This important thread was originally posted by Topcat83 in the Answer Center on ebay.uk:
If you think you have a scam buyer on your auction take note here and learn how to look after yourself.
If you are selling high risk items such as mobiles laptops camera other similar items also expensive jewellery or watches read on.
The buyer is usually zero feedback and newly registered often in the UK or Netherlands and now the US and wants shipping to Nigeria Singapore Indonesia occasionally Lithuania do not ship the item.
A couple of people have reported paypal payments made with stolen or cloned cards coming via the netherlands contingentsso definitely you need to take care to avoid these payments.
This week ther have been 2 reports of US buyers asking for shipping to Nigeria.
They usually want to pay with Bidpay, Western Union Moneygram , or want to use Square Trade, Ebay Services.The lastest buyers wanted to pay via USPS In these instances they want the item shipped and you to provide a tracking number before they forwards payment In many instances the emails appear to come from real services like Bidpay but the emails are completely fake. They look fake bad spelling etc.
Another scam is they want to send an oversize cheque and want you to send the balance to a relative for a surprise birthday present. Of course the original cheque bounces
Do not be taken by them.
If you are ever in doubt come to the Answer Centre Boards or to one of the Discussion Forums. Whichever you choose we will all help you.
What to do when this happens.
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/contact_us/_base/index.html
Select: Problems with other Ebay members
Fraud concerns for sellers >
Buyer paid/attempted to pay with fake funds
Then click on Continue and then on Email
And report fake contact details here:
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/contact_us/_base/index.html
Choose bidding and buying
Problems with sellers
Fake contact info
Hopefully they will be suspended very soon after you report them
Then get your fees back here
http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?CreateDispute
Choose the buyer from a country i don't offer option and you should get your fees returned imediately
Block non UK bidders here
http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?BuyerBlockPreferences
You can pre approve bidders for your auction here
http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?PreApproveBidders
You use fixed price format and ask for immediate payment by paypal but there is concern that these people could use cloned cards
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/sell/immediatepayment.html
Even with these options in place no guarantees cam be made that bidders won’t find a way round.
In an effort to get these scams stopped once and for all it is recommended you report to this US site. For everyone safety please go there. Lets all do our bit to hep sort it
http://www.ifccfbi.gov
For further help look here
http://forums.ebay.co.uk/thread.jspa?threadID=200233653&tstart=0&mod=1126161459551
http://forums.ebay.co.uk/thread.jspa?threadID=200143641&tstart=0&mod=1124663897894
For general information on safe buying and selling look here
http://cgi3.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=topcat83
