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millie Oct 10, 2006

I know everyone is tired of hearing this ebay stuff, but I just need to know what to do in my situation.  I received a notice that my listed bear was bought with the buy it now.  This is a legitimate email from ebay.   I was given the persons address in Georgia.  I sent an invoice then I received an email that appeared at first to be from ebay.  However, this second email is not legitimate.  It is not in my ebay file and I knew when I read it that it was a scam.  It stated that this person was representing the person who bought my bear.  They would like to send a money order in excess of the amount and I would return the extra.  They would then send someone to my house to pick up the item.  Well, obviously I am not doing this.  My question is:  Was the original email a legitimate purchase, and how do I report the problem to ebay?  Also, if this is a scam, do I still pay the listing fees?

thumperantiques Oct 10, 2006

Hi Millie,
     I've been really lucky (touching wood here) with ebay so haven't had your problem.   I'd go to "My Ebay" and use the info for the sale to contact the buyer again and ask if they are aware of the second email and the person who sent it.  It could easily be a scam from someone else that the official buyer knows nothing about.  If it isn't the buyer, finish the transaction properly and send the scam email to: spoof@ebay.com

   If it is the buyer trying to pull a scam, tell them you only deal with the ORIGINAL buyer through ebay, PERIOD and you will only accept the amount for the item and shipping - no exceptions or you will report them.

     Funny thing is though, I sent an email to my niece through ebay the other day and it didn't show up in our ebay message files for either of us, so there is the slight possiblily that the second message did come through ebay but isn't showing up, which complicates things even more, but I think it's someone else trying to make a fast, free buck. 

     I'm not positive about the refund of ebay fees, maybe someone else could jump in here - I've never had to had any refunded, but if it is a scam I would email ebay and do a lot of complaining!  Good luck and keep us posted.

                                       hugs,

                                       Brenda

edie Oct 10, 2006

Sorry to hear you having ebay problems, Millie. Is the non-legitimate email the only one you have gotten or have you actually heard from the real buyer? I would do as Brenda says and try again to contact the real buyer by email through ebay or get their phone number and call them if they don't email back. Sure sounds like someone is trying to pull a scam but I would think it is likely not the real buyer but someone else jumping in.
I am sure you can get the final fees reversed if the sale does not go through, but you won't likely get  the listing fee back - best that can happen there is you get to relist it for free (if it sells the second time).
I have been noticing some problems lately with myebay messages as well - with some legitimate messages not showing up there. In fact I had one there from a buyer asking a question and then  the next time I got on that message had disappeared and I didn't delete it!

dusty attic Oct 10, 2006

Hi Millie,
I have had this happen to me too, I thiink it is a scam. They said they would send me a money order for more that what the bear was worth and could I send the cash back in the parcel with the bear.In the end I contacted e bay and they refunded my listing fees and final value fees. you can do this buy going to the home page and clicking on safety centre and then filling out differant forms , all quite simple really. good luck , I hope in your case this is`nt a scam, but it sounds like one to me.

lemmonbears Oct 10, 2006

I had this happen to me, twice on the same bear.  I had to file unpaid bidder complaints.  I finally got my final value fees back.  I am not doing any more Buy it now auctions.  The buyer had 0 feedback and did buy it now, then offered to send me money order with extra and could I refund the extra.  So now I am going to require immediate payment thru paypal with no buy it now.  It's too bad it had to come to this, I think it hurts the real bidders, they have fewer options now.

Joan