Reports on MC999 with new accounts I made

[john456]

Today I tested the following:

1. Created brand new paypal/eb US account
2. Waited a couple of days
3. Did limited browsing (3min), 1 bid, 2 watched items
4. Listed a no brand pencil with auction 1cent/3 days

Result: account got MC999 within 30min of item listed

I called customer service:
1. Was told suspension is because I have a new account and to keep ebay safe, they need to make sure I am really the person I am
2. asked me if I had the pencil with me and asked to explain what I would do if someone would buy the pencil from me (pack it/ship it was my answer)
3. was told my account looked good apparently

Result: account reinstated.

1. I asked for limit increase at the end of the call but was told to wait until end of the month and call again.

[john456]

Today I did another test but failed to get the account back via a phone call:

1. created US eb/paypal account
2. listed cheap item quickly with limited browsing history for 0.01c/3days auction
3. Item was a sport drink mix
4. Got MC999 30 min later

I called ebay:
1. I was asked where did I get the item and how I was planning on selling it and how I was expecting to get paid
2. Was put on hold for 2min
3. when the rep came back he said my account was posing a threat to the ebay community and basically sorry we can't tell you any info.

I didn't get any other questions.

My questions:
* what could have caused the automatic 'threat' flag? Could it be a no match in the public database?
* Every other details about this account is similar to accounts I have been growing (same way of getting the IP, VCC, VBA, phone number, separate windows account, etc.)
* Only difference on this account is that I used a condo tower for the address and put a bogus apartment number

[john456]

Here is the notice I got after the phone call

MC999 FPA NOTICE: eBay Registration Suspension - User Agreement - XXXXXXXXX
From: eBay
Sent: Aug-15-13 01:34 AM
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eBay sent this message to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.
Your registered name is included to show this message originated from eBay.
Learn more: http://pages.ebay.com/help/confidenc...id-emails.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------

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MC999 FPA NOTICE: eBay Registration Suspension - User Agreement - XXXXXXX
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hello XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX,

As part of eBay's security efforts, your account has been suspended pending additional account verification. To appeal this suspension, please go to:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/account/s...-accounts.html

Unfortunately, during the suspension you won't be able to use eBay in any way, including using existing accounts or registering new accounts. Any remaining listing fees are due right away and will be charged to the billing method you selected.

We understand this may be an inconvenience for you. However, keeping the marketplace safe is our top priority.

Sincerely,

eBay

Please don't reply to this message. It was sent from an address that doesn't accept incoming email.

This action was taken in accordance with the "Abusing eBay" section of the User Agreement. Review the User Agreement here:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/user-agreement.html

[GreenBean]

@john'

Be careful you left your user name on the post.

[Dmshark25]

U either were linked possibly a phone number was recycled and used by another ebay member and there could of been an IP from a recently sudspended account along with no record of you.

So it was probably a couple things together flagged the account immediately because even if u list high risk it usually takes 2-4 days to get taken down, so u tripped up couple things like I said that u would have no way of knowing, basically little bad luck

[rsot]

Could be that you just had a bad rep that day.

Threat to community with sport drink? Yeah right - this of course is figuring that you followed all stealth steps.

@john, do you always just wait few days before listing? No browsing and bidding before?

[vxmotorsport]

My conclusion in situations like that is you got linked, how is a question only you can answer... And if you followed all steps correctly then maybe like said you got unlucky with the phone number or something along those lines.

Just try again

[Hercules]

I do what I always did with success in the past but now I get flagged/pulled on every new acct.
I call and it's hit or miss nowadays

[vxmotorsport]

There has to be a way in what your doing to make the accounts causing the flag... Try switch things up a little.

[An0nym0u$]

I bought 2 accounts from a seller and got MC999's on both accounts. I was able to clear them up by a phone call.

I believed these were because the stealth info was not in ebay's database, so they had no way to verify them without live phone call.

I posted the steps that I followed to get reinstated here...

http://www.aspkin.com/forums/subscri...estricted.html

Is it possible you slipped up on one of the questions? If you're certain all stealth information on the 2nd account was completely different, then I lean towards rsot statement that you got a bad rep that handled the situation incorrectly.

You can try calling ebay again to get a different rep to see if you can at least salvage this account. Remember to act oblivious to the situation when calling ebay and be as polite as possible. You may be able to get it back, doesn't hurt to try. Good luck,

[MM78]

@John...were the Paypal's fully verified?

[Dmshark25]

If u create your accounts slow it helps big time

At first I hurried to get back to selling so I made 20 accounts too fast within 20 min each account was selling and I used to have to call in, got everyone reinstated

Now I create just 3-4 a month and ill setup the Paypal first fully verify and confirm , I find adding a credible bank at the beginning makes the account look much more credible

Than I create the ebay account 3 days later after Paypal is fully complete and I just browse for a week than link the two and I like listing a book as my first listing, sell it and let the account sit wait till the next month and sell items I normally sell to the limits and often I get raises quick
And more important no more mc999 and no call in

[Hercules]

For me it used to be a month wait with safe buying FB etc...many in a row safe passage. They are just being bigger pricks than usual now.
But the good thing is I don't wait, don't add a bank just wait for my item to be pulled and just call them. 9 out of 10 I get back with a limit raise to boot!

One note: the one I got asked for doc's had allot of questions about my odd apt # so I'm gonna try a different type of address to see if that's it.

[vxmotorsport]

Originally Posted by Dmshark25

If u create your accounts slow it helps big time

At first I hurried to get back to selling so I made 20 accounts too fast within 20 min each account was selling and I used to have to call in, got everyone reinstated

I created 20 accounts 1 after the other and all are still going strong, didnt even get 21 day holds on payments :o

eBay is a weird old world! Maybe the UK is more leniant then the US

[john456]

Thanks all for feedback. I totally agree on the stealth methods of building slow. I am doing 'speed test' right now. Trying to figure out how fast I can build a seller account without tripping eBay.

This particular account, the Paypal is fully verified with a bank and VCC. All reputable. Litterally 5min before getting this account blown out, I had just gotten another account reinstated by just calling. Both accounts share same methodology and providers.

Based on what you are saying, it may have been bad luck. I picked a condo tower in miami, got a google voice number in the area and popular spanish sounding name. That data could have been blacklisted.

I was clearly told 'the account is a risk to eBay'. There must have been something in the data I entered that caused a problem.

Agent not doing his job is another possibility. He did not seem to care, maybe end of a long day. I am always polite with staff and he asked minimal questions. I did try to call back right after but eBay call centers were getting saturated. After being on hold for 20min, i got automatically booted.

I will try to call again a little later tonight to see if I can salvage the account.

Thx
J.

[john456]

Originally Posted by vxmotorsport

I created 20 accounts 1 after the other and all are still going strong, didnt even get 21 day holds on payments :o

eBay is a weird old world! Maybe the UK is more leniant then the US

I am running UK accounts and yes it is MUCH easier than US in that regard. I am selling them to the max without any problems and even got a limit increase in the first 2 weeks on one of them.

[john456]

Just called back, got a nice rep and got the same answer:

"eBay thinks your account represents a business risk and we don't want to do business with you. Sorry we can't tell you anything."

It is very likely something in the data I entered causes a problem. Probably got a recycled phone number or picked a stealth name/stealth address too close to a real suspended account.

[GreenBean]

On your 1st account you said you listed a pencil starting at .01 cent as an auction

May trip flags as feedback manipulation.

How much could you expect a no brand pencil to end up going for? Hardly enough to cover your fees.
Such a listing may appear 'strange' to ebay. I know when I see these listings I giggle at the seller & think yep, stealth there.

[GreenBean]

With the 2nd account, I see several flaws.

A sport mix drink is branded. That might be an issue. Again starting at .01c auction is going to flag you. ( imo).
Using a known address but throwing in a non-existent apartment could flag the account too.

If ebay ran a database check, the address fails.

Not convinced what you list is sound enough to avoid the MC999. I prefer to not do .01 cent starting auctions.
My .2 cents

[john456]

All good points GB!

[john456]

I am testing the following today:

1. created a US eb/paypal account (paypal is fully verified with instant VBA + a good VCC)
2. listed within a couple of hours with almost no browsing history
3. Item is a couple of no brand office post it with 99c 7 day auctions (shipping is not free)
4. big thing I changed on this account compared to previous test is:
* the stealth address passes postal service verification (found a tool online)
* auction is 99c, not 1c

It has been up for 3 hours now. Previous account got MC999 within 30 min.

I will post what I found out.

[john456]

Listing still running and is visible in eBay search. Looks like it didn't catch the attention of any bots yet.