Possibility of getting scammed from buyer...

[machofalltrades]

I'm leaving this here, but I recently listed some CPU's for sale, and within the very same minute, I got a buyer. Payment was sent immediately as well. They weren't cheap, they were $400 dollars, so with a big sale and at that speed of purchase, I was quick to check about the user. Also, the address of the person, name and phone number didn't match up. I called the number, and it was someone else, and also the address (which said south gate computer shop) turned out to be a shipping location for some other business. 

The user had a few positive feedbacks, but only signed up two weeks ago. I Google their name, and the very first link was of this very same person doing a "lost package" scam, and so were the other links. 

I canceled my sale and refunded immediately, and relisted. Chose wrong address, because nothing matched up. As soon as I relisted, the same person (after blocking them, they purchased again with a different username) purchased, then immediately canceled the purchase and messaged me saying "why didn't you sell to me!?" I explained to them what I noticed about the 3 different names and addresses, and they didn't respond.

10 minutes later, another purchase came, and with a name of obviously same country of originto the previous, purchased. Now I know I can't cancel two orders in one day, looks bad, but I'm really worried this person will try to scam me. I'm sending the package today, but I'm expecting to get scammed, so I'm leaving this message here for that reason, and I also want to know if anyone has dealt with something like this before?

Thanks for reading. 

[mementomoria]

I would not send it and call customer service to explain the situation. Maybe wait a week or two before relisting. 

[ittybitnot]

 this very same person doing a "lost package" scam, 

So long as you have appropriate "delivery confirmation" to the address provided in PayPal chances of a "lost package" problem are rather slim unless the parcel is "redirected". 

That being said, the time to think about getting scammed by a buyer is BEFORE you list something for sale here. Basically, if someone wants your item for free it is pretty easy to do.  Thus the advice:  Do not post anything for sale here that you cannot afford to lose. 

[a_c_green]

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@machofalltrades wrote:

10 minutes later, another purchase came, and with a name of obviously same country of origin to the previous, purchased. Now I know I can't cancel two orders in one day, looks bad, but I'm really worried this person will try to scam me. I'm sending the package today, but I'm expecting to get scammed, so I'm leaving this message here for that reason, and I also want to know if anyone has dealt with something like this before? 

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You may well get scammed, but it's not because of the shipping address (they're a reshipper, forwarding packages to buyers in other countries). It's because you're a new seller with a high-scam product. It's like trying to sell a laptop or smartphone here: few people would say that's a good idea.

The reason for the near-instant sale is because that category is trolled by software looking for certain items such as yours. Like the shipping address, that alone is not an indicator of a scam, but you're operating in deep waters. The best you can do, if you're determined to sell those items here, is to know and make use of all the best practices for selling high-value items, and know what to do if the buyer files a dispute. Feel free to ask more questions here anytime.

In fact, the easiest dispute to guard against is the Item Not Received claim, because you only need to show tracking to a Delivered status in the buyer's City and ZIP. (For sales over $750, you must buy Signature Confirmation, but below $750, Delivery Confirmation is all you need to maintain protection.) That means that once tracking shows the package Delivered to the reshipper's address (i.e. the address you received with the payment), your delivery obligation is complete.

If the buyer wants to file Not As Described dispute later on (e.g. doesn't work, item was damaged, box was empty, etc.), he will need to return the item to the reshipper in the U.S. first, as that is where your return label will originate from, if you have to send one.

[machofalltrades]

Well, guess what, I got another buy from yet another person with a different name compared to their PayPal, and a bogus address.  I canceled the order, and as soon as it was relisted, someone else with a different name bought it.

I just started selling, and these people are ruining my sales. I need help. 

[machofalltrades]

I was definitely getting scammed. They had the same address but different name on both the PayPal and ebay page. I'm leaving this here as proof, but I can't expose the ebay accounts I suppose because they probably hacked someone's real account, but this is terrible. I was selling parts at a really good price too and just started selling, sadly I will never sell on eBay again. I hope a representative sees this. 

[gracieallen01]

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@machofalltrades wrote:

Well, guess what, I got another buy from yet another person with a different name compared to their PayPal, and a bogus address.  I canceled the order, and as soon as it was relisted, someone else with a different name bought it.

I just started selling, and these people are ruining my sales. I need help. 

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New sellers, with items like yours (and iphones and laptops and Ipads, etc.) have a target on their back large enough to be seen from the space station.

Advice for new sellers to selling online - If you can't afford to lose it, AND pay the person to take it, don't list it.

[coffeebean832]

And you're losing about $12 in PayPal fees each time you cancel a $400 sale from this guy?

[cashvaluerecovery2011]

The seller is indeed if paypal started up their theft policy again.

[cashvaluerecovery2011]

Reshippers and overseas customs creates a situation where deliveries often do not get confirmed. Even through ebays global shipping i often dont get any tracking updated after it leaves kentucky. This is part of the scam. No proof means the same thief can continue for weeks or more....and only receive goid feedback to boot.

[cashvaluerecovery2011]

Yes its definately scams. There is zero retribution out of country. Ebay allows them right back on site. You can only leave them good feedback. And they will cost you your account reputation as it tanks for cancelations.

Do not ship if your gut says scam. Do not let ebay customer service talk you into it by saying they will watch your back. They absolutely will not.

[a_c_green]

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@cashvaluerecovery2011 wrote:
Reshippers and overseas customs creates a situation where deliveries often do not get confirmed. Even through ebays global shipping i often dont get any tracking updated after it leaves kentucky.

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If you're sending to a reshipper, then your Delivery Confirmation address is the reshipper's address. If you're using the GSP program, then your Delivery Confirmation address is Erlanger, Kentucky. There's no requirement for tracking beyond there.

[a_c_green]

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@machofalltrades wrote:

Well, guess what, I got another buy from yet another person with a different name compared to their PayPal, and a bogus address.  

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It would not be a bogus address; even a scammer wants to receive your item, after all. 

All that aside, as others have said, you're trying to sell high-value, high-scam items from a selling account with a very low feedback count, and as a result, you will be a prime target for scammers. Your best bet would be to sell those items locally for cash.

[hw176]

I am currently involved in a similar situation. I had a member purchase an autographed sports card for 349.00.

They paid immediately with PayPal, and asked that I ship the item ASAP.

They were a domestic buyer, and their eBay and PayPal addresses matched so I insured the item, and shipped by USPS priority mail. The item was delivered 2 days later, and everything seemed fine.

Seven days after delivery, I received a return claim for damaged goods requesting a refund. I filed an insurance claim and notified the buyer. It still seemed suspicious that the buyer waited 7 days to report the damage. When I checked their profile, the buyer was actually located in South Korea, and the US address they use is an International Moving Company. The card was somehow shipped from this address to Korea, and my insurance claim was in jeopardy.

I reported the buyer to eBay and the USPS and explained the situation. eBay denied his refund request last night, so he opened a claim that he received counterfeit goods. That was denied also. The USPS has upgraded the insurance claim to an investigation of the buyer, and the US address they are using.

To make a long story short, if you think that your being scammed, report the buyer to eBay immediately. Be certain to keep all receipts for shipping, and photograph your items before and after packaging.

This is the best advice that  I was given by a member of the community.

[machofalltrades]

Thanks for the feedback. I knew ebay was bad, but I didn't know it was this bad. I asked a coworker who sells on ebay all day, and he knew about this already (thank god I asked before sending.) They are reshippers, and it's one of the most scams around here. How does ebay let this happen?