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?

[bakeandfry]

I thought the buyer had to pay for duties/tax in there country anyway.

[polly.the.cat]

no probs, Good to see bright_tomato followed up on my suggestion.

See the boards arms stretch across the globe, you can run or walk quick, but you cannot hide.

[bright_tomato]

Yes, completely different phone. You can see mine in the photo of the listing, I took all those photos myself and placed it into a box myself, I know what I have sent. I've attached the photo of the **bleep** that they are claiming they received.

My husband's friend doesn't get duped, he is very well off and doesn't buy stuff from resellers. he bought it from a TAG store. he hasn't seen my husband in many years, they are childhood friends, he wanted to do something really special for him. I kind of feel like we are being punished for selling the phone.

[bright_tomato]

Incredible, the nerve of this monster - leaves me negative feedback as well!!! What a piece of work! I really hope he goes to jail one day.

I called ebay and as I suspected there is nothing they can do until the case is opened and then it just goes by their standard routine procedure. It will depend on the investigator who looks at the case. They did tell me they will look into the buyer because if there are other complaints against him/her that will count in my favour. Otherwise, nothing much else ebay could help me with at this stage. I asked to be connected to an Australian representative - no luck there.

thanks again for everyone's support.

[bright_tomato]

By the way - he mentions "threats from other members" in the feedback - I haven't sent him any threats from any other accounts or anything like that so I have no idea what he is talking about. I only send emails through the communication fascility in the resolution centre and through ebay message system in my own account. Has anyone sent him any messages by any chance? not that I am concerned very much but please let me know if anyone did that. thank you.

[thecatspjs]

Sounds very much like it from the feedback left by your buyer.

"STAY AWAY FROM THIS SELLER. SELLS FAKE ITM THEN SENDS THREATS FROM OTHER MEMBERS"

Seems exactly like that some interferring busy body boardie did send a message directly to the buyer.

Just not on !!

[imastawka]

That's way out of line for someone to do that!!

If they report it, that someone is gunna get something kicked real hard

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

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@bright_tomato wrote:

By the way - he mentions "threats from other members" in the feedback - I haven't sent him any threats from any other accounts or anything like that so I have no idea what he is talking about. I only send emails through the communication fascility in the resolution centre and through ebay message system in my own account. Has anyone sent him any messages by any chance? not that I am concerned very much but please let me know if anyone did that. thank you.

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It is not unheard of for a member to be a reader of these boards without ever posting, but sends messages to buyers and sellers to stir up trouble regarding threads here.  Some refer to these types as 'lurkers' or 'trolls' whose only intent is to stir the pot so to speak.

If I were you I would message the buyer and encourage them to report any threatening message to eBay so that the sender of the message may be dealt with.  Keep it simple and civil, something like "I am sorry to hear that you have received threatening messages.  Rest assured these have nothing to do with me and I encourage you to report any such offending messages directly to eBay via the report message link so that the sender of the message is dealt with by eBay".

It may be that some stupid person that has read this thread has sent a message that mentions possible reporting of them to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as a scammer.

Just another reason why you should not post eBay IDs on these boards.  Until you posted the ID most members would not have known or been able to work out the ID of your buyer.  Even messaging the buyer ID to another member can be a bad idea.

[bright_tomato]

I certainly will not be messaging this buyer with any suggestions. He is, in fact, a scammer and a thief so I will not be dealing with this person anymore just for my own personal safety. I will be communicating with ebay/pay pal/ police and any other authorities but not him/her.

What other people do on these boards I cannot control. it is unfortunate that someone did something that stupid. I posted the user name of the person because someone asked me to, so I just replied. I am not an experienced user on this forum, I just came here for advice on something very unfortunate that happened to me.

And in the hope that perhaps someone else at least can benefit from this negative experience that I have had and not fall into the same trap.

[cherry*135]

Kopen wrote: 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."


I would be concerned about that too. Unless I purchased an expensive item myself and held a genuine receipt for it.

What will hubby's friend think when he notices the expensive watch gifted isn't being worn anymore? Wouldss he expected to have his gift flogged off on ebay?

"
My husband's friend doesn't get duped, he is very well off and doesn't buy stuff from resellers. he bought it from a TAG store. he hasn't seen my husband in many years, they are childhood friends, he wanted to do something really special for him. I kind of feel like we are being punished for selling the phone."