WARNING: Ebay Gift Certificate Scam - Apple Forums | ModMyi.com

renzo75 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-05-2007, 01:16 PM

Hey guys

Take this as a HUGE warning.

*NEVER* pay for an iphone or anything else in the forums via 'Ebay Gift Certificates'

You go through ebay and paypal but are NOT protected. This is a false assumption.

They see this 'gift certificate' as a gift. Just like giving someone some money for a present - meant NOTHING.. Even if you say it's for 'goods' in the subject, means jack sh*t.

I recently got scammed (as did a few others on this board) and had a fair few heated discussions with ebay and paypal (threatening with account closures and legal action).

I have my money back, and the scammer is being tracked now somehow.

My recommendation is either use EBAY and buy from listings and then pay using paypal (for your protection), or paypal 'send money' is safe as well - no other way.

Western Union and other places are not safe either in my opinion.

If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is...

There's my 2c worth.

NOTE: If ok moderators, feel free to edit this as you see fit, and I'd like it made a sticky.

pokekid · #2 (**permalink**) 12-05-2007, 03:35 PM

well it is a good thing you got your money back and i would never use any other form other than paypal

renzo75 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-05-2007, 03:57 PM

Thanks.
Yup - lesson learnt..
Just a shame there are idiots like this around that can wreck so many people's christmas...

morphiusrt · #4 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 10:42 AM

i had a problem on ebay you need to watch out for also:

At a work christmas party i won an lcd tv didn't need it at all so i brought it to bestbuy they gave me a $780 gift card so i decided i'd sell it on ebay, well the ad was up for a day or so then ebay closed it because there policy was any card over $500 can't be sold on ebay, but i got an email guy said he would buy it and he was using it online so he sent me the money through paypal and 3 months later put a chargeback on his credit card and said his card was stolen but i have no proof of anything because all i did was email him the card number paypal couldn't get ahold of him so they came after me my account was actually in someone elses name i dunno why but it still had my bank account # on it so i closed my account and that was the end of that hopefully paypal doesn't try to come after me it was like 2 years ago so i should be alright. moral of the story is make sure you have proof the item was delivered and as much information about the person as you can get.

yowiphone · #5 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 05:24 PM

Thanks.

one1 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokekid

well it is a good thing you got your money back and i would never use any other form other than paypal

There is a reason why sites like www.paypalsucks.com exist. Paypal is the false prophet of websites.... gives you false hope of security.

There are several ways to get boned on paypal, the biggest one being paying directly from your account balance or through checking account, but that's all you need to know since scammers are watching.

I was a loss prevention specialist for 10 yrs in a corporate environment as well as an owner of three store front properties. I've seen all the scams out there and some are very elite.

Moral: You can get boned just as easily with PP as you can anything.

Bottom line: Know who you are dealing with.

jarthurs1981 · #7 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renzo75

Hey guys

Take this as a HUGE warning.

*NEVER* pay for an iphone or anything else in the forums via 'Ebay Gift Certificates'

You go through ebay and paypal but are NOT protected. This is a false assumption.

They see this 'gift certificate' as a gift. Just like giving someone some money for a present - meant NOTHING.. Even if you say it's for 'goods' in the subject, means jack sh*t.

I recently got scammed (as did a few others on this board) and had a fair few heated discussions with ebay and paypal (threatening with account closures and legal action).

I have my money back, and the scammer is being tracked now somehow.

My recommendation is either use EBAY and buy from listings and then pay using paypal (for your protection), or paypal 'send money' is safe as well - no other way.

Western Union and other places are not safe either in my opinion.

If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is...

There's my 2c worth.

NOTE: If ok moderators, feel free to edit this as you see fit, and I'd like it made a sticky.

The best way not to get scammed is to not use E-Bay. It just sucks flat out.

renzo75 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 11:38 PM

jarthurs1981: True about ebay sucking, but where else can we get a decent amount of exposure to sell/ buy stuff? I'd love to give ebay the flick personally...

jimmyxbmc · #9 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by one1

There is a reason why sites like www.paypalsucks.com exist. Paypal is the false prophet of websites.... gives you false hope of security.

There are several ways to get boned on paypal, the biggest one being paying directly from your account balance or through checking account, but that's all you need to know since scammers are watching.

Paypal is a joke, I am not sure why people do not just use their own Credit Cards... Credit Card companies provide their card holders with stellar service and fraud protection much more so then paypal ever can or will!

If you get frauded using your credit card online, you call your company up and report it. You will not loose your money, and you wont have to deal with PAYPAL's BS about oh you bought from an unverified seller or the type of payment you made is not disputable sort of thing!

You are ALWAYS protected with your credit card company and it is much less of a headache dealing with them, then when you have to deal with paypal about an issue.