topic SCAM OR NOT? HELP in Selling

SCAM OR NOT? HELP

julimosq — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 09:29:15 GMT

Hi guys there's this guy claiming he's currently in Australia and wants to but my Gopro listing. He is offering me $720 to send it directly to Africa to his son for his birthday. I am double minded though, I feel like there is something wrong. It's not finalised yet but I just wanted to ask your opinion. I looked at his Ebay page profile and he only joined yesterday 25/10/14 and it says his location is definitely in South Africa. Do you guys think this is a scam??????

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

lolobgo — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 09:33:36 GMT

SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

kopenhagen5 — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 09:35:06 GMT

Definitely a scam.

Scams like this usually have a very similar story about sending it to a relative.

And very often from Africa.

Don't have anything more to do with them and block them in your account.

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

lolobgo — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 09:38:19 GMT

Trust your gut on this one! It's BS.

You have listed on your postage "posts only to Australia" ignore him.

send a polite message and and say that you send only to australia,

Then add him to your Blocked bidder list.

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

i-love-my-sheep — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 09:51:04 GMT

Absolutely, positively, 100% scam. The fact he was offering MORE than your Buy it Now price should have rung alarm bells, which it did.

Sadly, electronics are a target for scammers. Anyone who wants something sent to Africa is most definitely a scam, regardless of what it is. If you had a phone listed, you would probably have received a similar offer.

Your gut was right. A huge pat on the back to you for seeking help before you had committed to anything. Especially as the 'buyer' would have insisted you post before you got paid.

Good luck with selling it. I would be surprised if it didn't sell, especially with all the extras thrown in.

Edited to add: Do you know how to block buyers? Up the top of any eBay page, click on where it says 'G'Day <your real name>', then click on account settings. Then click on 'site preferences'. Scroll down to 'buyer requirements', click show, then edit. Right down the bottom of that screen is a link to add buyers to your blocked list.

When you've added that buyer, click the back button and set up other blocks on that screen. Most as self explanatory. Have those blocks set can save heartbreak at times. Most importantly, set up the block to block buyers who have unpaid strikes against their name (set it to 2 in 12 months) and also the one where you block buyers who haven't gone through phone verification.

If you need more help, sing out.

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

julimosq — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 09:50:07 GMT

Thank you!! I knew it was too good to be true. Hehe I hope it sells too

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

julimosq — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 09:52:08 GMT

Hi!! Thank you so much for the reply. I definitely don't want my hard earned cash taken that easily. Can you please tell me how to block this person from my account? Thanks in advance!

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

i-love-my-sheep — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 09:52:21 GMT

I have just edited my post to give instructions on how to block buyers. If you don't know how to do it, read the rest of my message.

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

julimosq — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 10:00:30 GMT

Hi thank you for your efforts. I have a problem though.
"Right down the bottom of that screen is a link to add buyers to your blocked list. " I can't seem to find the add buyers to block list 😞

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

thecatspjs — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 10:03:31 GMT

The link to add to your BBL http://offer.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?BidderBlockLogin

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

phorum_junkie* — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 10:26:23 GMT

send a polite message and and say that you send only to australia,

Not good advice, have absolutely no further contact with the scammer, they are after more than your money, that would just be a bonus. They are after getting your email address and any other details they can garner so they can target you later with phishing emails.

You can give ebay a call and tell them about this scammer, they are quite used to this type of con and should deregister the account pretty quickly.

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

julimosq — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 10:30:04 GMT

Hi I know they have my email. What should I do??? This is terrifying

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

julimosq — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 10:30:41 GMT

So i did it but he's still visible from my messages. It this normal ??

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

i-love-my-sheep — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 10:36:10 GMT

They shouldn't have your email address as they would have made contact via eBay messages. The messages might appear in your regular email inbox, but that's because eBay sent them there, not the scammer.

As he hasn't actually bought anything from you, he shouldn't be able to contact you any more now you've added him to your blocked list. That is if you set up the blocks I mentioned in the buyer requirement section and ticked the very last box that says "don't allow blocked buyers to contact me".

Here's the link to the buyer requirements page in case I didn't explain it very well. http://offer.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?BuyerBlockPreferences

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

phorum_junkie* — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 10:38:53 GMT

How did he get your email? If your only communication has been through ebay then they do not have your email address.

You have no need to be terrified, just extra cautious as far as emails are concerned. It is never a good idea to log into a site through a link in an email even if you think it is from someone you know or it looks like a genuine Paypal, bank or ebay email. Just make it a rule to never click on links and then sign in to a site, especially one that contains any financial details.

Re: SCAM OR NOT? HELP

go-tazz — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 04:46:48 GMT

This gives you the full run down on how it works.

http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/Nigeria-is-a-scam-Fake-shipping-agent-Contact-Live-Help-/10000000016952077/g.html