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?

[twyngwyn]

I broke a porcelain mug today….pure white all the way through 

[domino-710]

Damn..................

[twyngwyn]

It's ok....it wasn't Hermes

[lemonxlemon]

UPDATE:

I have contacted CS twice. 

The first contact, I have provided the link to this forum and asked if the CS take some time to read it since its 5 pages long. The CS came back to me in less than 30 seconds with the copy and paste reply "I have checked the details and we expect a successful transaction every time we sell and when a buyer wants to return an item, it’s a little disappointment. I can certainly understand what you’re going through right now. Blah blah blah..."

I said that was a quick read...

This was before the buyer replied "Ok let me go check and get back to you"

The CS said the same thing about must accept the return and provide the return method in order to have me protected blah blah blah... but this time the CS also gave me a link to report the buyer, and suggested me to report so that someone from another team will look in to it as well.

After the buyer replied "Ok let me go check and get back to you"

Then I waited almost a day and this buyer have not reply, the deadline for providing the return label is today 27/8.

So I contacted the CS again, this is the second time.

Again, I provided the link to this forum and asked if the CS can read it. This CS put me on hold for few minutes so I guess she read it...but still the same reply saying I must provide the return method. If the buyer does not respond and not provide their PayPal details, after the deadline, if the buyer asked ebay to step in and close the case, then I will not be protected and full refund will be given to the buyer without the need to return the item.

Even though this sounds ridiculously unfair for sellers, I still managed to work out how to create a return label on Emirates Post website. So I created it and uploaded to ebay, also sent it to the buyer.

In the meanwhile that I am writing this, the buyer replied, still did not provide any more photos 😂

I also reported this buyer to ebay.

I really think ebay should have a better monitoring system for creating a return. How can the system allow the buyer to upload just one photo to be sufficient to create a return request, and the seller has no authority to request for more photos? 

Having a system like this will only help the scammer to succeed no matter what.

For instance, in my case. If this scammer decided to go ahead and drop off the parcel and return it back to me. My original coffee mug is definitely not inside the parcel, it might aswell can be a rock, since by the time I open it, ebay will step in and protect me and will not deduct any refunds to this scammer, but I will still end up paying for the return postage because ebay will not cover me for that, which is also ridiculous. This scammer will just walk away with the undamaged Hermes coffee mug, and have the account closed by ebay which she won't care at all, the account is only 2 months old.

If this scammer decided not to send it back and stops responding, the end result is still going to be the same.

In my opinion, ebay should require more photos from different angles to initiate the return request.

Also, for newer accounts or less positive feedback accounts, money equivalent to the amount of the item should be deducted and put on hold from the buyer's credit card first to create a return request, so this can prevent scammers just walk away without worrying about payments.

Anyways, I hope my experience will be a help for other genuine sellers out there to keep an eye out for these scammers.

I will keep this updated.

Thanks 😊 

[springyzone]

For instance, in my case. If this scammer decided to go ahead and drop off the parcel and return it back to me. My original coffee mug is definitely not inside the parcel, it might aswell can be a rock, since by the time I open it, ebay will step in and protect me and will not deduct any refunds to this scammer, but I will still end up paying for the return postage because ebay will not cover me for that, which is also ridiculous. This scammer will just walk away with the undamaged Hermes coffee mug, and have the account closed by ebay which she won't care at all, the account is only 2 months old.

Unfortunately you are probably right.

After reading all the posts, it does look like this buyer is playing a cheating game. I thought at first you never know, could be genuine, but it seems porcelain breaks all the way through, going on what others have said, so I can't see why a genuine buyer could not supply a photo of the outside of the mug, showing the crack.

You ask how ebay can allow refunds on only one photo. I think the thing with this is, the buyer has provided quite a few photos, not just one. But not of the really relevant bits you need.

I'd be very interested to know how this plays out.

Best result would be for the buyer to have her claim denied, but I am not certain this will happen. Ebay seems to be keen on having the item returned to you.

If ebay steps in and protects you so you don't lose the $170, yes, it is possible the scammer will also end up with a free mug.

I don't know if ebay could put a hold on a buyer's credit card. Maybe it is possible, I've not heard of it, but that could be a whole new can of worms for ebay, I would imagine.

You aren't the only seller who has been scammed, there have been others who have lost items 10 times more expensive, not that that helps you at all. Hopefully you'll not lose your $170. Let us know how it all goes and if something does get returned. I don't see how this buyer can back out of her claim now, it's not like it is just a claim over the wrong colour or something where she could say never mind, I'll keep it after all.

[imastawka]

Springy, it's a $280 mug , not $170, plus the return postage, so a hefty sum to lose.

[countessalmirena]

If the buyer does send a return, @lemonxlemon, could you manage to have the courier/postman witness you opening it?

If you have someone authorised to witness stat decs nearby, you could get a declaration signed on the spot if the contents are indeed a rock, or if it’s something other than what you sent and which you are photographing at the time of opening the return.

The delivery person can always make the declaration later but I’m a big believer in striking while the iron is hot.

Armed with this, I’d Immediately get onto eBay CS and provide them with the photos and declaration (postie’s as well as yours) to preempt automatic refund to the buyer. There are two issues here:

• you would in that case be deserving of having no funds taken from you; and

• the buyer should in that case not receive a refund (even if eBay were funding it) as it’s proven to be fraud.

[domino-710]

Better still - armed with an already printed Stat Dec - take the parcel unopened to the local police station - open it in front of them - take pics of the contents - then get them to sign the Stat Dec.

[gutterpunkz05]

Now days placing an unopened parcel on a police counter and expecting it to be opened, will probably  result in a public safety evacuation and visit from the bomb squad.  Once the package has been turned into confetti, I wonder if the crack will be still visible.

The last time I went to a police station, to report someone had crashed into my parked car,  I was met with a lovely little blue parrot, who told me to report it online or over the phone,  told her I was here now and damaged vehicle and other evidence left at scene, was right outside the front door for inspection and exhibits, with a lovely little single finger, I was directed to and advised to use the phone on the wall

[lemonxlemon]

@Springyzone Unfortunately the truth of this scam is starting to float to the surface. Although I have been scammed a few times using a very similar technique like this and the value is much more higher than this, some turned out I lost both the item and a full refund to the scammer, and only twice I have ebay protected me but still end up paying the return postage out of my own pocket.

This case the mug is $280, but it was free shipping, so I think scammers will target sellers who offers free shipping, especially international shipping, because the postage costs $60 already, and I also need to pay for the return postage, which the scammer is asking for $170 USD. They will think sellers will normally just give up and do a full refund, especially when the seller really believes the item is damaged, there's no point getting a damaged item back and pay another hefty return postage. As what @imastawka said, it's a hefty sum to lose.

@countessalmirena and @domino-710 : Thanks for the good advice, from my past experience, I just took videos and photos when I opened up the returned parcel, but having a post office staff or police officer to be a witness will definitely be more helpful in proving to ebay.

One more thing I have came to notice, this scammer asked me about an Invoice for the mug twice, once is when she said DHL requires it, and second time was when I provided the return label, again she mentioned usually an invoice is required. I'm wondering why she is a bit obsessed with obtaining the invoice. Perhaps she is trying to sell it and with the invoice she can sell it easier or a better price? Or maybe it will help her to get the full refund back from ebay? Sometime just doesn't smell right