New eBay Scam

[CrazyFrog]

Thanks to our wonderful politicians and GDPR there is a new eBay scam which is almost impossible to spot.

The seller offers a high value imaginary item for sale. The hapless buyer presses the button to buy the item and the seller sends a tin of bins (or a potato or something) with Yodel to their own address, or the address of an accomplice. They then provide eBay with the tracking number they have obtained from Yodel saying it's for your delivery. You then wait in all day and nothing arrives and then find that the tracking info says the parcel has been delivered. When you query this with Yodel they will only say the delivery name and address don't match yours.

If you raise a 'non delivery' case with eBay, they say they need written proof from Yodel that the parcel was not delivered to you. You contact Yodel who say they can't do this because of GDPR, ie it's not your name and address on the parcel so they refuse to talk to you. If you ask eBay to talk to Yodel on your behalf, they will refuse to talk to eBay for the same reason. Gotcha, catch 22. I have provided eBay with 2 screen dumps of web chat's I've had with Yodel in which they confirm that the item didn't have my name and address on it, and also an email trail in which Yodel say the same thing, but eBay will only accept a letter on headed paper from Yodel, which is impossible to get.

I have appealed this to the highest level I can in eBay, pointing out that 12 other buyers of the same item have posted negative feedback saying it's a scam. You have to be quick to see this negative feedback, since eBay usually remove it as soon as the case is decided in the sellers favour, which it always will be as he has provided tracking info for the delivery. As it stands at the moment eBay have taken the side of the criminal who's account is still active, and decided against 12 honest innocent victims of this fraud.

Let me repeat this - the eBay money back guarantee is worthless in this situation.

The scam is impossible to spot as the seller will have 100% positive feedback, and will probably have an array of similar items for sale too if he's clever.

Be warned and be very, very careful. Having been got myself, in the future I will only be buying very low cost items from private sellers or dealing with sellers I've bought from in the past. Items from trade sellers, I will be getting through Amazon, as most trade on both platforms.

[spooky]

That`s a bit of bad luck... were they motorcycle related items or household ?  either way it`s not good,   

[manxie]

Not good. I hope you`ve not lost too much money  It`s very hard to trust sellers these days, especially with high priced items. Ebay can`t even spot the obvious scams, they`re useless!! There are classic cars and bikes on there obviously scammers but they still get through. Does my head in. Hope you have some joy, somehow, getting your money back....... B**tards!!!

[CrazyFrog]

Motorcycle stuff, gym stuff and two poor devils got done for over £800 for petrol generators. Sad to say, eBay seem to be totally disinterested...

[themoudie]

Thank you for posting CrazyFrog.

This is a new one on an "innocent" like me when it comes to "working a system"!

I had a ponder and as I had just been reading Martin Lewis's weekly post "Money Savings Expert", I thought a wee message to them about the scam might not go amiss. So, I have sent them the info and will await a reply.

In the meantime I hope that we can find a salve for your and others losses.

My regards, Bill

[CrazyFrog]

To be honest Bill, I'm more annoyed with eBay's attitude than I am at the loss of the money. Good idea to send it on to 'Money Saving Expert', I hadn't thought of that. 

[Steve Lake]

that is a bu55er!.... and typical of ebay .... i do hope that eventually you get some redress
had you thought about 'rogue traders' , might be worth getting Matt Alwright interested, especially if you can show a dozen or more people have been ripped off.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03bhwv8/contact

try this link , and good luck

[themoudie]

Aye CrazyFrog,

Further to earlier post, just had a trawl of "Money Saving Expert" forums and this thread appears to match yours and others problem. Maybe using a credit card rather than a PayPal account, might be an option. But that doesn't recoupe your dosh!

Money_Saving_Expert_forum_eBay_scams

N.B. this scam was posted onto the MSE forum in May 2018!

And, there are others using this 'loophole' in eBay's system, be aware: Cheeky_little_scam_from_China

Regards, Bill

[CrazyFrog]

that is a bu55er!.... and typical of ebay .... i do hope that eventually you get some redress
had you thought about 'rogue traders' , might be worth getting Matt Alwright interested, especially if you can show a dozen or more people have been ripped off.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03bhwv8/contact

try this link , and good luck

Great, Thanks Steve...

[CrazyFrog]

Aye CrazyFrog,

Further to earlier post, just had a trawl of "Money Saving Expert" forums and this thread appears to match yours and others problem. Maybe using a credit card rather than a PayPal account, might be an option. But that doesn't recoupe your dosh!

Money_Saving_Expert_forum_eBay_scams

N.B. this scam was posted onto the MSE forum in May 2018!

And, there are others using this 'loophole' in eBay's system, be aware: Cheeky_little_scam_from_China

Regards, Bill

Good info, thanks Bill. I can't believe that eBay have done nothing to prevent this if it's been a problem for a year! They really don't give a monkey's so long as they keep on raking in the money do they?

In my final communication with them, I told them I would be publicising details of the scam, and that I would no longer be selling any vehicles through the site, so they were set to lose well over £200 of my custom. Small beer to them I know, but it makes me feel a bit better about the whole thing!

[tigcraft]

Well don’t know what to say about all that. Are they mainly targeting vehicle parts accessories and tools sort of thing or domestic items? I buy a lot of fabrication and repair items from eBay although I’ve managed to use regular suppliers.
 I always notice scams in van, classic cars, and classic bikes. I check them out to see other items they currently have for sale which sometimes amounts to 50 vehicles and contact is always by external email.
 It’s just getting too much and I must agree on how dopey eBay is.

[iansoady]

Funny you should post this. I've just been stung in a very similar way (although only for £13 so not a disaster) via Gumtree. I was looking for a Kindle as backup to my somewhat rickety model - loads around for £10 or so. I had what seemed to be a reasonable email conversation with the vendor and paid her £13 via bank transfer (I know, I know). She sent me a tracking number for signed RM delivery.

After a few days as it hadn't arrived, I checked the tracking number. It had been signed for by a J Major (I know ex-Tory PMs are hard up, but really?) The tracking info showed it had been delivered by the Erdington PO - the other end of Brum from me. She then stopped answering emails and the ad disappeared - after I'd left her a 1 star review (none isn't an option) but of course it's meaningless as she'll just create a new ID.

Gumtree's even worse than ebay for getting money back so it's down to experience. However, never being one to learn from my own mistakes (I make them so others can learn) I've gone for another similar one - paid via Paypal this time so maybe I'll get it. Unless there's a whole host of scam artists flogging imaginary Kindles......

[tigcraft]

All I can say is thank you for the warnings to what’s the new trend.

[Smithy]

Sadly this proves two things to me;

1) Buying anything online from anywhere other than reputable sources, e.g. I only buy spares from shops and not ebay, risks falling prey to scammers of which there are seemingly millions.

2) We live in a society of scumbags who will do anything for money and that includes organisations like ebay.

Difficult not to become cynical and bitter but I have decided not to expose myself (ooer missus) to this problem anymore by withdrawing from the 21st century fad for smart, online everything. I know, I know using this forum breaks that rule but hey you're worth it.

Ian

[tigcraft]

It’s got to that stage now that if you want to be smart then get rid of ‘smart’