Buyers requesting a text reply to a question about an item?

[extrememoto_91]

I've had this happen twice in about a week  A buyer sends an offer on an item I am selling where I allow offers, with a note "one question regarding the item kindly text me at XXX-XXX- XXXX".  Is anyone else getting these? I accepted the offer but I don't text back and they do not follow through on buying the item, so I am wondering if it is some type of scam attempt? They could easily submit a question about the item. This is getting annoying as I have to submit the unpaid item claim and relist. The accounts appear to have a US ship-to address, but are linked to a foreign country. Anyone getting these?

[a_c_green]

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@extrememoto_91 wrote:

I've had this happen twice in about a week  A buyer sends an offer on an item I am selling where I allow offers, with a note "one question regarding the item kindly text me at XXX-XXX- XXXX".  Is anyone else getting these? I accepted the offer but I don't text back and they do not follow through on buying the item, so I am wondering if it is some type of scam attempt?

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It is a scam attempt, yes. The address shown on the user account doesn't really matter, partly because the user has already revealed themselves as a scammer via that text request (in order to get your own texting contact, at which point they will reply with a completely fake payment notification that eBay cannot see or intercept), and partly because even if this was a real purchase (which it isn't), the only address that's relevant is the one you receive with the payment. 

In this case, there will be no payment, as this scam is so old it's got whiskers on it. You were right to file the Unpaid Item dispute so that you could get your Final Value Fees credited and relist, but in future, don't accept an offer if it comes with that texting request as well. No real buyer needs to ask you that.

In fact, if you're selling something that's attracting scammers, just decide what you want to get for it and list it as a BuyItNow with Immediate Payment Required (find the checkbox for that on the full listing form) and with no Make Offer at all. That way no one can snatch your item off the market without actually paying you for it first.

[lex-talon]

I've had a few buyers and even some sellers suggest texting me. Yes, it is a scam attempt. Block them.

[mtgraves7984]

You never EVER have to text the buyer. Handle all messaging through eBay. Good luck!

[bonjourami]

Scammers think newbie sellers are easy pickins'.

[mam98031]

As others have told you, this is ALWAYS a scam.  

ALWAYS keep ALL communications with your buyer within the Ebay system.  And make sure you tell your buyer that is the only way you will conduct business with them.

[janet9988]

Make sure you are filing unpaid item claims against them so you can get your fees credited back.

[far-out-oddities]

This has been happening quite often lately, and their accounts are always deleted within a day or so after the offer.

Hopefully eBay does something about this, but it just seems like these people can keep making new accounts and trying endlessly.

It's definitely frustrating when it's an offer on your art, and then you realize they just wanted to get free stuff. 😞

[mam98031]

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@far-out-oddities wrote:
This has been happening quite often lately, and their accounts are always deleted within a day or so after the offer.

Hopefully eBay does something about this, but it just seems like these people can keep making new accounts and trying endlessly.

It's definitely frustrating when it's an offer on your art, and then you realize they just wanted to get free stuff. 😞

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If someone's account gets completely "deleted" from the system.  NO member can do that.  Only Ebay can.  So I'd be addressing this issue to Ebay as to why they are allowing the deletion of an account that has a transaction within the last 60 days.

@far-out-oddities 

[far-out-oddities]

In the cases in my store, I just decline the offers and notice that the accounts are "no longer active". Not sure if they are getting banned or if they delete their accounts and start over fresh without a report!

This is a weird one, and ultimately I feel like more people will fall for it in comparison to something like the Nigerian Prince scam. 😛

Anyways, hopefully we all keep in mind to never communicate with a buyer outside of eBay messaging!

[mam98031]

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@far-out-oddities wrote:
In the cases in my store, I just decline the offers and notice that the accounts are "no longer active". Not sure if they are getting banned or if they delete their accounts and start over fresh without a report!

This is a weird one, and ultimately I feel like more people will fall for it in comparison to something like the Nigerian Prince scam. 😛

Anyways, hopefully we all keep in mind to never communicate with a buyer outside of eBay messaging!

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Deleting means they are gone, like they have never been here before.  What you are talking about is NARU'd.  Not a Registered User.   That either Ebay or the buyer can do, but the buyer can't close their account with an active transaction going on [within the last 60 days].  So that leaves Ebay.  And if Ebay did it they had reason to shut them down or at least they thought they did.