Suspect ebay bidder - need some advice.

Kristoph · 21 Mar 2009 at 14:29

Hey,

I never really use ebay/paypal etc but here's a bit of background info...

Set up an auction on Thursday evening to sell my iPod Touch 8GB.

Starting price £60, buy it now £109.99.

Next day it's been bought outright for £109.99

The guy has been a member on Ebay since the 19th of March, got one positive feedback on the 20th and the feedback is private.

He's also from the United States.

I've sent an email to him through ebay saying I'd need to get a quote from the post office and I'd want to insure it.

My questions to you are:

1) Does this not seem slightly weird to anyone?
2) Are there customs forms etc that I'd need to fill out?
3) How easy is it to get out of a situation like this without getting negative feedback?
4) If he does pay through paypal, and the funds do clear and go into my account, what if it turns out he's stolen someones details? What sort of protection do I have?
5) If I have to relist this, will I have to pay up again for relisting fee's, and do the ebay fee's get charged to my paypal account?

God this is ****ing annoying.

Maccy · 21 Mar 2009 at 14:55

Firstly - have you had a reply?

1 - Not necessarily weird, maybe he just found it by chance and thought it was a good offer?
2 - You only have to send it, he'll have to pay any import tax etc.
3 - Don't jump to conclusions! Nothing bad has happened yet!
4 - Can only advise that you add insurance to the postage to cover yourself, and the buyer.
5 - Ebay have always billed me with a card on file, I'd imagine you could pay via PayPal for any fees. Not sure about relisting fees, it's likely there would be a relisting fee - someone will need to clarify this as I haven't experienced it!

Think you're worrying a little too much and jumping to conclusions - I'm sure all will be fine

Kristoph · 21 Mar 2009 at 15:04

No reply as of yet, and yeah I could be worrying a bit too much

Maybe being a bit cynical...

Address looks legit etc.

Greenlizard0 · 21 Mar 2009 at 15:05

On eBay you're more than likely to be right if you're suspicious. Pity really, as, well, everybody has to start at 0 don't they?

Kristoph · 21 Mar 2009 at 20:07

Well, my suspicions have been confirmed...

Dear ****,

Thanks very much for your swift response really i have been awaiting the invoive for this item from you since,actually i am from united states of america for an official assignment and i love to purchase your item for my daughter in Africa country for her coming birhtday next week sunday which 3oth of march and i want this item to get there by thursday just for a surprise gift for her via royalmail international signfor fund has been made via paypal which you must have received the confirmation from paypal AND EXTRA FEE OF 50POUNDS HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE SHIPMENT for this i will like you to get the item pack now and get it ready for shipment monday morning.

This is the postal address...

Address:3 Aderinto street,
Off Thomas Salako Street,
Ogba,
State: Lagos
Code: 23401
Country: Nigeria.
I will be so much elated if you can work things out very fine for me..

Tit.

Dear ****,

**** sent you an Instant Payment of £160.00 for an eBay item through PayPal.

Oh and...

PayPal balance
view limits

Currency Balance
British Pound: £0.00 GBP

Where's the £160? :/ lol

And now I see I'm being charged fee's by ebay. ******* sweet.

Amount due as of 21-Mar-09: £0.00
New activity not applied to invoice: £12.95

Balance: £12.95

Tripnologist · 21 Mar 2009 at 20:13

I realise it's now become apparent that it's a scam but I think you were right to be wary from the beginning. If he was in the US, surely he could have found it cheaper there to begin with and wouldn't need to have it imported from expensive UK.

Feek · 21 Mar 2009 at 20:21

Important lessons.

1) Set your auctions so you will only ship to the UK and use buyer requirements to block bidders from countries you don't ship to.

2) Never, ever give a buy it now option on electrical consumer goods such as this.

3) Set your starting price at the price you're happy to sell it for. If you think that £80 is a sensible price, make that the starting price. Anything above that is a bonus.

4) Also set your buyer requirements so that they have to have a credit card on file.

In this case, simply file a dispute with eBay for suspicious behaviour, they'll investigate this sort of thing quickly enough, the auction will be canceled as will any fees you've incurred.

Kristoph · 21 Mar 2009 at 20:22

Feek said:
Important lessons.

1) Set your auctions so you will only ship to the UK and use buyer requirements to block bidders from countries you don't ship to.

2) Never, ever give a buy it now option on electrical consumer goods such as this.

3) Set your starting price at the price you're happy to sell it for. If you think that £80 is a sensible price, make that the starting price. Anything above that is a bonus.

4) Also set your buyer requirements so that they have to have a credit card on file.

In this case, simply file a dispute with eBay for suspicious behaviour, they'll investigate this sort of thing quickly enough, the auction will be canceled as will any fees you've incurred.

Thanks Feek. Will get onto it and take those things into account.

First time I've ever sold anything on there!

Azagoth · 21 Mar 2009 at 20:33

Is there any way to scam the scammer, à la the Powerbook prank?

nirvanamonk · 21 Mar 2009 at 20:37

I had one the nearly the same wanting to buy my phone they sent false paypal emails and then when I post it and send tracking details payment would clear. I told them where to go and reported them to ebay they have now banned the member and got all my listing fees back.
This is one of the emails I had
I Just want to inform you that i have just Transfer the total payment of 220.00 GBP plus 30 GBP for shipping and package of via Royal Mail International Sined For and i believe paypal must have sent you my payment confirmation mail to your paypal link mail, Please make sure you help me post this item first thing tomorrow morning and do'nt forget to send paypal the shipping tracking number for shipment confirmation so that paypal can credited your paypal acount...

NOte

lease help me make sure you added me a Lovely birthday card inside the package when you want to get the item post tomorrow morning because i wanna use this item as a Birthday present for my Duaghter in west african...

Here is my son shipping address below:

Mr Yinusa Oluwaseun Wasiu
11-13 Otigba Street,
Off Medical Road,
Ikeja,
Lagos-State,
Nigeria.
23401.

Kristoph · 21 Mar 2009 at 20:41

nirvanamonk said:
I had one the nearly the same...

How long did it take you? And what routes did you go through?

nirvanamonk · 21 Mar 2009 at 20:49

I just reported them as suspicious as they stated they had paid by paypal but have not the next day it was all sorted.

nirvanamonk · 21 Mar 2009 at 20:50

http://support.ebay.co.uk/cgi-bin/ebay_uk.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php?p_eb_segment=CU2
Explain what has happened and everything should be ok

inph · 21 Mar 2009 at 21:03

Feek said:
1) Set your auctions so you will only ship to the UK and use buyer requirements to block bidders from countries you don't ship to.

4) Also set your buyer requirements so that they have to have a credit card on file.

This is good advice.

cheets64 · 21 Mar 2009 at 21:13

I see nothing wrong with it, you can make some extra money.....

nirvanamonk · 21 Mar 2009 at 21:16

cheets64 said:
I see nothing wrong with it, you can make some extra money.....

But what money there isn't any :confused:

Kristoph · 21 Mar 2009 at 21:19

cheets64 said:
I see nothing wrong with it, you can make some extra money.....

lol

He does seem pretty loaded. You'd of thought he'd of spent the cash on some English lessons dont you?

Ucof · 21 Mar 2009 at 21:24

Azagoth said:
Is there any way to scam the scammer, à la the Powerbook prank?

Just remembered this!
It's emblazoned in Internet history

if you havent read it, its here: http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/

Kristoph · 21 Mar 2009 at 22:00

Ucof said:
Just remembered this!
It's emblazoned in Internet history

if you havent read it, its here: http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/

Hmmm is there any way of me doing something like this?

It wouldn't be as epic, but could be fun.

Azagoth · 21 Mar 2009 at 22:01

You know, it makes you wonder just how many 'hits' these guys actually get. Even more so these days as this sort of scam is so well known.