eBay scammer

[eddieo]

I recently sold an iPhone on eBay and it appears the buyer is trying to obtain a refund, and leave me either without a phone or potentially with a stolen phone in return.

The phone I sold was unused, sent to me from Apple as a warranty replacement for a phone with a malfunctioning volume button. Still with the wrapping on and never set up. Merely turned on to check working as it should be before sending it on to the buyer with no passcode/iCloud lock. I still have the Apple comms, packaging and serial number & IMEI.

I got alarm bells when the buyer sent me a strange message saying something along the lines of 'I'm going to send payment now?' before sending me payment. The buyer has a reasonable 100% eBay rating somewhere under 100 with less than a handle of items of lowish value items as seller.

I sent the phone via special delivery and the buyer has left me positive feedback to say the phone is in excellent condition. However they have also tried it on straight away claiming the phone has a passcode so they are unable to use the phone. They are barely able to string a sentence together and have almost immediately taken it to the dispute process demanding a refund. No offer to send the phone back yet and also stating that I must not try and send them the passcode now.

Is there anything I can do to protect myself from loss at this stage? I have used eBay for many years with a 100% rating as seller for many highish value items but I know they tend to favour the buyer, often giving refunds without even any evidence of return? At best I may find myself with my phone back with a passcode rendering it worthless. I have forked out a fortune in eBay fees over the years but I doubt they will be interested in keeping sellers on board.

I appreciate the advice is probably going to be 'stop using eBay' but any helpful advice is nevertheless appreciated.

[V8 FOU]

Tell them to send it back unused. And say you can't do anything until you see the 'phone.

[elanfan]

Get your retaliation in first. RING eBay customer services and repeat what you've said here and say they are scammers. If you have an excellent record as you say it ought to go your way!

[InitialDave]

Last time I had this one (on a lower value item, mind, but still electronics), I said "that's odd, it was tested before sending it, could you tell me the serial number on the back of it so I can check up on it?"

Never heard anything further from them.

[hashtag]

Good old ebay

Prepare for the worst, as you are a seller.

An ebay buyer never tells lies, in eBay's opinion, so you have supplied duff goods.


Good luck

[Byker28i]

I Suggest you reads the guardians piece on scammers and ebays response. They may even take it up with ebay for you

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/may/21/ebay...

[AJB88]

I had one of these once, sold a brand new Galaxy S4 on eBay.

few days later get a message saying he had received it and it was "damaged" and "obviously not new as there was dirt behind back cover and in sim card slot"

The damage was apparently chipping around screen edges and a small crack at top which could be seen when screen was on.

Called his bluff and said if it can be seen when screen is on then please send pictures of all the damage including a picture of screen one with IMEI on it.

Cheeky git tried to send me a picture of a different Galaxy S4 (not the IMEI I sent him)

eBay ruled in my favour as I had receipt from O2 with IMEI on it.

[anonymous-user]

As the last poster said, if you have evidence of the IMEI for the phone you sent that will go a long way.

Also very useful for calling the scammer's bluff as it's a unique identifier and lets them know that you can identify if what they send back is the same phone. Sounds like this one might be too dumb to understand the concept though

Apple will probably be able to supply you with it if you talk to their customer service people, or IIRC when I got a warranty replacement I got an email containing all the details.

[DaveH23]

I've often thought about using ebay. Stories like this remind me why I haven't.

If I ever did and the item was of any value then collection in person is surely the only way to go.

[Durzel]

I photograph everything I feel could be problematic that I sell on eBay (basically any electronics).. I take photographs of the item in the box, the item in the box with the packaging surrounding it, the item sat on some scales to show the weight of it, etc. Fortunately haven't yet found myself having to rely on them - assuming they would actually carry much weight anyway in the event of a buyer telling eBay that I'd send him a brick - but feels like it should help.

[drdino]

Durzel said:

I photograph everything I feel could be problematic that I sell on eBay (basically any electronics).. I take photographs of the item in the box, the item in the box with the packaging surrounding it, the item sat on some scales to show the weight of it, etc. Fortunately haven't yet found myself having to rely on them - assuming they would actually carry much weight anyway in the event of a buyer telling eBay that I'd send him a brick - but feels like it should help.

Same, I take high-res pictures of everything, along with a video of the device booting up and then showing the IMEI. If possible, I place a security-mark on the device as well and take a picture of it. Might prove useful, might not, but at least I've tried.

[eddieo]

Thanks all. Good news - apparently the phone is alright after all and the case is now closed!