eBay

mtsm8669 · ‎01-09-2021

Good afternoon,

I sold a brand new computer to a buyer. A few weeks later he told me he didn't want it anymore and wanted to return it. I told him that is fine as long as it's in the same condition (sealed), which he said it was.

I just received the delivery and don't want to open the box, but the box is much smaller than the computer and feels like there is a weight inside of it. I'm actually kind of afraid to open the box.

With that being said, before I mess with the return I wanted to see how I need to approach this to not give him his money back? He is trying to scam me out of a $1000, but I've never had this happen and want to give eBay whatever they need so I don't lose my money. The box is actually half the size of the box I sent, and dimensions are so small the computer couldn't even come close to fitting in there.

Thank you in advance.

mtgraves7984 · ‎01-09-2021

I don't see the sold listing for a $1000 computer, but you may as well open the box. You can't fight what you can't see.

tm1101 · ‎01-09-2021

what's the buyer's user name

alcoforever · ‎01-09-2021

Do all the following:

report him to ebay for misuse of the MBG

report him to ic3.gov for internet fraud

report him to usps.gov for mail fraud

report him to your police dept. for fraud

report him to his police dept. for fraud.

All the above should be doable on-line.

Once you have all the above report numbers, contact ebay CS and request the case be closed in your favor.

dr.kenzo.tenma · ‎01-09-2021

In addition to the above, you might try sending the buyer a note similar to this to see if it spooks them:

I just received your return and it appears to be the wrong item. Are you sure you send the right box? If you are, then this package was intercepted during mailing, a serious case of mail fraud. I will be contacting the police and Federal investigators. They may want to interview you for assistance with this case.

no_zero369 · ‎01-09-2021

@dr.kenzo.tenma wrote:
In addition to the above, you might try sending the buyer a note similar to this to see if it spooks them:

I just received your return and it appears to be the wrong item. Are you sure you send the right box? If you are, then this package was intercepted during mailing, a serious case of mail fraud. I will be contacting the police and Federal investigators. They may want to interview you for assistance with this case.

This!!!!

The point of this is to give the buyer a chance to admit mistake. Be polite and professional and DO NOT IN ANYWAY ACCUSE THEM OF ANYTHING!

If the buyer doesn't respond in a few days or admits no fault then file ALL of the reports listed in reply 4. If you do ALL of that in #4, then eBay will make you whole on the transaction!

no_zero369 · ‎01-10-2021

@tm1101

It is inappropriate to ask someone to name a users that is causing problems. IF there is a reply to such, the person will have violated the Community Guidelines against Naming & Shaming others.

Thought you might wish to know for the future!😎

outdatedrecreated · ‎01-10-2021

eBay will NOT do anything to help you unless you have an admission from the buyer he is a thief or you have an IC3 report. YOU MUST file an IC3 report. Block and report the buyer. Document EVERYTHING! And I mean EVERYTHING. Record any calls with eBay and ask for a reference number for each phone call. Print all correspondence with the buyer so you have a hard copy. And DON'T do ANYTHING if corresponding with the buyer that is a violation of eBay's terms. Things like foul language or threats of harm. It NEVER hurts to send a message to the buyer informing them you will pursue ALL options including filing the IC3 report with the FBI internet crimes division. You are in for a battle but you can win it if you do it right.

I had a buyer do the same thing last year. These same steps I gave you, were what I did. When I sent a picture of the IC3 report, I had a message within an hour from the buyer wanting to send me my money. That is rare, but some of these guys think that what they do is not prosecutable in the criminal courts. THEY ARE FEDERAL CRIMES. Good luck!

P.S.: The best advice anyone ever gave me about selling on eBay was, "never sell anything you can't afford to be scammed out of"

ninja-fred · ‎01-10-2021

Did you open the box yet?

mtsm8669 · ‎01-10-2021

So I did this after they didn't reply to me yesterday, and they said they did send the item and said they sent me a picture of it before shipping. He did send a picture of the item itself, but not in a shipping box nor did he send a picture of the box he was shipping. Any advice on what I should do from here?

mtsm8669 · ‎01-10-2021

Yes and it was filled with books and note pads.

xpertcarpet74 · ‎01-10-2021

Pack up the books and note pads and tell him you’re sending them back. When he sends you the computer still sealed then you’ll refund him. If he still is insisting he sent it, notify the police. In most states over $1000 is considered a felony

mtgraves7984 · ‎01-10-2021

@mtsm8669 wrote:
Yes and it was filled with books and note pads.

@mtsm8669

Dang. Well, now you know. Now it's time to fight.

My guess is that eBay will refund the buyer in full. Do as @alcoforever has suggested. Armed with all that information, you might be able to win on appeal if it is refunded. There's no way they'll ever recover anything from this scammer, but occasionally eBay will reverse and make the seller whole in such situations.

Being one of eBay's sellers who donates to the 'pool' you'll be refunded from... I'm with you. Go get 'em and good luck.

alcoforever · ‎01-10-2021

@xpertcarpet74 wrote:
Pack up the books and note pads and tell him you’re sending them back. When he sends you the computer still sealed then you’ll refund him. If he still is insisting he sent it, notify the police. In most states over $1000 is considered a felony

There is no need to send that stuff back as the scammer clearly doesn't want them anymore.