Ebay Sellers, have you noted more fraud issues than usual for the last 6 months?

[glowingwhite]

Ebay Sellers,  have any of you seen an increase in fraud during the last several months?  What types of fraud have you experienced?   Do you have any tips on how to early detect, and fraud protection?    Do you feel that eBay is doing enough to prevent fraud?  Would love to also hear from eBay fraud resolution on what goes on behind the scenes to help sellers with this issue, and how the eBay community can help.

[mam98031]

I haven't, but I'm sure others have.  For me, I've had lots more INRs that in all the years I've been here and buyers that send emails with absolutely no filters on the language they use or the allegations they make.  Some are real head turners.

[reallynicestamps]

you seen an increase in fraud during the last several months?

Not really.

But there has been such a surge in sales (March through mid-July, then bupkis for a couple of weeks now back to summer normal) that the actual number of frauds may be up. Just not percentages.

I've been selling since 1995, so I have a pretty long corporate memory.

What types of fraud have you experienced?

There aren't really any new ones, except the "dropshipping" fraud where the payment is made with a stolen credit card.

But there the fraud is on AZ or WalMart or wherever the crook is buying the product they are advertising on eBay.

EBay seems to be working on this.

With such high unemployment, even minimum wage may look good enough that eBay's Customer Support might be able to hire a smarter clerk who actually listens to complaints and thinks about what is being said.

Just understanding that Canada is a different country. That we don't use USPS for shipping and our currency is entirely different would be an upgrade.

Do you have any tips on how to early detect, and fraud protection?

Don't sell at Auction.

Use FixedPrice/Immediate Payment Required.

Many new buyers (from that surge, above) don't realize they are bidding in an auction and when they don't immediately win/buy, they drift off.

Not so much fraud as misunderstanding and impatience.

Those "deadbeats" very likely bought and paid for something similar a few minutes later at Fixed Price from another seller.

By the time the Auction is over, the "deadbeat" is enjoying his purchase.

Don't sell at Auction.

and how the eBay community can help

Open and complete Unpaid Item Disputes. And set up your own Block against deadbeats with Strikes.

Don't ship until the money is in your Paypal account (or I suppose Managed Payments, I'm not in that yet so I am unclear on how it works).

Be aware that No Returns does not mean No Refunds.

Most "scams" and "frauds" are really differences of opinion.

No refunds without return.

Use "Hold for Pickup". Better than insurance because a scammer has to confront PO staff to get the package.

[luckythewinner]

Ebay Sellers, have you noted more fraud issues than usual for the last 6 months?

No. 

[valueaddedresource]

I have been tracking major triangulation fraud on this site for about 5 months now - hijacked/compromised accounts are being used to sell products, then the fraudsters order that item from a legit retail website to "drop ship" to their eBay buyer.  They use a stolen credit card for that side of the transaction, which leaves the retail website holding the bag when they are out the product and the money once a chargeback is filed.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Warning-Retail-Arbitrage-Credit-Card-Fraud/td-p/30822324

Also seeing increasing reports here in the community and across social media of accounts being compromised and use for fraudulent activity (both buying and selling) as well as payment diversion fraud where the fraudsters change the PayPal address in a few listings to siphon off money.

As far as fraud resolution from eBay, good luck! My triangulation fraud situation has been shuffled off to the super special eBay PROACT (partnering with retailers offensively against crime and theft) team, which appears to be where they send problems to slowly rot in bureaucratic purgatory.  It's been a month and a half since they last responded to one of my emails. 🙄

[hawkwind5454]

I'm not, but then one would have to actually be having some sales, in order to draw that activity, wouldn't they- 😒

[us-mamic]

I have been trading since 2007 at other auctions in Western and Eastern Europe. The laws on auctions there are fundamentally different and there are much fewer fraudsters. The seller can be protected from scammers by a real option of no return. The buyer by real tracking by the full address, not just the zip code.

[gracieallen01]

Perhaps the person is on vacation?

[valueaddedresource]

@gracieallen01  Nice thought but nope. Read receipts tell a different story.

This same department took over a week to respond to my initial contact, then tried to say they responded immediately but it "must have gone to spam folder."

A.) No it didn't (I checked) and B.) Even if it did, they have my direct email address, direct phone number, and/or can message our seller account through eBay messages.

They could have reached out to follow up if they really cared about being proactive to help sellers dealing with fraud.

My experience with this department is they are eBay's way to be able to tell authorities they are "doing something" about fraud without actually addressing the issues. Their role is to deflect, deny, obfuscate, and drag things out until you hopefully give up.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

I have lost two packages coming to me because fedex delivered them to somebody else. That included a $400 mixer that was replaced and supposed to have signature confirmation. I came home from a weekend away to find it sitting on my front steps.

i shipped a box to a customer at the beginning of July. It disappeared in Rochester for over three weeks. They finally found it and it’s being delivered today.

I’m not surprised your INR rate is higher. Shipping is a mess.

[jbjbj_7]

I have noticed less fraud and that customers are actually much nicer now than they were a year ago but I think that is because of what is happening in the world. I sell high risk items (electronics) and find that you can easily avoid fraud by blocking potential buyers who ask really stupid/irrelevant questions and by checking "feedback left for others" to see if they are potential terrorists. Also be careful with the Freight forwarders (they will have a code in their address)

eBay actively provides cover for scammers. I'm amazed there isn't more of it (for example accidently put the wrong zip code when you place order, USPS will correct it and deliver item, then open item not recieved case because it was delivered to different zip code). If you get caught in a trap like this and can't reach USA support you most likely can't win this type of case. 

[luckythewinner]

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@comicbooknirvana wrote:

Lucky, what do you ever add to the conversation except for your snarky comments and down right mean responses?  It gets tiring.

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In the title of the post, the OP asked a yes or no question and posed it to "eBay sellers". 

I am an eBay seller, so I responded with a yes or no answer. 

I'm not sure why you consider that to be "snarky" or "downright mean". 

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

That was that kitchen aid mixer that went MIA? I often thought about that and what became of it, glad it was found! 

[bubuttfa0]

Not fraud per se but I had quite a few returns that could've easily been avoided, from the buyer's end, before placing the order.

[tev4all]

For clarification, is this set of questions for a specific problem you are having? or a phish for information on how to work around getting caught?

  The questions posed suggest the latter.

if it walks. sounds and, swims like a duck, its probably a duck.