topic Re: Is this listing a scam? in Buying

Is this listing a scam?

spider_xo — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 20:12:17 GMT

Hi guys/gals,

Just a question plz, thx.

I accepted the offer for an item (haven't paid for it yet) but then I found that this seller used the same photos of another listing on Ebay and the price of the other listing is 10 times more expensive than the listing I got the offer for and the other listing is in NSW instead of Vic. So is it obvious that this is a fraudulent listing / scam?

Thanks.

Re: Is this listing a scam?

k1ooo-slr-sales — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 20:58:48 GMT

@spider_xo wrote:
So is it obvious that this is a fraudulent listing / scam?

the advice I usually give in this situation is to trust your gut feeling. Also, if a price seems too good to be true, it generally is.

A 'greatly reduced price' scam relies on buyer greed. That, and a buyer being prepared to 'risk it' as the potential loss is small.

Cheers

Re: Is this listing a scam?

gutterpunkz05 — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 22:07:16 GMT

They could be stock pics from ebays photo catalogue, or any other online source. Stock pics are commonly used by drop shippers.

Re: Is this listing a scam?

springyzone — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 22:39:05 GMT

A lot of sellers use the same photos, but that usually applies to new stock.

There's a lot you haven't told us.

Is this new stock or pre owned?

Is it the exact same item, same brand, same model etc?

Is it an experienced seller, one who seems to be running a small ebay business or does it look to be an 'occasional' or new seller? And what is the status of the seller with the item at 10 times the price?

If it is brand new stock, then the use of stock photos would not be a surprise.

For price, google and see what the price usually is on places other than ebay.

If it is a pre owned item, then stock photos should not be used but some newish or inexperienced sellers sometimes use them anyway. And not all private sellers (as opposed to those running a business on ebay) are aware of the cost of their items.

So is it a scam listing? I don't know. But before paying, I'd be looking carefully at that seller's feedback and recent record. You could also ask for another photo of the actual item.

But if the price is way, way under what seems the usual price, then yes, that is a red flag. Tread carefully.

Re: Is this listing a scam?

padi*0409 — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 23:08:27 GMT

What is the item number so that we can have a look at the listing for you ?

Re: Is this listing a scam?

spider_xo — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 02:44:19 GMT

The other eBay listing item number is 325584267309, it is listed for sale for $3.5K

It's a 2nd hand HFC signal testing machine for NBN works, if buying new it would cost about $4.5K, a 2nd hand one can cost around $600-$3K because it is not widely used very much these days anymore as many people have upgraded their internet to fiber.

I got the offer for around $220 for this machine.... and the seller has only 4FBs in his profile.

Re: Is this listing a scam?

padi*0409 — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 02:53:00 GMT

Is that the same seller that gave you the $220 offer ? They only have 3 feedback as a seller, and only one of them is positive.

If it's a different seller to that one, let us have the item number from that seller.

Re: Is this listing a scam?

spider_xo — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 03:09:52 GMT

The listing I got the offer for $220 is eBay item number:365477308831 and it is located in Melb Vic, the other listing with the same photos which is listed for $3.5K is in NSW and that seller has 92FBs.

Thx

Re: Is this listing a scam?

padi*0409 — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 03:18:10 GMT

@spider_xo wrote

The listing I got the offer for $220 is eBay item number:365477308831 and it is located in Melb Vic, the other listing with the same photos which is listed for $3.5K is in NSW and that seller has 92FBs.

That seller has no feedback as a seller whereas the other seller has 4 feedback, as mentioned.

The item number you gave for the $220 has sold. Did you buy that one ?

Re: Is this listing a scam?

spider_xo — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 03:23:51 GMT

Yes I accepted the offer for $219.99 and still haven't paid yet as I suspect that this is a scam coz my seller in Melb used the photos of another seller's listing in NSW who listed the same item for $3.5K.

Re: Is this listing a scam?

padi*0409 — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 03:43:00 GMT

As one of the members said before, it's fairly common for sellers to use other listing's photos.

If it were me I'd go ahead and pay for it, so long as you pay through eBay you're covered by the MBG if things go pear-shaped.

https://pages.ebay.com.au/ebay-money-back-guarantee/

Re: Is this listing a scam?

spider_xo — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 03:54:09 GMT

Thx. I will send him msg to ask about the photos before I pay.

Re: Is this listing a scam?

gutterpunkz05 — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 04:04:11 GMT

They also sold a similar item the day before, for $300.

Absolutely atrocious pics (365469073701)

Re: Is this listing a scam?

spider_xo — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 08:30:28 GMT

I made the payment for this item by paypal this morning then not sure what happened but the seller just refunded me this afternoon without any reasons. Does anyone know why? And I think can't do anything except for neg FB, right?

Re: Is this listing a scam?

davewil1964 — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 08:34:11 GMT

The seller would have had to give eBay a reason. I don't know if it would be passed on to you, but eBay require a reason. If the seller cancelled the transaction, you probably won't be able to leave any feedback.

Maybe the seller read this thread, decided you would be a problem and cancelled because they didn't want to deal with you.

Re: Is this listing a scam?

padi*0409 — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 08:34:24 GMT

@spider_xo wrote:

I made the payment for this item by paypal this morning then not sure what happened but the seller just refunded me this afternoon without any reasons. Does anyone know why? And I think can't do anything except for neg FB, right?

They may have got spooked by the emails you sent them about the photos of the item, I was going to mention that when you spoke about the message you sent but I let it ride.

Alternatively the item might have been suspect given it's price.

Re: Is this listing a scam?

*casey* — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 08:55:40 GMT

The seller sold two similar items.

That could have been a mistake or one or both of the items may have been scams.

Think yourself lucky that you didn't have to (possibly) wait and go through the Money Back Guarantee process.

Re: Is this listing a scam?

spider_xo — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 08:58:24 GMT

Actually I didn't send the seller a msg to ask about those photos at all.

Yesterday afternoon the seller did send me a msg and asked if he can cancel the transaction and asked me to pay on pick-up, but I said I wouldn't have time to come to pick it up and this morning I just made the paypal payment and hope it would be ok.

Not sure if the seller refunded me or ebay refunded me after it found out the listing was fraudulent as I did report it to ebay after I had accepted the offer and found out the seller used someone else listing's photos.

Re: Is this listing a scam?

*casey* — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 09:06:39 GMT

Not a scam then if the seller wanted you to pick up.

The seller would have refunded you as if eBay thought it was a fraudulent listing, they would have removed the listing from the site. It's still showing as sold

And eBay don't just refund your money without going through a process.

Re: Is this listing a scam?

spider_xo — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 09:11:22 GMT

If not a scam then why the seller refunded me? and I haven't got any msg about the item being cancelled at all, just got a msg from ebay saying I have been refunded, that's all.