jelleladee
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posted on February 5, 2001 02:25:08 PM new
I won an auction over the weekend. I received an email stating how much the shipping on the item would be. I sent payment by Paypal yesterday. Then today I get another email telling me shipping data and it is from the legitimate seller. I fear that I paid the first money to a scammer. (Twisting hands, here.) Now what am I to do? I can't get into the Paypal site to stop them from sending money. H- e-l-p what am I to do.
Carol
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pickersangel
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posted on February 5, 2001 02:36:55 PM new
Keep trying. I was on the PayPal site earlier today and had no problems. Double check both emails--maybe the seller just missed that you'd already paid, or accidently sent two notices.
always pickersangel everywhere 
http://homepage.netspaceonline.com/~twobar/pickers.htm
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pecan
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posted on February 5, 2001 02:40:22 PM new
Hi Carol!
Did you pay using your credit card? I think that if you paid using your credit card that you have the option of a charge-back (item never received).
If you used funds in your PayPal account I am not certain if you can use a charge-back. I hope you kept all emails. I would send the first illegitimate one to Safeharbor and also to PayPal.
It's hard to believe that anyone has time to do something like this, but you just never know! Please let us know what happens.
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jelleladee
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posted on February 5, 2001 02:45:51 PM new
I paid using my account at Paypal (not credit card but my mad money). I pulled the contact info for the first email and called but of course there was no answer. I left my name, number and reason for calling but I am not expecting a return call. Still can't get into Paypal.
Carol
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molly001
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posted on February 5, 2001 02:50:07 PM new
First of all, I would contact the seller and make sure he/she didn't accidentally send you two end of auction (EOA) notices. You might also want to explain what you did?
Depending on the outcome of your discussion, I'd call PayPal (877 672-9725) if you need to explain something.
I got into PayPal okay today but, later on, one of my customers could not. Got the old "too busy try again later" message which, in the past, they put up when they were experiencing tech. difficulties.
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on February 5, 2001 02:50:14 PM new
jelleladee~ I had that exact same thing happen to me last year. I was high bidder on a dutch auction (there were hundreds of high bidders) and I immediately received an email saying to Paypal my payment, etc. The person was very tricky - they used the seller's ID as the first part of their email address so I thought it was the real seller. (Never had a reason to think otherwise). Well, I immediately Paypal'ed my payment, and a little while later recieved an EOA email from the REAL high bidder - and they didn't even accept Paypal. What a mess. Paypal wouldn't do anything about it either - this person scammed at LEAST hundreds of people in this one auction alone. I ended up having to pay for this item twice and Paypal did not do a thing to help, even though they were aware of this guy and how he was doing this to hundreds of buyers. Paypal didn't care.
If you paid with CC, do a chargeback ASAP if you find out this was a scammer you paid.
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jelleladee
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posted on February 5, 2001 02:56:39 PM new
Executive Girl: That is exactly what happened to me. After I started checking around, come to find out it is two totally different sellers. I am going to pay the REAL seller tonight and will not even mention this mix-up to him since it doesn't involve him. But, I am betting that the other payment I sent is just money down the drain. If so, is there anywhere you can post the names of people like this?
Carol
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pickersangel
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posted on February 5, 2001 02:59:57 PM new
Please be aware that doing a chargeback against PayPal will result in them freezing your account. Not saying "Don't do it", just "Be aware of the consequences". Not a good situation, if you're receiving money into your PayPal account. If you have to do the chargeback thing, be sure the only email addy on your PayPal account is changed to one to which no one will be sending money BEFORE you do the chargeback. This will prevent PayPal from depositing any more funds into your account after it's frozen. You'll get the "you must register" email at your former PayPal address, if someone attempts to pay to it, so you can have them cancel the payment and send it another way.
Be sure to send a copy of the email that you paid on to Ebay with expanded headers (since this person apparently has a registered ID with that addy) and also report them to the IFCC, if it turns out that this is really a scam. If it is, it's probably not an isolated incident, and any info you can give Ebay, the FBI or whomever will help nail the bugger(s).
Here's the IFCC website:
https://www.ifccfbi.gov/
always pickersangel everywhere
http://homepage.netspaceonline.com/~twobar/pickers.htm
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Capriole
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posted on February 5, 2001 03:04:49 PM new
Do tell the seller, one so they know this is happening to their auctions and two to let 'em know you are having a hassle because of it. They are involved because their auctions are preyed upon.
Good Luck
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jelleladee
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posted on February 5, 2001 03:20:34 PM new
Even though I can't contact the bad seller, I still feel like he just made a bad mistake. (I know I am just too trusting.) Just got off the phone with Paypal and they are not freezing my account. But as soon as their system is up and stable they are going to access both of our accounts to verify my facts. (I offered to fax them copies of all emails between us.) With the info I provided they are going to start checking into filing scam & fraud charges against him. I have made 2 long-distance calls to him and emailed him but no reply to either action. He has a high feedback with good reports so I am still hoping he just got his auctions confused. I guess I will change my user name to "GUILLIBLE".
Carol
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molly001
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posted on February 5, 2001 05:24:51 PM new
Carol, be gentle with yourself! This could have happened to any of us at any time. It could happen to me tomorrow. You'll know now to be very careful and it sounds like you're taking the right steps. I would've never even dreamed to watch out for something like this so it could have easily happened to me as well.
I think we all owe you a debt of gratitude for the "heads up" you provided us with by posting your problem.
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Powerhouse
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posted on February 5, 2001 05:58:44 PM new
Hi, Jelleladee.
Is it possible that it is the actually the same seller but using two different email addresses each tied to a seperate ebay id?
I have had this happen to me before when the seller switched email address on me.
I questioned him about it before I sent any $ and it turned out that he had an ebay ID/email address for work and another he used at home.
Whatever happened, I wish you luck!
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boochnee_01
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posted on February 5, 2001 07:33:59 PM new
I am so glad I read this post. Although I have no advice to give other than to agree with all the other advice given and maybe call PayPal and scream and yell a little, I never heard of this type of scam before and I pay with PayPal all the time. I will beware from now on. Good Luck, I hope you get your money back!
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jelleladee
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posted on February 5, 2001 08:15:01 PM new
WooHoo! I just off the phone with the bogus seller and they are going to refund my money first thing in the morning. It was very easy when they found out that I had contacted Paypal & that Paypal was checking into filing Scam/Fraud charges. I told the sellers as soon as I received confirmation from Paypal that my money was back that I would call Paypal and let them know all is well. I am glad that my money is being returned but even more importantly, I am glad that my faith in the good of mankind hasn't been destroyed. I really believe that the majority of the people choose to do good the majority of the time. Thanks to all of you for the kind words.
Carol
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wbbell
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posted on February 5, 2001 09:28:47 PM new
jelleladee: re: restoring faith in good of mankind
The guy was a scumbag who successfully pulled a con on you, and relented only after threats of legal action. I'm not so sure that I would characterise this as him "choosing to do good" - the only one he did good by, was himself.
But I am glad you got your money back and posted this story - I'm always amazed at the new lows some people are willing to go. I will certainly be more vigilant.
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cix
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posted on February 5, 2001 10:04:36 PM new
I am curious to see if they truly do refund the money.
As advice for all who are reading this thread :
When paying Paypal ALWAYS pay to the email address linked to the ebay seller id.
I have had seller's email me asking to pay via Paypal to a different email address than what is on file with ebay and I will NOT do it.
Even if the actual email came from the seller's correct email address, I will NOT do it. I find it extremely fishy when I am asked to do this.
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jelleladee
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posted on February 7, 2001 08:02:38 AM new
It worked (at least for me). The sellers refunded my money. When they found out that I had contacted Paypal to start scam/fraud charges against them, they started singing a different tune. Now I can go looking at something else to buy. Thanks all.
Carol
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mouseslayer
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posted on February 7, 2001 12:40:26 PM new
Oh great jelleladee, I just love happy endings! Anyone got a hankie? 
~~Angels fly because they take themselves lightly~~
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