How to deal with a scammer - advice please?
I sold a used graphics card earlier this month - a Zotac GTX1070 8GB Mini to be precise (for £280). Two days after the buyer received the item I received a message from Amazon saying that “The item has arrived, but it was not the same item”. After a little bit of message ping-pong it turns out that the buyer is claiming that I sent them a (presumably used) Gigabyte GTX1050, worth about £130 new. They even sent a picture showing the Zotac box next to the Gigabyte card.
It seems like such an obvious scam, but has now been escalated to an A-Z claim. Amazon say that I must allow them to return the product for a full refund. Is there anything I can do to persuade Amazon that I didn’t send the wrong card? Obviously I can’t prove it - maybe I should have taken a video of me packaging up the card and walking to the Post Office with it? I have the opportunity to represent my claim - any advice on some choice words would be most welcome.
I have been informed by Amazon that I can refuse the refund once it arrives if the item is different or damaged. Is that my only option, then see where the case takes me after that?
Sorry this turned into a bit of a rant. This is really stressful for me.
15 replies
Seller_EJIX7rqDNQJi2
This is true.
Just authorise the return / provide the return instructions to the buyer.
Once you receive the item back and determine, that it was returned materially different, you will be able to refuse to issue a refund and explain what happened to Amazon (in your A-Z claim representation).
Amazon will most likely fund the claim out of their own funds and your metrics won’t be affected.
Seller_k4H5v9VB5NnjF
On an Apple mac you can display the system spec (I assume this can be done on a PC also). Ask them to send a picture of their PC screen showing the system spec and them holding the Gigabyte GTX1050 next to it. Assuming they only have the two cards a stream of excuses as to why they can’t do it should be heading your way.
Seller_I3E6fQQqOFqlF
For future reference. I used to run a computer repair shop, repairing cards and motherboards etc. We did laser replacement in DVD drives and games consoles too. Often a buyer would claim the laser didn’t work, but they had replaced with the original faulty one. We sorted it by doing a photo of any serial numbers, and had some security stickers made up with the company name put on.
Seller_5ia3Q2YxXVCxe
Request it back - tell them you will have it fingerprint checked by the police on return, to show that YOUR finger prints are not on it and that you will make a formal case with the police for fraud.
Seller_c1dzZ563V65Qr
The A-to-Z Guarantee claim has now been granted to the customer, without them even needing to send back the card they claimed to receive from me. So I can’t even refuse the refund on the basis of the return being materially different. I sent the return authorisation as instructed, but they seem to be claiming that they didn’t receive the email, so the claim has gone against me.
So if anyone wants a free upgrade for your computer, just find some poor sap selling used goods and claim you received something else. Easy.
Seller_c1dzZ563V65Qr
I opened a case with Amazon Seller Support, asking them to call me to discuss this issue. The case was closed without any reply! This wound me up good and proper, so I wrote a (very) long, mostly polite email to the managing director of Amazon UK - and a few hours later they credited my seller account for the full amount!
So I guess persistence pays off. I’m glad I don’t need to bother with court action, but I will still pursue the case I opened with Action Fraud - just because I’m not the victim any more, doesn’t mean the buyer should get away with it!
Thanks to everyone on this forum for the great advice.
Seller_gXhWKJ06yF3yd
hate fraudsters. when i sell used computers and laptops etc, i security marks them with a pen in multiple places and take pictures - usually done for ebay auctions, before sending.
i had a laptop claim once that was faulty and doesn’t work 45 days after, i sent pictures of me using it the day before i sent it. they went away and dropped their claims.
