eBay listings removed - unauthorized user of buyer or bidder account

[sarahgabrielle123]

Hi

A buyer used the buy it now function (I didn't have immediate payment set up - I didn't know about it) to buy an item from me and had emailed me about shipping costs to USA.  

I subsequently received an email from ebay saying:

"We had to cancel bids and purchases on the following item(s) for the buyer, ####, because they were made without the account owner's permission.

Please note that we're working with the account owner to prevent any additional unauthorized activity.
...
We also recommend you take the following actions if this buyer won the item:
- If you haven't received payment, don't complete the sale or send the item to the buyer.
- Don't communicate with the buyer directly.
- Verify any payments you've been notified of by logging in to your PayPal account (or other online payment service).
- If the buyer requests refunds or additional payments, don't send any money without contacting eBay first.
- If you've already sent the item, try contacting the shipping carrier to find out if you can stop shipment."

However, in "my account" the listing still shows up as waiting for me to send the invoice.  I've also received an email from the buyer which is very suspicious, now asking me to send the item to Africa. 

Ebay's email has a list of things I need to do if the unauthorised buyer is the successful bidder is doesn't say anything about me having to cancel the listing.  Is that what I am supposed to do?  And do I just ignore emails from the buyer or is there a way to report it further to ebay? 

This is my first time selling on ebay so any help you can give me is much appreciated.

[pennyforum14]

We also recommend you take the following actions if this buyer won the item:

- If you haven't received payment, don't complete the sale or send the item to the buyer.

Self explanatory....don't send anything, not an invoice, and especially not the item. 

- Don't communicate with the buyer directly.

Don't answer any emails or messages from the buyer.

- Verify any payments you've been notified of by logging in to your PayPal account (or other online payment service).

If they have paid, check your paPaypal account to be certain the funds are there.  If they request bank details, don't answer, but if you must, insist on Paypal only, and don't trust any messages seemingly from Paypal, check the account by logging in from your browser NOT using any links.

- If the buyer requests refunds or additional payments, don't send any money without contacting eBay first.

DO NOT REFUND ANY PAYMENTS YOU MAY HAVE RECEIVED, if they are fraudulent, eBay ad Paypal will take care of that when the time comes.

- If you've already sent the item, try contacting the shipping carrier to find out if you can stop shipment."

AGAIN, DO NOT SEND ANYTHING.

It is likely it is a fraudulent transaction and when they have finished their investigation, eBay will cancel it and notify you of the outcome.  Once they do you can relist the item.

[*tippy*toes*]

You did the right thing coming here to ask advice. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT have any further communication with the buyer. The fact they are now asking for the item to be sent to Africa you can be 100% assured it's a scam. Do exactly as eBay have said. In your correspondence with eBay, ask them if you need to cancel in order to get your fees back. You must get your fees back and I'm not sure if that happens automatically with these situations.

Add the buyer to your blocked buyer list immediately. It will stop them trying to buy anything else off you. http://offer.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?BidderBlockLogin

Did you plan on selling your items overseas? If not, you need to block all overseas buyers. If you're just starting out, probably safer for you not to sell overseas as it can get a bit sticky and cost you a lot of money if you don't know the correct procedures (like tracked postage etc).

If you don't want to sell overseas, go into buyer requirements and fill them out. The top one set to 2 in 12 months. That stops people with more than 2 non payment strikes buying from you. Most important is the next one, ticking that you want to block people in countries you don't post to. Fill the rest out as you see fit. Don't forget to tick the box at the bottom to add to current and future listings, plus to stop blocked members from contacting you. http://offer.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?BuyerBlockPreferences

You also need to select the countries/regions you don't want to post to by ticking all the boxes. Say for example you are happy to post to the US and UK, leave those boxes unticked. http://cgi5.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ExcludeShippingList&guest=1

You are very lucky. You've dodged a nasty bullet. You could easily have lost an expensive item and the money. Feel free to pop back in any time you are unsure of something. There are a lot of very experienced members here who are more than willing to help out.

[sarahgabrielle123]

Thank you pennyforum14 and *tippy*toes*! I just selected the "cancel listing" option in my ebay. It said notification will be sent to the buyer and they will need to confirm cancellation. Weird that this wouldn't happen automatically.

I have a potential "real life" buyer who wants to try on the item today. Am I able to proceed to do this while the cancellation confirmation process is happening?

[sarahgabrielle123]

Oh no... I just received an email from the buyer saying they have sent payment via PayPal and that I should ship immediately. There isn't any money in my pay pal yet. I'm not going to ship the item but what can I do? I've emailed ebay but wish there was someone I could talk to at ebay.

[*tippy*toes*]

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@sarahgabrielle123 wrote:
Oh no... I just received an email from the buyer saying they have sent payment via PayPal and that I should ship immediately. There isn't any money in my pay pal yet. I'm not going to ship the item but what can I do? I've emailed ebay but wish there was someone I could talk to at ebay.

---

If you had received a payment, PayPal would have sent you an automated email to inform you of payment. If there is no payment showing next to the item on your selling page, they haven't paid. They are trying to pull the wool over your eyes because you have low feedback and they think you don't know any different. If you are unsure, log into PayPal via a browser and see. DO NOT click on any links in an email. If you have clicked on a link in an email, turn off your internet connection and run all your antivirus and antimalware programs.

You can ring eBay (or get them to call you back) by clicking on the help and contact link at the top of any eBay page. Unfortunately, forums rules state that we can't post the phone number in here. If you get them to call you back, you shouldn't be sitting on hold half the day.

It's possible that the buyer will reject the cancellation, which then means eBay won't refund your fees. If that happens, ring them and explain the situation and they should hopefully refund your fees. If they don't respond to the cancellation, you will be able to close it in 8 or 10 days to get your fees back (the time depends on the reason for the cancellation). Which option did you select for the cancellation?

Do not reply to the buyers emails. Read them if you like, so you can see how scammers try to con people, but don't reply and don't click on any links. If they ask for your PayPal email address, don't give it to them. They will give you every sob story under the sun, don't fall for them.

[pennyforum14]

Ignore the email. The money will likely never show in your Paypal account and if you get an email from Paypal it will probably be a fake.  Only ever log into Paypal from your browser using the Paypal web address, if the payment isn't showing you will know the email was a fraud.  Even if you see the payment, do nothing, do not send the item or make any further contact with the buyer, unless eBay tells you differently.

[*tippy*toes*]

EBay has removed the listing, so there is a reasonable chance they will automatically refund your fees. I wouldn't end the cancellation at this stage though. As eBay have removed the listing, I don't think the buyer can pay now anyway, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

[sarahgabrielle123]

Thank you so much *tippy*toes* - you're so helpful!  I just closed my PayPal account anyway.  I'm going remove my listings as well.  This is my first time selling on eBay and so far it has been more trouble than it is worth so I'm a bit put off unfortunately 😞 

[davewil1964]

That's a bit of an over reaction.

You have been told how to stop these scammers and the steps to ensure they are scammers, so you are in no danger now.

Closing your Paypal account after the horse has bolted is pointless. If they didn't go through checkout, they wouldn't have had your Paypal address anyway. And they can't get it now because eBay are on to them.