eBay

majicpark · ‎06-18-2023

I listed a Gift Card for sale. Something I have never done before because there was no retail location where I recently moved as retired on a fixed income. A day or so later someone asks me through the message system for the card number (minus pin) to check the balance. I thought it was my current bidder and when I realized it was not suspicions began. When I doubled checked the balance of $50.00 days later near auction end the money was all gone. I know this is my fault for giving out the information but Ebay does not seem to care at all even though I still have the member ID and message in question and provided all the details to them. This person is free and clear to do the same to others so I post this Warning!

hartungcards · ‎06-18-2023

When you checked the balance days later?

bonjourami · ‎06-18-2023

Unfortunately, Ebay would say you voluntarily gave the numbers away, theres no seller protection for that.

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“Never pick a fight with an ugly person. They don’t have anything to lose.” ~Robin Williams

mam98031 · ‎06-18-2023

@majicpark

I'm so sorry this happened to you. But I'm not sure how why you think Ebay would step in and do anything. They have no knowledge of who took the money. You gave up info that you should not have.

It is NOT that Ebay doesn't "care", it is they have no authority to do anything.

Now you should report the member you think is the one that stole the money. If they have done this to you, it is likely they have done it to others. So if those other sellers reported to Ebay like they should have, then with enough data, Ebay can sanction that buyer.

But please don't be disappointed in Ebay. There just isn't much they could do to help you with this particular mistake.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/reporting-issue-buyer?id=4084

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

fashunu4eeuh · ‎06-19-2023

I think the distinction needs to be made that eBay did not allow this theft—you allowed it. I am very glad the amount stolen was not hundreds of dollars.

You can report the incident to eBay, which sounds like you did. But know that it is eBay’s standing policy to not disclose what actions they may or may not take against a user. It is most likely that the offender used a throw-away account with phony contact information. It is also possible they were overseas. eBay has no way of tracing such a user.

I don’t know if it is worth your while to contact the gift card retailer. But someone had to provide an address to them for the merchandise they likely bought with that card number, if it was a mail order purchase. But again, if the offender is overseas, it would be difficult to make any kind of case against them.

I am afraid this kind of thing happens all the time. The best we can do is to remain vigilant to giving any kind of information to anyone who contacts us online or over the phone where anonymity can be sustained.

Do not berate yourself too much for falling prey to such a scam in your effort to provide good customer service. These can be smooth operators. Hate that you got targeted. Wish you better days ahead.

soh.maryl · ‎06-19-2023

Sorry this happened to you. Just curious: How could eBay have prevented you from giving those numbers to that person?

a_c_green · ‎06-19-2023

@soh.maryl wrote:
Sorry this happened to you. Just curious: How could eBay have prevented you from giving those numbers to that person?

As for me, I'm wondering how the scammer can empty the balance of the card without knowing the PIN, which the OP says he did not provide...?

ebooksdiva · ‎06-19-2023

Something tells me there’s something missing in the OPs story. How would you even see the balance on a gift card without having a pin # let alone clean it out?

ms.rodriguez* · ‎06-19-2023

This is solely YOUR fault. If you bought the card and never used it, then you know there is 50.oo. You should not have given them the pin # to verify anything. Isn't your word good enough for you? I would tell the buyer sorry but you know what is on the card and if the buyer is not comfortable, then they should not have bid. I would have immediately blocked that ID. I hope that you ended the listing w/o a winner. I am sorry that this has happened to you.

Also , it is very possible that the scammer would have won the listing and then he would tell ebay that you sold a card without funds on it. In the future, if you have a gift card that you do not want, perhaps give it to someone in your family that has that store in their vicinity. Also many stores are online, so perhaps you could have bought something online. Goodluck. Enjoy your retirement. Hubby and I are having a blast since we are both retired.( well for me semi-retired, I still sell here.)

luckythewinner · ‎06-19-2023

A day or so later someone asks me through the message system for the card number (minus pin) to check the balance. I thought it was my current bidder and when I realized it was not suspicions began.

eBay allows a seller to respond to messages. That is not the same as "allowing theft". As an aside, you should give that information to a high bidder, either.

I know this is my fault for giving out the information

I'm glad you recognize this.

but Ebay does not seem to care at all

It is a free country, and I doubt eBay is going take action because you gave away a gift card to a stranger.

majicpark · ‎06-19-2023

I fully admit this was my communications mistake but I have the ID of the person who did it and still have the internal message on my account. Nobody else had access to the card number and the money was there until I gave that out under false pretenses. This information was provided to Ebay and they did nothing.

majicpark · ‎06-19-2023

I did not give them a pin number. How that was cracked I do not know. The person involved requested the card number but not to pin to make me feel more secure.

majicpark · ‎06-19-2023

I don't expect a refund and no claim has been filed. My intent was to warn others about this happening and I am admittedly upset about the very casual attitude Ebay has about it although it does not surprise me.

lamber9347 · ‎06-19-2023

@majicpark wrote:
I fully admit this was my communications mistake but I have the ID of the person who did it and still have the internal message on my account. Nobody else had access to the card number and the money was there until I gave that out under false pretenses. This information was provided to Ebay and they did nothing.

What exactly do you expect eBay to do at this point- and this is a serious question. They have no obligation to explain to you what the consequences will be for this buyer....