New scam? I purchased a lens on Ebay yesterday. Today the seller received a message from a third party requesting that the shipping address needs to be changed due to a family...

rb61 Loc: Maple Grove, MN

I purchased a lens on Ebay yesterday. Today the seller received a message from a third party requesting that the shipping address needs to be changed due to a family emergency. (See below)
Just a heads up if this is a new one.
________________

eBay

I got this message last night from sim_4551. Seems fraudulent to me. Can you confirm?

"
Hello!!
I've recently bought Olympus Lens from you and i am very happy
about it. I am writing you to inform that i am moving to my cousin's house,
since he had injured in crash and i have to take care of him for several
weeks and that's why i need to change shipping address. sorry for bothering
and thank you in advance!
Here is shipping address where you have to send
the item:

Name: Teona XXXXXXXX
Address: XX McCullough Dr. XXX742
City:
New Castle, DE
ZIP: 19726

Many thanks.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Yes, it's a scam. They will accuse you of not shipping it to the original address, and you'll be out the money and the product.

I would immediately notify Ebay, and let them know the user name, and what they are trying to do. Expect some threats of negative reviews and legal action. It's the rare jerk that ruins it for everyone.

BebuLamar

Notify ebay. Ebay will fix him.

rcarol

bkyser wrote:

Yes, it's a scam. They will accuse you of not shipping it to the original address, and you'll be out the money and the product.

I would immediately notify Ebay, and let them know the user name, and what they are trying to do. Expect some threats of negative reviews and legal action. It's the rare jerk that ruins it for everyone.

Either you are confused or I am confused. As I read it the OP purchased the lens. The OP is not selling the lens. After purchasing the lens a third party contacted the original seller asking that the shipping address be changed to a location other than the original buyer. That's how I understand the situation. What am I missing here?

rb61 Loc: Maple Grove, MN

rcarol wrote:

Either you are confused or I am confused. As I read it the OP purchased the lens. The OP is not selling the lens. After purchasing the lens a third party contacted the original seller asking that the shipping address be changed to a location other than the original buyer. That's how I understand the situation. What am I missing here?

You understood the post correctly. The seller will contact Ebay.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

The first sentence implies the product has been received, but later it needs delivery. That's one tip off. The english syntax seems like sender's 'third' language. That is tip off two. Report to sales outlet.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Please let us know the final outcome on this.
Can I correctly assume, the third party was just watching the sale and emailed seller when listing said “sold” and was hoping to score a steal?

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I would go ahead and mail him a "little surprise".

rb61 Loc: Maple Grove, MN

BassmanBruce wrote:

Please let us know the final outcome on this.
Can I correctly assume, the third party was just watching the sale and emailed seller when listing said “sold” and was hoping to score a steal?

I don't know what loophole in the system may have given someone the idea that s/he could possibly make this scam succeed. The private seller will contact ebay as I will. If I have anything to report, I will post an update.

Has anyone ever heard back from ebay regarding a failed attempt like this?

BebuLamar

I noticed that the OP left out the name and address of the third party. Perhaps I can offer hand deliver.

rb61 Loc: Maple Grove, MN

John_F wrote:

The first sentence implies the product has been received, but later it needs delivery. That's one tip off. The english syntax seems like sender's 'third' language. That is tip off two. Report to sales outlet.

I am not so sure about the hole in this person's education. I counseled university seniors regarding writing employment cover letters. Many of them were not capable of composing a coherent paragraph. The other thought that came to me - I learned quite about my native english language during 2,000 hours of actively studying Korean.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

rb61 wrote:

Has anyone ever heard back from ebay regarding a failed attempt like this?

This didn’t come back from ebay but a lady I knew got a fake PayPal notice that said money received go ahead and ship. She did and mailed a $3k diamond necklace and was never paid by PayPal or eBay.
To my astonishment her homeowners insurance covered it.

tjw47 Loc: Michigan

If you look on Google maps...
McCullough Dr. Is not residential - only business there ( I looked - street view )
Also the street addresses go from 2 to 98.

Charlie C Loc: North Liberty, IA

Same happened to me, twice within two minutes. I sent a nasty note back then called eBay. They deleted their account.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

I live very near to New Castle. Want me to check it out?