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Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Got someone trying to scam me out of £400. I sold a laptop which was brand new and sealed. 2 weeks later buyer opens case on paypal saying they've just realised they have received a completely different model to what they ordered and they think it's been used.

I messaged them back on the case right away saying it's not possible as i have only ever sold 2 models, model 1 I had 2 in stock and both have sold, model 2 I had 4 in stock and haven't sold so I've still got 4 left. I'm 100% sure i double checked the model number twice over when I packed it. Also it was defiantly security sealed and brand new I checked this when I purchased it.

The buyer didn't reply for a few days then replied with, I have pictures I can send them to you tell me how? also they are now claiming the model they received is the wrong one but the same model as my other ones which is a cheaper version of the one they purchased.

Again this is not possible. model 1 which they purchased I've only ever had 2 in stock. 1 sold 3 weeks ago and then they purchased the last one 2 weeks ago. At there time of purchase I only had 1 model for sale, so it's impossible for me to send them wrong one and it was only 6 days ago I received some new stock (model 2) and listed them on eBay.

I feel they've tried opening a case and making a load **** up and hoped for the best to try and get some money back. and after I've messaged them telling them it's not possible they've received wrong one, they've had a look at my account and seen I've got cheaper versions listed and now there changing the story abit to make it more believable to paypal by claiming they have received a cheaper version that I currently have listed.

Case has been open 6 days now still not received and pics of what they received, there account says there from Lithuania but they have a uk address that I sent to, also got zero feedback account was created a year ago.

Would be grateful for any advice not dealt with any cases like this before usually i sell low value items.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Only option really available to you is to let the buyer return the item for a full refund.

You could also offer to issue a partial refund if that would make them happy.

Totally sucks, but all part of business.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Sounds like they are going to send you some beat up Laptop OR they might end up switching out components. Electronics is probably the most scammed area of all.....Good Luck.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

yeh they're defiantly up to something. do you think I should contact paypal? surely they'll be able to see that at the time of the buyers purchase I did not have or have never listed the laptop there are claiming to have received. also I'm a powerseller and have a year of sales and trust behing me compared to someone with and account registered in Lithuania but address in uk zero feedback. will they not put 2+2 together and see I'm getting scammed?

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Never use Ebay to sell anything you are not ready to simply give away
paypal simply side with the buyer 100%
Notebooks should be collected and paid by cash for a safer deal

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

The buyer is in Lithuania??? Selling electronics is risky, selling electronics internationally is INSANE!

I'm not calling YOU insane, I'm just pointing out there is a HUGE RISK with these types of sales.

On new items that I buy for resale, all are lower value items (under $50).

I also sell rare and out of print books, some of which can sell for hundreds of dollars (I've even had a few sales north of $1k) but that category does not seem to attract very many scammers. STILL, I block international sales to the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Yeah, I refuse to sell internationally or None-Verified Accounts, I don't even sell/ship to Canada.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

My problem with Canada is not the people. I've never run across a Canadian scammer. But the POSTAGE went through the roof awhile ago. Still, if a customer wants to pay the shipping, I will ship to Canada.

My problem with Canada is their CUSTOMS department. In the US, they are looking for counterfeits and illegal items. I get that, I understand that. But in Canada, they are looking for TAX REVENUE and they are DOUBLE-EXTRA GREEDY! Not to mention, they often take their sweet time about processing my items.

I can't count how many times I have received a message from a Canadian buyer (or even had a case opened) for non-receipt of an item and then had the item show up a week later! DRIVES ME NUTS! It does not happen 100% of the time, but maybe 30%. I nearly gave up shipping to Canada, but I reconsidered in the HOPE things will get better.

And, before anyone asks, NO, I NEVER mark items as a gift and I always put the actual selling price of the item on the customs forms.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

They did not sell internationally they posted to a UK address but the account of the buyer just happens to have been started in a foreign country.
They do not need to be overseas these days they can scam you from your own country.

I am afraid the best advice, to me, was to just ask them to return it and hope they send back something you can sell on.

I know common sense says that paypal should see that these people are scammers but common sense and paypal/ebay claims rarely meet.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

let buyer know you are having witnesses and filming return...they may drop the case if a scammer.

film the return, have someone with you to hold camera, watch the tracking so you know when to expect it, at the door, film the signing and keep continuity, and then ask carrier to wait 1 minute while you open box, still filming get close ups of product and any codes, film close-up of tracking label number (as it should match the one uploaded by buyer)....post on youtube for the case if needed.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

That's rough to hear but for sure, the custom duties are annoying...I have had things shipped from the States and seller has marked gift for me - of course, my reputation as a buyer is solid on my buying account

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Does the gift thing work in Canada?

I recall sending to a Canadian as a gift thinking I would save them the charge, only for them to bitch about it, as it did not work like that in Canada and they had to pay for it due to being marked as a gift.

Heard of someone trying that before only to be ignored by paypap. They refused to watch it.

They also refused to request a copy of the buyers receipt for someone that had sent a recorded letter in replace of an item through the post. The difference in weight would have shown the scam but they just refused point blank.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Nope. paypal are refusing to deal with these. Too many got overdone.

:smash:

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Also I suppose the other side of the argument would be how would that prove what the seller sent to the buyer in the first place.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

how about seller protection instead of buyer protection or both?

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Smoking gunja early today I see.

There is an allegation that seller protection exists.

Problem is unless all boxes and a few more are ticked, a seller gets screwed by buyer & then paypal.

Fine line to stay 'safe' when a seller.

:pout:

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

i suggest you call paypal and let them know about this user.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

When you buy at auctions they use the term buyer beware on ebay they just say seller bend over and apply your own Vaseline if you do not want this to hurt too much.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

got it KY gel and one problem i have none left lol

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

The buyers account says from Lithuania but there address is from uk. I sell internationally but only low value items.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Buyer has still not responded with any information or photos of the laptop. should I escalate the case to paypal to put abit of pressure on them?

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

I wouldn't but others may know better.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Update to this thread:

after buyer claimed to have received a cheaper model laptop, one which stock arrived and I listed it on eBay 1 week after there purchase. one which I have never sold on eBay previous to there purchase. i request buyer to upload photos as I knew it would be impossible for them to as I never had the cheaper version listed at there time of purchase.

3 days go by, in that 3 days i sell one of the cheaper models to a different buyer which leaves me with 3 left in stock. 3 days later I get an email from scammer buyer with multiple photos of the cheaper version laptop I have for sale. they have clearly went to some lengths to get these photos and even though I know I've been scammed i offer them part refund of £100. buyer accepts.

Now for the better bit.
3 days pass and I get an email from another buyer. the one who bought the cheaper version laptop while I was in middle of dispute with scammer buyer waiting for them to upload pictures. They want to return for a refund as there not happy with it.

I check there account. Guess what! it's another buyer with an account made in Lithuania with uk address with 0 feedback. both accounts made in 2013 2 months apart.

while I was I dispute with the scammer buyer and requested photos they've bought one of the cheaper laptops off me with another account, used it for photo evidence to scam me now they want to return it.

Clearly getting abused by this person now and not sure what I should do, Ive got 4 options. contact ebay let them know everything. contact the police. let them return it and say I've received an empty box and play them at there own game. take a 2 hour drive to there address and break every bone in there body.

So p***ed of every penny i make is for my 2 year old girl and makes me so angry some little low life is taking it away from her.

please advise on what to do people can't think straight..

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Have a feeling if you ask them to return it you will be getting an empty box back anyway,

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

I won't sign for an empty box. will refuse to take it.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

If you refuse to sign for the item then it is possible PayPal/eBay will side with the buyer and issue a refund anyway.

What is the return policy for the send laptop you sold?

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

eB/pp are known to not give a rat's a$$ about selected return policy.... :pry:

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Not sure what is the best advice on this one as if you went to the police then I don't think they get involved in this, unless they have some new online fraud thing going. (Maybe check google)
Also people have went to the police in the past have had to face the wrath of ebay, who stupidly do not like that sort of thing.

I would possibly try going through the ebay system first, as I have noticed there has been some change with their policy and a few more people than normal have been winning.
But and it is a big BUT! be prepared to loose the account if ebay have not changed as much as they claim, as in the past any fraud seems to have hurt two accounts and they have just shut down the sellers account also.

never dealt in electronics and even when i have had options on them, I have avoided them like the plague. But maybe someone that actually deals in them a lot will have more idea on safe guarding you for the future.

Possibly changing some of your buyers settings to block buyers without feedback and such may help in the future. But that depends on your normal buyers.

You never know ebay may look at their accounts and see they were both made by the same person, as I know a lot of countries work with a fixed IP system.

What is the actual loss, rather than the RRP loss, as you may be better off working on ways to prevent this in the future and again ebay may have ideas on this or sellers of this product, as these scams will intensify until someone deals with it.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

My returns policy for the laptops is that I accept returns as long as they have not been used and are still factory sealed. scammer is saying there not happy with the quality of the sound of the laptop and want to return for a refund.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

You lost man request a return and wait for whatever they send you and refund them. Nothing else you can do

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Partly true, sadly.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Distant selling regulations would kick in at this point and ebay and paypals regulations and I suspect it would be considered not fit for purpose if they are saying something is not working right.

I hope you get it back but I somehow doubt it, as it seems like a lot of work for getting a discount on an item. But stranger things have happened.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Distant selling regulations only apply if the account was sold by a business. If the eBay account is not registered as business (as in its a personal account) distant selling regulations would not apply. Worth baring in mind :thumb:

Strikes me as the only thing you can do is ask them to return the item and hope that they do return the actual item.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Not many people selling computers like that under a personal account and ebay and paypals system has the same principle whatever account you have.
You have to supply the buyer with something that works, and as these things are sealed in the box the seller has no way of arguing that they do work and it does not suffer from some manufacturing fault.

But I do agree ask them to return it is likely to be the only option

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Ask for the return, if you do get an empty box and the case goes to the buyer appeal the decision with a police report.

I did the same and won the case on appeal with a police report for an empty box return.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

You use a thai police report and won that is awesome

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Yes! The police report was in Thai, but we also have a tourist police force as well who are Western volunteers, I asked one of the lads there to translate it in his break. He did for $5!

It looked like something I had done on the computer but I explained it was a legal translation, it wasn't, they accepted it and I won, think it was about $600 as well.

Re: Someone trying to scam me out of £400
 

Nice very nice