Dealing With a Legitimate Fraudster

[egarchow89]

I am friendly with 3 other sellers who have been victims (or at least were attempted to be made victims) of fraud by the same buyer. That buyer is now trying to scam me out of $800. One seller's experience:

"I mailed the package. I checked the status a few days later and it said the package was undeliverable. I tried contacting the guy multiple times with no answer. After about 3 weeks, I got back the package in the mail, but it was totally empty. I had to fight with USPS for months to finally get them to cover it with the insurance."

My package went out for delivery on the 24th of April, and then "disappeared." Not sure how the buyer is managing to game the system, but at this point I have zero doubt that I am dealing with a legitimate criminal (and I have no use for the one in a billion possibility that THIS time the buyer is being honest). 

I looked up reporting mail fraud but it seems like that is for things where I am the recipient. Obviously short of a videotape of a buyer brutally beating a seller eBay is going to side with the buyer. I have tried several times over the past few days to contact the buyer's post office but they don't pick up the phone at any point during their business hours. Should I call the buyer's local police department? 

[bonjourami]

Yes..and we are all entitled to our opinions...maybe if you were a seller, you would know how useless reporting a buyer is.Im not saying Ebay doesnt suspend a buyer once in a while, Im sure they do...but my personal opinion, after twenty years of selling here is, most buyer reports are ignored.

[paradiso*bella*a*venire]

Of course you are entitled to your opinion. Im known for many things, but stepping on anothers rights isnt how I roll nor known for

Pardon me but, how do you know reports were ignored?

[bonjourami]

Like many sellers, I have reported buyers throughout these many years here, that were ignored.

[paradiso*bella*a*venire]

But what Im wanting to know is, how do you know those  reports were ignored?

Is that why you discourage reporting? 

Fair questions 

[bonjourami]

Because the buyers werent suspended for blatant,in your face,multiple, infractions. 

[paradiso*bella*a*venire]

So because they werent kicked off, that means nothing was  done...

Again, pardon me but, is suspension  the only consequence for buyers misbehaving?

[bonjourami]

You'd have to ask Ebay that.Im sure there is a little wrist slapping once in a while.

[paradiso*bella*a*venire]

Well I can certainly see how it would be frustrating to keep seeing problem buyers OR sellers seemingly continue after having misbehaved, but c'mon, you cant thrownthe baby out with the  bath water, now can you?

I am a buyer and seeing as it is equally  as frustrating for buyers to continue to see problem sellers seemingly go on selling after having misbehaved, I feel I am just as qualified to question why anyone would discourage reporting 

Thank you for the dialogue.  Its been interesting  🙂

[bonjourami]

Yes it has..I was a power seller of fine jewelry here for many years, and I am very familiar with reporting scamming buyers.But Ebay is quick to suspend scamming sellers,not buyers.Happy Mothers Day!

[paradiso*bella*a*venire]

Backatcha  🤗

[bonjourami]

Beautiful, thank you!

[paradiso*bella*a*venire]

😊 Well, beautiful people should receive beautiful things 😉

[paradiso*bella*a*venire]

Additionally...(was too late to edit last post) On behalf of all, Thanks for your many years of service as a seller!  👍🏻  

[7606dennis]

I'm not quite sure that I understand the use of the term, "Legitimate Fraudster."  How can one be legitimate and a fraudster at the same time?

[paradiso*bella*a*venire]

but you ARE familiar with the term  "you said this, but I knew what ya meant"  😋

We all know youre smarter than that