Need help with not getting scammed.

[benitay2013]

Hello, 10 hours ago I saw a notification that my virtual code item sold (fortnite counterattack skin), I talked to the buyer asking when my money will become available etc... he told me after he confirms he got the item then asked for his code, since I saw the money was in my PayPal but on hold I tought he can't scam me or refund it in any way shape or form, so I sent him the code, I asked him if it worked and got no reply, I was a bit worried by that point but since he was from the USA at my time it was okay to go to sleep, after a couple hours I saw a notification on my phone saying his account was "hacked" so I guessed that's the scam, I sent an email to ebay and to paypal also (waiting on the reply for them atm), I didn't know what else to do and how to make sure I don't get scammed by him so tought to look for some tips on how to make sure he doesn't get a refund after scamming me, please help.

Regards Ben,

Btw the early msg's before I sent the code were answered in a matter or seconds-2minutes max so I knew he redeemed the code, also I checked 30minutes after sending the code to him and it said already been used, I said 3 times in my post NO REFUNDS does it affect anything? ty very much(also i have a video of me sending him the code to proof i didn't send a fake code).

[goodluckselling]

Well you have a few problems.  You mentioned paypal showed the money was in your account but on hold.  What you want to look for is paypal saying it is okay to ship.  That is when you can ship without much worry.

Your next issue is you can not prove you shipped anything?  You do not have any tracking number to input into the transaction details.

Lastly your transaction might be against the eBay policy to sell digitally delivered products on the ebay.com site.       Click here to learn more about this

Here is a link to Paypal seller protection policy

Good Luck Selling!

[cherry*fizz]

When paypal holds money they release after the tracking on your item shows delivered. With an item you are not sending out, that is not going to happen. Did you actually login to PP directly to see if they money was there? The message from your buyer sounds like what they tell people when they've sent a fake email saying payment was sent, but it could be he knows the real policy and just worded it differently. I think if the buyer never claims an Item Not Received the money will be released after 3 weeks I think, but you're going to have to hope you have an honest buyer for that to happen. 

Like gls said, this might not have even been legal to sell on eBay, and from what I understand from prior posts, if it *is* legal to sell it needs to be sold in a certain area of the site. 

Right now everything is going to depend on if your buyer opens a case or not.

[benitay2013]

so in short i am **bleep**ed?

[benitay2013]

The money shows ebay- "his name" +71.40$
payment received
and then under my wallet when it says withdraw funds i see 71.40$ ON HOLD,
if my buyer opens a case can i do anything to not lose the 71.40$ and pay 20$ in paypal return fees?

[benitay2013]

from what i saw i can ask for the original item if he opens a case so when i get it ill issue a refund, if he opens a case ill just ask him for the working code so i can issue a refund and if he won't send it he will have no case correct?

[sam9876]

You are going to lose no matter what, sorry.

[goodluckselling]

---

@benitay2013 wrote:
The money shows ebay- "his name" +71.40$
payment received
and then under my wallet when it says withdraw funds i see 71.40$ ON HOLD,
if my buyer opens a case can i do anything to not lose the 71.40$ and pay 20$ in paypal return fees?

---

You need to only be speaking about info from when you are signed into your paypal account, then click in the transaction so you can open up the details.  On the details page it will say okay to ship.  If you have that then you got a real payment. Now the hold will stay in place until you can show delivery at which paypal releases the hold I think three days later.  If you can not show delivered then I think the hold is 21 days.

For unauthorized use cases with paypal they will protect you if you have a post office receipt or tracking.  Since you do not have either I am not sure whether you will lose the money or not but you probably will?

Now you mentioned on your phone you got a message saying his account was hacked.

• Did paypal send you an email that says anything like this transaction is being held because of an unauthorized use?  or was
• The message you received in your ebay message just coming from the buyer?

The answer to these questions are very important as to what might come next.

Good Luck Selling!

[benitay2013]

Paid by-
eBay - "his name
Shipped to-
"his address"
Seller protection-
May be eligible
Eligible when you...-
Ship to the address on this page.
Save your tracking or shipping info.
Track your shipment:
No Shipment Tracking
24 December 2018, Sent by MANUAL
Status: Shipped
Print packing slip
Edit tracking info
Transaction ID
"the transaction ID"
* The estimated funds availability date may change because of eBay or PayPal policies.

Purchase details
Fortnite Nvidia Limited Skin Counterattack Bundle Code (PC/PS4/Xbox/Switch)‪$75.00 USD‬
Item #254037022695
Purchase total‪$75.00 USD‬
Fee-negative ‪$3.60 USD‬
Total‪$71.40 USD‬
Refund this payment
that's what it says, is it okay? first time selling anything on paypal (not including opskins) so sorry for the annoyance and the misunderstanding 🙂

[benitay2013]

the message of him being "hacked" was sent by email from the email address of: moreinfo@ebay.com which the first lines said: Our records show that you recently contacted or received messages from "his name" through eBay's messaging system. This account was recently found to have been accessed by an unauthorized third party, who may have used the account in an attempt to defraud other members.
and about the tracking number i don't have one since it's a digital item, i do have a recording tho of me sending it to him if it means something

[benitay2013]

Shipped
Payment Status: Completed - Funds not yet available
Estimated funds availability
Try later

Seller Protection
Eligible(More about Seller Protection)

Protection for items not received
When you ship to the address on this page and provide proof that the item was delivered, you're protected against claims for items not received. For complete requirements, see terms.

Protection for unauthorized payments
When you ship to the address on this page and provide proof that the item was shipped, you're protected against claims for unauthorized payments. For complete requirement, see terms.

Tips to sell securely
Seller Protection address

[goodluckselling]

okay so the message came from eBay.  That means no request or cases have been opened at eBay or paypal yet.  It is just a message from eBay letting you know if you have not shipped this item yet to wait.

The buyer can open either an item not received or not as described case at either eBay or paypal.

Item not received would mean you need to prove you sent it by a tracking number showing delivered in order to win the case and keep the payment. (any kind of message like you are referring to will not be creditable.  without showing this info you will lose the case and eBay will auto refund the buyer after a few days.

Item not as described will trigger eBay to auto accept a return and issue the buyer a return shipping label that you will pay for in your monthly fees. 

Since nothing has happened yet, there is nothing for you to do and there really is no way you can win if either of these events happen.

If the buyer does either of these things the best path is probably just to refund them.  I hate to tell you that but without the documentation you will lose.  Also if you allow eBay to step in and make a decision on the buyer and sellers part and you lose which you will, then you also get a very bad strike on your selling account.

I wish I had better news for you, but as long as the buyer does not take any actions you should be fine.  Just a heads up, the buyer has 30 days on eBay to open one of these requests but they have up to 180 days on paypal to do the same.

[goodluckselling]

---

@benitay2013 wrote:
Shipped
Payment Status: Completed - Funds not yet available
Estimated funds availability
Try later

Seller Protection
Eligible(More about Seller Protection)

Protection for items not received
When you ship to the address on this page and provide proof that the item was delivered, you're protected against claims for items not received. For complete requirements, see terms.

Protection for unauthorized payments
When you ship to the address on this page and provide proof that the item was shipped, you're protected against claims for unauthorized payments. For complete requirement, see terms.

Tips to sell securely
Seller Protection address

---

That is correct.  Your problem is you emailed versus shipped it to the address on file so you do not have a post office receipt or a tracking number, so you would lose either of them from paypal and unfortunately also at eBay for the same reasons.

Your funds are going to be held for the full 21 days before they will be released, because paypal needs to be sure the buyer will get delivery of the product they paid for using the paypal services.

Just hope the buyer is fine with everything.  Also think twice about sending codes through an email because any buyer can just claim they did not get it and you are finished.  Many buyers of these items know how this works as well.  We see sellers like yourself all the time where the buyers are claiming they did not get the item or the item code was already used or whatever crazy tale they want to spin.

Good Luck Selling!

[threshold.sales.group]

IIRC, eBay policy prohibits digitally delivered items.  As a seller without a physical shipment you have no protection at all from any number of disputes. Item not received, item not as described and unauthorized use (this is what the scammer is using on you) are all lost causes if the delivery is done via email or message.     

[benitay2013]

So far it been 48hours till the purchase was made so i really hope he is not going to open a case , if he will and ill have to give him a refund I'll never use ebay since their seller protection means nothing if that happens. hope it works out well