Ebay Scam? ***Updated***

bigal40

Senior member
Sep 7, 2004
849
0
0
I won a phone today on ebay, total was $290.
I paid the seller using paypal a few minutes after the auction closed, and just now, about 4 hours later he refunded my payment.
He says:
"im having a PROBLEM with my paypal account so i am issuing you a refund if there is another way you can pay for the phone i will only charge 200 since this was my fault let me know at ******@yahoo.com. again sorry"

I wrote back:
"What is the problem? I would really prefer to use PayPal with ebay because of the protection they give.
Is it because I used a credit card on paypal? If that is the problem I can pay you using paypal with an instant transfer(it will go through even if you only have a personal paypal account)

Let me know. "

Do you think I am ever going to get my phone?


Cliffs:
-Won phone on ebay and paid with paypal
-seller refunds payment and says he has a problem with his PP account - offers a large discount if I pay him another way
-Is he trying to scam me?

 

jamesbond007

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
5,280
0
71
Not sure if he's trying to scam, but if he's having problems with PayPal, don't use that method obviously...he may get his funds locked and sometimes sellers won't ship out the items because 'they haven't been paid yet'. If he's trying to push you into Western Union or some crap like that, run far and fast. :p

I'd take your money and try somewhere else to play it safe. Just be glad he refunded you!

~Travis

P.S. What phone model?
 

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
No of course not. Why would anybody scam you on eBay?

Do you think I am ever going to get my phone?

If he's willing to give you the awesome $90 off deal, I don't see why he won't send you the phone for free after he refunded you all the money.
 

bigal40

Senior member
Sep 7, 2004
849
0
0
-He has no feedback(one of the reasons I was weary about bidding in the first place)
-Is there a big difference between PP with a CC vs Instant transfer from bank account?(amount of protection wise, should the phone never show up after payment)
-The phone was the HTC Touch (GSM version)
 

shabby

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,782
45
91
If he has a problem with paypal he shouldnt of used it as an option, but then no one would bid if he said western union only with no feedback.
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
Originally posted by: bigal40
-He has no feedback(one of the reasons I was weary about bidding in the first place)
-Is there a big difference between PP with a CC vs Instant transfer from bank account?(amount of protection wise, should the phone never show up after payment)
-The phone was the HTC Touch (GSM version)

He has no feedback? Why even bid? Scam.
 
Oct 20, 2005
10,978
44
91
Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Originally posted by: bigal40
-He has no feedback(one of the reasons I was weary about bidding in the first place)
-Is there a big difference between PP with a CC vs Instant transfer from bank account?(amount of protection wise, should the phone never show up after payment)
-The phone was the HTC Touch (GSM version)

He has no feedback? Why even bid? Scam.

bigtime.
 

slayer202

Lifer
Nov 27, 2005
13,679
119
106
Originally posted by: bigal40
-He has no feedback(one of the reasons I was weary about bidding in the first place)
-Is there a big difference between PP with a CC vs Instant transfer from bank account?(amount of protection wise, should the phone never show up after payment)
-The phone was the HTC Touch (GSM version)

you are safer using a credit card

and do not pay the guy
 
Dec 10, 2005
27,991
12,560
136
Originally posted by: bigal40
Ok, the guy emailed me back today and said he wants me to pay him to a different paypal account.
Should I pay him to the different account? I did win the auction so I do have to pay him now right?

Heres a link to the auction
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...me=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=011

You don't have to pay scammers. Just back away quickly from this auction and find another phone to bid on.
 

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
I have a feeling a lot of people insist on getting scammed 'cause they can't resist the opportunity of getting something at a price that's too good to be true. I call it greed. Well, some are just stupid, but mostly it's greed.
 

bigal40

Senior member
Sep 7, 2004
849
0
0
So what should I do then?
Tell him I'm not going to pay him and probably get negative feedback, or pay him and if I don't get the phone get it refunded by paypal or my CC?
 

Sphexi

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2005
7,280
0
0
You seriously bid on an auction for something that expensive from a brand new seller with 0 feedback? There's your problem right there, he's full of crap. Obviously his other paypal account has been locked from transfers to bank accounts and he wants your money in another one. Refuse to do it, report his ass to ebay/paypal as he's now changing the terms of the sale after the fact and you suspect fraud, and go bid on another.
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
Originally posted by: bigal40
So what should I do then?
Tell him I'm not going to pay him and probably get negative feedback, or pay him and if I don't get the phone get it refunded by paypal or my CC?

I thought buyers can't get negs anymore?
 

rezinn

Platinum Member
Mar 30, 2004
2,418
0
0
You're not going to get anything either way, just report him to ebay and give him a negative so people know he is trying to scam them.
 

bigal40

Senior member
Sep 7, 2004
849
0
0
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Originally posted by: bigal40
So what should I do then?
Tell him I'm not going to pay him and probably get negative feedback, or pay him and if I don't get the phone get it refunded by paypal or my CC?

I thought buyers can't get negs anymore?

I think that starts in May
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
Originally posted by: bigal40
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Originally posted by: bigal40
So what should I do then?
Tell him I'm not going to pay him and probably get negative feedback, or pay him and if I don't get the phone get it refunded by paypal or my CC?

I thought buyers can't get negs anymore?

I think that starts in May

Stall for 17 days :p
 

Sphexi

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2005
7,280
0
0
Email him back, tell him you tried but that Paypal gave you an error about that other account being blocked from payments or something like that, guaranteed he will simply give you yet another one.
 

bigal40

Senior member
Sep 7, 2004
849
0
0
Originally posted by: Sphexi
Email him back, tell him you tried but that Paypal gave you an error about that other account being blocked from payments or something like that, guaranteed he will simply give you yet another one.

Ok, I'll try that and see what he says.