Potential 0 feedback buyer scam?

[aarondavies09]

2 of my items just sold via Buy It Now. Items were $750 and $900. Both items sold back to back, both from 0 feedback buyers who both joined today (Dec 13) , both with similar usernames that appear to follow the same pattern (first 2 letters of first name, first 3 letters of last name, then 4 numbers). Towns are very close to each other. Neither answers messages. This seems pretty sketchy to me. I'm afraid I will send the items and they will file an item not as described claim, get refunded and keep the item. What would you do? I'm a relatively new seller and 2 negative feedbacks would kill my rating. 

[electronics510]

It's sketchy but still could be real. Google the address and make sure both are legit with no previous scams. There are some external sites which track bad buyers and may give you information about addresses. If there is a problem with the address, use that reason.

I'm always suspicious of these kinds of buyers, but most of the fraudsters I've had to deal with have a bunch of very recent feedback as they are not opening an account to scam one single item only. Others may have had different experiences.

Your biggest fear should not be negative feedback. I wouldn't bother messaging buyers just to have a conversation. That they don't respond shows nothing(many real buyers don't respond).

[aarondavies09]

Could both of these buyers be guest buyers? And apparently guest buyers cannot leave feedback at all?

[whering660]

I would take the L on this one. 

I never hesitate to sell to 0 feedback buyers because we all start out at zero. 

Your situation just doesn’t sound like it’s on the up and up to me. 

Diane

[whering660]

Use problem with address as your reason to cancel.

Diane

[a_c_green]

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@aarondavies09 wrote:

2 of my items just sold via Buy It Now. Items were $750 and $900. Both items sold back to back, both from 0 feedback buyers who both joined today (Dec 13) , both with similar usernames that appear to follow the same pattern (first 2 letters of first name, first 3 letters of last name, then 4 numbers). 

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I don't see any sales of your items anywhere near that price level. Are they under another account?

If they were BuyItNow listings with Immediate Payment Required, and eBay is directing you to ship, then you ship. Be aware that you must add Signature Confirmation to each shipment due to the price being $750 or higher. The fact that they are new accounts may simply mean that they opened a buying account in order to buy your items. If there are more details that we should know, please share.

[uncseniorsportsfan]

Without knowing what type of items and their availability online it is difficult to judge.   Many new buyers wind up buying on eBay at this time of year because the item was not available elsewhere.  If the items are electronics the risk of scam is greater than with an antique or piece of jewelry. 

I sell a lot of collectibles to buyers with 0 feedback with nary a problem, but then I am not a relatively new seller and only rarely list items over $50. 

[nkmipgolf]

I personally would never sell a high item to a new seller these days,  let alone 2 new buyers from the same area.  The fact neither of them do not return a reply bothers me also.

[aarondavies09]

I have no idea what you're seeing or what you're implying? I've sold multiple items around $200-300 but today is the first day I've sold anything above that. A McDavid young guns and a Gretzky rookie. At $900 and $750 respectively. I had them both up for around 24 hours and they both went back to back to 0 feedback buyers with similar usernames in neighbouring towns on the other side of the country. I'm hoping it's just guest buyers and ebay uses the same generic formula to generate a username? I am not a super experienced seller so I don't know. Kinda figured this the place to ask this sort of thing. 

[dryophelia]

@aarondavies09 

I don't see those items on your sold listings. Do you have an item number? 

Be sure not to give them your email address or phone number. Scammers need that to send fake messages saying you have been paid. 
Do not ship until PayPal says ok to ship.

If they don't pay, go with the Unpaid Item process to recover your fees.

What to do when they don't pay.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/unpaid-items.html

 I would not offer anything for sale that I couldn't afford to lose. 

[buy_more_anything]

Fake emails often include the eBay logo and a fake eBay address in the "From" line (for example, "From: support@ebay.com"). Just because an email looks real doesn't mean it is. To report a fake email that looks like it came from eBay, forward it as an attachment to spoof@ebay.com. Here are some signs to watch out for

Fake email

• Fake emails often ask you to reply to the message with confidential information.
• Fake emails often use urgent and threatening language and instruct you to update your information or risk account suspension.
• Fake emails might include attachments.
• Fake emails might include attachments.

[pburn]

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@aarondavies09 wrote:

 I've sold multiple items around $200-300 but today is the first day I've sold anything above that. A McDavid young guns and a Gretzky rookie. At $900 and $750 respectively.

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I don't see those items among your sold listings, either . . .

Your sold listings 

The most recent sold item I see is a Vintage 1991 Megadeath back patch that sold for $120 (Canadian) or $93.95 (US).

Maybe the servers just haven't caught up with your transactions yet?

[aarondavies09]

Item numbers 224274703050 and 224274821145

[pburn]

@aarondavies09 

I couldn't get any search results from either of those item numbers. I checked active listings, sold listings and completed listings. I've performed those kinds of searches many times, but it's always possible I may have done something wrong . . .

Were they listed on ebay.com? Or another platform?

Maybe you could post a snippet or screenshot of the two listings?

[aarondavies09]

Listed on eBay.ca - I have no clue why my other sales can be visible but not these.