Trying to Recognize a scammer

[kevonvan78]

I posted a computer for 3000 with a buy now for 4000. The person offered for 400. Their about on their profile reads “

Hi just few questions about the item before proceeding with the payment kindly send me a message thanks I will be waiting for your message and sorry for the inconvenience I can't send a reply on eBay now because I am leaving for work and I won't be able to access my laptop for a while thanks and also if you can't send me a text kindly cancel the order at your end because i won't be able to reply after this message thanks.” Could this be a scam?

[southern*sweet*tea]

Scammers will try to get you to take the sale off of eBay, or get your personal information so they can send you a fake payment email, hoping you are too new and naive to verify that you have actually been paid. No LEGITIMATE buyer needs that information.

Here are some red flags to watch out for.

1. Buyer asks for your email address, Paypal address
2. Buyer sends you a phone number to text/call him/her
3. Buyer asks you to buy gift cards to go with the order
4. Buyer asks you to send the item to a different address after paying
5. Buyer wants you to send the item overnight/express and will pay you a lot extra to do this
6. Buyers says that they cannot pay through the eBay website and sends you a link to click on so that the payment will go through
7. Buyer offers equal or more for your item than the buy it now price you have it listed for

If ANY of the above happen, do not contact the buyer or respond to any messages from them. Block them here: https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/BuyerBlock This will prevent them from buying from you.

If they actually purchased, won an auction, or you accepted an offer, after four full days do an unpaid item cancellation. You can do that here: https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/cancelling-transaction?id=4136 Once you do that you can relist.

Also report the buyer: https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/reporting-issue-buyer?id=4084 Use the reason "asking to complete a sale off eBay"

You need to list at a buy it now price, NO auction, NO best offer, and use immediate payment required. Scammers avoid these listings because they know they can't steal your stuff without paying for it first. When you use immediate payment, the listing stays live on site until it is actually PAID FOR, not just purchased or won at auction.

Also be aware that as a new seller when you get paid your funds WILL be on hold for up to 30 days:

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/payments-hold?id=4816

[ittybitnot]

@kevonvan78 

You can report this right in the eBay message under the Action Tab dropdown.  Do it. 

Classic "text me" (message me)  scammer, second cousin to the "change of address" scammer.  These are the easiest to avoid since they never really pay, just send phony notifications disguised as eBay notices that you have been (TAKEN for a ride). 

Never sell anything here that you cannot afford to lose.  Anything can be had for free on eBay with the right kind of phony claim, even after you are paid.  Know your tolerance for risk before you sign on.   

[mrjs85_4]

I had this individual try to scam me as well. Texted me from (470) 360-8495 with a message that had red flags all over it. Almost the same message that you got.

[luckythewinner]

---

@kevonvan78 wrote:

I posted a computer for 3000 with a buy now for 4000. The person offered for 400. Their about on their profile reads “

Hi just few questions about the item before proceeding with the payment kindly send me a message thanks I will be waiting for your message and sorry for the inconvenience I can't send a reply on eBay now because I am leaving for work and I won't be able to access my laptop for a while thanks and also if you can't send me a text kindly cancel the order at your end because i won't be able to reply after this message thanks.” Could this be a scam?

---

Yes it is a scam.

They are using your excitement about the potential sale against you. One of the hallmarks of social engineering is to create a false sense of urgency in hopes that you make a mistake.

They want you to text so they can communicate outside eBay in order to scam you.

If they claim they cannot reply to you in the future on eBay, how in the world are they going to complete the transaction on eBay?