I'd love to post a screenshot of the message I just received from the buyer on here but it's filled with profanity and racism and I think that would be illegal. Reporting to eBay now.
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Sold iPhone, buyer saying it's activation locked...am I being scammed?
- Thread starter gdjsnyder
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So he responded to your comment to him about the cable and charger not being original with profanity and racism?...unbelievable!
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Could you send it as a private conversation?...I'd love to see it.
Message in relation to what? Isn't it all done with essentially? What's there to complain about at this point, especially from the buyer?
Yep, anything past this is pretty much a waste of time and energy with that eBay scammer.
Don't even bother replying to him any more.
At least you got your phone back in one piece.
You wasted time, aggravation and got taken for your brand new accessories.
It could have been worst but take the small loss as a learning experience.
Don't even bother replying to him any more.
At least you got your phone back in one piece.
You wasted time, aggravation and got taken for your brand new accessories.
It could have been worst but take the small loss as a learning experience.
His scam didn't work. Of course he is complaining. And the nerve of the seller wanting all his new accessories back. You see people like the buyer really believe they have a right to cheat people. And get all upset when called out about it.
I wonder If any news organizations might like to report on this whole mess. That would really get the buyer and eBay and PayPal pissed off.
We demand you post it. You owe it to us now.
OP, you can show us the screenshot in a group message.
Hi -- So glad to find this thread. I think I got scammed too. Here's what happened.
I sold my iPhone 6s on eBay a few weeks ago with extras (Apple Battery Case and Apple Leather Case) and just a few days ago, I received a message from the buyer asking my if I had the invoices for the cases because he wanted to the sell them and there are so many counterfeits that he wanted proof. I told him I didn't but said I hoped he was enjoying the iPhone. He replied that he wasn't because all he could see on the phone upon booting up was an activation lock screen, of which he sent a screen shot. It was a help screen. I asked for a screen shot which shows the semi-redacted Apple ID email address. He did and it wasn't mine.
I nicely told him he must be confused and he replied that I must be confused -- that I sent the wrong phone or this was stolen. He said he'd ask for a refund and take the phone to the police. I immediately filed a report with eBay and then he submitted for the refund with PayPal and I filed a claim with them too.
I am a meticulous seller and repack everything like new and package everything perfectly. I uploaded to PayPal the email confirmation from Apple that my Find My iPhone was turned off as well as other screens including my Apple ID homepage showing my Apple ID name and the "all devices" list.
I have the serial number and the original receipt for the phone as well. I checked the serial number online and it does show the phone as locked. Of course, he's used his own Apple ID or quickly created one.
I'm not sure I understand this scam. If PayPal sides with him, he has to send back everything. What does he gain? And I'm stuck with a bricked phone, I assume. Will Apple even buy it for parts?
Any advice or thoughts on what else I can do?
Thanks!
I sold my iPhone 6s on eBay a few weeks ago with extras (Apple Battery Case and Apple Leather Case) and just a few days ago, I received a message from the buyer asking my if I had the invoices for the cases because he wanted to the sell them and there are so many counterfeits that he wanted proof. I told him I didn't but said I hoped he was enjoying the iPhone. He replied that he wasn't because all he could see on the phone upon booting up was an activation lock screen, of which he sent a screen shot. It was a help screen. I asked for a screen shot which shows the semi-redacted Apple ID email address. He did and it wasn't mine.
I nicely told him he must be confused and he replied that I must be confused -- that I sent the wrong phone or this was stolen. He said he'd ask for a refund and take the phone to the police. I immediately filed a report with eBay and then he submitted for the refund with PayPal and I filed a claim with them too.
I am a meticulous seller and repack everything like new and package everything perfectly. I uploaded to PayPal the email confirmation from Apple that my Find My iPhone was turned off as well as other screens including my Apple ID homepage showing my Apple ID name and the "all devices" list.
I have the serial number and the original receipt for the phone as well. I checked the serial number online and it does show the phone as locked. Of course, he's used his own Apple ID or quickly created one.
I'm not sure I understand this scam. If PayPal sides with him, he has to send back everything. What does he gain? And I'm stuck with a bricked phone, I assume. Will Apple even buy it for parts?
Any advice or thoughts on what else I can do?
Thanks!
The device is still in your device list so maybe Apple would help you get it unlocked from someone else's Apple account. I don't know if they'll do that or not though. eBay may be getting to be a total scam place for buying and selling Apple stuff aside from brand new sealed things. Hopefully they do the right thing and side with you.
No, it's not in the "All Device" list. It was disassociated from my Apple ID once I turned off Find My iPhone before packing and shipping it.
Potentially he sends back a different phone or something like that?
Or he won't send it at all if he told you he'll drop it off at the police.
It's a shame eBay has became so bad with tons of similar scams.
He could just do a dispute with his credit card and keep the device for free and then PayPal will pass the loss on to you.
Stay away from eBay when selling iPhones.
It's not worth the risk, time wasted, aggrevation and back and forth. Plus they charge way too many fees.
It's a shame eBay has became so bad with tons of similar scams.
He could just do a dispute with his credit card and keep the device for free and then PayPal will pass the loss on to you.
Stay away from eBay when selling iPhones.
It's not worth the risk, time wasted, aggrevation and back and forth. Plus they charge way too many fees.
It's possible the buyer isn't trying to scam you at all, but has really received a phone that has had a new, inappropriate, activation lock installed. If you have proof of purchase (and you say you do), Apple will remove the activation lock.
This explains what may have happened:
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/10/05/iphone-activation-lock-wrong-apple-id-issues/
I've heard of that before also. I didn't mention it though earlier. I wonder what has been causing that.
It's a new scam. He will send you the phone back, and he will get his refund. However, the phone is now locked. You want it unlocked? He will demand money to give you the icloud password, so you can wipe it and reuse it.
Pay Pal needs to re-evaluate their terms and conditions for policy/procedures for scams like this. I refuse to sell on EBay anymore and that's to bad, because I have made thousands on eBay.
eBay + PayPal is not worth it selling phones, I'd rather send them into recycling websites and lose £50 than potentially lose a phone and money (this happened to me with my 5S back in 2014).
I agree - I always get rid of my phones and tablets to Mazuma nowadays: They pay a reasonable amount and have always paid what they promised.
It's probably a bit lower than I could potentially get on eBay, etc but much less hassle!
The last few times I've sold phones it's been on swappa.com much better than eBay.
Agree about avoiding eBay for selling iphones .. I was going to sell a 5c on eBay recently but luckily found someone at work who wanted one and sold it them instead. Helped them set it up at work so I knew it was all working correctly when I took their money.
It is possible though that some of these suspected scams are actually the activation lock problem that's been occurring lately where another account is locked to your device!
It is possible though that some of these suspected scams are actually the activation lock problem that's been occurring lately where another account is locked to your device!
After over 600 good ebay sales i got three non payers in a row. One even wanted me to send the item and he promised to make payments. Too many new eBay members that can hardly speak English to the point where communications is difficult. They do not know thew rules and eBay does little to punish them. Back to Craig's List and it is working great! You walk away with the money and the deal is done.