How to tell a buying scammer?

[ampar89]

I received a request for over night shipping on a ring I posted. The buyer has had an account since 2020 with no reviews. Is this a scam? 

[toysaver]

Nip it in the bud.  I suggest you go ahead and add the buyer to your BBL.  

[slippinjimmy]

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@ampar89 wrote:

I received a request for over night shipping on a ring I posted. The buyer has had an account since 2020 with no reviews. Is this a scam? 

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Just tell them the ring MUST go through the authentication process so overnight shipping is impossible, 1 - 2 weeks is probably the norm, then block if you feel like (they will move on to the next victim anyway).

It's VERY likely that this person is setting you up for a scam and they may not be the last to target a new seller with a high value item.

Since this is being sold via Authentication you have a lot of protections so the goal of this type of scammer is to take the transaction off eBay, they usually start by obtaining your direct contact info so that they can send fake messages that may appear to be coming from eBay but definitely are not.

[wastingtime101]

@ampar89 Add this person to your blocked list. https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/BuyerBlock

New sellers are targets for scammers that will make fake offers and try to get you to text or email them outside of eBay. Keep messaging on eBay and don't fall for attempts to get you to change the shipping address, or claims the buyer cannot pay saying you need to click some kind of link or contact them off eBay to make payment work, or requests to include gift cards. If you have any more questions come back and ask.

Getting started:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-started-selling

Selling limits:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/selling-limits?id=4107

Selling fees:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/selling-fees?id=4822

Payment holds for new sellers:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/payments-hold?id=4816

General payments info:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold?id=4814

Shipping basics:

https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/shipping

Optimizing listings:

https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/listings/listing-best-practices

[fashunu4eeuh]

Don’t be hasty in canceling or blocking right off the bat. Do some investigation first. It is not an unusual request for a buyer to want an expensive item to be mailed overnight. Not a suspicious request in and of itself.

Though it is nearly impossible to identify a scammer before an actual scam attempt, your buyer in this case is probably not  likely to be one. Because 1) he may just be hoping to cut down on the transit time because you must send the ring to the authenticator first. 2) i would think scammers would avoid items in the authentication program.

Question: i don’t sell items that require the extra step of authentication, but is overnight service even available to a buyer of an authenticated item? 

[wastingtime101]

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@fashunu4eeuh wrote:

Question: i don’t sell items that require the extra step of authentication, but is overnight service even available to a buyer of an authenticated item? 

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No, it's not.

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@fashunu4eeuh wrote:

2) i would think scammers would avoid items in the authentication program.

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Why? With the "overnight shipping scam" the scammer gets the seller to message them off eBay then says they'll pay some hefty price for overnight shipping, then they send the fake payment email, get the seller to overnight the item thinking they've been paid, only for the seller to realize too late to recall the package that they were scammed. Doesn't matter if the listing has an authentication tag.

Brand new seller, expensive item = target.

Sure, it's possible the buyer is legit, but it's not as likely as a scam attempt.

Besides, most legit buyers would want authentication service when spending that much money and they know when it has to pass through a third party it's impossible to get the item overnight.

[pickapaper]

@ampar89 

It's fortunate that you came here to ask about this instead of just going along with the buyer.

You need to be aware that it is "dangerous" for a new seller (or anyone for that matter) to sell expensive items on eBay.  What would you do if you sold it and shipped it to someone and they claimed that it was damaged or fake or anything else?  Even though you say "no returns", because of eBay's Money Back Guarantee, you would be forced by eBay to accept the return and then hope that the buyer returned your ring as you sold it.  They could have damaged it or switched out the stones or return a box of rocks, a piece of trash, or anything else and if the package shows delivered back to you, you have to issue a refund, thus losing both your item and your money. 

Personally, I would never sell anything like that on eBay.  I don't know that CL or FBM would even be a good way to sell your ring because a buyer would want proof that it is real.  Your best bet is probably to take it to a pawn shop and sell it that way.  Less hassle, and no eBay fees and shipping to pay.  (Keep in mind that shipping something like this will be expensive because of the added insurance and required signature confirmation.)