What to do if you are scammed on eBay

[auroraceleste]

**NOTE**- This article was written on December 6, 2006. Deadlines and policies tend to change, so check and double-check to make sure this information is accurate before starting a complaint procedure.

First, try to collect as much information as possible. Move all emails/contacts to one account in a special folder so you know exactly where they all are. Try to get the seller's real name, address, and telephone number from eBay. Collect all links and save them in a text document or email to yourself that's put in your special folder. The more information you have the further your complaints will go.


1) Read eBay's Buyer Protection Steps. Also read the Item Not Received or Significantly Not as Described Process. Go through the steps to open a dispute. This must be done between 10 and 60 days after the transaction date.

2) If you paid via Credit Card you have 60 days to file a dispute under the Fair Trade Act. Contact your card issuer and find out the policy on starting a dispute.

3)Call your bank. Ask for information on a "Disputing an ACH Withdrawal" form. This may be available if the Credit Card you used was a check card attached to your bank account or if the PayPal you used was pulled directly from your bank account. Most likely your bank will have these available online for you to download and all you have to do is fax it back. Deadlines vary according to bank, check with yours to find out your deadline.

4) Read PayPal's Buyer Protection Policy and Buyer Complaint Policy. NOTE: there's a TON of conditions in here, it's probably good to read through it and establish a buying pattern that conforms to the eBay/PayPal policies to get a refund. Also, even if your buying didn't conform to the pattern, you can still open a dispute and win, it's just not guaranteed that PayPal will pay the difference, just that they will try to get a refund from the seller. Also note that you can file a credit card chargeback OR a PayPal dispute, but not both. Getting your refund from both PayPal and your Credit Card is fraud, and it makes YOU the bad guy. If your PayPal is denied you can then start a chargeback. Also note this clause: "If PayPal resolves a PayPal Buyer Protection claim in the buyer’s favor but the buyer does not receive a full recovery of their payment, and if the time for processing of the claim results in the buyer’s loss of credit card chargeback rights, then PayPal will provide a full recovery to the buyer." PayPal timeline is: A dispute must be filed within 45 days from the date of the payment. If you would like to file a claim, you must escalate your dispute into a claim no later than 20 days from the date your dispute was filed.

5) Once the Item Not Received or Significantly Not as Described Process and PayPal/credit card refunds are applied for you are eligible to apply for an eBay refund through the eBay Standard Purchase Protection Program to get some of your money back.

6) Call your local police department or Magistrate Court and ask them what you need to do to take out a warrant on someone who lives in/out of state. It usually involves filling out a form, and is usually free. Contact your State government as well. After a warrant has been issued you can contact the state and local police where the perpetrator is and inform them of the crime as well.

7) File a complaint with the FTC ( or 1-877-382-4357). Your complaint is an ordered item that was not received. You will need the seller's name and address. They will probably advise you to send the seller a certified letter letting them know that what they did was a direct violation of the Mail or Telephone Order Rule.

8) File a complaint with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center. This is a short form that requires the seller's name and address.

9) File a complaint with the USPS (Here is the direct link to the fraud form).

10) File a complaint with the National Fraud Information Center.

11) File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

17) File a complaint with the Fraud Bureau.com.

13) File a complaint with the FBI's Internet Fraud Complaint Center.

14) File a complaint with the The National Consumer Complaint Center for Internet Fraud, False Advertising and Breached Warranties.

15) File a complaint with the CCIPS, Reporting Internet Crime.

16) Tell people. Post about the scammer on:

eBayersThatSuck.com
LaptopScam.com
Ebay Drama LJ
Ebay Sucks LJ
Ebay Tips LJ
Ebay Blacklist LJ

Also tell the people that would be most interested. If the auction is for a costume, seek up that fandom's costuming boards/communities/email groups and post about the scam. Be sure to be polite and follow all community rules while you're posting. These are the people that want to hear about scammers in their community because they are the ones that will either be buying items that are simmilar, or they will be selling items that are simmilar and don't want to be taken for scammers. There are usually a lot of lurkers, too, who may be buying in the future and will appreciate knowing who to stay away from. Sometimes reputation revenge is your only recourse against a truly scummy seller, so feel free to tell everyone, just don't stoop to their level while you're doing it.


Other links:

Escrow Fraud Tips

"Net Crimes & Misdemeanors: Outmaneuvering the Spammers, Swindlers, and Stalkers Who Are Targeting You Online"
Book by J.A. Hitchcock, edited by Loraine Page
2002 CyberAge Books (Information Today Inc.)

Online Auction Fraud: What You Should Know




My thanks to fairy, who started off this article by her awesome research on the sinandsalvation community. I'm sorry she had to get scammed to inspire this.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/my_belle_/]

thanks for this. I'm adding it to my memories. It's too bad I knew none of this when I was scammed (twice!) on ebay over a year ago.

Good information!

[laughingmagpie.livejournal.com]

Very useful tutorials you've posted! Thank you.

I've noticed you come up in many of the same communities I frequent, and I've always liked your style. Would it be alright if I friended you?

[auroraceleste.livejournal.com]

Yes, and I've friended you back. We do indeed have a lot of f-list peeps in common :D

[laughingmagpie.livejournal.com]

Yay! :D

[carecrystal.livejournal.com]

This is valuable information. As an occasional buyer and seller on EBay, I think all of this is very spot-on. Thanks so much for sharing all of this!