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eBay iPhone buyer fraud

HidingAmatanth said:
PayPal also has a nasty habit of randomly holding the money until the receiver confirms everything is okay with the item. You can have a 100% clean account with no prior claims, but they still do this. Particularly on high value transactions. Too many people did the whole "low balance" thing.

And as the OP has experienced, they randomly take money out of your account without consent.

To the OP: Call your bank's fraud department. That is what PayPal did there. They cannot just take 26 times the money you gave them permission to do just because they felt like it. This wasn't with PayPal, but I had a company do that with me (cash and in person is my current life rule now). Wells Fargo reversed the charge and gave me new numbers so the company in question couldn't do it again.


Edit: Is there a way for you to blacklist the phone now? Since they made the claim, make it so.
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Yea I called AT&T explained the situation and they blacklisted it. Told me I could unblacklist it if I got it back no problem.

As for the bank thing, at this point I want eBay and PayPal to be the ones out money I have the utmost confidence in my ability to argue my case in court. But do I want to miss classes that are essential to my career? Screw it I want to make an example, I warned eBay and PayPal numerous times this was fraud. If they want to be the ultimate deciders and not take the time to actually review the evidence (the buyer presented no proof of a blacklisting or used phone) then they deserve to eat the cost.

Besides the fact my bank said I could file a ACH claim with them but it was unlikely to be reversed. Throw in all the addicts and fake scripts at my pharmacy and I just want the universe to stop throwing my curve balls!
 
Does blacklisting a iPhone really do anything. They are getting stole all the time and I guess blacklisted, but they must be able to still us them otherwise the would not steel them in the first place. :confused:

I know this one was not stole, but the guy that has it will put it back in service if he keeps it. :confused:
 
ItBeMe22 said:
Does blacklisting a iPhone really do anything. They are getting stole all the time and I guess blacklisted, but they must be able to still us them otherwise the would not steel them in the first place. :confused:

I know this one was not stole, but the guy that has it will put it back in service if he keeps it. :confused:
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It stops the activation on the specified network, for my example AT&T. But like anything there's always loopholes.
 
ItBeMe22 said:
Does blacklisting a iPhone really do anything. They are getting stole all the time and I guess blacklisted, but they must be able to still us them otherwise the would not steel them in the first place. :confused:

I know this one was not stole, but the guy that has it will put it back in service if he keeps it. :confused:
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It can't be used in the US any longer but can be used for a gsm carrier outside the US.
 
As an eBay seller of high end products for over 8 years (not cell phones), I have recently been researching the cell phone listings because I will probably attempt to sell two iPhone 4 phones. What I have learned from my research is that many sellers do not adequately describe their phone. They might simply say, "Great phone, email me for more details," or "Mint condition with smudges from normal wear."

If the sellers have a low feedback score, combined with a listing that conveys that the buyer is lucky to be able to pay top dollar for such a great phone, it invites scammers because they are guessing the seller is inexperienced. I'm not suggesting that the OP falls into this category, but rather, pointing out something that may help others who harbor a fear of eBay.

In the category in which I regularly sell on eBay, there are plenty of stories of fraud and scammers, but I have escaped these situations. I came close a few times, but was able to fend off the inevitable by responding very professionally, and reporting it to eBay.

I have always had good experiences when I have had to call eBay. In fact, one time I was so pleased with their response that I told them I was surprised because I have read about so many other sellers having a bad experience when they called for help. He told me that if the caller starts the tone of the call with a negative emotion, they are most likely going to receive the same in return. Just thought I would pass that on.
 
oaktree said:
As an eBay seller of high end products for over 8 years (not cell phones), I have recently been researching the cell phone listings because I will probably attempt to sell two iPhone 4 phones. What I have learned from my research is that many sellers do not adequately describe their phone. They might simply say, "Great phone, email me for more details," or "Mint condition with smudges from normal wear."

If the sellers have a low feedback score, combined with a listing that conveys that the buyer is lucky to be able to pay top dollar for such a great phone, it invites scammers because they are guessing the seller is inexperienced. I'm not suggesting that the OP falls into this category, but rather, pointing out something that may help others who harbor a fear of eBay.

In the category in which I regularly sell on eBay, there are plenty of stories of fraud and scammers, but I have escaped these situations. I came close a few times, but was able to fend off the inevitable by responding very professionally, and reporting it to eBay.

I have always had good experiences when I have had to call eBay. In fact, one time I was so pleased with their response that I told them I was surprised because I have read about so many other sellers having a bad experience when they called for help. He told me that if the caller starts the tone of the call with a negative emotion, they are most likely going to receive the same in return. Just thought I would pass that on.
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I work in a service based industry, I know being polite goes a long way. With that said I was overly nice to the people at eBay, but their ineptness in response to this is outright appalling. I presented more than enough information and evidence of the phone. The buyer? Nothing more than - "ebays I get ripp off I need help" (maybe not verbatim but close enough). - You can't tell me finding in favor of the buyer is logical or sane? Even after telling them that I am receiving a 6 pound package in return when I sent out one that was 1.1 pounds?

I know what you're getting at but its some serious oversight on their part.
 
pprichar said:
I work in a service based industry, I know being polite goes a long way. With that said I was overly nice to the people at eBay, but their ineptness in response to this is outright appalling. I presented more than enough information and evidence of the phone. The buyer? Nothing more than - "ebays I get ripp off I need help" (maybe not verbatim but close enough). - You can't tell me finding in favor of the buyer is logical or sane? Even after telling them that I am receiving a 6 pound package in return when I sent out one that was 1.1 pounds?

I know what you're getting at but its some serious oversight on their part.
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By any chance, do you know when you will receive "your iPhone"?
 
I sold my iphone on ebay but i had ups pack the iphone, record the imei number on the reciept, sent email to paypal with the number, and email with number to buyer throu ebay mail. I also got a paper from ATT that the phone was paid off and unlocked.

The funny thing, is that once the buyer got this information he refunded my money and refused delivery, saying I was too much trouble. An honest buyer wouldnt have cared in my opinion. Decided on craigslist after that. Met inside an Att store for swap. Made a bit less but had cash in hand.
 
Lamarak said:
I sold my iphone on ebay but i had ups pack the iphone, record the imei number on the reciept, sent email to paypal with the number, and email with number to buyer throu ebay mail. I also got a paper from ATT that the phone was paid off and unlocked.

The funny thing, is that once the buyer got this information he refunded my money and refused delivery, saying I was too much trouble. An honest buyer wouldnt have cared in my opinion. Decided on craigslist after that. Met inside an Att store for swap. Made a bit less but had cash in hand.
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Lol:D
Yes, you were too much trouble to rip you off.
You did great and covered yourself as much as you could.
 
anaqvi786 said:
Oh. Any idea on shipping method?
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UPS ground,. Just checked this morning and it will be here Thursday. I'll be in Maine at my school health center getting my state required vaccinations for pharmacy students, so I'll have to rush back. Hopefully I don't pass out from the 6 shots I'm getting :)

Really can't wait for this package! Rest assured Thursday night or Friday morning I'll have a YouTube link up and I'm sure pics if its anything less than my phone.
 
Thierry ba said:
Take a video of brick unboxing please. :D
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That's my plan!

Going to open it outside (if I get back in time) because I don't really know what's inside. For all I know it could be a bomb :eek:

Brick is still my best guess though.
 
UPS doesn't update the actual weight on the shipment when they receive the package? I know FedEx does. And that label looks like it was printed at the store, so who said that envelope weighs six pounds?

Call UPS too. That looks very fishy all around. The two locations I've been in near Orlando keep those kind of forms behind the counter. And there is no way that thing could have come out as six pounds when weighed unless the employee stuck something on top of it.
 
Same thing happened to me in Argentina.

I can't believe it happens in the US..

The worst part of this is that eBay, Paypal don't give a single ****
 
That's pretty crappy man:(
I really hope you get your money back and there is some justice served in this unfair Ebay and Paypal world.
Let us know what they said, I hope they rule in your favor.
I'd be flipping out if that was me.:mad:
 
Applejuiced said:
That's pretty crappy man:(
I really hope you get your money back and there is some justice served in this unfair Ebay and Paypal world.
Let us know what they said, I hope they rule in your favor.
I'd be flipping out if that was me.:mad:
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Wow, I couldn't agree more. Let me give you the rundown. I call paypal who transferred me to their fraud team who told me they couldn't do anything so they had me call ebay.

First person on ebay was nice and courteous and took the information and transfered me to their fraud team.

The fraud team member started to read back what the previous rep. had said and stopped mid sentence to say "this ain't right, you got back papers in an envelope? - let me send you to my supervisor"

3rd person/Supervisor reassured me that everything would be ok. She took my information read the previous claims and had me file an IC3 report (ic3.gov). I asked her if she wanted to see my video of me opening the package and she said nope. I suspected that this would take a few days but she said because I filled the report with IC3 (which apparently is the FBI?) that she would issue the refund to the buyer and then immediately file a appeal and find in my favor. I almost fell out of my chair saying "thank you - you made my night - I can't believe how awesome you are!"

Super helpful! Told me to expect the money back in my Paypal account within 72 hours and just a few minutes ago it showed up! I already sent it back to my bank account and all is right! Save for a chargeback... anyway to prevent that? I'm seriously so happy today! (even after being diagnosed with hypertension:D)

A side note she told me to expect a call from both the FBI Boston and a local affiliate in Florida. Wow I'm surprised at how easy it was to get my money back! I guess being a member of 11 years with over $13,000 sold makes a difference -that and being calm and courtesy to literally everyone I spoke to there.
 
That is freaking great bro:D
I'm really happy karma has served you well and the other scumbag didn't screw you.
Now to make sure he doesn't do a chargeback with his credit card if he used a card I'd remove my bank account and any associated cards from the paypal account for a while.
Just in case he does go around paypal and ebay and just files a fraudulent charge claim with his credit card company and they try to pull the money back from paypal.
 
Applejuiced said:
That is freaking great bro:D
I'm really happy karma has served you well and the other scumbag didn't screw you.
Now to make sure he doesn't do a chargeback with his credit card if he used a card I'd remove my bank account and any associated cards from the paypal account for a while.
Just in case he does go around paypal and ebay and just files a fraudulent charge claim with his credit card company and they try to pull the money back from paypal.
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Well I already sent my money to my bank account but until that clears I can't remove my bank account. But I'm sure as hell removing that ASAP. I seriously can't get over how helpful they were once I told them what I got in the envelope. I'll also be calling UPS corporate tomorrow to report fraudulent activity at one of their locations. It seems this person has multiple places though because the return address was different from the mailing address I sent the iPhone to.
 
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