Hi Everyone,
I am really devastated, I have been scammed out of £650, I bought an iPhone X on eBay, the seller had over 800 feedbacks, seller listed the phone free postage with buy it now price of £650, I thought it was all legitimate so I went ahead and bought it and paid using my PayPal balance.
I then messaged the seller asking him to post the phone via Next Day Delivery (which was the option there) and asked the seller to send me the phone’s IMEI number, seller responded back saying that he was on his way home and he will provide the info once he gets home, well he never did.
An hour later, the seller marked the phone dispatched, I messaged him straightaway asking for an explanation why did he mark the phone sent! Again I didn’t receive any response from him.
I then quickly checked his last sold items on eBay through the advanced search facility on by seller and found out that seller sold the exact same phone same description 3 times within an hour. I panicked, tried to open a dispute on eBay but the system wouldn’t let me, so I disputed the transaction on PayPal and commented on the dispute that I found out that the seller sold the same phone 3 times and marked the phone sent even though it was a Sunday and no tracking info was provided, I demanded my money back.
Then the seller commented on the case with BIG FAKE story saying that I sent him my phone number on eBay and ask to pick the purchased item to be picked up in person by a friend my mine, well, I have never sent him my phone number, yet he managed to convince PayPal with his fake story and packed it up with FAKE imessages between 2 mobile numbers and told PayPal that the listing was CASH ON COLLECION ONLY which is also a lie as the listing stated that free express delivery via Royal Mail Next Day Delivery.
surprisingly, the case was closed in his favor by PayPal, and I received an email from PayPal saying that the seller provided them a tracking info and that tracking info was checked on the carrier website and PayPal confirmed delivery.
I was in a big shock, I appealed the case, and since PayPal recognised the item delivered I had no choice but appealing the case as item is not as described, I then explained every details with PayPal and asked them to contact eBay to confirm and uploaded all screenshots showing that the seller sold the phone 3 times and all my messages to the seller and his response but PayPal declined my appeal and decided the case in the seller’s favour stating that the phone was cash on collection only, but this is incorrect, I really don’t know how PayPal made this mistake.
PayPal stated that my payment is not covered under buyer protection because the item was cash on collection only, again this is incorrect, if PayPal checked the listing they will see the delivery option there and nothing been mentioned about cash on collection in the listing title nor in the description.
So, I sent a complaint email to PayPal and told them every detail as explained, PayPal re-appealed the dispute and asked for more evidence, I have provided by email all supporting screenshots clearly showing that I am a victim of a fraud, PayPal for the third time decided the case in the seller’s favour and limited my account permanently.
I phoned and spoken to PayPal, explained everything to the dispute team, they were in my side but they said they won’t be able to do anything due to the limitation on my account and I shall speak with the limitation team. Unfortunately, the back office turned my limitation appeal down as they think I was doing fraud to this seller.
Later on at 7 pm, I sent a message to the seller on eBay asking him to refund my payment as I will take him court, he responded within a minute saying that his account was compromised and he never had any iPhone X for sale, I phoned PayPal and told them about the new evidence but again they said as the account has been limited there is nothing they can do.
I then received an email from eBay confirming that the seller’s account on eBay was compromised and a third party has used it and sold me the phone.
I requested eBay step in and help but they said since the case was raised and closed with PayPal they won’t be able to intervene. I asked for an email to confirm three points
I never sent/shared my mobile number with the seller.
The listing was not cash on collection only.
The seller eBay account was compromised.
I have forwarded all emails/web chat and the genuine eBay account holder to PayPal to get my £650 back from the scammer and been waiting 2 days now with no response yet from PayPal and my account still limited.
Could anyone please advise what shall be done, I would like to get my PayPal account reinstated and my money back.
Many thanks in advance.
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