Typical ebay scams

[rafael_macia]

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Whenever I read of someone having gotten ripped of with ebay the comments posted are sympathetic. (That's not a bad thing.). Sympathy is not that helpful to us all, though. I propose that we post some of the typical scams to avoid. Then a lot of us can sidestep falling into traps.

the following are not necessarily all scams, but they are methods often by scammers.

 

I would avoid;

One day auctions.

They allow the scammer to "get in and get out", before ebay can shut them down.

 

Listings that tell buyers to email the seller directly for the "Buy it Now" price.

If a Buy it Now price is not listed,(as it should be), the seller is attempting to go around ebay.

 

An email that comes to you and says"hey I just saw the same thing listed ...... have a look ...".... and then they give a link to click on.

Don't click on the link. It then gives your email away. These messages will often come via the ebay "my messages" system itself.

 

Things to do if you suspect fraud:

Go to the feedback comments of the seller. Click on the item numbers. If none of the items are photographic, the account may be stolen. Contact ebay security (at the bottom of the page) with the members id and say you think the account has been stolen.

 

Ask the seller a question via the ebay listing. No response often is a signal the account is stolen.

 

Often scammers use generic pictures, because they have no actual item. I avoid any listing that does not have pictures of the actual item.

 

Rafael

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[spylaw4]

If the item is local to you, and perhaps even if it is not, ask if you can pay cash and collect the item. If the answer is no, then it raises a question about the item's existence.

[glenerrolrd]

I report to ebay ..several scams per week on in demand Leica items. The most common one is the "contact me via email for a buy it now price". Often these use hijacked legitimate accounts. They only collect if you bite on use the email. The second is to set up a legitmate account and then establish a history with 25 + buys and sells ....all very low $ amounts. Always check the history of the seller..what do they buy and sell. I always insist on a actual photograph of the item showing the serial number. If the item is listed as like new ..I asked where the seller purchased the item ..is the warranty good. I have been surprise by the responses...sometimes I can tell immediately ..this guy has the item in hand and is a photographer just selling his gear. Worst case is I get no response.. Overall I would say that I have been very happy with my ebay purchases .. I have returned two items this year no questions asked refunds. The Leica lens I purchased have all been better than expected.

[rafael_macia]

If the item is local to you, and perhaps even if it is not, ask if you can pay cash and collect the item. If the answer is no, then it raises a question about the item's existence.

 

The only problem with that formula, and I can understand why, is the seller may not be willing to meet the buyer. Especially if it involves cash .... that suggests circumventing ebay. Also I would bet, If a buyer and seller met WHILE an auction was going on, for sure ..... the cash aspect would empower the buyer to try for a lower buying price ...... Then what happens to the auction? In person is Ok to avoid shipping thats about it IMHO

 

Rafael

[earleygallery]

2nd chance offers made via e mail which invite you to send an e mail/pay directly off e bay - they are always Scams. Legit offers only come via your e bay page.

 

Avoid vague descriptions, or at least satisfy yourself by asking questions about the condition, spec, etc. The classic line on a listing is 'I don't know anything about ...... I'm only selling it for a friend' - er, why can't they get their friend to answer?! Its code for 'the items broken'

 

Avoid 'private' auctions.

 

Check feedback, and how long the seller has been registered on e bay.

 

Ask a question about the item, something fairly technical that they will be able to answer if they know anything about the item they're selling.

 

Get a contact name, address and ideally phone number. Even if you want to pay by paypal ask first 'where shall I send the cheque and who is it payable to'.

 

Always get registered/insured carriage for valuable items - avoid if they say they can only send by standard mail, you have no proof that they ever sent the item.

 

Sounds like a nightmare I know, but I've done around 300 e bay transactions (bought/sold) and have had maybe 3 problems, and I think only 1 was unresolved.

[spylaw4]

The only problem with that formula, and I can understand why, is the seller may not be willing to meet the buyer. Especially if it involves cash .... that suggests circumventing ebay. Also I would bet, If a buyer and seller met WHILE an auction was going on, for sure ..... the cash aspect would empower the buyer to try for a lower buying price ...... Then what happens to the auction? In person is Ok to avoid shipping thats about it IMHO

 

Rafael

 

Perhaps I should amplify my comment to avoid confusion. I obviously phrase it to say "if I am successful in the auction.......". This ensures that it all happens within eBay rules. Not needed of course if the buyer has stated that he/she will accept cash as a payment. If the cash amount is large - take someone with you!

 

If I am at all suspicious about an item - I don't bid! Before I got my L1 I had a number of eBay messages to and from sellers, some of which raised doubts.

[stunsworth]

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If a deal seems too good to be true it probably is.

[MrEd]

Steve is right.

 

 

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

 

 

No one gets somethin' foh nothin'.......

 

 

.

[rafael_macia]

If a deal seems too good to be true it probably is.

 

Funny, no matter how old one gets .... greed seems to stay young.

 

I think scammers really know this.

 

cheers,

 

Rafael

[phillipgeorge]

Totally agree with the comments above. I am a private photo enthusiast and have over 600 transactions on Ebay. However, there is always a new scam around the corner and something new to learn. For example, last month I sold my Digilux 3 on Ebay and was contacted through the Ebay message system requesting local pickup after payment by Paypal. Sounds OK, doesn't it? Nope. The buyer made payment by Paypal and arranged for pickup at my office. However, I received a message from Paypal that the payment was under review. I contacted the buyer and he said that he had arrived early at my office (this was on a Saturday) and since there was no answer, he called Paypal to stop the payment. Still sounds OK, does't it? THEN... He said he would make the payment again and arranged for a meeting within the hour. OK. He made the payment and arrived at my office. It wasn't more than 10 seconds before he arrived that I received another notice from Paypal that the payment was under review. So here I am face-to-face with a crook, alone in my office, refusing to let him take my $2,500 Digilux 3. As I look back, there were certain subtle signals that I overlooked in trying to take a positive approach to the sale. I learned later that Paypal only covers items that are sent to the Confirmed Address. Now I know why so many sellers require this measure. Anyway, now I take the precaution, as a buyer, of using Paypal and paying by Visa (through Paypal). That way Visa will cover any loss due to non-delivery, without worrying about the Paypal fine print.

 

One tip as a buyer, you should request the Sellers information from Ebay and call directly to confirm the sale. (I did this in the above transaction, but received a recorded message). Anyway we all need to keep on our toes, and use common sense. Cheers!

[glenerrolrd]

PAYPAL SCAMS look a lot worse than I thought. I have over 100 successful buys on ebay all thru Paypal ..but now I am considering selling. If the buyer disputes the charge thru his credit card ..Paypal seems to step aside . Its right in their frequently asked questions. Only ship to a confirmed paypal address and require a signiture ....paypal says work it into your cost of doing business?

[spylaw4]

One point about credit card cover - I asked my Visa card supplier about this point. They cover transaction payments between you and the buyer. Paypal is to them a 3rd party so if things go wrong in any way, then unless you get recompense from Paypal, you may have some trouble with your card company.

[glenerrolrd]

One point about credit card cover - I asked my Visa card supplier about this point. They cover transaction payments between you and the buyer. Paypal is to them a 3rd party so if things go wrong in any way, then unless you get recompense from Paypal, you may have some trouble with your card company.

I am not an expert on this but you are taking the money back from Paypal ..not the seller. As far as the credit card company is concerned you purchased goods from Paypal ...if they are not received or not as promised you have recourse against Paypal......I could be wrong but visit the Paypal site and you will see that they are frequently charged back when buyers are unhappy. Your credit card company has nothing to do with the seller ..but paypal has to deliver. Would be interested in learning how this works out.

[zapp]

If you sell on eBay it easy to protect yourself. Wait for the money (have checks clear in your account). If you are buying on eBay there is an additional hunch. eBay charges more and more money for selling/offering stuff online. Therefore, although not in accord with eBay rules, people prefer selling around the official eBay platform. It is not always a scam.

My best tip is to use common sense as a buyer. Ask questions by e-mail. Scam people typically do not answer e-mails or have no clue what they are selling. Anyways, you can not make any deals anymore on eBay if you want to keep on the save site. Dealers typically ask too much, private people know the price, ... in the shop around the corner, you often get the same fear for less. What sense does a 10 day auction make then only bids 2 seconds before the end have a chance of success and the buy now proce is outrageous. Best tip try to forget eBay.

[rafael_macia]

One point about credit card cover - I asked my Visa card supplier about this point. They cover transaction payments between you and the buyer. Paypal is to them a 3rd party so if things go wrong in any way, then unless you get recompense from Paypal, you may have some trouble with your card company.

Regarding PayPal; as far as credit card companies are concerned, they are in the middle. In effect they block contact between buyer and seller. Acting as a third party.

Here is my nightmare story: the short version ...

It's a short auction for an Apple computer at a great price. The "Buy it Now" Price is great. Ok I buy it. The seller sends me a tracking number after he says it has been shipped.

Three days pass. UPS has no information. UPS tells me someone can buy a label with a tracking number. Prior to shipping the item. But then they never ship the item. So I am looking for a bogus tracking number.

Ok. I complain to PayPal. All Pay can do, (they tell me) is determine if the seller is at fault. So they do just that. They tell me there is no evidence any item was ever shipped. They(PayPal) transfer/refund to me about 1/3 of what the amount was. Then PayPal says "that was all there was in his account"; and that that is all they can do. They tell me they are finished with the problem.

So I turn to Master card, and explain the situation. They ask me how much is due me less what PayPal has sent me back. Master card says "no problem we will just take the money from PayPal for you. So that is what they did.

 

(To credit card companies PayPal is who they focus on. That's why PayPal has a "Resolution Center"....it keeps credit card companies off heir back)

 

Then PayPal contacts me and tells me they often cancel the accounts of members who initiate chargebacks against PayPal.

 

So PayPal is in the middle.

Hope you get your merchandise if you are a buyer.

If you are a seller. Ship things Registered Mail ONLY Then the person has to fully, and formally identify themselves. They could get arrested for using false id in a Post office.. UPS/FedEx , Global Espress, ....all are worthless in a security sense for the seller. (excepting insurance which is time consuming to collect) Has a delivery man or woman ever asked to see your driver's license? I don't think so.)

 

All a buyer has to say to their credit card company ... (who is 100% on their side)..is ... "I did not get the merchandise"....bango a chargeback to the seller! Rememger the ememy of the seller is the CHARGEBACK.......

Send it via Registered Mail, buyers have to formally idenified themselves to pickup the item.

Diamonds and securities are sent by Registered mail. It is the only mail under lock and key at night.Read the USPS description of Registered service

 

Ok enough with this gotta check ebay ....

cheers

 

Rafael

 

ps. Sorry to go off such a different direction with this can of worms, but buying is so big a part of photography. I don't like seeing people get screwed.