So How Does One Report a Sketchy Seller?

[jsmith0552]

So ebay gives instructions on how to report fradulent sellers, but the options are very limited, nor do they give one to ability to give specific concerns.

Recently purchased an item that for whatever reasons did not arrive by the time seller indicated.  When I checked the item had not been shipped.  I gave it a few more days, and when I finally decided to contact the seller, they no longer were registered with ebay.  I immediately contacted ebay, paypal and my credit card company.  Money was refunded in my favor ( though not the insurance I purchased along with it ).  Going back to ebay, I see the same item -- same exact promo pic and the SAME PRICE -- from a different seller.  This is obviously the same person that tried to scam me, but there is no way to report this.

[ckimodog]

@jsmith0552 

You need to go to this link:

https://www.ebay.com/help/action?topicid=4022

[meme6253]

Unfortunately due to the sheer volume of sellers that come & go here, It is almost impossible to do anything about the Numerous amount of sketchy sellers & scammers that frequent here!, All you can do is exactly what you did!

[dbfolks166mt]

     What do you mean by the "insurance" you purchased with it? If  eBay did not, or will not, refund that amount of the purchase open a chargeback with your CC company to recover that amount of the transaction. About all you can do is report the seller via the link below. 

https://www.ebay.com/help/sr?query=reporting+a+seller&origin=1 

     A lot of times if eBay suspends or restricts a seller they will block them from opening other accounts through a variety of methods but for every action there is a counter action and devoted scammers find a way around those blocks. It's a never ending battle between two opposing forces. 

[reallynicestamps]

Going back to ebay, I see the same item -- same exact promo pic and the SAME PRICE -- from a different seller. This is obviously the same person that tried to scam me, but there is no way to report this.

Well, no.

The new seller may be using the same dropshipping supplier , especially if the item is new.

Much less likely if the item is One of a Kind (OOAK) or used, since these tend to have more "personality".

Dropshipping means using the supplier's pictures and descriptions. The supplier also does the packaging and shipping. The result is that there may be dozens of different resellers with identical listings.

[12345jamesstamps]

"sketchy Seller"...best not to have such a problem in the first place.

Check seller feedback...how long seller has been selling...seller eBay ID and so on.

Buyer beware....before you buy...if the price is too good to be true there might be a problem.

[luckythewinner]

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@jsmith0552 wrote:

Going back to ebay, I see the same item -- same exact promo pic and the SAME PRICE -- from a different seller.  This is obviously the same person that tried to scam me, but there is no way to report this.

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There are drop-shipping services out there that recruit sellers and supply the listings and suggested prices for sellers who use their service.

So it may be the same person, or it may be another person who bought the same foolish service because they thought they could "get rich on eBay".

[isaiah53-57]

Something to give you an idea of what you are up against here in relation to this thread...

Click the "ebay help" link at the top of the page and type "Buyer Fraud" in the search bar...

Whats the first search result? "AVOIDING SELLER FRAUD"

Would be funny if not for the ramifications...

Actually as you go down the list and even click on the links that say something about reporting a buyer, you'll be hard-pressed to still find much of anything about "Buyer Fraud"... And if you even did, and reported a buyer for theft or fraud? what do you think the end result would be?

Thank You

[reallynicestamps]

Once we stop thinking fraud and start thinking theft, the path gets clearer.

Fraud is a civil crime, and while theft is criminal.

EBay and insurance would deal with fraud, while theft is a police matter.

In the OP's case, the fraud was dealt with by eBay and their payment processor.

EBay seems to keep track of fraudulent members  (... seller, they no longer were registered with ebay. I immediately contacted ebay...) and deals with them outside the court system.