Selling my iPhone to Ukrainian buyer with US address - Possible scam

[jjscott13]

First, let me say that I am a first time seller on eBay. I listed my iPhone for a fixed price and it sold within an hour. I specificed no international shipping in the post. The buyer is from the Ukraine and has a US shipping address in New Jersey. The company associated with the shipping address is a logistics company named Meest that performs internatinonal shipments.

I have read several posts from others about fraudulant activity with the Ukraine, especially with iPhones, but many of them were shipping the phone directly to the Ukraine. There are a few relating to this buyers NJ address that invlove compromised accounts. The buyer hacks someone elses account, buys goods and has them shipped to this NJ address. The company then redirects the shipment to another overseas address. https://community.ebay.com/t5/Member-To-Member-Support/Scammed-Need-help/qaq-p/26012906.

What is my resourse at this point? I haven't shipped the item. I don't want to get scammed, but I also don't want negative feedback by cancelling the order. The buyer has been a member since 2011 and has 100% positive feeback.

[duggmills]

As long as you haven't shipped it, you might try to have the seller agree to some additional conditions of the sale. You can up write up something that says the phone is not guaranteed to function at all  or suitable for any purpose than salvaging parts if shipped outside the US and they will not make claim of any kind that may result in a demand for a partial or full refund whether the phone is returned of not.  Any claims to be leveled must be taken up with only the freight forwarding company.

The buyer must acknowledge receipt of, agree they read and fully understand these conditions and agree with the conditions prior to being shipped  and must respond within 3 three to 7 days. Failure to respond will result in immediate cancellation of the transaction. 

Also think about how you might handle if it's been paid.

I am not a lawyer and this is only a possible approach. By the way, first time seller and phones are invitayions to fraud.

[newnewnewmann]

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@nowthatsjustducky wrote:

The fact that the address is a U.S. one means that it is a domestic sale.  So a cancel for address problem would be invalid and would result in an OOS defect that can sink a seller's account faster than you can say "The Chinese Junk I bought on eBay was total junk."

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That's a shame because it isn't actually a domestic sale, and the real address is in the Ukraine since the re-shipper didn't buy it. I would say that is a problem with the address, and deceptive, but understand what you are saying-ebay allows it and doesn't differentiate, and will punish the seller if they cancel.

[jjscott13]

I have not shipped it yet. I sent the buyer a message and asked if we can mutally agree to cancel the transaction. I stated the high level of fraud tied to the shipping address in NJ. will be interesting to see what he says. His payment did clear Paypal, so the money is in my account, but it will not be available to me for up to 21 days since I am a new seller in the event I do ship it.

[*help_no_brakes*]

" will be interesting to see what he says."

IF the buyer is NOT  a scammer the immediate reaction MAY be not what you want to hear...they may immediately reach for the  neg feedback button....idk

Why would you send a that message & ignore the advice from others?

Your funds will be released 3 days  after tracking shows confirmed delivery to the shipping address.

They may still ATTEMPT a SNAD Scam when they receive the item.

I am always wary of why someone from o/s buys a phone that is readily available in their own country.

[missjen831]

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@duggmills wrote:

As long as you haven't shipped it, you might try to have the seller agree to some additional conditions of the sale. You can up write up something that says the phone is not guaranteed to function at all  or suitable for any purpose than salvaging parts if shipped outside the US and they will not make claim of any kind that may result in a demand for a partial or full refund whether the phone is returned of not.  Any claims to be leveled must be taken up with only the freight forwarding company.

The buyer must acknowledge receipt of, agree they read and fully understand these conditions and agree with the conditions prior to being shipped  and must respond within 3 three to 7 days. Failure to respond will result in immediate cancellation of the transaction. 

Also think about how you might handle if it's been paid.

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And what a waste of time all of this would be as it is 100% unenforceable and as ebay and paypal won't take it into consideration, nor will ebay remove any defects if the OP cancels.

[jjscott13]

What am I leaving myself open to if I issue a refund to the buyer through PayPal and don’t ship it other than getting negative feedback on eBay? Can there be legal repercussions? This assumes the buyer doesn’t agree with me cancelling the order even though their have been suspicious fraudulent activity with his shipping address.

[eu1735]

Meest Express is a legit freight forwarder.

They process thousands of orders every month, so it is quite natural that few of them were fraudulent.

[beasleynbozo]

What did you end up doing?  I am in the same situation