REPORTING EBAY THEFT TO LOCAL POLICE

[the-fab-gift-shop]

Numerous complaints and we realise that Ebay has no intention of doing anything about buyer theft since they are now inviting it. We've had them pretend a few times to be checking into a buyer's account, but those same buyers are still on Ebay months later.

If a scammer uses the Ebay system to steal from us, then we are going to advise them, that we will be sending a written report with a stat dec to their local police station on what has ocurred. While we don't wish to take up the time of the police, by having them take a formal statement, a wriiten report at the writer's request, will be placed on permanent record at that station for future reference.  If enough sellers lodge complaints, then the police will be obliged to investigate and may issue a search warrant. If the thief has stolen electronic, furniture, jewellery etc worth big money, then it would be worth making a formal statement plus search.

Thieves generally like to keep themselves off record, relying on sellers to give in, for fear of  Neg. feedback. But with Ebay new invitation, you are going to find alot more long term professional scammers, becoming overly confident that the system supports them, so why email the seller, when they can get money quick, by going straight to the new scammers Ebay drive through ...

Stealing is an addiction and if allowed to get away with it, thieves nearly always move on to bigger/ other crimes. It assists police and the victims of crime in the future, if records are in place, showing a history of potential suspects in the area, or associated with a particular crime,  for when the thief gets caught out later on, for a major online fraud, house bulgary, car theft, assault etc.

Ebay may be building its reputation as a scammers paradise and instilling new found confidence in cyber thieves, but out in the real world theft/ shoplifting/ having stolen property in one's possession is still considered to be a criminal offense, punishable by law. Multiple accounts ... no problem. The name and address of the scammer and or friends and family is always the same ...

Reporting theft and only of you are certain that Australia Post is not at fault, is also a good deterent for wannabe newbie thieves.

[cherry*135]

Good idea in principle.

As long as you are 100% sure a buyer  genuinely didn't receive their parcel (which imo you can't) before treating them as a scammer/thief (lost parcel could have been left outside recipients house by delivery person & passerby stole it, postal worker could have nabbed it, it got delivered to a wrong address and that person kept it etc)

If a scammer uses the Ebay system to steal from us, then we are going to advise them, that we will be sending a written report with a stat dec to their local police station on what has ocurred. 

Can you do that? You don't have to lodge it in person?

[putney32]

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@am*3 wrote:

Good idea in principle.

As long as you are 100% sure a buyer  genuinely didn't receive their parcel (which imo you can't) before treating them as a scammer/thief (lost parcel could have been left outside recipients house by delivery person & passerby stole it, postal worker could have nabbed it, it got delivered to a wrong address and that person kept it etc)

If a scammer uses the Ebay system to steal from us, then we are going to advise them, that we will be sending a written report with a stat dec to their local police station on what has ocurred. 

Can you do that? You don't have to lodge it in person?

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actully for online fraud, it has to be lodged with the Online Fraud Squad, not the local police station.   that is why they set up an online fraud squad.

[clarry100]

I actually went so far as to download the reporting form from the online fraud squad in Brisbane.

It's a 10-page document and pretty soon you will reach a point where it had better be a high value item and you are pretty sure of your facts before you put the required time into filling it in.

The form does ask you to lodge it in person at your local QPS station. So not to sure if/how this will work in other states. Looks like the form only covers for a fraudster who is located in QLD.

So we thought we had best just "suck it up" for our items as they only average about $10 each. And you can never be 100% certain of the fact that they have frauded you. You may be making false accusations.

But if you were frauded out of a high value item then it would be worth pursuing I would think.

There may be a federal police equivalent form I did not find that will do the same thing on a nationwide basis.

[cherry*135]

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@putney32 wrote:

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@am*3 wrote:

Good idea in principle.

As long as you are 100% sure a buyer  genuinely didn't receive their parcel (which imo you can't) before treating them as a scammer/thief (lost parcel could have been left outside recipients house by delivery person & passerby stole it, postal worker could have nabbed it, it got delivered to a wrong address and that person kept it etc)

If a scammer uses the Ebay system to steal from us, then we are going to advise them, that we will be sending a written report with a stat dec to their local police station on what has ocurred. 

Can you do that? You don't have to lodge it in person?

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actully for online fraud, it has to be lodged with the Online Fraud Squad, not the local police station.   that is why they set up an online fraud squad.

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Yes, that is why I queried lodging a complaint at the accused local's police station, when you don't live in that area yourself, over  an online transaction. 

Accuser have to be very careful, I would take action to clear my name if a seller did that to me, when if I genuinely didn't receive a item I bought online.

[character_parties_aus]

9 times out of 10 it is quite easy to spot a genuine INR or buyer with a genuine gripe than a potential fraudster or someone trying it on ( which I wouldnt classify as fraud).

The nature of our items means that on eBay I have to date only ever had one genuine fraud I can think of ( where I knew I was getting taken for a ride and could do zero about it) but get plenty of try it on types usually one or two a week. I can put at least 50% of those to bed myself by simply asking the right questions. The others I guess I just have to factor it into my pricing.

The system eBay has now however in which they PROFIT out of returns via labels is pretty much enough for me to say next year if my website sales continue then its bye bye eBay and I'll take the 25k a year I pay you in fees and you can stick it where the sun dont shine honey.

Over time the new system will drive honest sellers off eBay and drive thieves onto it. And that appears to be a situation they are content to produce.

SO I fully endorse Stat Decs!

[cherry*135]

The online fraud site is for all areas of Australia.

I filled out a report a quite few years ago, when I was scammed (bank deposit). It was only for $20, but that eBay scam seller got away with around $2000 from their scam listings.

I was able to find out from a seller who sold the scammer an item, the address it was sent to was in TAS. The only  feedback I got from the Online Fraud section was the seller was unable to be located but believed to be in QLD.

[lyndal1838]

Clarry, the website is very specific that the online Fraud Squad is located in Queensland but covers the whole of Australia.

There is even a section giving information on what authorities to contact when overseas sellers are involved.

I was able to successfully report a US seller....I did not get my money back but it was intensely satisfying to know that she would not be ripping off other buyers.

[cherry*135]

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@character_parties_aus wrote:

9 times out of 10 it is quite easy to spot a genuine INR or buyer with a genuine gripe than a potential fraudster or someone trying it on ( which I wouldnt classify as fraud).

The nature of our items means that on eBay I have to date only ever had one genuine fraud I can think of ( where I knew I was getting taken for a ride and could do zero about it) but get plenty of try it on types usually one or two a week. I can put at least 50% of those to bed myself by simply asking the right questions. The others I guess I just have to factor it into my pricing.

The system eBay has now however in which they PROFIT out of returns via labels is pretty much enough for me to say next year if my website sales continue then its bye bye eBay and I'll take the 25k a year I pay you in fees and you can stick it where the sun dont shine honey.

Over time the new system will drive honest sellers off eBay and drive thieves onto it. And that appears to be a situation they are content to produce.

SO I fully endorse Stat Decs!

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What would you do with the Stat Dec though? Post it to an 'accused's' local police station -without any proof the buyer is a scammer? Lodge an online fraud complaint.. with no proof the buyer is a scammer?

[cherry*135]

is also a good deterent for wannabe newbie thieves.

That is concerning. Making a judgment on a buyer who has no history of lost parcels.