Fraud Via Wire Transfer??? Ebay Question...

[lytalbayre]

So I sold a $3500 item (a watch for those who are wondering) on ebay. The winning bidder only had 1 feedback and paid immediately by paypal requesting item be sent to an unconfirmed address.

I promptly refunded the payment and told him I couldn't ship to a non confirmed address. I told him he could pay by money order or wire transfer and I would ship wherever he wanted.

So he paid via wire transfer. The funds are sitting in my bank account, all cleared. And he provided an address. Apparently he wants the watch shipped to someone else that is not him.

I have spoken with this guy on the phone, and he seems nice enough.

Question is, is there anyway this can turn around and bite me in the... ? Funds are cleared. I can ship, I just want to be cautious.

Anyone here ever been scammed with wire transfer before?

 

[minendo]

Call your bank and talk to them. If he is using a stolen bank account to pay, you will get screwed.

 

[lytalbayre]

Is it possible to use a stolen bank account to pay?? I guess I should call my bank...

 

[Raduque]

That's insane, $3500 for a watch. It' better be made out of pure unobtanium with perfect diamonds for the numbers and solid gold hands. Oh, and it better have been out to space and back, too.

Definitely call your bank, they'll tell you where the money came from, and if needed, investigate it to make sure the funds are ligit.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Raduque
That's insane, $3500 for a watch. It' better be made out of pure unobtanium with perfect diamonds for the numbers and solid gold hands. Oh, and it better have been out to space and back, too.

Definitely call your bank, they'll tell you where the money came from, and if needed, investigate it to make sure the funds are ligit.

yes do this

 

[allisolm]

That's insane, $3500 for a watch. It' better be made out of pure unobtanium

Thank you for that.

unobtanium.

:laugh:

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: minendo
Call your bank and talk to them. If he is using a stolen bank account to pay, you will get screwed.

The bank can contact the bank that the wire came from.
That bank can contact the account holder and confirm.

2-3 days at most.

At this point, do not alert the buyer that you are investigating - if it is legit, you will look like a fool.
If it is illegit, you have alerted the system of the fraud. By not letting the "buyer" know that you have started the trace, they may be able to be picked up before they go to ground.