Scammers on high value electronics item (computer graphics card)

[swigerb]

I am trying to sell my Nvidia 4090 graphics card as I upgraded to a 5090 (was lucky to get one). I am getting a LOT of scam accounts that "buy" my item and send suspicious messages and have suspicious amounts of positive feedback on low value transactions.

I investigated one "Angela Jiang" to find this person a known scammer and reported the account through the Report A Member area (ebay.com/reportamember). Both accounts, kevin_itshopper and sevv1400 so far, are known Chinese scam accounts.

Why is eBay infected with all these scammers now that will receive a high value item, claim it to be broken or defective, only to have eBay refund the money and the buyer never truly ship the item back...although use USPS trickery to show it shipped, and never receive the item and they keep both the item and the money? Is this platform useless now? Is eBay listening or fixing all these scam artists?

Is there anything else I can do to elevate or escalate this issue? I just want to sell my WORKING and PERFECTLY FINE video card to someone and have eBay happily take their 13.6% fee.

I did lose $50 already because I jumped the gun and bought a 2-day FedEx shipping label to ship the item, but my gut told me to investigate the buyer after a suspicious message came through. I investigated deeply and found the account and person to be a known scammer and canceled the order. Can I get the $50 FedEx shipping label money back or am I out that cash? If so, I'd rather be out $50 than my $2000 for my video card.

[simba6]

FedEx: You have 28 days, to cancel the label on eBay for a refund

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/posting-items/labels-packaging-tips/buying-printing-postage-labels...

1. Go to Manage shipping labels - opens in new window or tab.
2. Find the item you'd like to cancel the shipping label for, then from the Actions column, select Cancel Label.
3. Choose your reason for canceling the label.
4. Select Send request.

Tip

[soh.maryl]

Fortunately, from your message here, it would appear that you, as a seller are familiar with eBay's Money Back Guarantee for buyers;  however, I am flabbergasted that you believe a buyer can open an item not as described case and be refunded without being required to return the supposedly defective item.

When a buyer opens an NAD case, the seller has just two viable options:  (1) he can send the buyer a prepaid return label and wait to receive the returned item.  When he gets it back, he then can be refund or (2) he can simply refund and let the buyer keep the item.  Wy would any seller, like yourself, handle this any other way.  Am sure you are aware that, if a seller does not respond at all, eBay will refund the buyer, will allow the buyer to keep the item and will give that seller a "defect".  

Usually, if a prepaid label isn't used, the seller will be refunded the amount paid for the label.  Not sure how long that takes, however, as I've never experienced that.  

[kensgiftshop]

Being a fairly new seller, selling an expensive, high scammed item, about all you'll attract is a lot of scammers.

Sell local for cash.

[ittybitnot]

 I am flabbergasted that you believe a buyer can open an item not as described case and be refunded without being required to return the supposedly defective item.

@soh.maryl 

For an eBay claim, the buyer can send back the proverbial rock, or ship a box of paper clips to the buyer's Zip Code.  They will be refunded from the seller's proceeds either way.   

In addition, eBay does not require a return should the buyer file a "payment dispute" aka chargeback for 'item not as described' and the seller will be debited as well.  

Time to be UNflabbergasted. 

[ittybitnot · Accepted solution]

@swigerb 

Being a new seller with such an expensive item you are going to be a SCAM MAGNET.  Hopefully, you are well acquainted with the typical ploys of the "text me scammers" and their cousins the "change of address" scammers.  They don't really pay anyway, but once you are familiar with their usual communications are quite easy to avoid.   The really dangerous ones are those that DO have the front money to play you.  I would suggest reading up on where and how these people operate, and what you can do should you become a victim of a phony claim.  This is one of the most desirable products for international users that use Freight Forwarders, so read up on that so you are aware of the scenario, what to do, and how NOT to be a victim.   

Do NOT sell anything here that you can't afford to lose, and pay extra money to just MAYBE get it back.  Local for cash is a very good recommendation.  

[asset_liquidators]

"I am flabbergasted that you believe a buyer can open an item not as described case and be refunded without being required to return the supposedly defective item."

Scammers wont send the actual item back. They will just send "something" back and be refunded which, by reading the OP's it is pretty obvious they already know this.

[12345jamesstamps]

'scammers'...they look for sellers who do not sell much...that would be you.

Selling one high end item they will draw them as well...that would be you.

You will also not receive the funds immediately of the sale if you haven't sold anything in a few months...will have to wait 30 days but you have to mail the item out before receiving the funds.

A few cancel sales and you might lose your account...so I suggest not listing an item if you cancel it again.

I notice something...same thing...sold 3 times...was it cancelled 3 times?

[swigerb]

Truly appreciated! I did not know to cancel the label. I went ahead and submit for the cancellation. You saved me $50. Blessings to you and yours. I believe in karma and am sending good vibes your way. Much appreciated. 😃

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@ittybitnot wrote:

Do NOT sell anything here that you can't afford to lose, and pay extra money to just MAYBE get it back.  Local for cash is a very good recommendation.  

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☝️Agreed!

Unfortunately, this is where we are at these days on eBay. IMHO 

[aoforever1]

I recently sold my MSI RTX 4090 successfully with kevin_itshopper.

We had close and professional contact all the way throughout the transaction, and I had no issues.

Kevin/Angela got their GPU, and I got my payment.

I hope you two can resolve your case peacefully.

Auction for reference:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/335839575244

[fashunu4eeuh]

Not everything is suitable to be sold on eBay.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

NVIDIA cards have issues which are unique to them because of their use in crypto mining.

When crypto prices are high, their prices rise, when crypto prices drop their prices drop and many of the buyers seek to return their items.

The crypto miners make life difficult and sometimes miserable for people who want to use a graphics card to run a display and people who sell them.

This often overshadows the usual scams of high ticket items.

[kyhi_42]

How do you know they are scammers?

[bsd-itpurchaser]

swigerb cancelled the order on March 15th, one day before he posted on this board asking for advice on how to get prepaid shipping fee back. The timeline does not make sense. Also, as others on this forum have pointed out, it's suspicious that someone who has sold 42 items since 2002 would not know eBay’s policies regarding cancellations. He said that he had investigated our eBay account and claimed that he found evidence of us being scammers, but provided no evidence. His false statements have resulted in many cancellations over the past several days. I have reported swigerb and his false claims to eBay customer service.  

My team and I are honest and hard-working people. We have been conducting business on eBay for over 15 years and have received over 9400 positive reviews. This shows our integrity as an eBay user.

We thoroughly test all the items we receive, and when we find a defective item, we work directly with the seller to reach an equitable solution. We have dealt with all manner of scammers and we believe that swigerb and shellshockstudios ( shellshockstudios cancelled the order on March 16th and posted a false review on customer Feedback Ratings area the same day ) are no different, using false reviews and community board postings to discredit us. Please see our thousands of positive reviews and use your own judgment.