am I being scammed on eBay?

[Kremlar]

Someone won an eBay auction I had listed. Used Buy It Now, paid via PayPal, verified, shipping address is a registered address.

However in the payment notes they asked me to ship it UPS RED using "their" UPS account.

Buyer has 50+ feedback, but is new to eBay (6/22/14) and seems to have gone on a buying tear the past couple of weeks.

What's the scam here? I've read some things about people using stolen UPS account #s to ship, then calling to redirect the shipment elsewhere.

Any thoughts?

 

[Rakehellion]

Just ship it normally and have them pay for it. I don't do special requests. This ain't Burger King.

 

[esquared]

Someone won an eBay auction I had listed. Used Buy It Now, paid via PayPal, verified, shipping address is a registered address.

However in the payment notes they asked me to ship it UPS RED using "their" UPS account.

Buyer has 50+ feedback, but is new to eBay (6/22/14) and seems to have gone on a buying tear the past couple of weeks.

What's the scam here? I've read some things about people using stolen UPS account #s to ship, then calling to redirect the shipment elsewhere.

Any thoughts?

Someone with 50+ feedback in a week?

Be wary.

Just ship to the verified address.

 

[Krazy4Real]

I wouldn't do it.

 

[cronos]

No, just no.

 

[Kremlar]

Thanks for reaffirming my suspicion. But I'm curious - what's the scam? How would it play out if i had just shipped it? Anyone know? Just curious.

 

[Elixer]

They can redirect packages, if you use their account (which is also most likely fake).

 

[smackababy]

Yeah, ship it normal.

 

[Mark R]

As you are shipping with their UPS account, they are the shipper as far as UPS is concerned. As UPS allow the shipper to change the address on a shipment, this means that your buyer can change the shipping address.

If you read the paypal seller protection policy, it specifically says that it does not apply if the package is redirected away from the paypal verified address. The policy goes on to say that you are strongly recommended not to ship using a buyer's account, because if the buyer redirects the package, it will nullify the seller protection policy.

 

[TwiceOver]

And also they can deny the charges when the bill comes and then UPS bills it to you.

 

[drebo]

Probably stolen UPS account or something.

 

[Kremlar]

I messaged him saying to pay extra for expedited shipping or I can just ship it normally. No response yet. I assume he will not respond.

If he's screwed others it's probably only a matter of a week or 2 before the issues start coming in.

 

[smackababy]

Has he paid yet? Also, regardless of what he says, only send the item to the verified paypal address. Under no circumstances should you send it to any other. At best, he is trying to save some money in shipping (probably gets a discount on under his UPS account) and that is still highly unlikely.

 

[Kremlar]

He has paid, but the note was attached to the PayPal payment. I hesitate on shipping the item since I think it's scam - unless he says "OK, please ship it normally". I'd rather cancel the auction.

 

[smackababy]

He has paid, but the note was attached to the PayPal payment. I hesitate on shipping the item since I think it's scam - unless he says "OK, please ship it normally". I'd rather cancel the auction.

If he has already paid, you're fine sending to the verified address. Well, I say fine, but that is only for this situation.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Thanks for reaffirming my suspicion. But I'm curious - what's the scam? How would it play out if i had just shipped it? Anyone know? Just curious.

You have to seriously be goofy if somebody saying NO affirms your suspicion.....quite a few people say NO or YES to pad their post counts....follow the force son and you will not go wrong!!

 

[Kremlar]

If he has already paid, you're fine sending to the verified address. Well, I say fine, but that is only for this situation.

Since the buyer is likely malicious, can't he spin this into some other kind of scam? Like, I ship the item and he claims the box has a brick in it?

 

[Newell Steamer]

It is far worse that being scammed,... you have AIDS.

 

[smackababy]

Since the buyer is likely malicious, can't he spin this into some other kind of scam? Like, I ship the item and he claims the box has a brick in it?

There is always that risk, but PayPal will investigate. His best bet would be to say the item wasn't as described and give some kind of BS reason, and send you back a brick. But, by the time that happens, if he is scamming other people as well, there is a good chance eBay / Paypal won't side with him.

If you're that worried about the buyer being malicious, just cancel the auction.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Someone won an eBay auction I had listed. Used Buy It Now, paid via PayPal, verified, shipping address is a registered address.

However in the payment notes they asked me to ship it UPS RED using "their" UPS account.

Buyer has 50+ feedback, but is new to eBay (6/22/14) and seems to have gone on a buying tear the past couple of weeks.

What's the scam here? I've read some things about people using stolen UPS account #s to ship, then calling to redirect the shipment elsewhere.

Any thoughts?

Buyer has feedback that says what? Ebay has rules about this and an answer forum too. Shipping to a noncertified address nulls Paypal's refund guarantee. At best you are being being used as a drop shipper.

 

[Kremlar]

All good feedback, but all within the past week or so.

 

[smackababy]

What it really comes down to is: are you willing to risk, knowing this could possibly be someone with malicious intent, losing the item you're selling? He already paid, so it isn't like that is a problem, and you have the verified address. His feedback would suggest he is, at least, able of buying items from other people.

If this is like a $30 or $40 item, I'd go ahead with it. If you're selling a $1000 item, I wouldn't do it.

 

[edro]

Feedback from other fake accounts? Maybe he created 10 accounts and gave each of them feedback to build a fake history.

 

[Kremlar]

Feedback from other fake accounts? Maybe he created 10 accounts and gave each of them feedback to build a fake history.

No, others seem like valid accounts. Not sure what's going on, but it just doesn't seem right.

I message him again saying since I did not hear back I will just ship it normally. If I don't hear anything by tomorrow AM I will ship and keep my fingers crossed.

 

[smackababy]

Feedback from other fake accounts? Maybe he created 10 accounts and gave each of them feedback to build a fake history.

In order to do that, you have to actually complete the transactions. So, create a fake account with a fake paypal associated with it, buy the listing with the scam account, transfer the money losing 4-5%, ship something and use the tracking number, and then provide feedback. And then, at the end of the month, pay the listing fees. That seems like an awful lot of work to scam one time. Granted, if you're buying a very expensive item, the fees for 10+ feedback would be "worth it", but who has that time?