eBay Security Concern - Watch Out eBay Sellers

[77T]

Just sold a nice TT Blue Dial Sub on eBay - even got more than my "Buy It Now" price! WooHoo

Sounds great, huh?

Like TGTBT (too good to be true)



Not exactly ...

Case is still under investigation but eBay has escalated to Technical Support and Security. They can't figure out how the "buyer" popped the deal for more than BIN price. Unless he has breached their system or my account. I'm leaving the account alone for now as a little "honey pot". Just have a DJ listed on it currently.

Here is the heart of the scam by zero or low feedback users...somehow they buy your item for more than it was listed and want a "refund". SO beware if you sell on eBay.

A mildly vigilant and honest seller is not really at risk - but greedy and sketchy ones will be in for a shock when the payment gets reversed.

Just sharing in the spirit of communication - don't need help with eBay, they were instantly on the case when I called.

[crowncollection]

good to know thanks

[SethBocaRatonPawn]

They can do it by making an offer for an amount higher than the item is listed for. I've had it happen a few times where the buyer accidentally offers 10,000 instead of 1000 or something similar. Weird that eBay let's you do that.

[brian8121]

Thanks for the heads up.

[77T]

Originally Posted by SethBocaRatonPawn

They can do it by making an offer for an amount higher than the item is listed for. I've had it happen a few times where the buyer accidentally offers 10,000 instead of 1000 or something similar. Weird that eBay let's you do that.

Yeah - thanks Seth. I should probably not allow future auctions automatically accept offers. Been using the auto decline feature for stupid low ballers though!

[77T]

Just got the case resolved after a week of inane communication with the guy who perpetrated the whole thing. He stonewalled eBay and tried same with me. Would not reply to eBay messages from me or them. Did not concur with canceling transaction.

Key to unraveling his game was a domain search on his email addy - the dope used his office email to set-up the account. Sent that addy an email there saying someone may have hacked the server and used this email addy to commit fraud on eBay - and still no reply.

But then was able to trace the addy through google to his State-listed certification as a trader with a Wall Street firm! He used the same addy to register with the State of New York. You can't make this stuff up!!!

The final key was an email to him, this time by first and last name (and CC'd the registered business contact for the email server's domain) to explain I had incurred financial damage due to his reckless misuse of eBay, disregard for the rules and failure to pay. Advised that my only alternative would be to file investigation with New York Atty General as possible financial fraud.

Within the hour, from his Blackberry, came the reply, "What would you like me to do?". Geez -
Uh, answer the damn eBay message to cancel and have a nice day...

All cleared up now and can relist.

As Seth correctly pointed out, he offered much more than the Buy It Now - so the future fix is never to auto accept offers of any value. You can still decline offers below an amount to spare yourself the pesky low-ballers out there.

So that's the rest of the story and a mild success I guess.

[nowzen]

Congratiulations and well-handled.

Though unfortunate that you had to basically do the investigation yourself or that it was required in the first place.

[77T]

Originally Posted by nowzen

Congratiulations and well-handled.

Though unfortunate that you had to basically do the investigation yourself or that it was required in the first place.

Thanks - I may have been able to wait him out with eBay and then close the case as buyer refused to communicate. But didn't like leaving that opening for him to appeal it later. EBay was great on the phone investigating how he had closed the auction with an over-dog offer...

[Mickey®]

Thx...something's up...

[AmbSteve]

Thanks for the heads-up!

[BOA]

Anyone going after the guy for what he did, or is he free to make a few changes to hide himself better and do it again? I guess I feel that he should still be reported, and of course, that Ebay should close this loophole.