topic Re: my very first scammer! in Selling

my very first scammer!

saarzi — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 07:05:10 GMT

ok, sold a top on the 2 Jan. (aus post closed 1-5 jan).

Today, buyer says it hasnt turned up, asks for tracking number. The item has only been in transit for max 5 days.

It clearly says in the postage description this is standard shipping, not parcel or registered, so theres no tracking.

Happy to give him a refund......

But then I notice his name on his Paypal account is the same name as a gamer personality who is a bit of a magnet for 30 yr olds with neckbeards who live in their mothers basements playing games all day long..... coincidence. Its not a "normal" name.

Then I notice, his Paypal account is a P.O. box - Paypal stopped accepted P.O. boxes a while ago, didnt they? fair enough - he has an old Paypal account.

Then I notice, his Ebay account is brand new, opened the day before the purchase. zero feedback. Old paypal account with new Ebay Id? AND coincidence gamer name with new Ebay ID? nope.

Im thinking either -

1. The item he brought is less than $17. But - what a fantastic way to scam sellers. No one pays attention to low priced items... most would just refund to avoid a defect. Scam.

2. Fake name was a dumb idea on his part, and the post office wants photo ID to collect the item and he doesnt have it.

My question is - are we able in some way to request Ebay and Paypal to verify the buyers photo ID, proving it matches whats on the address, prior to providing a refund? seems reasonable to me.

Re: my very first scammer!

saarzi — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 07:13:02 GMT

btw.. i know you can have po boxes in paypal when its not a primary address...

Re: my very first scammer!

harley_babes_hoard — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 07:10:50 GMT

What do you mean paypal stopped PO boxes? All the seller sees when I buy is my PO box address

Re: my very first scammer!

saarzi — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 07:18:15 GMT

Apparently they don't accept PO boxes as a primary ID. You can add any address as a shipping address though.

Re: my very first scammer!

shepherdsrule — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 07:37:04 GMT

A POBox can be used at check out unless the seller has specifically chosen to restrict PO Boxes, nothing to do with payal.

As to the gamer in the basement,

I have no idea what it is you are asking or assuming, so I will just move on.

Re: my very first scammer!

phorum_junkie* — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 07:38:01 GMT

Absolutely, you need a street address to open the account but can most certainly use a PO box address for delivery so nothing sus there.

You can link up to 8 email addresses so that means 8 different ebay accounts to each Paypal account so nothing sus there.

All parcels now have tracking unless you are using up some of the old red satchels from years ago. Of course if you send as a large letter there is no tracking without registering it but that is up to you and you just have to be prepared to replace or refund if the buyer says it hasn't arrived, not particularly sus as letters do go missing.

What good would photo verification do as a buyer can change the delivery name and address to anythng they want in checkout, they can get the item posted direct to a friend or relative and all you need is proof of having posted to the address as it was displayed in Paypal.

I have never assumed that because a large letter item without registration has gone astray that the buer is a scammer, I just refund or replace. If an item is more than I am prepared to lose then I register the letter.

Re: my very first scammer!

shepherdsrule — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 07:42:19 GMT

Apparently the buyer is a scammer and a basement gamer pj,

not sure how both of those equate, but I am guessing once the OP come's back down they may realise they need to behave in a more professional manner.

Re: my very first scammer!

harley_babes_hoard — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 07:46:41 GMT

@gtx305 wrote:
Apparently they don't accept PO boxes as a primary ID. You can add any address as a shipping address though.

As I said all that anyone sees from my account is my PO Box so how do you know they haven't got a registered address as I do and you just can't see it.

You are pretty quick to label someone a scammer

Re: my very first scammer!

digital*ghost — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 07:59:04 GMT

@gtx305 wrote:

Im thinking either -

1. The item he brought is less than $17. But - what a fantastic way to scam sellers. No one pays attention to low priced items... most would just refund to avoid a defect. Scam.
OR
2. Fake name was a dumb idea on his part, and the post office wants photo ID to collect the item and he doesnt have it.

My question is - are we able in some way to request Ebay and Paypal to verify the buyers photo ID, proving it matches whats on the address, prior to providing a refund? seems reasonable to me.

I think a lot of sellers would pay attention to $17. 😛

Fake name is ultimately irrelevant, unless you send person to person (which means only the person named as the addressee can sign for it). Even if registered, there is no requirement for the person named as the addressee to sign, only proof that they have the authority to receive or collect (which is why anyone at an address can sign for a package...unless a person to person service has been used).

You won't be able to oblige eBay or PayPal to request a buyer's photo ID, and as others have mentioned, the buyer is not necessarily the recipient of a purchase, so not matching isn't going to prove much.

To clarify what's been mentioned above re: PO boxes - a buyer does not need to use their registered address as their delivery address, and sellers only get the delivery address.

You could request their contact information (they'll receive yours in return), if you want to, and you'll receive their eBay registered details.

I know lots of little things can trigger suspicions, so early on I developed a standard response and procedure for dealing with INR situations where the package has no formal tracking so that these niggling things don't creep into my replies and put buyers on the defensive; which involves akcnowledging the issue with the buyer, plus letting them know what I'm able to do about it, and when (this includes lodging a formal investigation with Australia Post, and options for refund / replacement - I make sure to let them know I need to pass on all of the adressee details to Australia Post so that they can conduct the investigation, after which AP will use their internal records to both try and locate the package and look into any processing issues, and that they may try to contact them during the course of the investigation - let them know you're happy to update them on the progress of the investigation as and when AP update you - and do follow through with lodging one 😉 - it isn't unusual for packages to arrive not long after I've explained all this to the buyer).

Re: my very first scammer!

saarzi — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 08:00:46 GMT

huh? can you copy and paste where I said they dont have a registered address? I dont remember saying that and cant find it.

Re: my very first scammer!

saarzi — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 08:14:55 GMT

@digital*ghost wrote:

You won't be able to oblige eBay or PayPal to request a buyer's photo ID, and as others have mentioned, the buyer is not necessarily the recipient of a purchase, so not matching isn't going to prove much. .
You could request their contact information (they'll receive yours in return), if you want to, and you'll receive their eBay registered details.
plus letting them know what I'm able to do about it, and when (this includes lodging a formal investigation with Australia Post, and options for refund / replacement - I make sure to let them know I need to pass on all of the adressee details to Australia Post so that they can conduct the investigation, after which AP will use their internal records to both try and locate the package and look into any processing issues, and that they may try to contact them during the course of the investigation - let them know you're happy to update them on the progress of the investigation as and when AP update you - and do follow through with lodging one 😉 - it isn't unusual for packages to arrive not long after I've explained all this to the buyer).

THANKYOU! i was beginning to think I was speaking a different language.... :s

I didnt realise it was only the authority to pick up the parcel. but final idea is good.

I have been nice to the guy, suggested he check with the post office to see if they have it first (this has happened a few times, they forgot the put the "pick up" card in buyers boxes), and wait a few more days due to the holiday.. and awaiting his reply.

It was really his name (which is the exact same name as a programmer guy who only gamers would know, and its a very unusual name), and the fact that his ID was only opened the day before, and that he also had a PO box, and that his very first buy goes missing, that made me suspicious. Just all seems like a bit of a coincidence.

Re: my very first scammer!

cherry*135 — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 12:45:32 GMT

Fake name was a dumb idea on his part, and the post office wants photo ID to collect the item and he doesnt have it.

No, if the parcel wasn't covered for at an extra cost to sender for signature on delivery, etc.. then AP staff don't ask for ID before collection for a P O Box.

I can sign, with my id shown (not that they ask for it as they know me), for any person the parcel is addressed to with my PO Box as the address.

Haven't had any sent by person to person.

Re: my very first scammer!

peri-landlubber — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 22:34:08 GMT

My primary address is a PO box & always has been, as I have no street address for mail. The PO address is on both Paypal & eBay.

Re: my very first scammer!

saarzi — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 07:49:46 GMT

I emailed this guy and said I was happy to refund, but said it might be worth waiting a few more days for it to arrive due to the AP holiday (1st jan - 5 jan). I also said refund would be pending the result of an investigation by AP, as they may still find the item.

He did not reply to my email at all and gave me a negative, saying no tracking (he knows it was never offered) and no item.

When someone has obviously suspicious name on his shipping address, has zero feedback, says item hasnt arrived only 5 days after it was sent and asks for a refund... theres obviously an issue. No purchases at all, yet he certainly knows his way around Ebay.

Re: my very first scammer!

lizzy6107 — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 09:22:47 GMT

Curious about postage..

I see that the postage cost on the item is $5.50

I am just wondering, how did you post it for $5.50?

I post large letters, $2.10 or $3.50 or the cheapest for a satchel, $7.20

How do you do it for $5.50

You could register an envelope for that price?

Re: my very first scammer!

digital*ghost — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 16:20:49 GMT

@gtx305 wrote:

He did not reply to my email at all and gave me a negative, saying no tracking (he knows it was never offered) and no item.

Sorry to see that 😞

Good reply, though, at least it shows you're willing to help resolve and shouldn't deter many.