How to scam someone on eBay in one easy step

podge3

Yep, I've just been scammed on eBay. Its so simple to do it that I think I'll start doing it myself :rolleyes:.

Here is what happened - I bought an item from eBay from Seller with fairly good feedback. The following morning, I had an email from Paypal saying that the transaction was probably fraudulent and to open a dispute with Paypal. The transaction had completely disappeared from eBay.

So I opened a dispute with Paypal and went through the usual hor$e$hite. Eventually the Seller said the item had been dispatched and provided a tracking number.

I thought this was great - until the envelope arrived via "signed for" post. It contained a cheap Chinese bracelet worth about 5 cents. I then had to change the dispute to one of "item not as described". After some more contact with Paypal, I was told to return the item via tracked post and I would get a refund.

The item I purchased was only $10 so obviously I'm not going to return it via registered post.

I never realised that it was so easy to scam people on eBay/Paypal. I have almost 500 transactions now on eBay and have only been scammed twice so I suppose its not too bad

Joey the lips

Buyer beware..... If its too good to be true and you believe it to be true...

podge3

I did kinda think that it was too good to be true TBH,

But I stupidly believed that I would be protected with Paypal.

eurokev

can you give us a link to the seller please podge3 so we can be aware when buying presents for xmas on ebay.

Thanks

podge3

eurokev wrote: »

can you give us a link to the seller please podge3 so we can be aware when buying presents for xmas on ebay.

Thanks

eBay removed all traces of the transaction from my account, but this is the Seller: http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=seller-jn&ftab=AllFeedback&myworld=true.

He doesn't trade anymore but IIRC he scammed a few thousand dollars from the last items he sold. A nice tidy profit that Paypal will allow him to keep.

RasTa

What did you order? If it's totally different, i.e you ordered a SD card and got a braclet then you have to get a letter from the police verfying what you reported to make sure your not the scammer.

wmpdd3

Any one know if the OP had refused to sign for the item? Would he still be able to continue with 'item not received'?

Max Power1

wmpdd3 wrote: »

Any one know if the OP had refused to sign for the item? Would he still be able to continue with 'item not received'?

If delivery or delivery attempted, with the correct address, was available online then no, the seller would "win" in that case

senordingdong

It's come a long way since the xbox box.

jpb1974

It's bullshít that Paypal recognize the seller is fraudulent and they must know what the scam is... but to still expect people to go to the effort of posting back 5c lucky bag jewellery is a total joke.

If I were you I just go directly to your Credit Card company in this particular instance a file for a refund.

Max Power1

jpb1974 wrote: »

It's bullshít that Paypal recognize the seller is fraudulent and they must know what the scam is... but to still expect people to go to the effort of posting back 5c lucky bag jewellery is a total joke.

If I were you I just go directly to your Credit Card company in this particular instance a file for a refund.

If you have recieved a "non value" item, paypal do not request you to send it back.

Eg if you order a £500 ring and recieve a sheet of paper

jpb1974

If you have recieved a "non value" item, paypal do not request you to send it back.

Aye.. but the OP stated:

"After some more contact with Paypal, I was told to return the item via tracked post and I would get a refund."

The value of the bracelet may have been 5c but the original item purchase was $10 and I think this is the value that Paypal seem to be working from.

If it was the case that it was a "non value" item then they should have told the OP to bin it and given him/her their money back.

Max Power1

jpb1974 wrote: »

Aye.. but the OP stated:

"After some more contact with Paypal, I was told to return the item via tracked post and I would get a refund."

The value of the bracelet may have been 5c but the original item purchase was $10 and I think this is the value that Paypal seem to be working from.

If it was the case that it was a "non value" item then they should have told the OP to bin it and given him/her their money back.

In that case it would have been the seller that selected "return for refund" and did not disagree with the buyer's claim. Paypal only decide on cases where the buyer files a claim and the seller opts to disagree.