SCAMMED - Delaware shipment

[cheswick2112]

Hi There

I know it is my fault, so I don't need to get a ton of posts, stating that...  I am posting to make other people aware - so they won't be scammed.

I was selling Dr Dre Headphones, someone bought them, then I received an email stating they won the bid and...

"i have one problem here...the day after tomorrow i'm going on my training courses in delaware state for about 3 or 4 months. can you change the address if you haven't shipped yet looking forward to hearing from you as soon as possible."

It was late, I didn't think and wanted to get the postage done as I had another thing to ship, so I changed the ship to (This is were I hit my head with a hammer)

Their account was located: West Helena AR, United States (now removed)

and they wanted me to send them to: 

New Castle, Delaware, 19726

I am not sure if that is his real name or not but I would love to bust this guy, as I am now out $200 worth of headphones.

Any ideas on how to bust them?

Much Thanks

[tools*]

1) You shipped the headphones to a freight-forwarder.

2) The thief is probably in Eastern Europe.

3) You may be able to recall the package before it's delivered in Delaware.

[corvettestainless]

When printing a label; it states when you click 'edit' the shipping address- that YOU WILL LOSE SELLER PROTECTION if you change this address etc (paraphrasing here)… so my question here is:

How does anyone fall for this? 

[nkmipgolf]

If it was me I would be sending him old smelly shoes and other items as he still pays the reshipping company, most likely heading to Europe.  Interpol needs to get involved.

[alwaysamazingbuys]

We all learn from our mistakes.  Just remember - NEVER change a shipping address.  Cancel the sale if they don't want it shipped to the address of record.

[femmefan1946]

Usually a freight forwarder is a very safe place to ship.

The buyer's MBG ends when the forwarder accepts the package.

The problem is that YOU changed the address.

What should happen is that you politely tell the buyer to change the address on his Paypal account because you can't print out the shipping label otherwise. (Which is mostly true.)

PP allows for "gift addresses"  since it allows buyers to ship, well, gifts, to family members. A PP account may have several addresses attached quite legitimately.

The address is that of Global CFO LLC,  The  U16994  is the customer number.

At this point, it sounds as if you have shipped.

Does tracking show arrival?

If it does, you are okay, unless he opens a Not Received dispute.  That's when having changed the address yourself might be a problem.

But until you have a Dispute to deal with, relax.

My concern is that he lied about having a course in Delaware.  For the rest, not so much.

If you are able to open a recall successfully, the reason for the cancellation is "Problem with Address". 

Best wishes. I hope you are worrying too much.

[kensgiftshop]

Depending on when it was shipped, you can try to have the package intercepted and sent back.

[fern*wood]

This probably wasn't even your buyer.  Do you have time to recall your package through USPS?

[mesodude]

"How does anyone fall for this? "

I've wondered the same thing when people ask what recourse they have after closing a case that eBay warned them couldn't be re-opened once closed. Having said that, I've been with eBay since 2003 and I partly fell for this scam recently. Before I caught on, I replied to the scammer's message stating that neither I nor the buyer would be protected by eBay if I shipped to an address other than the one associated with the transaction. Never heard back from the scammer and I then shipped the item to the actual buyer. I could sort of understand an inexperienced seller falling for this but I can't imagine eBay being very sympathetic under the circumstances. Hopefully they are doing something to warn sellers about the scam.

[dsha3764]

eBay aren't doing enough.

Also the people here aren't aware the message is not coming from the buyer.

The messages come from 0 feedback newly created accounts. The accounts always appear as unregistered / deleted shortly after they're done messaging. 

[corvettestainless]

@mesodude  Hopefully they are doing something to warn sellers about the scam.

They are- it's called 'Warning- changing this address could result in losing seller protections etc."

If you need it clearer, you probably shouldn't be on the internet and certainly should not be performing any transactions that have to do with money 

[dsha3764]

@corvettestainless 

I wouldn't consider that enough of a warning, and what about sellers who don't use eBay labels?

If the scammers are sending thousands of messages a day, eBay should be filtering / blocking the messages from being received. They make sure to comb through potential fee avoidance, they should be doing better on this issue. 

[mesodude]

“They are- it's called 'Warning- changing this address could result in losing seller protections etc."

How is that a warning of a scam? Exactly. It isn’t. I wasn’t aware of the scam until I responded to the scammer.

“If you need it clearer, you probably shouldn't be on the internet and certainly should not be performing any transactions that have to do with money.”

That seems harsh. Those are two different things. Ignoring a warning is one thing. But no one should be faulted for failing to anticipate each and every conceivable scam that comes along.

[buyselljack2016]

@cheswick2112 

Good of you to try to warn others, but those being scammed are not going to see this unless they search these boards after they have already been scammed.

Do an intercept of that package with the carrier.

Try to contact the "freight  forwarder" to stop the shipment. They do not like this anymore than you do. It gives them a bad rep.

You need to stop that package. Your "real" buyer is going to be requesting the item, or a refund.

Sometimes the scammers work in pairs.  One buys, the other requests the change in shipping.

Oopsie, Jan 14 sale........................ too late to intercept :  >  (

[gwzcomps]

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@corvettestainless wrote:

When printing a label; it states when you click 'edit' the shipping address- that YOU WILL LOSE SELLER PROTECTION if you change this address etc (paraphrasing here)… so my question here is:

How does anyone fall for this? 

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It is a numbers game.  Try enough times and a scammer will get something.