Is it possible to reverse a bank transfer, have been ripped off...

blobert

Hello,

I bought some electronics goods from a seller I found through eBay. He had lots of perfect feedback and was German so I foolishly believed he would be honest.

Anyway to save on eBay and Paypal fees I bought 1240 Euro worth of goods from him and paid by bank transfer. He then starting getting slow to reply to me emails about the status of the order, about a week and a half ago he told me he had received my money and sent the order but when I wrote back and asked for the tracking details he did not reply. I have written to him lots of times since but with no reply, I suspect he has just decided to keep my money. He is still trading on eBay so I don't think he is away on holidays or anything.

Anyway, I suspect because I paid by bank draft I have absolutely no comeback, which is my own fault really.

In a vague attempt to get some justice I have bought "buy it now" items from the guy on eBay equalling €1240 in value. As he accepts Bank Transfer (as all Germans do) as a payment method I can show eBay that I have sent him this money and hopefully get him in some kind of trouble with them or removed.

Basically I'm surprised that a guy that sells a lot of stuff would be willing to rip me off, if I were happy with the stuff I ordered from him I'd buy more and he would have made a bigger profit within 3 orders. Also he seems to have given me his actual name and address (I did a check with eBay and it is the same as their records) and has been a member since 1999, none of which implies a scammer.

Anyway, any suggestions on where I lie in terms of getting money back through the bank would be appreciated, no chance I suspect Sadly, beyond threatening him that'll I'll come over on a cheap Ryanair flight to get him and leaving negative feedback I suspect there is nothing I can do...

Thanks in advance,
Robert

majiktripp

I hope for your sake your goods don't turn up at your door..

jor el

blobert wrote:

Anyway to save on eBay and Paypal fees I bought 1240 Euro worth of goods from him and paid by bank transfer.

The sale completely outside of eBay then? Did you just tell him what you wanted and send him the money? If so, there's nothing they can or will do for you as it was nothing to do with eBay.

Anyway, I suspect because I paid by bank draft I have absolutely no comeback, which is my own fault really.

You willingly gave him the money, so yes, not a lot you can do.

In a vague attempt to get some justice I have bought "buy it now" items from the guy on eBay equalling €1240 in value. As he accepts Bank Transfer (as all Germans do) as a payment method I can show eBay that I have sent him this money and hopefully get him in some kind of trouble with them or removed.

That may end up getting you in more trouble than him. Your wire transfer record will show the money was sent before these purchases (for items outside of eBay) so they'll do nothing for you but you will still be expected to pay for what you've bought now. More than likely, you'll be banned from eBay for this.

leaving negative feedback I suspect there is nothing I can do...

Leave negative feedback for what though? The sale was outside eBay.

blobert

Thanks for the replies.

I appreciate the fact that I have very little comeback but I think you are forgetting that I am not the bad guy here, the man in Germany who has €1240 of my money is. The fact that I have been stupid in sending him money with no comeback does not take away from this.

In regards to my eBay plan, it may well not work but I would like to try something to encourage him to return my money. I think it very unlikely they will ban me, but I'm happy to take the small chance that they might.

If anyone has any other advice (preferably helpful) I'd appreciate it. I will try ringing the bank but I suspect they will not be able to do much for me.

Our man in Havana

You can't reverse a bank transfer after the fact.

Oryx

As you sent the money by transfer outside eBay, youve left yourself wide open. Even if he is perfectly kosher on eBay, he can now scam you all he likes because its outside of their system. If he suggested the outside trade, maybe thats his modus operandi for pulling in targets, and he keeps eBay clean, I dont know.

eBay wont want to know, and the bank just did as you asked. I cant imagine they can reverse it without the recipients approval as it would mean removing funds from his account. If you have his name and address, perhaps you can track a phone number. A call to him or better still a german friend making a call on your behalf could yield results. Or even an official looking letter demanding your money back? But it is the mother and father of all long shots.

Mad and all as you may be, I can see you having to take a hit on this.

Our man in Havana

A call to the german police may be in order. I am sure that fraud is a crime in Germany.

Tiesto

yeah big time.
I would call the german police..
Id be confident in saying they would be very helpful..

blobert

Thanks for the continued input.

I have the guys address (if he still lives where eBay says he lives); its a small town called Telgte. I've written to their Mayor (the only email address on the towns website) to ask for his help or more importantly the contact details of the local police station.

Bit of a long shot but for €1240 its worth a go...

Will let you know how I get on.