buyer wants to ship to suspicious address, do I refund and cancel?

[shoeston.fc]

I know that this topic is dime a dozen on eBay but my buyer, of course not only wants me to ship to a different address but an address that with a simple Google search will bring up unfortunate results. Results such as a bunch of people being scammed by buyers who want them to ship to this address, and ebay accounts that have been hacked trying to get items shipped there.

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Message buyer sent me:

Hi I`m sorry to bother just I have one problem with the order,

but I think we can find out:
I moved to DE and not to able change the address on eBay,
looks like I`m getting erorr.
Could you please send the package to my new Delaware address:
460 Copper drive,ste 124770,Newport 19804 DE.
Thanks for understanding!!!

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He paid immediately.

I was going to write back that I'd refund the paypal transaction and that when he updates his paypal to the address he prefers, he could repurchase. But it still doesn't set right with me that this is surely a scam on somebody. Whether it be me or an unknowing ebayer's account.

Also, if i do refund, afterwards, do I cancel the purchase? I've only sold like 20 some odd items on ebay. I haven't had an issue to this extent.

Thanks for the help.

[a_c_green]

Bologna. That fractured English is a standard scammer script. You can cancel with the reason of Problem with Buyer's Address (as you have his change-of-address request in writing), and invite him to re-pay with the correct address. He's not likely to do so.

Yes, the address is probably a reshipper (I didn't check, but it certainly looks like one, with an account number included), but using a reshipper does not itself indicate a scammer, just an international buyer (who uses a reshipper in order to buy from sellers who do not ship internationally). It's everything else your buyer is doing that makes him an obvious scammer.

[papermoneyforme]

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@shoeston.fc wrote:

I know that this topic is dime a dozen on eBay but my buyer, of course not only wants me to ship to a different address but an address that with a simple Google search will bring up unfortunate results. Results such as a bunch of people being scammed by buyers who want them to ship to this address, and ebay accounts that have been hacked trying to get items shipped there.

-----------------------------------

Message buyer sent me:

Hi I`m sorry to bother just I have one problem with the order,

but I think we can find out:
I moved to DE and not to able change the address on eBay,
looks like I`m getting erorr.
Could you please send the package to my new Delaware address:
460 Copper drive,ste 124770,Newport 19804 DE.
Thanks for understanding!!!

-------------------------------------

He paid immediately.

I was going to write back that I'd refund the paypal transaction and that when he updates his paypal to the address he prefers, he could repurchase. But it still doesn't set right with me that this is surely a scam on somebody. Whether it be me or an unknowing ebayer's account.

Also, if i do refund, afterwards, do I cancel the purchase? I've only sold like 20 some odd items on ebay. I haven't had an issue to this extent.

Thanks for the help.

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Cancel but make sure you sure problem with address.

Block buyer immediately.

Probably a scam buyer.

[nobody*s_perfect]

First, check to be sure that the scammy message about the Delaware address actually came from your buyer.  There's a popular scam in which sellers are tricked into shipping to an address that has nothing to do with an honest buyer who knows nothing about the address-change message.  

[collectablesofliberty]

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@shoeston.fc wrote:

I know that this topic is dime a dozen on eBay but my buyer, of course not only wants me to ship to a different address but an address that with a simple Google search will bring up unfortunate results. Results such as a bunch of people being scammed by buyers who want them to ship to this address, and ebay accounts that have been hacked trying to get items shipped there.

-----------------------------------

Message buyer sent me:

Hi I`m sorry to bother just I have one problem with the order,

but I think we can find out:
I moved to DE and not to able change the address on eBay,
looks like I`m getting erorr.
Could you please send the package to my new Delaware address:
460 Copper drive,ste 124770,Newport 19804 DE.
Thanks for understanding!!!

-------------------------------------

He paid immediately.

I was going to write back that I'd refund the paypal transaction and that when he updates his paypal to the address he prefers, he could repurchase. But it still doesn't set right with me that this is surely a scam on somebody. Whether it be me or an unknowing ebayer's account.

Also, if i do refund, afterwards, do I cancel the purchase? I've only sold like 20 some odd items on ebay. I haven't had an issue to this extent.

Thanks for the help.

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Cancel the Deal NOW!

That is a scammer address: http://feedback.shipstation.com/forums/330429-product-feedback-fresh-ideas/suggestions/9488142-billi...

[shoeston.fc]

Thanks! And yeah, the way the message was written was actually the first and biggest red flag.

Once I cancel, the refunding process is separate through PayPal since that's how he paid, correct?

[shoeston.fc]

How do I go about checking and verifying that?

[18704d]

First check that the message came from your Actual buyer.

Are both UserNames the same?

Lynn

[escuintla]

I Googled it........................460 Copper Dr Ste 0986 newport DE 19804-9004. They tried to purchase two items for a total of $1,200, but Paypal flagged it as fraudulent. I purchased one item that did get shipped to that address, but it was only $15. Posted over 1 year ago by 162.158.X.X Report as SPAM.

[shoeston.fc]

Yes, Both the message and the buyer's username is the same.

[a_c_green]

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@shoeston.fc wrote:
Yes, Both the message and the buyer's username is the same.

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Ayup, a routine scam. If you had shipped to that address, either you'd be stuck with an Item Not Received dispute because you did not ship to the address provided with the payment, or (perhaps more likely) it would turn out that the account was hacked, and the person who's actually at the address provided with the payment knows nothing about it. 

[shoeston.fc]

Okay, the actual owner of the account contacted me to cancel the order. Said the initial message wasn't him. The grammar and English of these messages were vastly different. My suspicions were correct.

[softersilk]

1) This is a foreign buyer who stole an account and is trying to get you to send it to a "Freight Forwarder" where he will get it overseas.  There's nothing wrong with a freight forwarder per se, but a buyer asking you to change an address after payment IS.

2) Visit Paypal Seller Protection and read and understand the rules.  NEVER, ever change an address after you are paid or you lose all protection.

https://www.paypal.com/us/brc/article/seller-protection

IT's really messed up that eBay does not tell new sellers stuff like this.  It's one reason why "Liar Buyer Fraud" is alive and well.

[v7bbn_0]

I will make this simple:

To retain seller protection you are obligated to ship to the buyer's address of record at the time of payment.

No exceptions.

Don't do it, I may suggest sending the buyer the below scripted message:

Dear Buyer,
The address on the Paypal payment doesn't match the address to which you want the item sent. Paypal's policy makes it clear we would ship to another address at our own risk and requires sellers to ship to the address listed on the Paypal transaction at time of payment. A note, email or message to the seller requesting shipment to a different address is not sufficient to satisfy these requirements. If you wish for an ebay purchase to be sent to an address other than the address of record at the time of payment you can add the address to your Paypal account before making payment, or you can click on the Change or Edit link as you're checking out and type in the address to which you wish the item to be shipped. Doing so will not change the primary address listed in your Paypal account. It is for shipping purposes only. If it is a one-time shipment, you can remove the address from your Paypal account later.
The current transaction has been cancelled, if you still wish to purchase the item after making sure the correct confirmed address is being used you may do so and go through the Ebay checkout again.
Thank you.
Seller

Then you cancel the sale for reason "problem with address" as suggested by previous replies.

[pburn]

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@v7bbn_0 wrote:

I will make this simple:

To retain seller protection you are obligated to ship to the buyer's address of record at the time of payment.

No exceptions.

Don't do it, I may suggest sending the buyer the below scripted message:

Dear Buyer,
The address on the Paypal payment doesn't match the address to which you want the item sent. Paypal's policy makes it clear we would ship to another address at our own risk and requires sellers to ship to the address listed on the Paypal transaction at time of payment. A note, email or message to the seller requesting shipment to a different address is not sufficient to satisfy these requirements. If you wish for an ebay purchase to be sent to an address other than the address of record at the time of payment you can add the address to your Paypal account before making payment, or you can click on the Change or Edit link as you're checking out and type in the address to which you wish the item to be shipped. Doing so will not change the primary address listed in your Paypal account. It is for shipping purposes only. If it is a one-time shipment, you can remove the address from your Paypal account later.
The current transaction has been cancelled, if you still wish to purchase the item after making sure the correct confirmed address is being used you may do so and go through the Ebay checkout again.
Thank you.
Seller

Then you cancel the sale for reason "problem with address" as suggested by previous replies.

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The OP posted, in Message #11 above:

Re: buyer wants to ship to suspicious address, do I refund and cancel? in reply to newbandana 11-12-2018 02:38:45 PM

Okay, the actual owner of the account contacted me to cancel the order. Said the initial message wasn't him. The grammar and English of these messages were vastly different. My suspicions were correct.

So I think the issue has already been resolved, and the OP probably doesn't need to send the recommended message.