I have a feeling we fell for a scam - buyer claiming counterfeit on a genuine very expensive item

[bright_tomato]

I have listed my husband's very expensive phone (it's over $5000 brand new) and finally sold it at best offer for only $1300, much less than what we were hoping to get. But we really needed the money. I took all precautions - took very detailed photos, sent the buyer the IMEI number  and tracking number, insured the phone for $1300 when posted. She received the phone and literally the next day I receive a message that she believes the phone to be a copy or a fake. I am in a state of shock, I am not a retailer, I only sell my own second-hand goods and this phone was a gift from a close friend of my husband's. There is absolutely no chance that it is fake or a copy. She didn't even investigate,  i suggested that she takes the phone to a TAG store to check and she completely ignored that. I have a feeling this is a scam artist who is now requesting a return for refund and will send us back a fake phone to scam us.

My questions is, does anyone has any experience with what kind of process ebay/pay pal follows when a buyer claims the item to be fake? I listed the item with "no returns accepted" condition so I am also wondering - am I able to reject her return request?

[bright_tomato]

just asked hubby and he said it was a nickel cadmium battery, not lithium.

but unfortunately, I already confronted the scammer, I reacted to the fake photo straight away as I was in complete shock. AP doesn't know this though so I might try to do the investigation. For a second after I got the photo I thought, wow, could it be possible that it was replaced in the post? And then I just laughed at myself.

by the way, as soon as I mentioned police and the fact that they didn't bother checking the phone at a TAG store before contacting me they stopped replying to emails.

[polly.the.cat]

No catspjs, l am not taking the **ss out of the op.  What l am saying is not funny, lol, having lived in Canada for 4 years, l know a lot about their culture, have 2 friends who are with the RCMP.

Something like this they would follow up..Who knows what this phone may me used for. Not trying to scare anybody, but reality, is reality.  Okay catspts ???

[thecatspjs]

Apologies then.  I suppose it was the colored and giant font that contributed to me believing your post was over the top attic-case.

[bright_tomato]

made a report on acorn and also found this through your suggestion of Royal Canadian Mounted Police: http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/english/index.html, will do a report there as well. willing to try anything at this stage. probably the more reports I make the better.

[thecatspjs]

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@bright_tomato wrote:

just asked hubby and he said it was a nickel cadmium battery, not lithium.

but unfortunately, I already confronted the scammer, I reacted to the fake photo straight away as I was in complete shock. AP doesn't know this though so I might try to do the investigation. For a second after I got the photo I thought, wow, could it be possible that it was replaced in the post? And then I just laughed at myself.

by the way, as soon as I mentioned police and the fact that they didn't bother checking the phone at a TAG store before contacting me they stopped replying to emails.

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Just so you know AP have the following rules re packaging

"D10.2.2 – Dry cell batteries (non-lithium batteries)

Dry cell batteries must:

be removed from the appliance or device for which they were intended

be inserted separately, if sent in the same postal article as the appliance or device

be packaged securely to prevent movement, exposed terminals must be effectively insulated to prevent a short circuit

have the words “NOT RESTRICTED ” and “ SP A123 ” included in the description of goods box on international Airway Bill / Consignment notes.

Examples of such batteries are: nickel cadmium (Ni-cad), alkali-manganese, nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and zinc-carbon"

Fingers crossed the scammer is not as arrogant as some, and does not open an eBay or Paypal dispute. 

[polly.the.cat]

bright, l lived in Canada for 4 years, know their culture and have 2 friends still serving in the RCMP.  Thank you for your pm.

l will pm you, as l just shot an email to my mate,  will await her reply.  Play the right card, you may find you will see some money again.

[bright_tomato]

Oh, I presume they probably will open a dispute as soon as time is up for the resolution which will be on the 8th of jan.

with regards to battery, I think EMS (courier I used) has less rigid rules but I might be wrong. I sent it by Express Post Courier, it was more expensive but faster and safer I thought. All at my expense by the way!

[bright_tomato]

and AP didn't mention or ask anything about the battery even though I declared the phone on the customs form. Oh, and the scammer also complained about paying $156 in duties! incredible arrogance!

[kopenhagen5]

I have to ask, how do you know the photo the buyer sent is not the same phone or is the photo of  a completely different model?

I am just thinking whether it's possible your friend was duped when he purchased the phone in Italy.

[lizzy6107]

she already said, it's a completely different phone.