eBay SCAM with Xbox Digital Code - Should I Get a New Code?

My problem is almost identical to this - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/406850 - unfortunately i sqw it too late.

Anyway, i sold a digital game ccode via ebay around midnight, the payment via paypal went through quickly. I then got sent an email from paypal saying "payment reversal has been requested as the payment was apparently made without the account holder's permission or was an error".

I sent the code to the buyer via ebay messages around 8am (i hadnt checked my emails yet unfortunately).
Anyway, i have gone into the redeem option on the microsoft website and the code hasnt been used yet. I assume the buyers ebay was hacked, but is it likely "still" hacked? Did the scammer ever get the code since there was an 8 hour delay..? Should I get a new code via xbox to cover myself? Anyone have something similar happen? CHeers

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Comments

  • Get a new code if you can and don't sell it on ebay or using PayPal

  • Can you get a new code and disable the old one? I haven't heard of doing that before. If not, use the code and refund whatever. Otherwise you'll be out of a code and received no money.

  • Leave feedback stating "digital code sold to buyer. Buyer requested PayPal reversal due to hacking".

    You are pretty stuffed.

  • As I said in that thread one year ago

    Nothing you can do, just quickly use the code for yourself to stop them on-selling the code on dodgy forums.

    I once had 10 Xbox codes, and 8/10 were scammers. Ebay absolutes condones this behavior because they get their engagement statistics up to impress shareholders, they don't care about integrity anymore.

      • As the original poster you referred to in your thread, I'm curious as to how you were covered under PayPal seller protection? You said it's possible but, unless I missed it, didn't explain how you went about dealing with the dispute. Did you post it out physically with signature on delivery? That's the only way PayPal would cover you in such cases despite it being stupid and irrelevant, since proof of delivery has nothing to do with the buyer's account being hacked—-that's eBay/PayPal's responsibility, but they just try to save their own asses. That was my argument when I filed a complaint with the FOS. Unless PayPal caved in and changed their terms?

        • I'm not sure why I received a refund - I had simply sent the code in an eBay message.

          • @ShortyX: That was lucky. The PayPal agent who reviewed your dispute must have been in a good mood that day. 99% of such disputes would (stupidly) be ruled in the buyer's favour the moment the seller says they have no proof of postage/delivery.

  • UPDATE: the code is still active, from what i can see. The actual owner of the ebay account has sent me a message saying"account hacked - dont send purchase". AM i to believe that the scammer no longer has access to the account and probably never received the code details…? Im reluctant to use the code myself since there is a chance it wont be used now and i can try to sell it again soon (paypal seem to be hit and miss with giving the funds, depends on how they are feeling)

    • It seems like the scammer has lost access to the eBay account so hasn't received the code.

      Try selling the code on Gumtree for cash.

  • I had a similar one with am XB1 code, paypal took the $$ back, but it wasn't reversed quickly like yours. So code was long gone.

    • Did you end up doing anything/getting anything back..?

      • Nope, learnt my lesson though. I think it was around $30. I figured I sent the code through eBay, which I shouldn't have. By the time PayPal hit me with it the code was used and it wasn't really worth my time to pursue it. Figured its one more scam I'm aware of.

        • Haha, yeah you are right

  • Further question. If I sell digital goods in teh future, is there any way of 'knowing' the account hasn't been hacked by a scammer? Should I ask for id showing their name/address or something?
    Edit - further to this, is there any way to stop the PayPal reversal? If I withdraw the amount before it is being 'held' will my account just go into negative..?

    • Nope. You don't even know if it's a hacker. It could just be a dodgy buyer. I remember sending an email asking the buyer to answer back saying that they were the buyer. The buyer replied and seemed normal. A month after I sent it, no reply after that and then a payment reversal was opened.

      • yep. No more digital codes with paypal for me…..worst part is paypal accept the reversal but my sale still goes through with ebay!!

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