I returned my old computer for recycling and didn't save the serial number for the refund.

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Yeah some did that too, some also back in the days of Xbox 360's and Playstations 3's getting to hot, melting the unleaded solder causing the video chips or CPU's to come up,  Hewlett Packard had same problems with some laptops.  Their initial solution was a flash of the BIOS which made the bottom fan spin up constantly thus toasting one's leg rather lickity split.  They offered complete repair as the mainboards still failed,  but one had to send them the serial in order to arrange fixing em'. 

I don't know given situation I dont really see problem yielding a serial number albeit I'd ask for a scan or photo of the plaintiff copy of the police report for "my records" prior to doing so just so as I have it.

[dirk12955]

There are cities where Pawn shops are required to keep records of items they take in pawn or that they purchase.

Entered into a data base at the most,   Or kept in records at the pawn shop itself,  The Police can then track and search for stolen property.   Where it was sold or pawned.   Who sold it or pawned it.

It could very well be that the Police want the serial number to complete a record of the theft.   

Pawn shop owner enters the serial number in the data base,    Police say,  "There it is!"

After thinking about this,  I can't see the harm in the seller giving the buyer the serial number.   He paid for it, 

 Why not help the poor guy out?

[slippinjimmy]

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@ms.rodriguez* wrote:

It sounds fishy to me too.  I doubt that the police will find it even with the serial number.  If it was stolen from the buyer's car, his insurance should cover it. He can always send the insurance company a copy of the ad from his PURCHASE list. He can also get proof of payment from Paypal if that is how he paid.  For now, I would tell the buyer that you don't have it.

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No insurance company is going to pay a claim if the claimant can't provide a serial number for an item that always has one. They might not even pay with an original invoice.

The point of filing a police report is to support your insurance claim, the police may not be very interested in a stolen property report when the supposed owner can't even provide evidence they possessed such an item.