topic Re: Bait and Switch Scam in Buying

Bait and Switch Scam

ruraltrade — Thu, 18 May 2023 20:37:54 GMT

An elderly gentleman spent $467 on an electric scooter. It was ordered here and the seller was ridedream. They sent this man a small box of chinese pastry with tracking. Then when he started asking where his purchase is, they screamed that he has received the item - here is the tracking. Sadly he left it too late to claim through Ebay and he paid by bank deposit.

He is a pensioner and these Chinese scammers should not be allowed on this platform. I do not have the gentleman's user ID to speak to Ebay, but I think pressure should be put on that seller to refund immediately.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

repentatleisure1952 — Thu, 18 May 2023 21:03:39 GMT

I'm saddened to hear this happened to this "elderly gentleman".

Having paid by bank deposit he is out of luck.

eBay can't do anything if people do not use a safe payment method. He would have been protected had he done so.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

papermoon.lady — Thu, 18 May 2023 21:04:16 GMT

Is that gentleman new to eBay?

It is always recommended to read how eBay and its MBG work before buying.

It is also recommended to avoid bank deposits because they offer no buyer protection at all. Scammers take advantage of situations like this (when they know a buyer is not protected).

I am afraid that gentleman has sadly lost his money.

If you wish to talk to eBay, the only way to contact them is via live chat, but they won't be able to do anything about it.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

jellybirddesigns — Fri, 19 May 2023 00:35:08 GMT

Unfortunately, there is no protection when someone pays by bank deposit as there is no "proof" that Ebay can see to make a determination.

You can't name sellers on the forums, and the mods will come along to remove the information. I did manage to take a look at the seller and they have terrible feedback - most of us on this forum would not purchase from them.

Could he perhaps speak with his bank and tell them he was swindled? Get him to try and raise a chargeback.

Also, that seller is registered in China, and buying anything electric from a random Chinese seller can be problematic. Many third party products are not manufactured to our high standards, so they can be quite problematic. I would never have such an item in my home due to the fire risk. On top of which, there is no warranty if something goes wrong or it breaks down.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

etb321 — Fri, 19 May 2023 00:44:11 GMT

Australian owned and operated, 92%, registered in China.

There's only one thing that would terrify a refund out of a Chinese

scammer.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

papermoon.lady — Fri, 19 May 2023 02:35:31 GMT

@jellybirddesigns wrote:
Also, that seller is registered in China, and buying anything electric from a random Chinese seller can be problematic. Many third party products are not manufactured to our high standards, so they can be quite problematic. I would never have such an item in my home due to the fire risk. On top of which, there is no warranty if something goes wrong or it breaks down.

Sadly, there are plenty of concrete stories in the news where e-scooters caught fire while charging... And we all know where they came from (most of the time at least). There is one even today. It happened in London.

https://news.yahoo.com/terrifying-video-shows-charging-e-151512105.html

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

sugar249 — Fri, 19 May 2023 09:29:41 GMT

It's sad that you got sucked in.

But at the end of theday Ebay have process's if you don't follow them, why should Ebay put pressure on the seller, and besides you claim you don't know the User ID of the elderly gentleman, then how would Ebay know. A non logical request really,

Elderly gentleman, pensioner, still need to follow due process', not jump on the forum months later asking for compassion.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

countessalmirena — Fri, 19 May 2023 09:42:27 GMT

Sugar, surely all of us give this elderly gentleman great compassion! But your point is well taken, that — unfortunately — no one can help this individual to recoup their losses, as compassion just has no monetary value.

It is horrible that we must guard ourselves against thieves and scammers, and that those criminals will be utterly ruthless in pursuit of cheating people out of money. That is the hard reality.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

sugar249 — Fri, 19 May 2023 10:41:43 GMT

@countessalmirena wrote:
Sugar, surely all of us give this elderly gentleman great compassion! B.

I am all for compassion when it is deserved, but some stories just don't stack up to deserve compassion. Read into my comment what you want.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

*sons_n_daughters* — Fri, 19 May 2023 10:49:11 GMT

I'm wondering how the OP knew about this when they don't know the buyer's ID? Have I missed something?

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

springyzone — Fri, 19 May 2023 20:54:16 GMT

@*sons_n_daughters* wrote:
I'm wondering how the OP knew about this when they don't know the buyer's ID? Have I missed something?

Yes, maybe.

I have some friends & family who use ebay occasionally. Very occasionally these days, but they used to use it more years ago and sometimes one of my friends would recount experiences on it etc

I wouldn't have a clue what her user name on ebay is. I am not sure of my sister's private username either.

So I can understand how ruraltrade could well have a neighbour, or even a friend of the man, who has come to him with this problem, knowing that he sells on ebay and so expecting he might 'know what to do'.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

sugar249 — Fri, 19 May 2023 21:00:46 GMT

Yes true, but surely if they really wanted to contact Ebay as stated, they would simply ask the ''elderly gentleman'', ''pensioner'' for their user ID. But also if Ebay were any good with privacy they wouldnt talk to ruraltrade about it due to privacy.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

springyzone — Fri, 19 May 2023 21:29:11 GMT

I suspect ruraltrade was just trying to cover all bases and get in to explain why he had not contacted ebay before he had boardies writing, "Why don't you contact ebay directly about this?"

I also suspect he may have been told about this by a 3rd party, not the older man himself, and he has been shocked and upset, so he's looking for ideas.

What is striking me is that an electrical scooter would be quite a heavy item, whereas a small box of pastry would be light, so even with tracking, it should be obvious that the parcel could not have contained a scooter.

I am wondering if they could get Auspost evidence as to the weight etc and go into ebay chat.

I know it was paid for by direct deposit but all the same, the actual sale would show on ebay and the man obviously has messages where the seller has said it has been delivered with tracking etc.

If the tracking numbers can be matched up and shown to have been attached to a small parcel, then ebay has evidence of a scam.

It's worth a try. Not saying that the buyer will get a refund but ebay may do something about the seller if fraud is proven.

The buyer may also be able to go to his bank to report what has happened, with evidence.

At this stage, anything is worth a try.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

eol-products — Fri, 19 May 2023 22:47:12 GMT

Too late now but for anyone buying on ebay it is always best to pay for an item using a credit card via paypal as you have multiple options if anything goes wrong. Bank deposit only gives you ebay with a short time frame.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

ruraltrade — Fri, 26 May 2023 09:08:10 GMT

Because through the job I do, I spoke with this gentleman when he was crying out for help.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

ruraltrade — Fri, 26 May 2023 09:10:23 GMT

You got it in one springzone. I advised him to contact his bank, but I don't hold out much hope that they will be able to do anything.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

repentatleisure1952 — Fri, 26 May 2023 09:26:41 GMT

@ruraltrade wrote:
You got it in one springzone. I advised him to contact his bank, but I don't hold out much hope that they will be able to do anything.

I hope he has some success.

Hopefully you have advised him to pay with a safe method should he decide to buy on line again. And shown him where the eBay Money Back Guarantee is on listings & explained what type of case to open should this happen again.

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

imastawka — Fri, 26 May 2023 11:46:17 GMT

And not to buy a Chinese electrical scooter that could very well burst into flames whilst charging.

He may have lost money, but saved his life and/or house

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

sandypebbles — Fri, 26 May 2023 23:28:53 GMT

Utterly, utterly agree

First and foremost thing that needs stating very loud and clear

Getting one's money back is going to be of little use if another dangerous , knock off piece of garbage is bought from another dodgy seller in China

No matter how much 'cheaper it is to choose that seller'

Do not buy this sort of thing on eBay

especially not from a dodgy seller in China

It will not end well, ever

Re: Bait and Switch Scam

kywal-5006 — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 18:30:24 GMT

How did learn about this? Poor old thing. Very sad if it truly happened to a pensioner.