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Original poster

Is this a scam

43 replies

Ithinkitsenoughnow · 26/08/2022 20:57

I have absolutely no idea what the angle is here/how it’s a scam but this feels quite dodgy…please advise as you guys all know about these things:

I have been trying to buy a pair of shoes for ages which are out of stock. Found the pair brand new in box on eBay. Bought them. Immediately get an email saying the seller wants my number to arrange delivery. I think it’s a bit odd so say I don’t want to
give my number. They say there’s a strike so they want to arrange. They send me their number so I text them mine. He calls (I expected a woman as they are women’s shoes but it’s a man) and he says he lives near me and can meet me tomorrow at the station with the shoes/he’s cancelled the order via ebay so the money will be in my account again/I can check.

scam?! Nice bloke?! Does he now have my address?? He has 6 positive customer ratings on eBay tbf.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ithinkitsenoughnow · 26/08/2022 21:34

He is a seller where eBay have a 100% money back thing so I will just explain tomorrow what happened and check it’s cancelled

OP posts:
Original poster
Ithinkitsenoughnow · 26/08/2022 21:34

I hope he doesn’t actually live nearby though

OP posts:
Oncilla · 26/08/2022 21:35

How much do you want the shoes? It sounds suspect but if these are the dream shoes for your wedding or something there's more digging you could do to check him out.
Go back and check over the listing.
Sometimes it says where the user is based. Does that check out. If like in the example image attached it says Birmingham but you live in Bristol it's suss.
Are the pictures his own or has he used product photography? Not necessarily always a red flag but in this situation it would be better if it was clear he actually had hands on the product. If the photos look like he took them you could try Google image search to check if they're anywhere else.
Check the other items he has listed does it look odd or just like a person that sells his family's unwanted goods.
Google his username with and without quotation marks. Can you see the normal things that would indicate a real person, people often use the same username in other places like forums, Instagram etc.

It's all a bit digital Agatha Christie for a £5 sold out shoe from New Look BUT if you're after bargain limited edition Prada it might seem worth it.

Most importantly, if he has cancelled the transaction through eBay wait until the money has returned to you before you hand over any money. You'd have essentially lost all buyer protection you get with eBay and are now in the realms of gumtree/Facebook marketplace. The buying/selling wildwest. No backsies.

Is this a scam
Original poster
Ithinkitsenoughnow · 26/08/2022 21:39

It says he has sold 6 items but has 11 feedback comments which is odd. Can’t see his address. How do I find his previous sold items?

OP posts:
IcedOatLatte · 26/08/2022 21:42

Ithinkitsenoughnow · 26/08/2022 21:39

It says he has sold 6 items but has 11 feedback comments which is odd. Can’t see his address. How do I find his previous sold items?

Is that 11 feedbacks in total, not just as a seller? That doesn't really mean anything now as loads of people don't don't do feedback at all

. What is the location on the listing?

AlmostAJillSandwich · 26/08/2022 21:43

At best, he's trying to do an off ebay deal to save himself the 12.5% fees he'd be charged, at worst, he's trying to remove all of your buyer protection.

Original poster
Ithinkitsenoughnow · 26/08/2022 21:44

It says london as location. His other items are clearly photos he’s taken himself, as are the shoes - PlayStation parts and camera equipment type stuff

OP posts:
amicissimma · 26/08/2022 21:44

I'd just insist on doing it all through eBay, even if it means waiting for ParcelForce/Royal Mail/whatever-they're-called-these-days to get back to work.

If he cancels, he cancels and may never have had the shoes. I'd be inclined to report him and his shenanigans to eBay if that happens.

If he sends them as per eBay, if they exist you will get them eventually and only pay once. There are only 4 strike days at the moment: 26 and 31 August and 8 and 9 September, so you will only need to allow a few extra days for them to arrive before you contact eBay for non-delivery.

amicissimma · 26/08/2022 21:47

If he turns up at your house, do what you would do if any dodgy character did that. Tell him to leave and call the Police if he causes trouble.

Oncilla · 26/08/2022 22:33

Ithinkitsenoughnow · 26/08/2022 21:16

Crikey that’s scary

Show quote history

And incredibly unlikely.
For this to work
Either a) by some miracle/Lifetime movie plot he knew someone who lived in his area of criminal activity would buy the shoes. Of all the places in the UK the buyer could have been?
b) a slightly criminally minded person puts shoes on eBay, when he sees that the buyer lives near him he decides to pivot and commit a burglary scam.

That scam would also mean he somehow knows the following about you;
That you have anything worth pulling off this elaborate heist for. Did he Google your address and discover you live in the good part of town with the swanky cars parked outside?
That you don't have any security system, housemates, family, dogs, partner whatever meaning your house would be empty while you go to get the shoes.

Oncilla · 26/08/2022 22:49

Ithinkitsenoughnow · 26/08/2022 21:44

It says london as location. His other items are clearly photos he’s taken himself, as are the shoes - PlayStation parts and camera equipment type stuff

Sound fairly standard, he sells odds and ends from time to time.

Perhaps he thought he was being nice, you save on postage, as a bonus he saves buyer fees and gets cash in hand. Win win, TBH if he's not a big user of eBay he might not see why it seems off. I can see my Dad or husband seeing it from this angle. But we live in a smallish place, we can get overly complacent.

I would always send my husband though. Even living in a small place and having mutual friends with the sellers I almost never pick things up alone when I buy on FB marketplace.
And as other said you would be giving up your buyers protection.

girlfriend44 · 26/08/2022 22:53

Forget it it can't be worth this much worry and hassle for a pair of shoes.

BobbyBleu · 26/08/2022 23:01

I'd just say you want to stick with the shoes being posted. Say you aren't in any hurry.
If it's a scam then I assume he will back off and if he's genuine then I guess he will post them.
As a seller he needs to realise some people will still want things posted even if he does live nearby.

OnTheBrinkOfChange · 26/08/2022 23:01

I'm trying to think of a pair of shoes I would want that badly. I really can't.

demokitty · 26/08/2022 23:02

If you don't want to offend him but still want the shoes, just say you are clinically vulnerable and won't be able to meet him at the station, so you're happy to wait for the postal strike to be over. Also mention that you've been scammed in the past so need the transaction to go through eBay.

Thelnebriati · 26/08/2022 23:07

You can report him to ebay for trying to trade outside of ebay, but he would know its you.
If I were you, I'd make a note of his account (copy and paste the link to his page, not just his username) and then block him.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 26/08/2022 23:16

Do not engage in any actions outside of eBay
If this was legit, he would offer free collection or local delivery on his listing.As a buyer you have protection from eBay and PayPal
If he's refunded to your account I'd see it as a dodged a bullet moment
Any issues contact eBay
No pair of shoes is worth this uncertainty

Flackattack · 26/08/2022 23:53

Dodgy as! AVOID!!!

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