Where is the win in this suspected eBay scam?

[hcv123]

Not sure if the way Ebay and Paypal are set up now precludes this from happening - I sent payment via Paypal $1300 for an item that was supposed to be shipped overnight. The "seller/scammer" and I had been messaging back and forth frequently over the immediately prior 24 hour period - after I paid - silence. No tracking - no communication. About 12 hours later I filed an item not received report with Paypal. I had spoken with them previously to understand the process and money flow (obviously didn't listen to my gut that was registering something wasn't right) - I was told that if I file an item not received report, the money is frozen until the case is resolved. Paypal decided the case in my favor BUT explained that the scammer had withdrawn the $$ almost as soon as I deposited it and I was SOL! Never made whole on that one.

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by hcv123

Paypal decided the case in my favor BUT explained that the scammer had withdrawn the $$ almost as soon as I deposited it and I was SOL! Never made whole on that one.

Wait, this was on a Goods/Services purchase? They are supposed to refund you out of their hide as part of their 3% transaction fee. You should have gone up the chain until you got the right supervisor to refund you.
But seriously, opening an item not received claim in only 12 hours after payment seems ridiculous on the face. There was no way they could have shipped to you in that timeline.

[hcv123]

WAY before the seperation between goods and services and friends and family - it was an Ebay purchase (I've been using Ebay since 1998). Paypal was WAY worse back then - no guarantees. Thousands of crazy stories on a website called "paypalsucks" then. The seller had communicated they would be back to me well before that the end of that 12 hour window. Turns out they had scammed a number of people.

The core of my point was that I spoke with Paypal BEFORE sending payment at the time to understand their policy and process. They communicated clearly that the seller would be unable to withdraw funds after I filed a claim. They did not advise me that funds COULD be withdrawn so rapidly (at the time). I never heard from the seller again. Never saw the item I paid $1300 for. Paypal decided the case in my favor, but communicated as there was no money left in the seller paypal account there was nothing they could do.

[swarmee]

OK, I understand. Thanks for the explanation.

[STL1944]

I had a similar situation as described above but, thankfully, I paid through PayPal via credit card.

When the item came in and was not genuine, I immediately opened a case with PayPal (and eBay). After 4 rounds of back-and-forth I eventually just disputed my charge on the credit card which was much easier at the end of the day for me.

The only time I use F&F on PayPal is either with true Friends & Family or folks here at Net54 who have been around for a while.


Jim

[Jetsfan]

To close the loop on this, I never heard back from the seller, and ebay gave me my money back. Maybe it was a short term loan, maybe seller thought I’d forget about it. Who knows.