Am I Being Scammed? eBay - PS4 Pro - Russian Buyer

I sold my dead PS4 Pro on ebay. See Listing.
The winner was Russian and has made payment of $230 via Paypal (including $100 of postage).

Something just doesn't feel right. Am I missing something, is this some sort of chargeback scam?
Are they going to mine the HDD for payment/personal info?
Has anyone sent items to a Russian buyer?

Am I just being paranoid, because "russia"?

Poll Options expired

  • 54
    It's a scam
  • 5
    Send the item
  • 1
    I dont know

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Comments

  • +1

    don't do it

    i imagine you will get a paypal dispute after sending

  • I would have excluded certain buyers from auction. In any event. You either see if you can cancel the sale, and likely get negative feedback from buyer or complete the sale and hope for the best. Ebay is not full of horror stories.

  • 100% scam.

  • +6

    Just say there is a problem with the address and cancel the sale. You will only get a minor touch of ebay fees.

    Next time restrict sales to Australia only (so you only get Australia scammers…)

  • Can’t tell you whether it is a scam or not, however I did sell a Switch copy of The Binding of Isaac to a guy in Russia via eBay. He was asking all sorts of questions about it and was a bit annoying to be honest. However he bought it after I told him what the postage would cost (a lot), and it got to him. He left some lovely feedback and never heard from him again. However, I thought it could have been a scam at the time of sending.
    Genuine buyers are out there, but proceed with caution.

    • He could still be using stolen credit card..

  • +1

    Wow, such negative stereotyping in this thread. If the guy has put money in your account then he's done just as much as any other buyer would. Send him the item and keep a receipt. Maybe send it with registered post to be sure.

    I wonder if people would advise you to avoid doing business with someone just because they're Chinese or black. No different really.

    • +3

      Getting money via Paypal via an Ebay sale is hardly getting money in your account. Has a giant 180 day string attached…

    • +1

      Yes, there is.

      Calling it stereotyping doesn't mean it is false.

      You wouldn't walk down a dark alley full of tattooed skinheads for the same reason you wouldn't sell a car to Ol Jack the war veteran abroad.

      It's the laws of probability at work. Russians have a bleak economy and have to resort to more desperate measures to make their money. You see the same phenomenon with love scams.

      • You wouldn't walk down a dark alley full of tattooed skinheads

        Of course not, but you also wouldn't assume that every tattooed bald person you come accross is a neo-Nazi skinhead.

        It's the laws of probability at work. Russians have a bleak economy and have to resort to more desperate measures to make their money. You see the same phenomenon with love scams.

        I don't disagree, the point I was making is that this attitude would be labelled as racist and despicable if the 'victims' of the stereotyping didn't have white skin. In America the majority of crimes are committed by Black people, who only make up a small fraction of the total population. Statistically, a black person is much more likely to be a criminal but any attitude, theory, or policy which cites these statistics is instantly condemned as racist.

        Likewise, you wouldn't get much love for suggesting that OP should not do business with Chinese people because of the assumption that they all have coronavirus.

      • You see the same phenomenon with love scams.

        Personal experience? :)

    • things are different now… Any buyer can file an item not as described claim. Registered post is not enough as they can claim the item is not as described or swapped. Any overseas country is a risk. You would receive -$230 in your paypal if the buyer claims.

    • +3

      It's not that the buyer is Russian. It's that they're in Russia and paid $100 of postage for a commonly available used item.

      I would definitely say the same about someone buying from China or Africa and paying $100 in postage.

  • +3

    Instead of money, ask for a trade - Russian wife perhaps

  • +1

    Post some bricks and see?

  • his feedback is 6? maybe check how long the account has been opened for and if the feedback ratings are reciprocal or seem strange.

    • It also says that his feedback is 0% positive (unless it's just hiding the true percentage?)

  • +1

    Next time make the sale to Australia only if you don't want the hassle of someone from a possibly dubious country buying your item and launching a PayPal charge back scam.

    Russian account, rating of just 6. It's probably a legitimate buyer but maybe not. You have an obligation to send the item.

  • Cheeki breeki.

  • High probability not a scam . I have done large amounts of international orders especially consoles that have manufacture subsidies. Low Aust $ more international buyers are buying . Russia and other especially South American countries have high taxes and its extremely expensive for electronics with no supply .

    Like normal with your survey people with no experience assuming a scam .
    You had the option of no international sales at Ebay if concerned .

  • -1

    SCAM.

    Cancel and refund the money.

    Russian or not. Overseas is not worth the hassle and money. Cost a lot more than $100 to ship a PS4 to Russia.

  • For future reference.

    Go to My Ebay Summary > My Account > Site Preferences > Buyer Requirements >

    "Have a primary postage address in a location I don't post to"

    Edit. Also "Buyer requirements activity log" is amusing seeing the amount of people who tried to bid on your stuff.

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