What Are The Chances of Getting Scammed as a Buyer on eBay?

skido on 07/09/2020 - 19:15
Last edited 07/09/2020 - 19:56

its one of those posts again.. I checked the previous topics and a lot of these "Ebay scam" posts seem to be seller getting scammed, but what happens if its the buyer? I know there's the Ebay money back guarantee and PayPal protection, but how reliable is it (i've never used this before)? Long story short, I saw a ridiculously cheap pair of AirPods Pro on Ebay. The buyer has 8 rating feedback of 100% and has been a member since 2014. There have already been 9 sales within the past 24 hours lol

Is it worth the risk/hassle?

General Discussion

Comments

  • zonra on 07/09/2020 - 19:17
    +4

    Could be a hijacked account.
    Most platforms are relatively safe as long as we use common sense.
    If it’s too good to be true, well..

  • [Deactivated] on 07/09/2020 - 19:32

    ^ exactly, greed will get the better of people looking for a bargain, been done myself should of known as it was way too cheap, lucky PayPal refunded eventually.

  • Thrift on 07/09/2020 - 19:42
    +1

    The 'saee-mubar (8)' listing?

    The buyer has 8 rating feedback of 100% and has been a member since 2014.

    That feedback score is useless.
    8 feedbacks, all as a buyer, 6 are for purchases more than a year ago, possibly 6 years ago.
    The two latest feedbacks are for very low value purchases.

    • skido on 07/09/2020 - 19:47

      yea it's that one.. too many red flags, I guess I will just pass.. hopefully the 10 or so buyers end up getting a refund or the actual item

    • Jameslane on 07/09/2020 - 20:04

      I found the listing too. Seller is currently selling multiples of airpods, airpods pro and Galaxy Buds +. This certainly raises a few flags.

      I notice the galaxy buds + for sale are white on the listing ad but if you zoom in on the sticker on the box it actually says black despite the picture of the white bud on the box.

      Makes me think you will get something from your purchase but most likely a knock off.

  • brendanm on 07/09/2020 - 19:47
    +2

    There is basically zero risk, as eBay and PayPal will give you your money back. In saying that, as someone else said, this is highly likely a highjacked account, and you are wasting your time.

    • plmko on 07/09/2020 - 20:14

      That is not true, there is still risk. There are a few ways to scam buyers despite the money back.

      • brendanm on 07/09/2020 - 20:17

        Eg? PayPal will give you money back 99.9% of the time. If they don't, you use the financial services ombudsman, they then fall over themselves to give you your money back.

        • plmko on 07/09/2020 - 20:50

          Consider if you actually receive the product but it's not quite right. Start from there, use your imagination.

          • brendanm on 07/09/2020 - 20:58

            @plmko: Send it back as snad. PayPal give you your money back.

            • plmko on 07/09/2020 - 22:31
              -1

              @brendanm: Yeah we'll just leave it there.

  • 2pro4sho on 07/09/2020 - 19:56
    +1

    100% fake. You will not get it and waste time disputing only to hopefully get your money back. What are you realistically expecting here?

    • skido on 07/09/2020 - 19:59

      tbh nothing, just wondering how good eBay's system is when it comes with dealing with scammers? I don't even know why they (the scammers) try at this point if theres buyer protection

      • ssquid on 07/09/2020 - 23:05
        +1

        Because there's always ways to convert the money to cash before ebay/paypal/banking institutions catch up and reverse everything… and then it's the suckers who had their accounts hijacked that take the fall.

  • DoctorCalculon on 07/09/2020 - 20:50

    the seller did some sort of 'triangle scam'

    Triangle scam? Care to elaborate?

    • skido on 07/09/2020 - 20:56
      +1
      1. unsuspecting buyer purchases an item from a fraudulent seller
      2. fraudulent seller uses a stolen credit card to place an order of the item from a legitimate business
      3. legitimate business ships the item to the unsuspecting buyer
      • DoctorCalculon on 07/09/2020 - 21:05

        That is quite devious, indeed.

      • Switchblade88 on 07/09/2020 - 21:40

        What happens with an inevitable fraud claim?

        • Card owner makes claim for transaction
        • Business proves they sent legitimate item out with tracking
        • ???
        • Receiver still has item
        • Fraudulent seller still has sale cash
        • …profit?
        • DoctorCalculon on 07/09/2020 - 22:36

          Wouldn't the buyer be considered to be in possession of stolen goods, and the cops might turn up at their doorstep?

          • Switchblade88 on 07/09/2020 - 22:50

            @DoctorCalculon: Except the buyer has proof of purchase, a record of the payment they made and a tracking number showing they received what they paid for.

            The cops might turn up but that'll only help them track the fraudsters by presented with the evidence of sale, and cross checking to notice it doesn't match. Assuming they would even arrive for a basic claim like this

            • DoctorCalculon on 07/09/2020 - 22:52

              @Switchblade88:

              The cops might turn up but that'll only help them track the fraudsters by presented with the evidence of sale

              True. If the fraudsters are on the other side of the world, then they will probably never be caught other than having their eBay account suspended.

  • vikvance on 08/09/2020 - 07:24
    -1

    Long story short, I saw a ridiculously cheap pair of AirPods Pro on Ebay. The buyer has 8 rating feedback of 100% and has been a member since 2014.

    It's clearly a scam, and as the other poster also said, you'll just waste your time trying to get your money back. (And that's assuming the seller hasn't discovered some clever way to get past eBay/Paypal's buyer protection systems, so you never see your money again.)

    In summary:
    The chances of getting scammed are extremely low on eBay IF you use a seller with a high rating. (I'm risk averse, so I usually don't buy unless the seller has a rating of at least 2,000+.)

  • fantoo on 08/09/2020 - 08:14

    I have pulled the trigger on two of the extremly cheap stuffs.

    Both of them had a really good review but it was just too good to be true.
    Still I bit the bullet.

    However, my item was never shipped.

    On one of the item, account was compromised(as per the seller).
    I was given a refund within a week.
    on this one seller responded and said he never put up the listing.

    Another one, seller never got back to me.
    I opened up a dispute after a week and got refund in couple of days.

    Its always good to text seller first if he gets back to you.

    Or just bite it.
    If you get the item, you are lucky.
    If not there are paypal and ebay.
    I had no problem for having a refund

  • fantoo on 08/09/2020 - 08:15

    Also, if the item is actually shipped and gets delivered.
    Make a video right from the start when you are going to get your parcel.
    Right from postie

    • popsiee on 08/09/2020 - 14:05

      I hope you weigh up the small % it happens to the time wasted doing your videos .
      I know the answer :)

      • fantoo on 08/09/2020 - 14:12

        There used to be popular scam where scammer just send empty boxes

  • Jugganautx on 08/09/2020 - 13:53

    You can only get scammed if you allow yourself to be scammed.

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