eBay Buyer Bought 3 of My Digital Xbox One Games. Suspicious. Possible Scam?

manbearpig on 12/10/2017 - 01:06
Last edited 12/10/2017 - 11:05 by 1 other user

So I listed a few digital copies of Xbox One games on eBay today. A total value of around $130. A UK registered buyer whose address is in Serbia bought all three a minute after the other. He's asking me to send the codes via email.

I usually send codes via eBay messages as most of the time it is OK, but I have been scammed in the past with PayPal chargebacks over 'unauthorized payments', so I'm extra careful now.

I'm suspicious of this buyer. His eBay address and PayPal address both match and he is located in Serbia. He has a Spanish name. He has 53 feedback (all positive) and registered this year. All positive and I suspect at least some are for digital codes. That's all fine, but it's the bulk purchase that has me raising eyebrows.

Thoughts? I could cancel, or send the codes via registered mail…

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Comments

  • airal3rt on 12/10/2017 - 04:11

    I have been scammed in the past with PayPal chargebacks over 'unauthorized payments'

    I buy junk off eBay all the time but mostly sell on Gumtree so I've never had a chargeback. How does this process work? If you're a legitimate seller you can still be scammed somehow?

    • Quantumcat on 12/10/2017 - 08:41
      +2

      Yes definitely. he buyer can put in a claim with PayPal, who have no seller protection for digital goods so will immediately refund the buyer.

    • manbearpig on 12/10/2017 - 15:59
      +1

      You can read about my experience being scammed last year here:

      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/236300

      It was a long and arduous process but I got my money back in the end.

      • Grale on 26/10/2017 - 21:27

        Hey mate
        I just found myself on this same boat. Sold 2 steam keys that were bought immediately by a buyer who had 100% feedback. Payment was made promptly and a positive feedback left for me. Didn't think anything more of it until a month later where i was hit with an unauthorised transaction claim.

        Paypal claimed that this was raised with his bank and they ruled in his favour which meant that paypal took the money out of my account to refund the buyer. I tried working with paypal but they didnt even request additional information and just closed both cases.

        Did you need to say anything specific to FOS as it looks like thats my next option in terms of escalating it? Fingers crossed i have some recourse. I dont mind missing out on a sale but it annoys me that scammers like these can still get away and paypal doesnt bother to help.

  • Scab on 12/10/2017 - 06:35
    +3

    send the codes via registered mail

    Won't make any difference as there is no Seller Protection for digital goods in Australia.

    There isn't much you can do to protect yourself in this instance unless you ask the seller to pay by bank transfer, although that's going against eBay as PayPal or similar must be an option.

    Personally, I sell digital and computer stuff only on GumTree and will not accept PayPal, only cash or bank transfer.

    • Quantumcat on 12/10/2017 - 08:38
      +1

      I was about to comment the same thing. If you sell digital goods you shouldn't get too attached to the money. If you want to keep it, you have to be prepared to ditch your eBay account as a seller. Make sure to take off any automatic billing you have set up in eBay, change the phone number on both the eBay and PayPal accounts, and be prepared to weather the emails. You'll still be able to buy, but not sell (first hand experience when I got scammed for $450 by an American buyer).

      Oh and do this BEFORE he does a chargeback/INAD/INR claim.

    • manbearpig on 12/10/2017 - 15:56

      Even if I send the physical cards? I thought sending the physics cards would be the requirement for digital goods.

      • Scab on 12/10/2017 - 16:17

        Physical cards still wouldn't be covered, PayPal doesn't protect when selling a "licence for digital content".

        Plus because the seller is based in Serbia you have to abide by eBay/PayPal Serbia's conditions, I have no idea how they differ if at all.

        That's why I don't sell overseas, only locally.

        Either sell on GumTree or ask the buyer to pay by bank transfer.

  • Third_Gear on 12/10/2017 - 09:46

    It is a hacked ebay account. DO NOT EMAIL THE CODES! I had the exact same thing happen with a UK registered buyer and they had a go at me because I refused to email the codes. Two weeks later the charge backs came through via Paypal. Email Ebay.

    • manbearpig on 12/10/2017 - 15:54

      Thanks for letting me know. Email eBay and tell them I suspect the buyer is a scammer? I was thinking to cancel the sales. When the buyer asked me yesterday after purchasing to send the codes to his email I told him that his multiple purchases were suspicious and that I'd like him to confirm because of scammers. He has yet to answer.

      • Scab on 12/10/2017 - 16:20
        +2

        I wouldn't be contacting eBay as technically you have to honour the sale.

        Just refund the money and cancel the sale and block the buyer from buying anything from you.

        • Third_Gear on 12/10/2017 - 20:20

          Yes just do that. Cancel the sale in Ebay and state there is a problem with the buyers postal address.

      • jjjia on 12/10/2017 - 21:00
        +1

        The fact that he has yet to answer indicates this is most likely a fraud (speaking from my eBay selling experience).

  • Word on 12/10/2017 - 17:13

    They gave you a Serbia address and you are still wondering?

    • tonyjzx on 18/10/2017 - 16:01

      Serbs are scammers

      source: Serb workmate says so

  • msmhw on 25/10/2017 - 01:49

    Why not try minimize the risk and only sell to Australia. There is an option to block overseas buyers.

    I have been scammed before, also I was charged $15 by PayPal because there was a chargeback from the bank.

    • Grale on 27/10/2017 - 11:40

      probably too late now but i'd ring paypal and argue that this is out of your control.
      they refunded me the $15 chargeback fees but not the paypal fees they first deducted when the money came in.

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