Buyer requests phone number, immediately texted by 20+ strangers

[wings_of_redemption0415]

I recently sold a very large item that I listed as Local Pick Up Only. The buyer made an offer and I accepted it. I clarified that it was pick up only since his address was in MD when I'm in NJ. As soon as he paid he tried asking me to ship it to him instead. I declined and told him again he had to pick it up.

He paid via PayPal, I gave my address for pickup, and he then asked fof my phone number. I figured it would be for future clarification when he was on his way to pick it up or in case he got lost or something like that. I gave him my number and as soon as I did my phone blew up with 40 messages from people with similar numbers. For example if my last 4 digits we're '4566' all the numbers ended in '4567, 4568, 4569, ect'

I called the eBay hotline to ask what they could do and they said his profile is legitimate and his feedback is solid so they'd investigate further. 

Should i cancel the transaction?? I'm kinda afraid this is some identify thief scam to get people's address and phone numbers

[dtexley3]

Did the buyer give you a date for pickup?  If not, message them VIA EBAY asking them for a pickup date and state if they do not schedule a pickup within "X" days you will cancel the transaction and refund them.  If they don't respond or pick the item up within the number of days you specify you can then cancel the transaction with the reason "problem with buyers address".

[escuintla]

Well, remember, we have a dysfunctional government. Nobody is caring about us. We are losing protection as individuals, from labor to healthcare and so on. The "no calling list" is not being respected anymore. I've had calls in my local area 408, and I get upset when I hear messages in Vietnamese. Sometimes I hang up, and sometimes I had the patience to call them back and remind them about mother's day and why they shouldn't call me without me having any business with them 

Block them. 

[a_c_green]

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@wings_of_redemption0415 wrote:

I gave him my number and as soon as I did my phone blew up with 40 messages from people with similar numbers. For example if my last 4 digits we're '4566' all the numbers ended in '4567, 4568, 4569, ect'

I called the eBay hotline to ask what they could do and they said his profile is legitimate and his feedback is solid so they'd investigate further. 

Should i cancel the transaction?? I'm kinda afraid this is some identify thief scam to get people's address and phone numbers

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No, I think the problem is that his phone is infected. As soon as he gets an incoming text, the virus fires back with a boatload of scam offers or whatever (you didn't say what the nature of those messages was), using a variation of your phone number as a fake return number. If you've gotten junk phone calls that appear to come from your own area code and exchange prefix (so as to look like a local call from your neighbor), that's the same idea.

Anyway, you have been paid, from what you told us, so your item is ready to pick up, and if he can't come by to pick it up, ask him if he wants to cancel.

[wings_of_redemption0415]

Yes, he said he'd pick up on Saturday

[wings_of_redemption0415]

So far all the messages just say 'who is this?' as if a giant group message got sent to everyone from an unknown sender

[turquoisetulips]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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@wings_of_redemption0415 wrote:

I gave him my number and as soon as I did my phone blew up with 40 messages from people with similar numbers. For example if my last 4 digits we're '4566' all the numbers ended in '4567, 4568, 4569, ect'

I called the eBay hotline to ask what they could do and they said his profile is legitimate and his feedback is solid so they'd investigate further. 

Should i cancel the transaction?? I'm kinda afraid this is some identify thief scam to get people's address and phone numbers

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No, I think the problem is that his phone is infected. As soon as he gets an incoming text, the virus fires back with a boatload of scam offers or whatever (you didn't say what the nature of those messages was), using a variation of your phone number as a fake return number. If you've gotten junk phone calls that appear to come from your own area code and exchange prefix (so as to look like a local call from your neighbor), that's the same idea.

Anyway, you have been paid, from what you told us, so your item is ready to pick up, and if he can't come by to pick it up, ask him if he wants to cancel.

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That makes sense  - tulips

[emerald1830]

Why did you take Paypal? What happens after he picks up item and states he never got anything? I always thought for local pick-up, it's cash on the spot..

[turquoisetulips]

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@escuintla wrote:

Well, remember, we have a dysfunctional government. Nobody is caring about us. We are losing protection as individuals, from labor to healthcare and so on. The "no calling list" is not being respected anymore. I've had calls in my local area 408, and I get upset when I hear messages in Vietnamese. Sometimes I hang up, and sometimes I had the patience to call them back and remind them about mother's day and why they shouldn't call me without me having any business with them 

Block them. 

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I don't think the OP's phone problems are being caused by the government , highly doubtful . A dysfunctional government  looks more  like places like the current  Venezuela .The people are starving  due to the actions of a crazy socialist dictator  that they mistakenly elected . Tulips

[wings_of_redemption0415]

I didn't want to give out my address until I knew he was an actual buyer and not just fishing for information. I'll have a bill of sale ready for him to sign when he picks it up as proof of pickup

[emerald1830]

Double check this..Bill of Sale don't mean anything to Ebay..he can later claim defective and wants to ship it back..or claim he never got it and make a claim on Paypal or even his CC..I think some have overlooked this..

Cash ONLY when it's a local pickup...

[luckythewinner]

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@wings_of_redemption0415 wrote:

I gave him my number and as soon as I did my phone blew up with 40 messages from people with similar numbers. 

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It sounds like either you or your buyer has a cell phone virus. 

[prettyinplaid]

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@emerald1830 wrote:

Double check this..Bill of Sale don't mean anything to Ebay..he can later claim defective and wants to ship it back..or claim he never got it and make a claim on Paypal or even his CC..I think some have overlooked this..

Cash ONLY when it's a local pickup...

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No one overlooked that. Paypal buyer protection EXCLUDES local pickups so the buyer cannot win a INR with paypal (or ebay for that matter).  ebay requires the seller to accept Paypal on local pickups. 

[go-bad-chicken]

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@prettyinplaid wrote:

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@emerald1830 wrote:

Double check this..Bill of Sale don't mean anything to Ebay..he can later claim defective and wants to ship it back..or claim he never got it and make a claim on Paypal or even his CC..I think some have overlooked this..

Cash ONLY when it's a local pickup...

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No one overlooked that. Paypal buyer protection EXCLUDES local pickups so the buyer cannot win a INR with paypal (or ebay for that matter).  ebay requires the seller to accept Paypal on local pickups. 

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BUT, The buyer can file SNAD, after having picked up the item. 

[robot-hands]

Oh...nohoohoooo...

Why would you do that?

There is zero need for either party to need phone numbers.