Got message after a sale from a different account asking me to ship somewhere else

[donpjt]

I sold a higher value item today (650)  the seller had only 2 feedbacks and everything looked good. But then I got a message from another account asking me to ship to another address. So I cancelled the transaction and informed the buyer than I was hesitant because it looked suspicious and because I did not have enough feedback from the buyer to know their past history. The buyer was understanding and said it came from a different account and not his though it was not an easy item to find.  So should I still sell that item to the same seller or just let someone else buy it. I kind of feel bad for the buyer if it was someone else trying to scam. So is this kind of scam common and could it actually have been the real buyer?

[a_c_green]

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@donpjt wrote:

So is this kind of scam common and could it actually have been the real buyer?

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Yes, it's a common scam. There is no reason to think that the original buyer knows anything about it, and your only obligation is to ship to the address that you received with the payment. 

A seller with a relatively low feedback count and a big-ticket scam-worthy item is a scammer's dream. Be aware of what scams you can encounter, and ask here whenever something seems suspicious (preferably before you take action on it).

[kensgiftshop]

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@donpjt 

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Scammers watch for expensive items to sell, then they send the seller a message claiming to be the buyer, trying to get you to change the address.

Are the real buyers involved, possible, but a thief would rather steal your item before they pay for it.

If you had sent it to the address the buyer gave with the payment, you would have been covered.

[luckythewinner]

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@donpjt wrote:

 So is this kind of scam common and could it actually have been the real buyer?

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Yes, it is a very common scam and is usually aimed at new sellers.

The scammer watches an item to see when it sells, and then tries to time his message so that it comes after the real buyer has paid, but before you have shipped. 

Most new users don't realize that all the necessary information (the seller, the item, the date and time of sale) are all publicly available on the eBay site. 

[nkmipgolf]

Same seller who won if you got paid and OK to ship. 

scammers send an email after a sale hoping to trick the seller to kindly change the shipping because he moved, sick family member, gift for niece, etc. Usually it goes to a reshipper (in Florida) to be sent overseas.

[donpjt]

Thanks for the reply. Actually I was trying to say that the buyer has only 2 feedbacks. I as a seller have about 200 plus. So I was wondering if the buyer was just using another account to try and scam me. That is why I was suspicious. However in having a message exchange with him, he seemed legit, so I was just wondering if I should go ahead with the sale even after this. I did cancel the transaction, but the buyer is still interested in the item.

[papermoneyforme]

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@donpjt wrote:

I sold a higher value item today (650)  the seller had only 2 feedbacks and everything looked good. But then I got a message from another account asking me to ship to another address. So I cancelled the transaction and informed the buyer than I was hesitant because it looked suspicious and because I did not have enough feedback from the buyer to know their past history. The buyer was understanding and said it came from a different account and not his though it was not an easy item to find.  So should I still sell that item to the same seller or just let someone else buy it. I kind of feel bad for the buyer if it was someone else trying to scam. So is this kind of scam common and could it actually have been the real buyer?

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They could also be in cahoots.

[donpjt]

The buyer was also willing to show his id as verification if it helped. Does that make it even more legit?

I can show my ID for verification if that makes you feel more secured.

Was really hoping to get this lens.

[a_c_green · Accepted solution]

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@donpjt wrote:

Thanks for the reply. Actually I was trying to say that the buyer has only 2 feedbacks. I as a seller have about 200 plus. So I was wondering if the buyer was just using another account to try and scam me.

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There are plenty of scams that could be pulled off with only one account; there's no need to set up two. Possibly the only notable thing about your sale here is that you got only one fake redirect attempt from a third-party account. They're sent out in bulk by multiple scammers, and it's fair to say that the next time you list a high-value piece of camera equipment, you'll get one or more new instances of the same message.

Focus on the buyer who actually bought your item. If his payment has been received and eBay is directing you to ship, then you ship. It goes to the address you receive with the payment, and nowhere else.

[donpjt]

Thanks I will relist it and reach out to the seller that he can purchase it again if he wants to. Will take 10$ off for the trouble caused and ship it with direct signature required. Will take pics of packaging with item in box for ebay safeguarding.

[bargainnation]

Someone tried to pull this scam on me. A high value item was sold over the weekend (so I had to wait until Monday to ship the item). On Saturday or Sunday evening I received a message from a different eBay account asking if I could ship the sold item to a different address; the person was acting as if they  were the purchaser and wanted the item shipped to a different address. I responded that the item had already been sold to someone else.

I contacted the real purchaser to confirm their address and to make sure the email which came from a different eBay account was not a second eBay account which belonged to them. The purchaser knew nothing about the email asking if the item she purchased could be shipped to a different address.

I reported the eBay account that tried to pretend like they were the purchaser in order to get someone else's purchase mailed to their address.

[coffeebean832]

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@donpjt wrote:

Thanks I will relist it and reach out to the seller that he can purchase it again if he wants to. Will take 10$ off for the trouble caused and ship it with direct signature required. Will take pics of packaging with item in box for ebay safeguarding.

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Don’t waste your time with photos. They’ll never be viewed or considered by eBay if you have a problem.

Make sure the listing clearly states that signature will be required.

[kensgiftshop]

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@donpjt wrote:

Will take pics of packaging with item in box for ebay safeguarding.

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That would be a waist of time, because neither Ebay or Pay Pal would take it as any kind of evidence.

How could you prove what you put in the box is what you shipped?

[donpjt]

So if buyer states that he received an empty box, there is no way to prove that we sent the item? What if I take pics of the item and the weight of the package before it is shipped.  As long as the buyer is not going to claim that he received it with a stone, the weight would prove that he is lying.

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@kensgiftshop wrote:

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@donpjt wrote:

Will take pics of packaging with item in box for ebay safeguarding.

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That would be a waist of time, because neither Ebay or Pay Pal would take it as any kind of evidence.

How could you prove what you put in the box is what you shipped?

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[donpjt]

So the buyer does not have to provide pictures, but can state anything and their word is taken as the truth? Is that how ebay works?