Have I just been ripped off?

L31mr0d

Ok I bought some hardware from this user in the states costing a few 100 dollars. His feedback was fine, and it dates back to 2004 so he seemed reliable. He communicated often and didn't seem suspicious at all. But during my time emailing he would say things like he couldn't check his mail that day because he was sick, or he was taking the weekend off and would reply on monday.

2 weeks have gone by, so I emailed him asking if my hardware has been sent. I then get this email in reply:

Hello dear customer.

This is the mother of Mike writing you as he has fallen very ill due to his recent blood clots and heart condition. Mike is has been ordered zero activity by his doctors and he is bedridden, and for the next few days he will not be able to perform his normal duties. He wanted me however to write you immediately and inform you that his business with you - I expect it has something to do with building computers or something as this is his specialty - will continue as soon as his condition has stabilized. He collapsed again today when attemping some packaging and we were forced to have paramedics come to our home.

As for your question about the computer parts being shipped, I do not have this information on hand, nor do I know how to get it for you. I will ask Mike tomorrow when he is awake to assist me in this and hopefully I will be able to provide you with what you need. He did fall ill today as he was doing shipping chores and I am unsure if he was able to complete your postpackage prior to the incident. The mailman was here once, I know this for certain, but if yours was one of the ones that were picked up by our mailman, I am not sure. I will check with him on this as well.

I know Mike will do his best to get back on track and complete the dealings he had with each of his customers. He conveys that he is sorry about the delay and mentioned that he would make it up to his customers for the extra wait. I don't know what this entails, he didn't expand on it as he was very tired, but knowing him I am sure it is for the better.

I did notice that several people called on his cellphone today and I was told to forward the calls to his automated voice mailbox thing by pressing the red button as he requested. I hope you were able to leave a message there for him. I will make sure that he goes through those as soon as he is fit.

We apologize for this wait and hope that Mike's health returns quickly so he can conclude his business with you very soon.

With respect,
Irene Wold.

What should I do now?

Hugh_C

How did you pay? If it was PayPal, lodge an immediate complaint and have your money refunded. If it was VISA, then I'm not sure, but I think there are procedures for getting your money back. If it was Western Union, then I think you may have lost a few bucks.

L31mr0d

I paid using moneybookers? Do you think its a scam? I mean i'm guessing it is a possibility he's actually sick, I mean why would he reply at all?

majiktripp

Scam Scam Scam.....they reply as it keeps you guessing longer...and longer...so that you dont do anything about it...

Poker & Pints

Probably not a scam....A high seller(Power seller) will not wish to taint their reputation over a few dollars. I know I would not(I am a seller). However, there are multiple avenues, you can submit your details to moneybookers for a refund generally, you can also communicate with the online auction(Ebay i assume).

L31mr0d

Ok but his account is now reading as "No longer a registered user", what does this mean? Do you think his account could of been hijacked?

Ruu_Old

Since they are no longer registered users then they can't leave any feedback for you anymore. It does look very strange and I don't know if eBay covers transactions where you paid with moneybookers. Start a dispute with eBay for a start I would say.

Linoge

L31mr0d wrote:

Ok but his account is now reading as "No longer a registered user", what does this mean? Do you think his account could of been hijacked?

AFAIK that meants that they have closed their account. His mother doesn't have a clue about any of his business dealings but knows how to close his account??

The whole letter reaks and you know it

"I did notice that several people called on his cellphone today and I was told to forward the calls to his automated voice mailbox thing by pressing the red button as he requested."

ie. Man pretending to be dippy old woman.

The professional way to deal with this, especially if you are dealing with a clueless mother is to be brief and concise. The letter is neither. Its giving you irrelevant details to sound legit. Its trying too hard to convince you.

Sorry to hear that you've been done over:( but eBay does cover you as your item was undelivered.

bbbbb

Definite Scam.

If you were Ill in a similar situation do you think your mother would be bothered replying to your work e-mails, not to mind writing such a long, polite, detailed reply?

spurious

His previous incarnations have been under the names Norse and Forbes.
http://contact.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ReturnUserIdHistory&requested=considerable_savings
Sounds a bit iffy.

eth0_

Moneybookers? That's virtually the same thing as western union, it's a wire transfer service.

Do you have the headers of the email his "mother" sent you? Paste them in here. I am willing to bet that they originate in Romania or Nigeria..

NEVER use anything other than Paypal if you're paying for something expensive. Ebay just don't care if you've been scammed, but at least Paypal *have* to do something.

yop

That looks bad, hope you did not spend too much.
Also contact some of the other buyers and see what they think

Ruu_Old

Actually now that I think about it, eBay probably can do little about it as you have used another payment online payment method other than Paypal.

joebhoy1916

Well since yer on the sudject I think I have been ripped off on ebay paid by credit card through paypal can I get my money back by making a complaint?

Ruu_Old

You can start a dispute with eBay to sort out getting your money back.

joebhoy1916

Do you do that with Ebay itself or Paypal in Resolution Center?

Ruu_Old

I was imagine eBay, depends on the situation I suppose.

majiktripp

Start filling a claim with paypal straight away.Paypal will recover your money from the sellers account assuming he hasn't transfered it to his bank account yet.I found the process very easy and swift too,sometimes can take under a week.I have had to do this before so I know its a painless enough experience.No guaruntees they will get your money back though!

Ruu_Old

I don't so, he transferred the money via moneybookers so that would have nothing to do with Paypal.

Gone West

Ruu wrote:

You can start a dispute with eBay to sort out getting your money back.

Ahh will you stop filling the lad with false hope.
Don't offer advice unless you actually have a notion of what youre talking about.

He has zero chance of getting his money back through Ebay.
OP: Chalk this up to experience and move on.

Ruu_Old

I wasn't aware that the OP had used moneybookers at the time of posting, my mistake. Just an overlook on my part.

Gone West

even if he had used paypal he still wouldn't get his money back.
reason is that there was massive fraud on paypal a while back. User would set up two accounts, proxy one, and "scam himself" out of money. Then claim it back from paypal/ebay.
Tbh there isn't really a chance of getting anythuing back these days.

Sucks, I know, but what can you do about it?

DermoMIO

really ? then what is what is with this paypal protection of upto €500 they have on ebay ?

TempestSabre

DermoMIO wrote:

really ? then what is what is with this paypal protection of upto €500 they have on ebay ?

No one knows....;)

L31mr0d

eth0_ wrote:

Do you have the headers of the email his "mother" sent you? Paste them in here. I am willing to bet that they originate in Romania or Nigeria

How do I check the headers to see where they came from? Ok well he has also given me his full name, address and bank details as I was initially going to use my bank to transfer the money but thought moneybookers was simpler.

I emailed back saying i'd appreciate a refund if the items can't be sent and this was her reply.

Michael will do shipping tomorrow, if needed, with my help. Hopefully this will help your situation.

Sincerely,
Irene Wold.

So the item was shipped last Friday, it should get to me next friday given the 5 days shipping. If it doesn't arrive, is there anything I can do having his contact and bank details?