Scammed on Ebay
Apr. 10th, 2025 05:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamsharkNoting that Windows 10 is going out of support this fall, I thought it might be time to buy a newer version of Microsoft Office (I'm on 2010 now). I don't actually want the newest Ofice because Microsoft DROPPED PUBLISHER from its Office Suite last year. I LOVE Publisher! I've been using it for flyers, invitations, cards, and random paste up since Publisher 1.0 in Office 97. The last version that still has Publisher is Office 2021 Pro, only available used. So I ordered an unopened copy from Ebay for about $50, which is how I got my last version of Office.
Well, this time, I got scammed. Shortly before the estimated delivery date I was contacted by the seller who claimed there was some kind of problem with the USPS delivery and that they had re-sent another identical item to cover the loss. This sounded a little sussy, since it wasn't even overdue at this point, but I was out of town and not paying too much attention. I got home and the item had not arrived, but the seller had sent a new USPS tracking number. Which was a real tracking number; gave me a delivery date of April 8 when I entered it on the USPS site. On April 9 the package still wasn't here, but the USPS said it had been delivered. Wait a second. .
And it wasn't 2-3 business days: the money was back in my Paypal account by late afternoon! Damn, that's a well-oiled machine. I'm not sure if the seller cancelled their own Ebay account after running the scheme a few dozen times, or if Ebay kicked them off, but I kind of expected them to get away with it. Thanks, Ebay!
Well, this time, I got scammed. Shortly before the estimated delivery date I was contacted by the seller who claimed there was some kind of problem with the USPS delivery and that they had re-sent another identical item to cover the loss. This sounded a little sussy, since it wasn't even overdue at this point, but I was out of town and not paying too much attention. I got home and the item had not arrived, but the seller had sent a new USPS tracking number. Which was a real tracking number; gave me a delivery date of April 8 when I entered it on the USPS site. On April 9 the package still wasn't here, but the USPS said it had been delivered. Wait a second. .
Your item was delivered at the front door or porch at 3:14 pm on April 9, 2025 in AGUADA, PR 00602.
Shit, that's in Puerto Rico!
I logged in to Ebay to lodge a complaint and found that the seller had disappeared from the site. My order still appeared in my account, waiting for me to provide feedback. So I clicked the "item not received" button and described the scam in the free text field, not expecting much.
To my utter astonishment, I got a response from Ebay in less than an hour:
Shit, that's in Puerto Rico!
I logged in to Ebay to lodge a complaint and found that the seller had disappeared from the site. My order still appeared in my account, waiting for me to provide feedback. So I clicked the "item not received" button and described the scam in the free text field, not expecting much.
To my utter astonishment, I got a response from Ebay in less than an hour:
We've reviewed your request and resolve the case in your favor. We've issued a refund back to your original payment method. You should receive it within 2-3 business days.
And it wasn't 2-3 business days: the money was back in my Paypal account by late afternoon! Damn, that's a well-oiled machine. I'm not sure if the seller cancelled their own Ebay account after running the scheme a few dozen times, or if Ebay kicked them off, but I kind of expected them to get away with it. Thanks, Ebay!
