Ebay - is this a scam?

[Jack Mansfield]

So to cut straight to the chase, my girlfriend is selling her phone on ebay, its a 64gb iPhone X, looks like the going rate is ~£400 on ebay (used, locked to three, no box).

Along comes this chap offering 500 (565 including postage), and that he can't use the buy it now function through ebay so wants to just send payment through PayPal. She explained to him that its locked and without a box etc (got to avoid that bad karma), and it just seems off to me that he's offering a lot more than he should be...



Maybe I'm too cynical and they're a genuine buyer!

[DANTR]

I personally wouldn’t, will be plenty of other people along to buy the phone who will do it properly through eBay!

[Pericoloso]

The next scam will be that it arrives at buyer damaged and unusable.

Selling an expensive phone on eBay is a minefield.

[Jack Mansfield]

DANTR said:

I personally wouldn’t, will be plenty of other people along to buy the phone who will do it properly through eBay!

That's what I'm thinking, iPhones are like old dust on ebay!

[Mr Pointy]

Why would anyone willing pay 20% over the odds unless it was a scam? It's probably a hacked account & you'll lose the phone & money.

Think about putting it on Gumtree: they come round & collect it, pay in £20 notes.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

DANTR said:

I personally wouldn’t, will be plenty of other people along to buy the phone who will do it properly through eBay!

This, also if eBay get a whiff of it she'll be in bother.

As an aside, I wouldn't sell such a high ticket item on eBay without eyes open to the risk of scam.

[Jack Mansfield]

Cheers everyone, you've cemented my thoughts! We'll tell him no I think...

[ging84]

Report the message obvious scam

[phil y]

If it’s a 3 phone it should be unlocked. Potential scams aside, might get you a bit more for it.

[JonChalk]

Just not worth it on fleabay - way too much protection for lying scum buyers, and too many of them for things like phones to be worth the effort.

I sold my last phone to a family member, after asking around if any family needed a new one - less than market value, but happy sister was well worth it.

[aka_kerrly]

OP wait for a more legit buyer & don't let ebay think you are selling outside of their auction...

Then when it sells, before you send the phone - take a screen shot of the phone powered up displaying the "Info screen/ about phone" page, pictures of the IMEI and serial number take a picture of the phone going into the parcel and it sealed in there with a picture showing the recipients address.

[jshell]

Jack Mansfield said:

So to cut straight to the chase, my girlfriend is selling her phone on ebay, its a 64gb iPhone X, looks like the going rate is ~£400 on ebay (used, locked to three, no box).

Along comes this chap offering 500 (565 including postage), and that he can't use the buy it now function through ebay so wants to just send payment through PayPal. She explained to him that its locked and without a box etc (got to avoid that bad karma), and it just seems off to me that he's offering a lot more than he should be...



Maybe I'm too cynical and they're a genuine buyer!

Old scam, there'd be a fake Paypal mail saying the payment had been made. With bigger items they tell you that a courier will be round to pick up the car/boat/whatever.

[Simond S]

He'll put in a paypal dispute. get a refund and you have lost the phone.

Because you acted outside of ebay (and avoided fees) you will have no redress at all.

[98elise]

Why could the buyer not bid or use buy it now.

Has scam written all over it.