Fake emails often include the eBay logo and a fake eBay address in the "From" line (for example, "From: support@ebay.com"). Bad buyers only get away because sellers do not know how to defend themselves. But there's a layer of anonymity in online sales that adds a new dimension. This scam usually focuses on smaller, high-value items like smartphones or handbags. The buyers cannot do much as they paid by bank transfer and the seller is free to run the scam again on another account.”. If you can’t work things out, we’re always here to step in and help. There’s been an uptick in sellers marking name-brand items down by up to 80 percent. If the receipt does not come from a reputable dealer, like a Coach store, Nordstrom, or Bloomingdales, it may be fake. Are all Louis Vuitton bags made in France? “Checking seller reviews for mentions of counterfeits or fakes is a good tip, but buyers should be wary about the rising trend for fake reviews which can be used to hide counterfeit goods. Many buyers will offer to pay over the amount in order to get the item delivered sooner. WE … Resolving issues with sellers If you’re having an issue with an eBay seller, try contacting them directly to resolve your problem. BAAZEE SHOULD NOT ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO BID IMMEDIATELY AFTER REGISTERATION. 1 min article; Setting a reserve price. Reading descriptions carefully and seeing the market price for similar items can help someone spot a counterfeit from a mile away. If a buyer asks you if they can collect the item in person, be wary, regardless of their story. Perhaps the largest scam on eBay is the scam of shipping a falsely advertised item. This would indicate that the bidder is associated with the seller. HELLO, I REQUEST BAAZEE TEAM TO PLEASE TRACK THE BUYERS BEFORE THEY BID ON ANY PRODUCT. While some legitimate designer items are made in China, do your research to determine which ones. These scammers are common but relatively amateur, and the red flags tend to be fairly evident to most people,” remarks Kimberly Smith. According to eBay, it may be expanded in the future to include other high-end items. These are the lengths that scammers are now taking to convince you…I contacted [PayPal], I was told that this was not a practice they followed and that the email was fraudulent. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see a fraudulent seller capping high-ticket items right at or under $500 to skirt verification. So the buyer's request doesn't seem to far-fetch. I prohibit non US buyers, but somehow a non US buyer won my item. You should ask why—and then use of words such as ‘replica’ or ‘factory second’ is often just a cloak for counterfeits,” according to Bennett. Speaking of, don’t fall for these popular work-from-home scams that are gaining popularity right now. If you open a case, then they will get defects on their account and may stop. How to avoid it: Document all interactions and do not rely on trust. Activity that doesn't follow eBay policy could result in a range of actions including for example: administratively ending or canceling listings, hiding or demoting all listings from search results, lowering seller rating, buying or selling restrictions, loss of buyer or seller protections, and account suspension. I have people having mental breakdowns over Fraggle Rock VHS tapes. How Fake Stuff Ends Up on eBay They see you're inexperienced in selling so they'll try to send you fake payments thinking you don't know how selling really works, hoping you'll ship without checking to see the payment is in your PayPal account. “The seller could take deposits from hundreds of potential buyers and then remove the listing. For example, buyers living in a country you don't ship to, or buyers with unpaid items cases. Often, these listings are accompanied by quality pictures and a decent description. If you just wait and relist, these buyers will keep doing this to you. Recognize Fake Emails. “The seller lists the item, but deep in the description buries the statement that you are buying a photograph of the item, not the actual item. Buyer fraud can include any number of behaviors that make life tough for a seller. You believe the buyer is making a false claim You believe the buyer is misusing the eBay Money Back Guarantee or the returns system They’ve asked you to complete a sale off eBay They’re abusing the bid retraction process, repeatedly bidding and then retracting bids “Counterfeiters set up marketplace listings which look like unbranded products, but then distribute details of counterfeits through social media and encrypted networks. To report a fake email that looks like it came from eBay, forward it as an attachment to spoof@ebay.com. As a buyer, you will buy the item, for instance, an iPhone, expecting to receive the phone but receive a photo of an iPhone instead,” notes Reuben Yonatan. Unfortunately for the average user, there’s an art to the eBay con that has been mastered over time. First, the buyer will pay for the items and the seller will ship it. WHY CANT BAAZEE SPENT FEW RUPEES TO JUST CALL THEM TO ENSURE THEIR CORRECT IDENTITY? “There were no spelling errors, and images within the email rendered correctly. Buyers can claim expensive items are fake and ask for a refund. Just because an email looks real doesn't mean it is. We created policies to make sure eBay is a safe place to buy and sell. “It will immediately draw thousands of people to it due to the cheap price. bad grammar/spelling, wrong images, weird email address, etc.). Perhaps the largest scam on eBay is the scam of shipping a falsely advertised item. Ty Stewart, CEO and President of Simple Life Insurance, reminds buyers to “shop your items using UPS whenever possible so you can require a signature confirmation. 1 min article Report an issue with a seller. An eBay money-back guarantee protects buyers from fraudulent sellers, save for some exclusions. eBay sellers have control over who can bid on and buy their items. Your purchase is covered by the eBay Guarantee, which entitles you to receive your money back if the item you receive doesn't match what is listed. Here are some signs to watch out for: I blocked the scammer and thankfully that was the end of that.”, “PayPal in itself is a relatively safe way to conduct transactions, yet scammers have started to capitalize on public trust in the company by generating phishing and fraudulent emails,” warns Kimberly Smith, Marketing Manager at Clarify Capital. Unauthorized or pirated copies of things like: TV programs (including CDs or DVDs containing shows that were taped from television). All of my fake buyer are with auctions, they go missing when the auction ends. In these scams, counterfeit either have dummy accounts through which they post positive reviews, or they can buy positive reviews through social media…” says Bennett.”Keys to look out for with fake reviews include very poor grammar, repeated phrasing, and sentences which are totally generic—the product may be described in glowing terms, but they rarely what the product actually is.” If you pick up the phone and hear these four words—hang up immediately. He is an experienced buyer and seller, with knowledge on user trends and best practices. If you see the Bid activity at 100%, like the one above, it's likely a fake bidder. https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting … If in doubt, ask the seller a question and document that answer.” All in all, check every description twice. However, PayPal and similar platforms guarantee both financial protections and legal recourses and safeguards for buyers and sellers alike. “The buyer purchases the items and then pays by PayPal and the buyer then contacts the seller and requests to collect the items. Ebay accused of failing its sellers as fraudulent buyers manipulate the system A website built on the premise that most people are honest is struggling. According to eBay policy, if a buyer opens an Item Not as Discussed (INAD) ticket, then you must accept the return and refund the money. If you don't hear back from the seller in that time, ask eBay to get involved. Next, look at where the item was manufactured. 2 min article; Report an issue with a buyer. Common reasons for the collection range from going on holiday/vacation, needed as a present, items previously lost in the post, etc. How to avoid it: “Exercise caution and do some investigation.”. Then I get a notice from eBay that the user is no longer registered and the bid has been cancelled and that I can relist my item. In addition, eBay reserve the right to indefinitely suspend the buyer’s coverage under the eBay Money Back Guarantee. This scam is less of a predictable con and more of a sign to be wary. “The best way to avoid falling prey to this kind of scheme is to keep tabs on your own PayPal account directly and exercise caution and a healthy amount of skepticism when one of these messages land in your inbox,” says Smith. Be wary of vehicles that are significantly cheaper than other similar models. Aron Hsiao wrote about eBay for The Balance Small Business. You just have to message back saying I decline your offer. Counterfeit goods are not allowed on eBay. “This scam is quite easy to spot. Examples of such print include the mockingly simple: “Photo of item,” “item box only,” “item sold separately.” It’s a photograph, box, or other accessory for the item itself. Whenever sellers only accept wire transfers as payment, that is a huge red flag,” according to Kimberly Smith. It’s absolutely a red flag if the seller is adamantly opposed to on-site or PayPal transactions,” notes Ty Stewart. This buyer scam is one of the oldest (yet most effective) tricks in the book. “It’s a brutal scam because you have no recourse as a buyer. The buyer then collects the items and files a PayPal claim for items not received,” warns Jay Lee, eBay seller and founder of uAcademy. You can also ask the seller to show you proof of authenticity. Designer items including handbags, sunglasses, some clothing, shoes, and blue jeans are good candidates for an authenticity check. On its policy page, eBay points out which items are prohibited from their listings: To identify an imitation item, look at all the pictures. What to Do When eBay Suspends Your Account, Selling Luxury Handbags on eBay May Be More Trouble Than It's Worth, Disney Black Diamond VHS Videos: Prices on eBay Are Not Real, 5 Items New Sellers Should Avoid Selling on eBay, How Sellers Can Avoid Problem Buyers and Bad Situations on eBay, Here's What You Can Do to Collect Money When an eBay Buyer Doesn't Pay, New and Experienced eBay Sellers Beware of These Scams, Tips on How eBay Sellers Can Prevent Returns on Their Items, Calculate eBay and PayPal Fees Before You Sell, A Suspended eBay Account Can be Reinstated in Some Cases, Craigslist can Provide Great Inventory for eBay Sellers, A List of Items That You Should Never Try to Sell on eBay, Tips on How to Make Money Selling Shoes on eBay, Low-Priced eBay Products From China May Not Be a Good Deal, The Balance Small Business is part of the, Bootleg recordings from concerts or other live shows, Counterfeits, fakes, or replicas of brand name items (for example, a purse bearing the Chanel name or logo that wasn't made by Chanel), Counterfeit replacement parts that weren't made by the manufacturer, Digital copy only discs or codes (originally sold as part of a Blu-ray or DVD combo package), Media (such as CDs, DVDs, flash drives or any other recordable media) containing scanned pages from a book, magazine, manual, or other copyrighted materials that you didn't create. 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