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AIBU?

eBay fraud

25 replies

Ricecrispies16 · 10/04/2017 11:45

I posted recently about selling my phone on Gumtree, I decided against selling it on there as it all felt a bit odd...

So today I've listed it on eBay. Near enough straight away I've received messages asking my final price. I've then messaged with the final price and they've offered me more and asked for my Paypal address.

What is the safe way to sell on eBay?! How can I ensure I don't end up out of pocket? I don't want to send the phone for them then to say it wasn't sent or somehow reclaim the money. It's a lot of money, so I want to get this right.

OP posts:

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hamandmustard · 10/04/2017 11:48

No. Only see through eBay. they are getting you to do an off eBay trade. They will scam you in some way, reversal, fake account, stolen card.

Only sell through the site. Only accept paypal or a cleared cheque. Post signed for (so special delivery for a phone) keep the delivery receipt for 6 months as they have that long to charge back through paypal.

wasonthelist · 10/04/2017 11:48

How have you listed it? If it is an auction with no buy it now option just let the auction run - do not end it early.

I personally don't even respond to "final price" or "last price" messages now - but that's just me.

hamandmustard · 10/04/2017 11:48

Only SELL through eBay not see.

Ricecrispies16 · 10/04/2017 11:50

I think I will let it run. The people that have messaged all have similar stories saying it's for their son as a birthday gift.

So if I let the auction run, then at the end the winning bidder pays into my PayPal account I then send the phone recorded/signed for and save the receipt and I'll be fully covered?

OP posts:

wasonthelist · 10/04/2017 11:50

Also don't allow collection in person.

DragonFly76 · 10/04/2017 11:51

Don't accept anything outside of eBay, if you've chosen to have an auction let it run its course, make sure you take pictures of serial number or imei number, only send to the address on PayPal and/or eBay account, send recorded delivery so you have everything on your side. EBay won't protect you if you deal with them outside of their site. Am sure people will come with more tips.

wasonthelist · 10/04/2017 11:53

I'll be fully covered?
Yes and no - Paypal seem to have form for giving unjustified refunds - I personally wouldn't accept paypal at all for large sums. Whenever I have sold costly electrical goods it's been face-to-face cash only (although ebay "rules" used to insist on paypal I refused it). Not much is 100% safe and there seem to be a lot of crooks about.

wasonthelist · 10/04/2017 11:55

What I meant about collection in person was don't accept Paypal payments if the item is being collected - Paypal wants a tracking number if things go wrong and you don't have that if the buyer collects.

wasonthelist · 10/04/2017 11:56

send recorded delivery

No - use special delivery - it has proper tracking.

MovingtoParadise · 10/04/2017 11:56

For a phone you need the opposite. You need collection and cash only.

The biggest scam is them buying your phone and saying it's not working and then sending you a shit phone back.

Even with photos of the phone that you send they still claim they sent that phone back ! It's a total minefield.

Cash/collection only.

MadeForThis · 10/04/2017 12:02

Anyone that is offering you more money than you asked for is dodgy.

Why would any genuine buyer want to pay more? iPhones are available everywhere online. It's not a special unique item.

I agree with everyone.
Collect in person and cash only. Also be careful that the phone isn't switched if they decide to not go ahead with the purchase.

DragonFly76 · 10/04/2017 12:05

Sorry that's what I meant, special delivery, basically take all measures necessary, the hukd forum has plenty of horror stories on their and plenty of advice on what to do, worth having a look before sending

Greystars · 10/04/2017 12:13

do it all through eBay and PayPal and check the addresses.

DH had a nightmare with one of his, person won and started to ask to pay less - if that happens do not proceed and don't send the phone, contact eBay it's a well known scam.

araiwa · 10/04/2017 12:16

take it to a shop in town that buys them

i dont how much different the price will be, but its much easier and safer than ebay

Helspopje · 10/04/2017 12:20

Someone has offered me a bank transfer for a set of stuff off a Facebook market place. Is that dodgy? Should I insist on paypal

wasonthelist · 10/04/2017 12:27

Someone has offered me a bank transfer for a set of stuff off a Facebook market place. Is that dodgy? Should I insist on paypal

Both of these carry risks - the risks are different.

wasonthelist · 10/04/2017 12:31

I have paid for stuff and accepted payments using these methods btw (bought a car from a private individual using bank transfer for example) but I balance risks and practicality. Barring forgeries, dealing face to face in cash is the lowest risk - but it can be impractical.

The amount of money involved helps me to decide.

Collaborate · 10/04/2017 13:48

I'm another one who would advise you take cash only. Paypal seem to never side with the seller, so you lose all control and are at the mercy of any unscrupulous sellers.

SquinkiesRule · 10/04/2017 14:01

I go to a shop in town and sell in person like someone else suggested.
We bought a car through ebay, but paid in person cash and met at their house.

Buxtonstill · 10/04/2017 16:34

Don't use bank transfers. don't give your bank account details to anyone you don't know.

Cakescakescakes · 10/04/2017 16:36

Go to CEX or somewhere. eBay is a nightmare for phone sale fraud.

EarlGreyT · 10/04/2017 17:47

The people that have messaged all have similar stories saying it's for their son as a birthday gift.

That's often a line used by scammers. I'd block the lot of them, or if that's OTT certainly the buyer who is offering you more than your BIN price. To block them you go to seller account, then site preferences and then buyer requirements and you can block people by username on there.

Unfortunately if you end up in a dispute with a buyer, eBay almost always take the side of the buyer.

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foxyloxy78 · 10/04/2017 18:57

I am selling something on gumtree and the buyer wants to pay me via PayPal. Why would they just not give me cash as this is something they need to collect?

Redglitter · 10/04/2017 19:05

Because they can tell PayPal the items faulty/didn't arrive/isn't as described and claim their money back foxy

If they're collecting insist on cash

wasonthelist · 10/04/2017 19:13

There are some odd folk around who seem to think Paypal is "safer" than cash - perhaps due to their marketing.

The fact is, pretty much everything is subject to risks, even cash (which could turn out to be forged).

As others have said, sadly because Paypal deals with so many transactions they can't afford to spend much time figuring out the rights and wrongs (and still make plenty of profit) so apparent injustices occur.

Whilst most people are decent and honest, others are good at working out how to profit from this and other schemes.

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