Suspicious scammer using AI generated or photoshopped photo in a return case

[lemonxlemon]

Hi all,

I have a suspicious scammer here that I never came across with.

This buyer created a return case with only one photo uploaded.

The photo shows a crack inside of the mug.

First of all, this is a brand new Hermes porcelain mug, which I have sold numerous of them and never had one cracked or broken. They were always packed well protected.

Secondly, if a brand new Hermes porcelain mug cracks, the crack mark should be a very clean white mark, same with any high quality porcelain mugs. It shouldn't be black like the photo this buyer uploaded.

Therefore, I strongly believe there is something fishy with this buyer. This buyer only just registered the account in July 2025. So I asked her to show me more photos of the parcel box that she received and also more photo of this mug in multiple angles. She replied with only the photos of the parcel box which is undamaged. I asked her again to show me more photos of the mug and she stopped replying.

This photo with the crack, I strongly believe it is AI generated or photoshopped!

Has anyone else came across with this or similar case?

[lemonxlemon]

Thanks for replying.

If this was not a porcelain mug then must likely I would not bother with trying to figure out if this photo is real or not, and just accept the return.

Since this black crack can never appear on a new porcelain mug, this is what triggered my suspicious.

I'm sure this buyer knows the rules quite well about the rules for international returns for cracked or broken mugs, they are considered dangerous items and won't be allowed to send back to me.

Most likely, there are many scammers out there using this to get a free items.

Thanks for your advice

[lemonxlemon]

Thanks for replying. 

Yes, the mug is brand new for sure.

Normally, when a crack appears on a porcelain mug, it should be completely white, then if the mug is continued to be used with the crack in it, then brown stains will appear on the outside of the crack mark, there should never be black especially on the inner part of the crack mark.

Thanks for your advice 

[lemonxlemon]

I'm sure the buyer knows that she will not be required to send it item back since it's an international post and broken glass item will be considered dangerous goods.

Thanks for your advice 

[lemonxlemon]

Thanks for replying.

This could also be another method to use for scamming.

Only if this scammer has a better knowledge of porcelain materials 😛

I hope ebay CS will have a better understanding. Fingers crossed 

[lemonxlemon]

Thank you for giving me this detailed information. I will use it for contacting eBay CS.

This black crack mark looks more like a crack mark from a wall, then photoshopped on to a mug 😛

[lemonxlemon]

Thank you for replying. 

Yes, this is an international post, so providing return label is difficult. Another way is to get the buyer to provide a quote for the return postage and pay them first using PayPal. Once I receive the returned item, ebay will then issue a full refund. Since, this is a cracked porcelain mug, don't think it is allowed to be posted.

Scammers has found a new way to scam, beware of international buyers for fragile glass/porcelain items. They are using this exploit to scam!

[sandypebbles]

Like the crack in Amelia Pond's wall from Doctor Who 

[lemonxlemon]

Thank you for giving me this detailed advice, I will definitely speak to the CS about this.

It's crazy these days scammers are doing everything they could to scam people.

[twyngwyn]

Check the buyer's feedback.......do they have many false positives? Have they left f/b saying 'refunded', for instance?

Do they sell? If so, what?

[lemonxlemon]

Yes, thanks for pointing that out, I think for a crack this deep, the mug will most likely be fallen apart already, since a Hemres porcelain mug is quite thin.