Possible Ebay Scammer? Or Am I at Fault?

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Yeah, this guy stole your card pure and simple. Whatever the generic grade says in the item specific section, shouldn't matter a lick. You put PSA 2 in the title, you have a big ass picture in the description and you have PSA 2 in the description.

Even if you didn't have all that, he stole your card.

30 Ebay accounts? Jesus.........and Ebay doesn't find that the slightest bit suspicious?

I had an issue with a guy who collects a specific photographer's real photo postcards. He left me a negative because he purchased three postcards with damage on the front. He believed from my pics that there was paper stuck to the front of the cards, but there was actually paper missing. I offered to refund if he sent the cards back, but he just wanted a refund and not have the "hassle" of sending the cards back. I refused, he negged me, I called ebay showed them the correspondence back and forth between us and they removed his negative. (btw all you have to do is offer a free return and ebay will remove a negative now). I blocked him and a few months later this guy under a new ID purchased a postcard from me, got it and left a negative. I suspected it was him and found that he'd used the same paypal ID to buy the card. Ebay removed the negative and I blocked his new ID.

Another month or so goes by and he buys another card from me with a new ID and leaves a negative when he gets the card. I call ebay and they remove the negative. I complain and ask them to kick this guy off their platform. The ebay rep agrees, but he says he doesn't have that power. He did inform me though the guy had 14 accounts and he added all 14 of his IDs to my blocked bidder list. I haven't had a problem since then, but I assume the a-hole will hit me again when I list a Sanborn card he doesn't have.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I had an issue with a guy who collects a specific photographer's real photo postcards. He left me a negative because he purchased three postcards with damage on the front. He believed from my pics that there was paper stuck to the front of the cards, but there was actually paper missing. I offered to refund if he sent the cards back, but he just wanted a refund and not have the "hassle" of sending the cards back. I refused, he negged me, I called ebay showed them the correspondence back and forth between us and they removed his negative. (btw all you have to do is offer a free return and ebay will remove a negative now). I blocked him and a few months later this guy under a new ID purchased a postcard from me, got it and left a negative. I suspected it was him and found that he'd used the same paypal ID to buy the card. Ebay removed the negative and I blocked his new ID.

Another month or so goes by and he buys another card from me with a new ID and leaves a negative when he gets the card. I call ebay and they remove the negative. I complain and ask them to kick this guy off their platform. The ebay rep agrees, but he says he doesn't have that power. He did inform me though the guy had 14 accounts and he added all 14 of his IDs to my blocked bidder list. I haven't had a problem since then, but I assume the a-hole will hit me again when I list a Sanborn card he doesn't have.

Geez....some people need to get a life.

[Exhibitman]

Unfortunately, the world is full of vindictive douchebags, so the hobby gets its share.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I had an issue with a guy who collects a specific photographer's real photo postcards. He left me a negative because he purchased three postcards with damage on the front. He believed from my pics that there was paper stuck to the front of the cards, but there was actually paper missing. I offered to refund if he sent the cards back, but he just wanted a refund and not have the "hassle" of sending the cards back. I refused, he negged me, I called ebay showed them the correspondence back and forth between us and they removed his negative. (btw all you have to do is offer a free return and ebay will remove a negative now). I blocked him and a few months later this guy under a new ID purchased a postcard from me, got it and left a negative. I suspected it was him and found that he'd used the same paypal ID to buy the card. Ebay removed the negative and I blocked his new ID.

Another month or so goes by and he buys another card from me with a new ID and leaves a negative when he gets the card. I call ebay and they remove the negative. I complain and ask them to kick this guy off their platform. The ebay rep agrees, but he says he doesn't have that power. He did inform me though the guy had 14 accounts and he added all 14 of his IDs to my blocked bidder list. I haven't had a problem since then, but I assume the a-hole will hit me again when I list a Sanborn card he doesn't have.

I wonder what Ebay thinks the benefit is with letting the same person hold multiple accounts like that. That only allows for shady sh*t to go down, and not much else.

I've only ever had one account, but I completely understand if somebody wants to break up their buying from their selling account, or they have a huge store and want multiple accounts to sell different type products.........but otherwise, all other reason I imagine would be pretty sketchy.

[jchcollins]

Crazy story. Hopefully PayPal will do the right thing and get you your money back. I know exactly what you are talking about with the "generic" condition descripions that are required on listings, and those that have commented are right - they really don't make sense on graded card listings where the condition is inherent in the listing and on the slab in addition to being much more specific. They do all kinds of things with card listings pre-filled, for example what team, player and year it is - so I don't understand if you say PSA graded why they could not in-turn just give a drop down choice of what grade it is, 1-10, with choices for qualifiers, etc. The "very good" description could be if you are selling a piece of furniture and just need a generic term.

[ATP]

I meant to reply to this one before, and forgot. Then I saw you mention it on a different thread and remembered. I've had scam buyers try similar things before, I had one a few years ago for over $7000 and I know there's a couple others here who posted good instructions on how to best win these situations. The best piece of advice I can give you (and I won all of the cases and either kept the original funds and they kept the card or I received the card back and refunded) is DO NOT WAIT for paypal to make their automated decision. Provide everything they need up front, tell them you have satisfied your seller protection requirements (if you have), and that you want the case closed NOW and they can work out the chargeback situation behind the scenes. If you met all of the requirements (and one of these is getting signature confirmation on the delivery, if you did not you will probably end up losing this one), like proof they signed for delivery, upload it. Don't wait to get that either as I think the Post Office no longer keeps them on record for as long as they used to. File the police report now, then upload it to paypal. Upload anything else relevant. Then call and get them to close the case on the phone. Don't let a decision be made and then try to get it reversed, it probably won't happen. Good luck I hope it works out okay for you.

[bounce]

Happened to me, slightly different facts as my buyer get refunded by saying the requested a refund that I didn't give. Wasn't true, which I proved, along with all the other documentation that card arrived, was signed for, etc. etc.

Won't make you feel any better, I'm still waiting on resolution of mine. I tried to do it over the phone 2-3 times to no avail. Hoping for the best but prepared for the worst - they already took the money from me so not sure it can get much worse.

Here's my thread. Haven't updated since I don't really have an update, but it should be coming pretty soon.

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=266398

[T206Collector]

This is how I fought my scammer and won:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=244010

Just to close the loop on this:

I lost my appeal from PayPal, they closed the case and they released the funds to the perpetrator.

I called PayPal back, following the instructions here:

https://www.paypal.com/us/selfhelp/contact/call

I calmly explained that I was extremely upset, and I was contacting government authorities to open a criminal and civil investigation of PayPal and the eBay user. They reversed or cancelled the decision on appeal, and re-opened the case to give me a chance to upload police reports/complaints, etc.

I uploaded the police blotter from my local PD. I then filed a complaint with the USPS and FBI (Internet Crimes Complaint Center), and uploaded a copy of the submitted complaints. If you get in the same mess, you can click either of these links to get you started. It was very straightforward.

https://www.uspsoig.gov/form/file-online-complaint

https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

I also sent the complaints directly via email to the perpetrator. And every time something would happen from these government agencies and they would send me an update on my claims, I would forward those to the perpetrator as well. I kept it as professional and non-argumentative as possible. This was my email to the guy:

"I have filed formal complaints with the FBI Internet Crime Division, the USPS Office of Inspector General, and my local police department. Copies of the FBI and USPS claims are attached. I will send you the police department blotter under separate cover. Finally, I will be uploading copies of all of the complaints on PayPal's Dispute Resolution Center landing page, and I will be sharing with your local police department in Folsam, CA."

That was it. No threats. No anger.

Two things happened almost immediately after this:

(1) I got my first ever email from the perpetrator. He wrote, "your a phyco path dude" (his grammar and spelling, not mine) and told me he was told to destroy the card by ebay and would now instead send me the card back, which he miraculously did. I believe he did not follow what ebay (purportedly) instructed him to do because he knew it was the real deal all along!

(2) PayPal refunded my money!

I don't think it is fair for me to have my card and money, too; but I really don't know what to do here, because I cannot fathom sending the card back or giving this guy his money either. The perpetrator has not been in contact with me since his email a couple of weeks ago -- he has asked for neither money nor card (I wonder if PayPal let him keep the money, and PayPal paid me out of an insurance policy or something).

Moreover, the card may actually be part of a crime, so I do think I need to hold on to it now for some period of time in case the FBI, police, or USPS OIG come looking for it. After all, I have not, and do not plan to, withdraw any of my complaints.

So, for now, I hold on to both, and await further instructions. But, I hope this post will help others handle these matters if it happens to you.

[bobbyw8469]

WOW! Just....wow!