'Strikethrough' buyer (thread disappeared) Want to cancel sale entirely

[fhlangan]

I was just reading (and replying) to a thread which featured a suspicious buyer (it was on page 4 and was not the original subject of the thread) but the thread has disappeared! (I think, unless I am being stupid and have misremembered where I found it....)

Someone called Betty (artauctions?) had the identical buyer to myself purchase a picture and say that their agent was going to pack it. Perhaps because she mentioned the buyer's name, the thread disappeared?

My buyer, the same one, going by a girl's name but speaking like a bloke, has sent me a long and overly detailed email about where she/he is (on a ship), why he is paying PayPal (well, I ask for PayPal anyway) and it is clear this is the beginning of a scam. I want to cancel the sale entirely to get my fees back but the link to customer support on my console says "not available". Can I just mark as non-paying bidder now even though the buyer clearly wants to pay (by fraudulent means I suspect) and get my fees back that way? I would ideally like to contact customer support but my way seems to be barred. Any help appreciated!

[bmcgraw]

Well and thanks a million times for I am the Betty referred to in your mail!

I have been looking for my thread for the last hour wondering what had happened to it! (must be because, unbeknownst to me, I did use the would be Buyers' IDs)

I suspect I am the victim of a scam also.

A painting worth 959 euros was first supposedly purchased by a 0 feedback and dark glasses from India (s/he said). After several attempts at contact I marked it as non-paying and re-listed the painting.

A second would-be buyer clicked on BIN and send me a mail stating that some "shipping agent" would pick up the painting after the money had been deposited into my PayPal account. the message requested my PayPal address and my phone number. the ID is crossed over and s/he had a 0 feedback and dark glasses also.

So now, I guess we should send them the customary bills, see what happens and proceed with caution if they "pay". Of course, that means that my painting is on hold for another three weeks before i can relist it.

Or, perhaps, we should ignore those scammers altogether...

Can some one help us with our problem?
Thank you
Betty
ArtObjects

[fhlangan]

Thank you Betty for noticing this thread! I have sent him/her (what woman starts an email to another woman with 'hello mate' or am I old fashioned??) saying, sorry I can't proceed as they have a strikethrough. I suspect that a fraudulent email would have come, purporting to be from PayPal and that it would have included the amount to be paid (by us!) to the 'shipping agent'. The fact that he said his bank account was not functioning due to security reasons was odd as, like you, I ask for PayPal. I just hope they are not harvesting email addresses as mine is the same as my PayPal address. I suppose I can expect a load more viagra ads....

Betty, I found a link to support on the faqs page. I don't like to bombard them with emails but I can find nothing in their faqs explaining how to proceed when you have a strikethrough buyer. I would like to relist the item as well. I think they can just cancel the sale at their end and you don't have to wait.

[somersethedge]

I think both of you need to contact support on this one support@ebid.tv giving them full details

[KAYS6912]

SCAM, SCAM, SCAM!!!! If it looks/seems to good to be true, it usually IS! And NOBODY whether male or female should be writing MATE to a stranger! Last one I got like that, I emailed and told them what I thought of his "mate"! The most outrageous scam I had was when I had an advert on a local site for a ladies diamond cluster ring. This eejit wanted me to send it to West Africa for the pastors SON for HIS birthday! I thought "Aye right sunshine. See that zip on the back of my head, I polish it every day!" Must think we're ALL stupid!

Hope both of you get everything sorted through Support. Last time I had a scam on eBid, I didn't even wait to relist my item. I really don't see why I should potentially lose out on a sale because of some low-life, scamming scumbags.

[bmcgraw]

Hello again,

The message that follows as well as someone named Nancy (see below) suggested that we contact Support to get some help from them. I know they get a lot of silly inquiries but this may be justified. What do you think? Perhaps we should go ahead, mark the item as unpaid and re-list it.
By the way, whoever sent me the email also used Dear Mate as a starter!
Betty
PS Nice Stores!
Betty

[KAYS6912]

Hello again,

The message that follows as well as someone named Nancy (see below) suggested that we contact Support to get some help from them. I know they get a lot of silly inquiries but this may be justified. What do you think? Perhaps we should go ahead, mark the item as unpaid and re-list it.
By the way, whoever sent me the email also used Dear Mate as a starter!
Betty
PS Nice Stores!
Betty

Betty - contact eBid ASAP. This is DEFINITELY a scam and contacting Support is well-justified!

[fhlangan]

Thanks, everyone. Yes, do go ahead, Betty, with contacting support. I have asked them to wipe out the sale. I had a bad feeling from the start and since I have holiday cottage as well, I am well-versed in all the types of scam that go on, specifically the overpayment one (with money that does not exist) and I think that is what was coming next!

[suesjools]

Betty - contact eBid ASAP. This is DEFINITELY a scam and contacting Support is well-justified!

Agree with Nancy, definitely contact support for your protection as well as all the other honest buyers/sellers on this site. Support is very good about taking care of things like this.

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[fhlangan]

Got a reply back from support (Well done support!). They didn't comment on the buyer, but have cancelled the sale and removed the selling fee.