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Ebay iPhone scam?

A

AppleFan360

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jan 26, 2008
2,217
735
I recently placed a iPhone 3G on E-Bay and wanted to know what you guys think.

I did a "Buy it now" price and forced immediate payment on the auction.

Yesterday someone from Taiwan with zero feedback and join date of 3 days ago purchased the iPhone via Buy it Now and payed in full via PayPal.

I know, big red flag right. But here is the kicker. The shipping address is here in the states and the PayPal address is verified. PayPal also told me that it's OK to ship and that seller protection applies.

What should I do? This smells of scam but there are certain things about the sale that don't add up. The shipping address is valid. It almost sounds like some guy in Taiwan is buying it for a family member here but using their PayPal account. Really weird. (the last name of the buyer in Taiwan is the same last name as the owner of the PayPal account). Also, if I remember correctly, isn't the iPhone real big in Taiwan?

Either way, if I do ship this thing, I'm going to cover all my bases. Signature required, insurance, the whole nine yards.

Scam or not a Scam?
 
I would transfer the money from paypal into your back account before you ship the phone. Once the money is CLEARED in your bank, go ahead and ship it.
 
+1

I ebay a lot and I would do the same. I would pull the money out as soon as it's in there and keep your paypal empty. Remember you will be covered as long as the shipping addy is verified. After you have the $$ in your hand then ship it. Even if they didn't pay for insurance/delivery confirmation put it on the package to CYA.
 
The feedback system on eBay is helpful but it can also mean some people are discriminated against.

I've been unable to bid on things before because I don't have a lot of feedback; I sold my iPhone 2G on eBay, I described it perfectly (a few scratches on LCD but otherwise perfect), and I posted it on time. The guy that bought it didn't leave me feedback even when I sent him a message asking him if he could please leave me feedback as it was my first sale.
 
uberamd said:
Then how does a new member get feedback if they cant ever bid on stuff they want?
Click to expand...

There is nothing wrong with users with 0 feedback. EVERYONE at some point had 0 feedback, including yourself. What you need to do is speak with the person on the phone for ANY HIGH PRICE buy/sell items.

To the OP, make sure the rep you speak from PayPal says the money is 100% secure. Or, do as others say and transfer the money out to your account.
 
mloffa said:
I would transfer the money from paypal into your back account before you ship the phone. Once the money is CLEARED in your bank, go ahead and ship it.
Click to expand...
Make sure that you follow the PayPal seller rules / instructions exactly, and even then you will may still be on the hook if it turns out the purchase was made with a stolen credit card or stolen account. Depending you our PayPal account you may be forced to wait 21 days on the money. Again, read all of the PayPal instructions.

If you follow all of the PayPal rules you have some protection but not complete protection. Make sure that you have dated pictures of the front, sides and back of the iPhone before you send it. Also make sure that you take a picture of the complete package. This will give you some additional protection if the purchaser claimes it was damaged when they received it.

Dave
 
only other thing

ship it though the paypal shipping! so that you can show that the phone did arrive where it was supposed too. and get insurance too! also just because the money is out of paypal they can take it out of your bank account I know at least 3 people that it's happened too one was a business you agree too it in your terms check it! he sounds legit! ust make sure you have proof he got it! also if you want to be extra safe make a short video showing the phone working before you ship it, so he can't say it was non working just to be extra safe. :D
 
Ask for phone number to verify and transfer your money to your bank right away. Don't send it until it's cleared.
 
Same thing happened to me.
Copy the email to the ebay support centre and they will confirm whether or not it is a scam. Mine was!
 
RE:recently placed a iPhone 3G on E-Bay and wanted to know what you guys think.

Chris Blount said:
I recently placed a iPhone 3G on E-Bay and wanted to know what you guys think.

I did a "Buy it now" price and forced immediate payment on the auction.

Yesterday someone from Taiwan with zero feedback and join date of 3 days ago purchased the iPhone via Buy it Now and payed in full via PayPal.

I know, big red flag right. But here is the kicker. The shipping address is here in the states and the PayPal address is verified. PayPal also told me that it's OK to ship and that buyer protection applies.

What should I do? This smells of scam but there are certain things about the sale that don't add up. The shipping address is valid. It almost sounds like some guy in Taiwan is buying it for a family member here but using their PayPal account. Really weird. (the last name of the buyer in Taiwan is the same last name as the owner of the PayPal account). Also, if I remember correctly, isn't the iPhone real big in Taiwan?

Either way, if I do ship this thing, I'm going to cover all my bases. Signature required, insurance, the whole nine yards.

Scam or not a Scam?
Click to expand...

DON'T DO IT!!!!!!! YOU WILL LOSE YOUR IPHONE AND THE MONEY HE WILL CHARGE BACK ONCE HE GETS IT IN TAIWAN I HAD SOME GUY DO THE SAME EXACT THING TO ME HIS VERIFIED ADDRESS WAS IN THE USA BUT HE WANTED ME TO SHIP IT TO JAPAN "TO HIS BUYER" SO I THOUGHT WTF THIS IS FISHY SO I CONTACTED PAYPAL VIA PHONE AND THEY TOLD ME SHIP ONLY TO HIS VERIFIED PAY PAL ADDRESS SO I CONTACTED HIM AND TOLD HIM I WAS GOING TO SHIP TO HIS VERIFIED ADDRESS AND HE CAN DEAL WITH HIS "BUYER" WELL HE GOT PISSED OFF AND TOLD ME NO YOU SHIP OVER SEAS OR I GET MY MONEY BACK SO I SAID DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO COME TO FIND OUT THE CARD NUMBER HE USED DIDN'T MATCH THE BUYERS NAME OR THE VERIFIED PAY PALS GUYS NAME. THE CARD WAS IN FACT STOLEN!! THE GUY WAS SCAMMING HIS A** OFF CHARGING IT UP LIKE IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE SOOOOOO.. :apple::apple::apple:DO NOT SEND IT!!!! YOU WILL REGRET IT FOREVER!!!!!!:apple::apple::apple:

PS. im not yelling im just to lazy to take caps lock off lol :p
 
If you ship to a verified address (AND ONLY THE VERIFIED ADDRESS) and use signature confirmation you should be golden.

I've only had 1 issue with paypal (buyer tried a charge back) and sense I shipped to his verified address and had signature confirmation that he received it I automatically won the dispute.

The key is requesting a signature for delivery! Paypal requires it on all shipments of $250 or more.

As someone mentioned ONLY SHIP IT TO THE VERIFIED ADDRESS
 
mk321024 said:
DON'T DO IT!!!!!!! YOU WILL LOSE YOUR IPHONE AND THE MONEY HE WILL CHARGE BACK ONCE HE GETS IT IN TAIWAN I HAD SOME GUY DO THE SAME EXACT THING TO ME HIS VERIFIED ADDRESS WAS IN THE USA BUT HE WANTED ME TO SHIP IT TO JAPAN "TO HIS BUYER" SO I THOUGHT WTF THIS IS FISHY SO I CONTACTED PAYPAL VIA PHONE AND THEY TOLD ME SHIP ONLY TO HIS VERIFIED PAY PAL ADDRESS SO I CONTACTED HIM AND TOLD HIM I WAS GOING TO SHIP TO HIS VERIFIED ADDRESS AND HE CAN DEAL WITH HIS "BUYER" WELL HE GOT PISSED OFF AND TOLD ME NO YOU SHIP OVER SEAS OR I GET MY MONEY BACK SO I SAID DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO COME TO FIND OUT THE CARD NUMBER HE USED DIDN'T MATCH THE BUYERS NAME OR THE VERIFIED PAY PALS GUYS NAME. THE CARD WAS IN FACT STOLEN!! THE GUY WAS SCAMMING HIS A** OFF CHARGING IT UP LIKE IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE SOOOOOO.. :apple::apple::apple:DO NOT SEND IT!!!! YOU WILL REGRET IT FOREVER!!!!!!:apple::apple::apple:

PS. im not yelling im just to lazy to take caps lock off lol :p
Click to expand...

PS. PS. EVEN IF YOU SHIP YOU ARE NOT SELLER PROTECTION COVERED UNLESS ITS TO HIS PAYPAL VERIFIED ADDRESS PERIOD! THAT'S COMING FROM PAY PAL AND IF HE DECIDES TO DO CHARGE BACK WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO HE LIVES IN ANOTHER COUNTRY IT WOULD COST MORE TO GO THREW CUSTOMS AND FLY OVER THERE TO GET IT THEN ITS WORTH... SO YEAH DONT DO IT!
 
mloffa said:
I would transfer the money from paypal into your back account before you ship the phone. Once the money is CLEARED in your bank, go ahead and ship it.
Click to expand...

You cannot do this anymore. Paypal requires that the tracking number have a confirmed delivery before you can withdraw the funds. They are marked in your balance and they will be cleared once the item is delivered. It is a bit annoying.
 
nyisles84 said:
You cannot do this anymore. Paypal requires that the tracking number have a confirmed delivery before you can withdraw the funds. They are marked in your balance and they will be cleared once the item is delivered. It is a bit annoying.
Click to expand...

As a number of people said on here, I'd recommend forgetting about sending to the guy in Taiwan. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's probably a duck.
 
Sounds like a scam...only ship to the verified address...accept nothing less.

I don't ship to anything but US addresses...cuts out a ton of hassle...but you have to state that up front in the auction. That obviously doesn't eliminate the scammers...but it definitely cuts down on them.
 
i did the same as you except, My buyer was from London and he paid by echeque, I can confirm eventually i did receive the money, but will never do business by echeque again.
 
If i ever sell using ebay or Gumtree
i ONLY allow those who can pick up and pay cash to bid. I dont care about their rules. I never post or use paypal as them and ebay are thieving scum
 
If you've got all your bases covered and play by ebay's rule, I'd say go for it. iPhones are real hot in Taiwan, and they go for about $300-500 USD used (only that Taiwanese iPhone 3G comes factory unlocked) and there is a motivation for someone there to buy a from a US.
Look at it as if you're shipping to a US buyer that has no feedbacks, but paypal verified.
 
If you don't want to go the PayPal route, have the seller mail you a check and ship the phone when the check clears.
 
nyisles84 said:
You cannot do this anymore. Paypal requires that the tracking number have a confirmed delivery before you can withdraw the funds. They are marked in your balance and they will be cleared once the item is delivered. It is a bit annoying.
Click to expand...

this is somewhat incorrect thats only if you have under a certain amount of feedback. Ive sold 3 iphone 16gb gs and got my money out of the account in the same day. When I've sold on my other account which has under 100 feedback this does occur.
 
That means nothing. If the transaction is fraudulent PayPal can take the money back. You will have a negative balance in PayPal and eventually go into collections. Per their TOS they can even try to pull it from your checking account or your credit cards on file. It happened to me a couple years ago. Being given stolen money doesn't make it any less stolen just because you aren't aware. Eventually after filing a police report and fraud reports with my bank it all got straightened out but the funds aren't yours just because it cleared into your bank so don't spend it so fast.

mloffa said:
I would transfer the money from paypal into your back account before you ship the phone. Once the money is CLEARED in your bank, go ahead and ship it.
Click to expand...
 
Not true. I just sold 2 iPhones and pulled the money from my PayPal account the same day I was paid which was 5 days before they were delivered. It depends on your status with PayPal & eBay whether they hold the funds.

nyisles84 said:
You cannot do this anymore. Paypal requires that the tracking number have a confirmed delivery before you can withdraw the funds. They are marked in your balance and they will be cleared once the item is delivered. It is a bit annoying.
Click to expand...
 
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