BEWARE OF SHIPPING SCAMS

[phototechmama]

I just sold an expensive item on eBay. Within a few minutes after the auction ended I got 2 Emails from eBay simultaneously regarding the item; one that the buyer had paid, and then this scam Email from a fake buyer:

First, the buyer had already paid, so the "wait for the money to be reflected" raised suspicion, and then I saw that the buyer's username was different from this thief's username. I contacted the real buyer right away to confirm the shipping address. He confirmed and thanked me for checking. I reported the scam buyer to eBay, but I can see on this forum that this address has been reported before, years ago. The scammers just create new accounts each time they are caught.

Be careful and be aware; there are people out there watching auctions and waiting to steal your buyer's merchandise!

[chapeau-noir]

The address goes to Translogistics, which is a reshipper serving customers in the east/Orient - I've shipped legit to this company on several occasions with no problems, but looks like the scammer is using it to work their game by trying to redirect the package.  The 'gift' and message is a cute attempt, but good grief.  Good job on catching and reporting it!

[phototechmama]

I just reported the incident to the FBI. https://www.ic3.gov/

Maybe they will raid the place. Fingers crossed.

[iart]

Not sure this is a scam. Why assume the worst? And what makes you think that the FBI is going to drop everything they're doing to pursue a crime that hasn't happened?

I'd simply tell the person who sent the 2nd message that they are able to change their own address. Which they can but not after they paid. So then I'd tell them we can cancel the sale and try it again but that you have to hear from the same ID as the buyer.

That's how you tell if it's a scam or not. If they don't cooperate, it's surely a scam.

[pjcdn2005]

The op stated that the original buyer had already confirmed that they didn't ask for the address change so they aren't assuming that it was a scam.  It is one. 

[ittybitnot]

 I've shipped legit to this company on several occasions with no problems, but looks like the scammer ...

@chapeau-noir 

I am glad shipping to that address worked out for you (how long ago, may I ask?). I used to ship to freight forwarders as well, but I'd take the performance hit before I sent anything to that address now.   Of late, however, it seems to be the #1 scam address on this site.  Used to be for popular high end electronic items (phones, computers, etc.) but lately it is used for regular items as well.  Some have apparently  moved to the "newer" freight forwarder in Oregon, however, likely because sellers are being more informed about those addresses in Delaware.

It has indeed, however, been the 'go to' address for the "change the address" scammers who are not even the original buyer as it appears is the OPs situation.  So glad he/she did not fall for it. 

[phototechmama]

1. The scam Email address is formatted incorrectly.

2. The scam Email came from a different username from an account that was created today with no feedback.

3. The buyer had paid already when this scammer sent this scam message.

4. The actual buyer who paid affirmed that his correct address was not the address in the scam Email.

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@phototechmama. Nice job! Looks just like my camera, too bad that scammer has to tell " his friend" "no soup for you!", seller too smart" Thanks for posting this!

[chapeau-noir]

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@ittybitnot wrote:

 I've shipped legit to this company on several occasions with no problems, but looks like the scammer ...

@chapeau-noir 

I am glad shipping to that address worked out for you (how long ago, may I ask?). I used to ship to freight forwarders as well, but I'd take the performance hit before I sent anything to that address now.   Of late, however, it seems to be the #1 scam address on this site.  Used to be for popular high end electronic items (phones, computers, etc.) but lately it is used for regular items as well.  Some have apparently  moved to the "newer" freight forwarder in Oregon, however, likely because sellers are being more informed about those addresses in Delaware.

It has indeed, however, been the 'go to' address for the "change the address" scammers who are not even the original buyer as it appears is the OPs situation.  So glad he/she did not fall for it. 

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Probably in the last year or two.  The address was properly formatted and the address of record for the transaction, as should be.  I had no oddball messages, everything was just very routine. These freight forwarders tend to cluster - a bunch in the Miami area, a bunch in Oregon (Beaverton/Portland) and those in New Castle.  I can't recall what I shipped, but it would have either been a piece of clothing or some of the old tech that I sell (nothing very expensive), so no red flags on that, either. 

I just wonder how they're working this involving the reshippers - someone inside the organization? 

ETA:  I really don't sell anything expensive so not really worth trying to run the kind of game ol' Alexandre tried to work on you.

[acrc3113]

There is a lot of nonsense that goes on with that reshipper.  A lot of their customers are located in Russia. As the "buyer" is already trying to redirect the package, I would cancel due to "problem with the buyer's address". You will get your fees returned and will not receive a defect. Chances are good that your "expensive item" will never be seen again and you will lose both the item and the associated fees.

[kensgiftshop]

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@iart wrote:

Not sure this is a scam. Why assume the worst? And what makes you think that the FBI is going to drop everything they're doing to pursue a crime that hasn't happened?

I'd simply tell the person who sent the 2nd message that they are able to change their own address. Which they can but not after they paid. So then I'd tell them we can cancel the sale and try it again but that you have to hear from the same ID as the buyer.

That's how you tell if it's a scam or not. If they don't cooperate, it's surely a scam.

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Yes, it's an old scam.

These scammers watch for expensive items to be sold, then send a message claiming to be the buyer, trying to get them to change the address.

Some new sellers have been caught by this scam and they don't know they've been scammed until the original buyer wants to know where their item is.

By the time they find out, the items is already overseas somewhere.

[kensgiftshop]

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@acrc3113 wrote:

There is a lot of nonsense that goes on with that reshipper.  A lot of their customers are located in Russia. As the "buyer" is already trying to redirect the package, I would cancel due to "problem with the buyer's address". You will get your fees returned and will not receive a defect. Chances are good that your "expensive item" will never be seen again and you will lose both the item and the associated fees.

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The buyer isn't trying to redirect the package and there isn't anything wrong with the buyers address.

The person that sent the message about changing the address was not the buyer.

[kensgiftshop]

@phototechmama 

Ya, it's an old scam and you'd be surprised how many new sellers fall for it.

The New Castle address isn't the problem though, they just reship packages to their customers overseas.

There are a lot of good buyers that also use that freight forwarder.

[phototechmama]

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@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:

@phototechmama. Nice job! Looks just like my camera, too bad that scammer has to tell " his friend" "no soup for you!", seller too smart" Thanks for posting this!

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@silverstatetreasureboxes Thanks for making me laugh 😁 😂

[niwat_82]

This person is still at it and I stupidly got scammed because I was being naive and kind!  I wish I had checked.  I will try to report this to Ebay, but they should never have  let this person same someone again!~