posted on October 22, 2000 11:40:09 PM
What can a buyer do if, in good faith, he sends a seller over $1000 in US Postal Money Orders for a product and the seller does not send the item or return the money? I still have my copies of the money orders and all the emails from this person. eBay cancelled the sellers account. I reported the incident to the US Postal Inspector. I got someone who lives in the sellers area to make a house call--the folkes who live there (to include the land lord) never heard of the person. My last conversation with the US Postal Inspector indicated they will, most likely, do nothing because the dollar amount is not high enough. I learned, the hard way, never buy high dollar items from a seller with few, no, or negative feedback. If I just gotta have the item, call the seller at the number eBay has for them and ask to speak with them. Ensure the address they want the money sent to is the same that eBay has on file for them. Get disinterested third party in the seller's area to confirm the seller and item is for real by visiting the seller's eBay address and seeing the item for sale. If there is not enough time to confirm the seller and the item before auction close, do not bid on the auction. If you win the auction send the money certified return receipt. If you are not 100% certain, don't send the money ... risk the neg--because you will not get the money back if the seller decides to defraud you.
posted on October 23, 2000 08:49:05 AM
Post this in the fraud section below. You will get links to the FBI, state attorney general, etc. Sometimes one of these agencies will help. http://www.ygoodman.com [email protected]
posted on October 23, 2000 09:43:05 AM
It was my understanding that you could get your money back from the M.O's?
Just file a claim.
Ain't Life Grand...
posted on October 23, 2000 10:15:17 AM
The people at the address it was sent to had never heard of the person, however, wasn't the money order delivered to that address? How did the people at that address explain that part? I have seen where others have contacted the police department in the town the payment was sent to; have you tried that avenue?
If one suspects that they have been a victim of fraud on eBay, they should immediately file an INSURANCE Claim and a FRAUD Report with eBay.
If you sent your payment via snail mail, or if you purchased a USPS money order to pay for the merchandise, then file a MAIL FRAUD Report. You can get this form at your local post office or by calling 1-800-ask-usps.
Be sure to fill out the online form over at the Internet Fraud Center.
This website is run by the FBI and they have a huge centralized data base to which they will add the info you give them. They also will notify other appropriate local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Contact your own police department - many of them nowadays have an Internet Crime bureau, and they might contact the police in the city of the seller. Elsewise, you can place a call there.
It is also suggested to file a report with your own attorney general and with the attorney general in the state where your seller lives.
Be sure to keep copies of all correspondence associated with the alledgedly fraudulent transaction, and make sure to get the headers for all emails. Also, make hard copies of all the applicable auctions involved, including the second page, which includes the bidding history.
posted on October 23, 2000 01:38:13 PM
While I don't have the link on me at the mopment, the United States Secret Service is also chartered to investigate some types of fraud on the Internet:
"The Secret Service is a US agency that handles criminal law enforcement under the provisions of Title 18 of the US Code, Section 3056. In section 3056, Subsection (b), the Secret Service is specifically authorized to detect and arrest any person who violates federal criminal laws relating to coins, obligations, and securities of the US and foreign governments, electronic fund transfers, credit or debit card fraud, false identification documents or devices, and certain laws relating to financial institutions. Also, pursuant to Title 18 of the US Code, Sections 1029 and 1030, the Secret Service is specifically charged with he authority to investigate offenses concerning fraud and related activity in connection with computers and/or access devices. Under Title 18 USC 1030 (d), Fraud and related activity in connection with computers."
posted on October 23, 2000 05:33:23 PM
ALWAYS USE A CREDIT CARD FOR PURCHASES IN AMOUNTS YOU CAN NOT STAND TO LOSE !!!!
I purchased a 17th century book for $800 and I stipulated in the sale that the book must be complete as published as the binding was bad as evidenced in the picture of the item.
Sure enough, the book arrived with a section of pages missing. Sent the book back INSURED [or use registered] as you must have proof of return.
Contacted the Credit Card company, faxed my reason for return and copy of US Mail insurance receipt and my account was credited that day for the entire $800 and the few cents of interest on the $800.
The seller was none too happy as she was selling the book for someone else, and had already paid them for the book. But that was too bad, there was nothing they could do to prevent my refund.
A credit card is the safest way to make purchases.
posted on October 23, 2000 06:04:48 PM
Even though credit card is the surest way a buyer can protect them selves on higher price items dont forget ebays insurance.
as far as no one at the address of this seller ever hearing of them im not sure this is posable since you need to verify your mailing shipping address with ebay through credit card verification to sell this seller has to live at this address or had to have lived there at the time they registered to sell on Ebay.
I dont think turning this unfortunate situation in to a warning to never bid on item from sellers with 0 feed back is nice at all anyone with doubts about sellers with low feed back can get info on the buyer includeing address and phone number if they have doubts.
I know I am a low feed back seller on ebay right now I only have rateing of 3, if any buyer has any doubt I invite them to look up my information to get my mailing address name and phone number even call someones usually here all day & Night long to answer questions as to the validity of my auctions.
even though they might just get a half sleeping groan on the phone at 2 or 3 am
as a buyer its your $$ take all the percautions you feel nessary to prove a low feed back seller or one with neg feed back is on the up and up.
heck if someone was gonna bid $1000 of my auctions I would jump through hoops for them to prove my Item and intent was valid heck if they were local I might even come wash windows for them as a bounus LOL .
posted on October 24, 2000 09:21:36 AM
Your best hope of getting satisfaction is in you finding the person who cashed the MOs. If you can ID them, then there is hope.
Do an internet search for the name given on the checks, maybe you can find them that way. Contact the local PO, see if they recognize the name/address. Maybe the MOs, when cashed, get returned to someplace at the PO where they can be traced? you may even try a call to the local police department and cry a lot; if you get their sympathy they can be invaluable in finding the person and dealing with the situation (most likely if this is a smaller town).
