Scam buyers??

[sriracha_ramen]

Not sure if I'll get any replies, but I was wondering if anyone had the same experience as me, what it means, if it's common, and if it's not as suspicious as I seem to think.

I'm new to selling on eBay, and this is the second time this week that this whole thing has happened. I listed an item, and I woke up the next morning seeing two email notifications: one from 6 something am and the other from 7 something am, both before I woke up. The first was that someone had made an offer on it for the exact price I was selling it for, which was the one I looked at first. Then I looked at the second email, and they had cancelled it an hour later. Also in the first email they had left a message with their email and phone number asking me to contact them. I didn't know what for cause by this point they had already cancelled, so I didn't.

Four days later, this morning, I checked my email and saw two notifications. One from 6 something am and 7 something am. Again. Around the same times. These two emails were the exact same as the two from a few days ago, just on a different item. I didn't really think it was weird, because the username of the person was different. Then I noticed in the first email once again there was a message asking me to contact them. Same phone number and email, but they had a different username this time.

I'm not really sure what's going on. I'm probably thinking way too into this, and it's probably nothing to worry about, but like I said I'm new to selling on here and I'm not really sure what is or isn't  scam. What do you guys think?

[sg51]

What do you guys think?

I think if you replied you would find someone who wants you to ship without being paid.

[eburtonlab]

@sriracha_ramen 

eBay does not permit users to exchange contact information prior to a transaction taking place. This is to protect users and prevent off-eBay sales.

As a new seller you should be concerned that anyone that wants your contact information may try to send you a phony PayPal message that appears to indicate you have been paid when you have not.

Scammers often target new sellers that may not be as familiar with how eBay operates. Ignore users who ask for your contact information or want you to text them.

Always check your PayPal account directly to make sure you have been paid before shipping an item. Do not rely on links in email messages.

[a_c_green · Accepted solution]

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@sriracha_ramen wrote:

I'm probably thinking way too into this, and it's probably nothing to worry about, but like I said I'm new to selling on here and I'm not really sure what is or isn't  scam. What do you guys think?

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As a new seller, scammers will gather around you like moths to a flame, and what you are seeing in each case is a routine scam attempt to get you to contact them in an off-eBay method via texting. They can then respond to you via a method that eBay cannot see, and you'll receive some very-convincing but totally-fake messages directing you to ship and upload a tracking number before funds will be deposited in your account. Of course no funds will ever appear. 

Start by selling low-value or low-risk items until you build feedback and experience before you try selling higher-value items. For anything with a known approximate retail price, list it as Fixed Price for whatever you want to get, and leave off the Make Offer feature if you can. Select the Immediate Payment Required checkbox on the listing form so that no one can snatch your item off the market without actually paying you for it first. Get back to us here with any further questions, and good luck.