Scam? How to respond if not?

[terrlloy-0]

I have a notebook of vintage post cards that I have had listed for a while with lots of interest. I received this message today from someone who says the collection had been stolen from them. I don’t know if this is a scam or not but I really don’t know how to respond to it. This is the message: Good morning. Are you aware that this notebook with these old postcards is just a small portion of the complete notebook of vintage post cards and Easter/holiday cards? I KNOW this, as THIS ITEM WAS STOLEN from my house in Henderson, Nevada, in January/February timeframe. I did file a police report for this and other items stolen from me at that time.

[dirk12955]

Me?    I'd stop the listing for now.

Then,   I'd respond to this person.

"You know who I am as a seller on ebay and You'll have no problem

finding me.    I'm stopping the listing and will wait to hear from your

 local PD."

Where'd  you get the book and when?

[biggymoe]

Based on when, and where, you obtained the notebook, is that even a possibility?  If it is, that would raise a number of other questions.

[a_c_green]

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@biggymoe wrote:

Based on when, and where, you obtained the notebook, is that even a possibility?  If it is, that would raise a number of other questions.

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The OP's current listing for a binder of postcards shows a start date of Feb. 13.

@terrlloy-0 : You must have some sense of whether that person might be right...? Maybe you could ask them for some details on other postcards in the binder that you did not show in your listing, or any other detail that might confirm that it's theirs.

[terrlloy-0]

It was in a large donation to our animal rescue thrift shop in Oklahoma back in February. Other donated items were mostly clothing. 

[terrlloy-0]

It was in a large donation to our animal rescue thrift shop in Oklahoma back in February. Other donated items were mostly clothing. We do not record the names of our donors so I have no way of checking that avenue. 

[dirk12955 · Accepted solution]

Let them contact the Police.    You should stop the listing and wait for the Police.

You should NOT get into a back and forth with this person.

You're in OK and the stamps stolen in Henderson NV?    Over 1,000 miles apart....

[terrlloy-0]

Great advice! Thank you. I am going to pause the listing and request a copy of the police report. My listing started Feb 13 and she is not specific as to when the theft occurred, the report will give me that info. 

[adamcartwright]

Smart to take the listing down immediately until this is sorted out.

Check out eBay's Stolen Property policy

[terrlloy-0]

Thank you! I have taken the listing down and am going to request a copy of the police report. She is not specific on the date of the theft and I listed them in mid February. I am checking with staff to see how long they had it before giving it to me to list. I am also going to see if there is something that doesn't show in the pictures that she can identify.  I appreciate the link to the policy. 

[sextons-sweet-deals]

Sounds like a new scam to me. 

Henderson, NV is a pretty wealthy area. You state you have had these for a while. 

Did you look at this person's profile and feedback history? 

I would also assume if they had a break-in, they filed an insurance claim and have been paid. 

Did they demand anything?

[dirk12955]

For the OP

I wouldn't ask anything from the person claiming "Stolen property"

and would not communicate with them any further.  

 If the cards are stolen,    The victim can 

call their Pd and let them deal with it.

Asking the "Victim"  to forward the report 

to the OP falls under the heading of "Back and forth"

It's absolutely NOT an eBay issue.   It is a Law enforcement issue,  

     Or maybe it isn't.   

[cityslickercreations2004]

Personally, I would stop ALL communication with this person as suggested by dirk12955. 

I think they are angling for information from you, although specifically what, I don't know.

You don't know this person or their motivations so silence is your friend at this point.

[dirk12955]

I've had some experience over the years with people trying 

to claim something is stolen and it should be "returned"

 to them (The victim)  for free.   

I've always responded,   "Police"      

[simply-the-best-for-you]

Do not request a copy of the police report.  You don't need to do anything other than tell them to contact eBay in regards to the stolen property.  eBay has a protocol for this & they would be the one to get the police report, not you.  Probably should be initiated by the Police, but I'm not sure about that part.  

You're not even obligated at this point to take down the listing, unless you want to b/c you believe it may be true.  There are protocols in place for this & none of them have anything to do with you adjudicating whether this is real or not or going back & forth with the person.