I Got Scammed on eBay
By Chris on Jun 1, 2006 in Ebay
I could have also called this entry “Always Trust Your Gut” or “Paypal’s Buyer Protection System Sucks Donkey Schlong”. I’ve already told you I love eBay – I use it all the time and I like to think I’m reasonably eBay-savvy, especially when it comes to spotting a scam. Alas, even the best of us have an off day.
Before I begin my tale of woe, let me set the scene. You may or may not have noticed the not-so-subtle hints littered around this blog; I want an Xbox 360 (quite badly I might add). I’ll also state for the record that I was surfing on a 30″ LCD screen at the time.
So onto the story. I’m hitting eBay, looking for a bargain ’360. There are one or two which stand out so I add them to my watch list. I then come across what looks like an absolute bargain; an Xbox 360 Premium Pack on Buy It Now for £200 + postage. I went through my usual routine – check buyer feedback (a couple of blips, but most look like they were solved amicably), read the description over a few times to make sure it seems legit. It looked OK at the time (on a high-res screen where the default eBay text looks small at the best of times). I will admit there was something not sitting right with me, but I put it down to feeling guilty about making such a luxury purchase. Looking back, I should have trusted my instinct, but instead I hit the Buy It Now button and paid by Paypal. Mistake #1.
After going out to get a sandwich I come back to two emails; the first is from another ebayer telling me the listing I just bought was a scam, while the second was from another eBayer who had bought on the same listing. He had also received emails saying it was a scam and was asking if I had received any of the same emails or had heard from our seller. The first eBayer had mentioned a line in the auction which stated the listing was for info, not a product, but I couldn’t see it anywhere. Getting a mighty sick feeling in my stomach, I mail the seller asking him what the deal was.
No response, even when I got home several hours later (though he had been quick enough to send the invoice). Moving onto my laptop, I check up on the seller. His feedback has dipped a few points after negative feedback. Checking the listing the feedback was for, it turned out to be the very one I had bought from. Checking the listing again, this time on the lower-res laptop screen I was just able to make out the line in the description I’d been told about (it was seriously tiny). Bugger bugger bugger.
The panic alarm was going off now and a mix of fear (“sh*t, I might have just lost £200!”) and anger (“some f*cker’s stealing my money!”) was beginning to could my judgement. “Paypal!” I thought, “they have buyer protection! I’ll dispute the payment on the grounds the description uses deceptive tactics to get people to bid on what they think is an Xbox 360 but isn’t.” Off I toddle to Paypal and file the claim. Unfortunately I mistakenly listed it as a “Not Delivered” dispute (there are only two options, I meant to go for the other one). Mistake #2.
Filing a dispute gives you and the seller a chance to work things out before Paypal get called in to investigate (making a claim). I state my case as fairly as I can – along the lines of “The listing uses a dishonest technique to get people to bid on something the listing is not.” but a bit more wordy. I leave the door open for a amicable resolution, thinking we can sort it “like Gentlemen”. Hah!
Almost immediately, the seller responds by escalating the dispute into a claim. At this point I’m cut off. I cannot send a message to the seller via Paypal anymore (you can contact the seller direct, but Paypal can’t review that information so it’s pretty much pointless), nor is there a way for me to provide any additional information to Paypal. The seller has since provided Paypal with a postage tracking code. I have a sinking feeling that because I mis-filed my claim this will be all he needs to get off with it. I’ll find out in a couple of days I guess. Paypal won’t investigate until then so the package has time to arrive. Of course, it might actually be
The one hope left is that eBay have since suspended the seller. This may count for me in my case against him, though I don’t hold out much hope. I suppose if I’m to be pragmatic about this, it’s a learning experience and one of life’s little tests. Yes it would suck to lose £200, but keeping it in perspective, it’s not going to be the end of the world. I also fully recognise my own failings in all this. If I were to summarise:
- Always trust your gut; if something seems too good to be true, walk away.
- Make sure you file any claims to Paypal in the correct area.
- Only file if you have exhausted all communication with the seller.
Have you ever had to deal with the Paypal Buy Protection System? Ever had the misfortune of being scammed on eBay or another auction site? Share your stories in the comments.
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donna | Jun 14, 2006 | Reply
I was wondering what was the final result with your purchase. I once filed a claim with Paypal and got immediate action – so I was pleased with my outcome.
Chris | Jun 14, 2006 | Reply
I’m still waiting unfortunately. The seller has been suspended from eBay and everything, but no movement from Paypal.
Jason | Jun 17, 2006 | Reply
I got scammed buying an XBox 360 as well – sent the guy a check because he had a mountain of positive feedback. Never shipped, 7 weeks later he sent a refund check which bounced and was no longer registered on Ebay (over 600 feedback and this happened!). Suddenly a bunch of negative feedback shows up after I sent payment. I am thinking this has been an expensive lesson with 2 points:
1) Be wary of purchasing expensive items on Ebay, most notably if the item is very popular. This entices you to purchase the item and accept the risk (getting a popular item for a reasonable price)
2) Never, ever, under any circumstance, pay with anything but a credit card (even through Paypal), which you can dispute and are protected from fraudulent transactions. If the seller wont take Paypal and allow you to use a credit card, dont bother bidding. It just is not worth the hassle and risk. Even if they have 1 million positive feedback with 100 percent positive! The seller could have sold their ebay login / business to a less reputable person.
You only need to get burnt once to realize the importance of this lesson. I hope this advice helps someone out, too late for me though. I will continue to use EBay but I will defintely stick to the 2 points mentioned above.
nervous50 | Jul 5, 2006 | Reply
I got taken for $2500 usd when I bought a motorcycle I found on ebay. The listing disapeared but the seller emailed me outside of ebay. If this happens to you do not send any cash, trust me, explaining to my wife that the $6000 bike I had just bought for $2500 probably didn’t even belong to the guy I bought it from sucks. I made a report to everybody I could and now I’m just waiting on a reply from someone although I’m sure I will never see my money again.
Kevin | Jul 12, 2006 | Reply
Okay, let me get this straight: because YOU can’t read, somehow that equals to the seller scamming you? LOL, okay, whatever. I’m also guessing that Paypal scammed you too since YOU incorrectly filed your claim? Methinks something is amiss alright, but not where you think it is…..
Gavin | Feb 18, 2008 | Reply
I too have been scammed on eBay, eBay’s repose has shocked me and I certainly will tell everyone who will listen why you should NOT by via this site.
I purchased a laptop with a legal copy of Windows XP Pro. I paid and about 3 weeks later the laptop arrived (so much for the 2-7 days postage). The laptop had no COA from Microsoft but was a working copy of XP, after the fist updates from Microsoft the machine would no longer allow me to login so I call Microsoft to be told you are using an illegal copy and face fines…. I lodged a dispute with eBay and after 2 months of broken promises I sent my dispute to the Trust and Security Team. Ha what a laugh, the seller is still trading selling the same to other unsuspecting buyers and eBay lets them trade. They look after the sellers as thats where they get their fees, as long as they are getting fees they don’t give a toss.
They referred me to the police and this was the polices response. I you bought a laptop from xmart and you have a problem do you come to the police? No you take it back to xmart no mater where they got it it is their problem. eBay seems to think it can get away with allowing these scams to go on and then instead of taking care of the buyer they protect the seller (try get a sellers address from eBay) and try to get the tax payer to fit the bill by sending anyone with complaints to the police. If xmart and all the other store had to do that the police (already understaffed and resourced) would not be able to even respond to crimes.
So I lost my money but left the seller negative feedback explaining the problem (in the small space you are provided). The seller responded by leaving me negative feedback saying I sell stolen and faulty goods and my 100% positive feedback is ruined. I contacted eBay who said they would not remove feedback even if they are lies but I could apply to have my feedback to the seller removed which would also clear his feedback to me. WHAT???? I must remove my feedback warning other buyers that this seller sells illegal software to remove his feedback which is all lies??? I don’t think so, no wonder he has only good feedback, eBay ensures that by making you remove your negative feedback to the seller in order to clear your name.
3 months on and this crook is still scamming away on eBay and nothing gets done, a few others have dared to give him negative feedback but some have given in to clear their names, eBay only looks after the person paying them fees and that my friends is the seller.
P.S. The police case was closed as the police were unable to track the seller via the mobile number and wrong address supplied to them by eBay.
Frank | Aug 1, 2008 | Reply
I hate eBay for the simple reason there are so many scams going on there! When I buy things online now I strictly purchase through large websites or through Craigslist, where I can meet the buyer face to face and view the product. You should write a review about the person or business that scammed you at http://www.ReviewPage.com or http://www.ViewPoints.com.
Someone | Aug 30, 2008 | Reply
eBay is NOT what it use to be. Times have CHANGED.
Even if your a seller, people will pay you then file a chargeback to get their money back once they receive the item!
The problem with eBay is it’s just TOO EASY to scam people. The whole idea of buying stuff from strangers who live 3000 miles away is just crazy.
eBay today is 90% scams. Even if you receive an item, it will NOT be what you expect it to be.
Let’s face it, Amazon is better. I only buy my stuff on Amazon now. I am DONE with eBay forever.
Sending Money to someone over the internet who lives in another state on the other side of the country is NOT smart.
jake | Oct 23, 2008 | Reply
its not that he couldn’t read, it’s that the guy made the print so small that you would only be able to read it on a low-res screen. so yes, he was scammed.
Tomeko | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
I’m really sad for all those, who where scammed and that will continue to get scammed by trashy people. trust me what goes around come around 3 folds.One real true lesson is to read every details and every word with understanding.If you’re not sure on what your reading, get someone to help you understand before buying anything from anywhere!Some people are just out to rob and hurt peolpe now a days . Last to say, where all living in a very different changed world, where some people don’t give a damn to get ahead on someones else treasures. We are in a hard cruel world now! So watch your backs and protect yourself from the enemies out there! When you aleast espect them, they’re always pop up on you from out of nowhere!So keep your eyes scanning around you because they will, be out to get whom ever!I wish everyone the best for the future!!!!!!
Becker | Aug 18, 2009 | Reply
OK this probably is typical case but just an extra buyer beware, I’ve been ordering items from Chna/HongKong and most of the time it is all good great prices and the items were all good until the last one I ordered from some Ebay seyfettin turk
with Email: aloha1453@gmail.com BEWARE!!!
. Got a pen camera tested it and it seemed to work just needed a charge, MISTAKE # I gave good feeback there without checking that the item will charge there was something wrong and the thing wouldn’t charge don’t give good feedback until the item is fully proved to work as advertised
MISTAKE #2 Seller asked to send it back I did send it standard without a tracking number after that he never answered the emails put a claim on Paypal but without a tracking number they sided with the guy.
MISTAKE #3 I let the Paypal to pick the money from the Checking account and not the credit card. I usually let it pick fom my Amwerican Express and they do stand behind you for cases like this. If you can let it pick from the CC one extra layer of protection.
Hope this helps someone else .. does not feel so great being taken for a ride. Just cutting my losses and hope it doesnt happen to somebody else.
Mike | Dec 1, 2009 | Reply
Paypal and Ebay suck! Seller Protection my rump. I sold an item on E-bay this past summer. I had a buyer who asked if it could be sent out ASAP, I told him no problem. His feedback looked great, I thought no problem. Well, his deposit showed up in Paypal, I shipped. Then 8 to 12 hours later, I get an email telling me to not ship. Great, so I’m calling Fed-Ex, calling Paypal, calling Ebay. Way too late all the way around.
I had Fed-Ex going to the delivery spot everyday, contacted the Michigan State Police and the Phillidelphia Police. Hmmm…. Seems no one cares about the situation.
Fed-Ex finally made contact, and payment posted and cleared Paypal, and showed transaction complete. Then 15 days later, Paypal wants the money back. I told them that they need to visit the buyer if they wanted the money.
They have now sicked IC Systems on me. So where is my seller protection? EBay and Paypal are a joke that just doesn’t care about the patron any more. They do seem to care about the scammers going without punishment though.
clayrenoit | Jan 11, 2010 | Reply
I have been with EBAY for a number of years and sold stuff on there site and used this free relisting perks that ebay gave to re-sale something that did not have a chance to sell. So i list this junk $10 ring and it never got any bids for the first 10 days zero bids. So ebay ask me if i wanted to re-list and i said yes.So i relisted this ring because of zero bids i relisted it 5 times and i removed it. I had taken it off ebay and got an email from Ebay an it stated that the relistings are not free and i will be charged $385 just for relisting fees only and that i needed to pay now. This was back in Jan 2009. I don’t think that its fare for them to say that the relist is free to keep your item on there site and just maybe it will sale. And want to charge a relisting fee because i re-moved the item because it did not sell.. So they call everyday and i just toll them that i am not please with there services and they said that ebay allowed me to use there site and sell my things and that they think that i should pay them. Like hell I don’t care what you do are want to do!!!!!! sue me, you can’t eat me.There are so many other sites out there that people can use. I have always used ebay becuase of all the other times useing free relisting fees and sold stuff like crazy. But come to think about it just maybe, i was charge all the relisting fees like how would i no. sometimes i was just glad it sold. Come to think about thats why i never made any money because i was jacked up with all the relisting fees…EBAY I AM NOT GOING TO PAY YOU, AN ON THE OTHER HAND YOU NEED TO PAY ME. LIKE WHAT ABOUT ALL THE OTHER TIMES THAT I SOLD STUFF WITH YOU GUYS.WHATS FUNNY IS THAT I CAN CALL YOU GUYS 365 DAYS OUT THE YEAR AND ASK YOU TO PAY ME ALL THE MONEYS THATS OWED TO ME FOR SELLING STUFF THAT HAD BEEN RELISTED. I COULD MAKE SOME MONEY!!! SO YOU GUYS ARE NOT GOING TO PAY ME SO WHY SHOULD I PAY YOU!
Natalie | Feb 4, 2010 | Reply
I’ve been buying from eBay for a few months now. Things like jewellery, books etc. I was on eBay, looking at iPods because I wanted a bargain. I tried to bid on a couple, only to be outbid several times. So I came across a buy it now third gen iPod for only £45 but £6.50 p&p! Outrageous but I went ahead and purchased it anyway. A few days later, it arrived. What the hell? It was wrapped in bin bags and the box was a cat food box. I’ve never seen any worse packaging in my life. £6.50? That cost her nothing! She advertised the iPod saying it had a “few scratches but in full working order” What lies! It is covered in scratches and it looks like burn marks on the click wheel. It doesn’t even work properly or I wouldn’t be that bothered. I messaged her twice and I am awaiting a reply for a refund. I’m hoping I have not been scammed.
sydney lee duncan | Feb 15, 2010 | Reply
shut up jerk, you would be upset too if you lost $200 (assuming that you evean have that much money in the first place)
sydney lee duncan | Feb 15, 2010 | Reply
oh, that was to “Kevin” by the way
Ash | Mar 9, 2010 | Reply
The scam is old and really you should READ the listing properly, i am not condoning what any BAD seller does BTW.
Sorry but buyers really dont understand how many SCAMMERS sellers get, we get them all the fucking time, my block list is huge coz im sick of toerags tryin to free stuff from me.
Buyers just have to be diligent, sellers have to be like bloody HAWKS!
Takes us days waiting for the ignorant PESTS to communicate, they never do, they win our stuff never pay or try and scam a multiple amount of ways. Its a shame but the sellers have to watch out for each other, i dont trust any BUYER on ebay anymore, had enough of people taking my money coz of my good will.
Sorry, the seller scam here was shit but you wanna read listings properly in future.
Ash | Mar 9, 2010 | Reply
And Kevin, grow up, its shits like you that piss us sellers off with your attitude to whats right and wrong, i’d rip your heads and shit down your throats if you all had the balls to face us!
btccfan | Mar 9, 2010 | Reply
It really sucks that you have to be so careful on ebay these days, I have sold over 200 items (I know that’s not much in the grand scheme of things) but I have never been scammed once, my feedback is full of glowing reports, even one from a guy I forgot to post his printer to until he sent me an email 2 weeks later! and he still gave me positive “perfect ebayer” crap once it got there 18 days late! Either I haven’t sold enough to find the scammers yet or I’m extremely lucky.
And on the subject of not getting scammed, I wonder how many sellers put lost post down to scammers? I have had 3 no shows in 3 years, but quite rightly never been called a scammer. I may have a naughty neighbour but as I live in the UK and most of our post seems to get dumped or stolen by the postmen I don’t worry about it too much!
btccfan | Mar 9, 2010 | Reply
Oh and plus, it’s been over 3 years now so you might have grown up a bit but I still bet you’re a complete twat KEVIN!
Amy | Apr 8, 2010 | Reply
Just thought I would throw out that I have seen a Judge Judy episode with this exact case. She looked at the seller who very confidently handed over the listing that said it was for a picture of a phone (and not an actual phone) and ripped them a new one. She ruled in favor of the buyer, stating that no one in their right mind would pay that much for just a picture and that they clearly thought they were getting a product.
Melissa | Oct 19, 2010 | Reply
i recently got scammed by an ebayer too.i bid for a 2nd hand psp and in the description the seller said that the psp does not have a battery cover/lid but it was 100% FUNCTIONAL and only has minor cosmetic scratches. i live in Sydney and the item was also shipped from the seller in Australia. i won it for $78 including shipping and took the item approximately 8 days just to arrive.
when it arrived i opened the package and noticed the item did not have a battery at all. and also the item is full of scratches and the game slot can’t even shut. the seller had just taped it shut with duct tape. i got upset and i sent a message to the seller for refund and i had outlined the defects in the item.
the seller sent me a rude reply saying he wasn;t afraid if i would wana fight with him all d way. the message was in broken english but i could grasp the meaning of what he meant.
the next day i filed a complain on pay pal. (16/10/2010) and pay pal has given the seller till the 26th to respond. so far the seller is yet to respond and i am still waiting. i doubt the seller would respond. but yeah just an advice to everyone be careful when purchasing expensive items on ebay. now after i have purchased that item i only start noticing a few negative feedback on d sellers page
pete | Nov 29, 2010 | Reply
I have bought and sold items for a few years on ebay and I have only ever had 2 dodgy listings (not from me I add!).
The first was when I was selling an old mobile phone i neither wanted nor needed. I would be quite happy to receieve £30 for the phone, but when I did the listing, I started at 99p with no reserve. I did realise when I listed it and before any bids, but generally I couldn’t be bothered to change it and thought it may sell well with no reserve. As the listing went on, I had a few bids and it went up to around £70! This wasn’t uncommon as I did know that similar phones sold for alot more at the time. At the end of the listing, the bids rocketed and went up to £160! I was amazed, but dubious at the same time. So the listing ended for £160. I then mailed the winner with the invoice, but heard nothing. 3 days later, I sent another message through ebay asking if they still wanted the item, if not then i would give the 2 highest bidder a chance or be relisting the item. I also stated that in the listing I would only accept paypal. 2 days later I received a reply stating that the item had been paid for and could I ship the item. I checked my paypal and there was no payment. I checked my email and had an email that looked like paypal had sent it and it stated that once I entered the shipping details then full payment would be completed. Apparently I was supposed to ship to nigeria. Well this was a no no as in my listing I also stated “postage to the uk only”. After 3 or 4 messages through ebay to the winner, I got fed up as he still kept saying that he had again paid and yet again every time, I received an email but nothing through paypal. So I told him that I would be relisting the item and reported him to ebay. That was the last I heard from him and nothing bad came to me.
So my advice is keep contact through ebay and not outside, and if you are suspicious then tell them as soon as you can as it means they can get rid of these bogus buyers and sellers at least for a short while so we innocent and truly trusted people can carry on.
Joseph | May 6, 2011 | Reply
Wow that sounds like a pile-of-sh*t seller you got there! I recently purchased a DVK 808 HD keyring spycam for 7 bucks, when it’s originally 60 dollars. I had my thoughts like “oh is this seller honest or is he a mother f*ker” but I just went with the freaking flow and hit buy it now. He was from China and it says “delivery: 19-21 days”. I haven’t recieved it yet and it’s been a week. I threw him a couple messages to see if he was the computer of a big electronics company or a real person selling items in bulk. No response. Really hope this wasn’t a scam!!! By the way I DID check his recent feedback and only 1 out of 638 feedbacks was negative. The negative feedback wasn’t even about any scam so that was comforting. His ebay name was:
globalalibaba
There you have it. My take on scamming.
Lynda | Jul 2, 2011 | Reply
This is exactly what I was loikong for. Thanks for writing!