Lost majority of stealth accounts in one day

[hazy]

All on the same day I lost the majority of my stealth accounts because of "security concerns". I follow all stealth practices. The only difference between accounts that were suspended and ones that weren't, were the computers they were accessed on. The eBay Accounts were all suspended but none of the paypal accounts. The only thing I can think of is that the Mac desktop I had used, transmitted some unique data all of a sudden, but who knows.

[jojo2012]

Originally Posted by hazy

All on the same day I lost the majority of my stealth accounts because of "security concerns". I follow all stealth practices. .

This happened to me too a few months ago on 2 separate days, 2 days apart. I have a feeling it's not necessarily anything I did to link all accounts. I'm thinking it's a public database sweep. No public data=Security concerns = Suspended account. It's just a theory, but very possible.

[jeffweico]

Originally Posted by jojo2012

This happened to me too a few months ago on 2 separate days, 2 days apart. I have a feeling it's not necessarily anything I did to link all accounts. I'm thinking it's a public database sweep. No public data=Security concerns = Suspended account. It's just a theory, but very possible.

I don't think this is the case. eBay tends to check the account when you register them.

Also, the OP stated that all of the accounts she lost were accessed from one computer and the other accounts accessed on a different computer were just fine. If it was some sort of a sweep, the lost accounts probably would have been a mix of accounts from both systems. We would also be hearing from other users about it, there would be DOZENS of posts. But I DO like that you are thinking about what could have happened. Because ONE DAY, your theory COULD come true.

TO THE OP: Dont close those PayPal accounts. They MAY go down, but you can always use them for something else if they do not. I have a couple of PayPal's that I kept when an eBay account got burned and now I am thankful that I kept them.

[hazy]

Originally Posted by jeffweico

I don't think this is the case. eBay tends to check the account when you register them.

Also, the OP stated that all of the accounts she lost were accessed from one computer and the other accounts accessed on a different computer were just fine. If it was some sort of a sweep, the lost accounts probably would have been a mix of accounts from both systems. We would also be hearing from other users about it, there would be DOZENS of posts. But I DO like that you are thinking about what could have happened. Because ONE DAY, your theory COULD come true.

TO THE OP: Dont close those PayPal accounts. They MAY go down, but you can always use them for something else if they do not. I have a couple of PayPal's that I kept when an eBay account got burned and now I am thankful that I kept them.

Yea, the paypal accounts are on the backburner for now. One got limited yesterday... after I got the funds out Anyone think it could be the fact I was using a Mac? Some of my accounts were 3 years old with thousands of feedback. Never had an issue like this before. Just started using the mac a few months ago. Any other theories, ideas?

[GhostOfAmazon]

Originally Posted by hazy

Yea, the paypal accounts are on the backburner for now. One got limited yesterday... after I got the funds out Anyone think it could be the fact I was using a Mac? Some of my accounts were 3 years old with thousands of feedback. Never had an issue like this before. Just started using the mac a few months ago. Any other theories, ideas?

Call and ask what's going on. Stop asking us: We don't know. We can only guess. An eBay rep can give you insight.

[hazy]

Originally Posted by GhostOfAmazon

Call and ask what's going on. Stop asking us: We don't know. We can only guess. An eBay rep can give you insight.

OMG that's a great idea... I already have several times and each time was simply told I was a security concern. Why would you assume that I hadn't already called eBay? Sorry bud if I offended you somehow...

Now, is anyone else interested in sharing similar experiences or ideas and theories so that maybe we can actually shed some light on why this happened. I am currently speaking with another member who had a similar experience and we were both explicitly following stealth rules.

Just trying to connect the dots...

[GhostOfAmazon]

Originally Posted by hazy

OMG that's a great idea... I already have several times and each time was simply told I was a security concern. Why would you assume that I hadn't already called eBay? Sorry bud if I offended you somehow...

Didn't realize you weren't drinking the "calling eBay is the devil" kool-aid.....

My bad.

[dealagreeproceed]

Originally Posted by GhostOfAmazon

Didn't realize you weren't drinking the "calling eBay is the devil" kool-aid.....

My bad.

hmmm that makes no sense... he just said he did call...

[dealagreeproceed]

hazy listen dude. give more details man. no1 can help when the problem like your username is unclear and "hazy" <_>

[rsot]

Were the accounts selling similar items? Similar listings?

[GhostOfAmazon]

Originally Posted by dealagreeproceed

hmmm that makes no sense... he just said he did call...

Not in either of the posts prior to my comment.

Are you high?

[dealagreeproceed]

Originally Posted by GhostOfAmazon

Not in either of the posts prior to my comment.

Are you high?

uhhh wut... I guess so...

[jojo2012]

Originally Posted by jeffweico

I don't think this is the case. eBay tends to check the account when you register them.

Also, the OP stated that all of the accounts she lost were accessed from one computer and the other accounts accessed on a different computer were just fine.

My bad, I read i wrong originally,
The thing is, it happened to me last spring, almost 20 accounts on a Sunday and almost 20 accounts the next Tuesday. Mine where across different computers & some had not been accessed for over a year. Some had listed items & never sold, in other words a very big mix of lots of different accounts. After it happened i came back to the forums & I saw many other threads with similar stories apparently since last fall. I knew I wasn't alone.
I know database is checked when accounts are created (now) but most of mine where created in 2012. I was much easier then. They may not do a sweep that is ebay wide, (it would hurt there cash flow ). But maybe on smaller scales.
My strategy now will be to stagger account creation, in 2012/2013 i created about 100 accounts, in a 9 month period. I wasn't creating accounts in the last 2 years because 1. I didn't need 'em & 2. the ones I had were working so well. EBay taught me a lesson, now that i have a really good base built again I'm going to create 2-3 a month just in case. ...

[hazy]

Originally Posted by GhostOfAmazon

Didn't realize you weren't drinking the "calling eBay is the devil" kool-aid.....

My bad.

LoL it's cool, yea I figured what can they do, suspend me? haha

[hazy]

Originally Posted by rsot

Were the accounts selling similar items? Similar listings?

Thats the thing, some were and some weren't. Some are still selling the same items as ones that got hit, yet they didn't get hit. The only thing in common with the ones that got suspended vs the ones that didn't is the usage of different computers, one being a mac.

[yankee]

What browsers are you using?
What is the IP method?
similar ship from locations?
do you clean your pics?
are you using separate user accounts? If so are they all admin?
Phone numbers active?
VBA and credit cards all good?
have you been editing the from zip code if printing labels off ebay?

You called in to ebay on all the accounts and did not get any answers at all? Not a single rep read from the report? How long did you wait on hold while they investigated the reason to report to you?
I can usually get a good amount of info. I may have to call a few times but I can almost always get some info.

[GhostOfAmazon]

Originally Posted by yankee

You called in to ebay on all the accounts and did not get any answers at all? Not a single rep read from the report? How long did you wait on hold while they investigated the reason to report to you?
I can usually get a good amount of info. I may have to call a few times but I can almost always get some info.

Same here....I wasn't going to push the issue though.

[burke]

Yankee nailed it I was thinking of all those things too just did not feel like typing them

[hazy]

Originally Posted by yankee

What browsers are you using?
What is the IP method?
similar ship from locations?
do you clean your pics?
are you using separate user accounts? If so are they all admin?
Phone numbers active?
VBA and credit cards all good?
have you been editing the from zip code if printing labels off ebay?

You called in to ebay on all the accounts and did not get any answers at all? Not a single rep read from the report? How long did you wait on hold while they investigated the reason to report to you?
I can usually get a good amount of info. I may have to call a few times but I can almost always get some info.

I use a paid proxy service.
I use a 3rd party shipping/ label application
All pics are cleaned
Yes separate Admin accounts for each.
Phone/ VBA/ CC all good...Also, if not then I would imagine paypal would have limited the accounts as well.
I do not print directly off of ebay.

One rep. had me on and off hold and came back just to say their security team reviewed my account and triggered concern.

Another didnt put me on hold and said that they had an issue with the items I was selling. None of the other accounts had this item for sale.

The 3rd rep. transferred me to a different dept. which had me on hold for about 10 min to say ebay has made their final decision and the account is suspended indefinitely due to risk.

[GhostOfAmazon]

Originally Posted by hazy

One rep. had me on and off hold and came back just to say their security team reviewed my account and triggered concern.

Another didnt put me on hold and said that they had an issue with the items I was selling. None of the other accounts had this item for sale.

The 3rd rep. transferred me to a different dept. which had me on hold for about 10 min to say ebay has made their final decision and the account is suspended indefinitely due to risk.

So you only called 3 times....I'm guessing once for each account?

If you REALLY want to get to the bottom of this, you're going to have to be a LOT more persistent with eBay. They are the only ones who know for sure why the accounts were suspended.

[yankee]

could be your proxie along with a couple other things such as the items or catagory.

I lost 13 accounts a few weeks ago. I called ebay more than 100 times over three days. Basically my accounts were altogether different but unique at the same time. Similar selling methods, different items on all accountsbut all outdoor sporting goods and many within a certain category. All used the same browser, all had a similar IPS, all had similar ship from locations. A couple of accounts had loose links via IP during a single day. All were created around the same time. All were created with the same procedure. All had similar shipping styles and pricing. All account had 100% positive feedback or zero feedback.

NOT all have even sold an item or had been listed on.

My point of all this is that NOTHING seemed to be a solid link at all BUT several loose links.

Now 100% of my accounts that were created differently and different times and also had the same loose ip link the same days are cranking along just fine. All the paypal accounts are fine.

I find when they tell you nothing at all they suspect FooFoo. Pricing too low on a BIN can do this.

[miketyson]

What's up with the user accounts being admins ?