Buyer fraud? Requesting gift cards and sent direct paypal payment
Summary: katiemasters931 reported a potential buyer fraud involving a request for a PayPal payment and additional Steam gift cards for a pair of boots. ichopshop confirmed it was fraud and violation of eBay's TOS, while zee-chan-jpn-books advised not to proceed with the transaction and to contact eBay support. recped suggested canceling the order and blocking the buyer. Finally, a participant expressed concerns over reviving old threads and encouraged Anonymous User to seek updated advice on selling safely online. Anonymous User confirmed taking steps recommended by canceling the order and blocking the scammer.
Seller: me
Buyer: (no longer registered user)
item: $50 boots
Buyer messaged me about the boots requesting I respond via email/text... responded via email and she requested I ship the boots overnight and send $200 of Steam wallet gift cards as well. She sent $450 via paypal ($50 boots, $200 shipping and $200 Giftcards) and said they were a birthday present so I thought nothing of it. I thought it was just an odd request, but then my friend said it most definitely fraud. I haven't bought the giftcards and I emailed buyer back saying no i'm not comfortable with this especially since they are no longer registered as a user. However, how do I report them to ebay since they didn't technically buy my item?
reallynicestamps
·3 years agoZOMBIE THREAD FROM MAY 2019!
The reason zombie threads should be avoided is that the information in them may be obsolete and now incorrect.
That being said, I'm glad you spotted the potential fraud in time.
But I don't understand why you want to close your account. Please start a new thread and get some up to date advice on how to sell safely online.
ichopshop
·7 years agoYes of course it's fraud.
And you've violated eBay's TOS by selling off site.
Ian
katiemasters931
OP7 years agoSorry, I'm new and didn't realize this.
However, what i'm looking for is how I can report the buyer and make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else.
P.S. Thank you for your kind words.
zee-chan-jpn-books
·7 years agoSince they are "no longer registered as a user" that means other people have already reported them and they can no longer buy from that account.
It's good that you haven't bought the gift cards or sent them out yet. I'd phone eBay CS tomorrow for advice on how to proceed, and definitely do NOT ship anything out! It's clearly fraud because normal people wouldn't pay $200 shipping on a pair of $50 boots.
I'll tag a staff for you to see if he has any other advice for you tomorrow.
@tyler@ebay
recped
·7 years agoNo need to call eBay. Just cancel the order (find it in My eBay or the Hub , in the dropdown is a choice to cancel).
Normally you would open an Unpaid Item report but since the buyer has already booted there is no point in doing that and it takes longer to get a fee credit.
Anonymous User
·3 years ago