WARNING, Paypal just made me lose $20 THOUSAND dollars from a scamming buyer

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#136
can you google this person and find out if she has any kind of criminal background or to

see if she has done something like this before?

So basically, we all need to now know that when we are shipping an expensive

item we need to do the following: have the item authenticated
have the item notarized w.proper paperwork
bring it to a ups/shipper where they can vouch
for what they are shipping
take a video w/third party & have that notarized

we all now have to think differently when selling shipping & getting paid..

this is a pretty sad commentary about doing business today, but unfortunately
just some of the precautions to take to protect the sellers
 
#138
This just makes me sick. I am so sorry that this happened to you. I wish that I had some useful advice to give you. Please know that I'm pulling for you and hope that you can bring that lying, conniving piece of garbage to justice and that you get all your money back. And, if you can bring some attention to the unscrupulous and often bizarre practices that go on at PayPal, that would be a bonus!

What type of idiots do they employ at PayPal?!? Who in their right mind would order an $11K item destroyed based only on a document that could so easily be forged? And now, they tell you there can be no appeal because the buyer signed a document stating that it was destroyed? That is utterly ridiculous. If, and it's a big IF, PayPal does have the legal right to demand that an item be destroyed, they should at least be required to wait until an appeal can be filed. The seller should at least have the opportunity to have the item authenticated.

PayPal's seller protection is a joke. When a buyer pulls a scam like this, what's the worst that happens to them? If they lose then they're forced to keep a beautiful $11K bag (which they probably don't really have the money for anyway). If the seller loses, they're out an $11K authentic Hermes bag.

The kicker here is that seller pay ALL the fees to PayPal and still have really no protection.
 
#139
SchnauzerCrazy said:
I am fairly certain that they do but it is for a fee and I know that mom & pop shipping stores definitely do and may have more time to spend with the individual.

.
The UPS neighborhood store would do it. We use them alot for services.

This story is very disturbing. Think of the crooks reading this & getting an idea they can pull this now. (No way should this thread be shut down)
I would not feel bad about asking for a wire transfer for a large purchase such as this. Till they pay for it, its your bag, your rules. If the buyer doesn't like it, they ned to just move on.

Hope the OP feeling a little better today.

How did she CLAIM she destroyed it? (we know d@mn well she didn't) Its not going to be that easy. They need to ship back the shredded evidence to the seller if they go this way without a third party doing it.
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#141
I am just working my way through this thread, so I haven't read it all, yet.
I would start off with a suit against PP to release all the records relating to this. She filed an affidavit. Fiddle-dee-dee. You file an affidavit. Before you even file suit, file one with them. And a letter demanding release of the records, even if they are going to deny it anyway.
 
#143
noshoepolish said:
The main thing is to get that bag back. They should not be telling people to destroy bags.
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I agree--I think that is absolutely outrageous. I think having a third party pack and record the shipping of the bag would have helped OP in pursuing any legal action she undertakes at this point; but the bigger problem is that PayPal has accepted the buyer's claims and "documentation" solely as dispositive--the seller said they won't even look at any of her evidence. And the worst part is that where there is a genuine dispute as to authenticity PP is not only automatically ruling in the buyer's favor regardless of evidence, but then instructing the buyer to destroy someone else's property! I'm sure PP/eBay has the best IP lawyers in the world, but I smell a serious class action suit if they continue instructing people to destroy property without having firsthand, indisputable knowledge directly from the manufacturer that it is counterfeit.
 
#145
Luvbolide said:
You may have some recourse against PP for instructing the scammer to destroy your bag. I don't know where they have the legal authority to destroy someone's property whether or not it is authentic. They have never seen the bag and have no way of knowing whether it is authentic. They don't know whether scammer had your bag "authenticated" or some bad fake authenticated (bait and switch). They also don't know if the "authenticator" has the first clue about how to go about authenticating H bags. What they have essentially done is order someone to destroy your property - whether it is worth $250 or $9000. I would mention this angle to the attorneys you are speaking with on Monday and see if they can make something out of that. If you go against PP, you can do so in Small Claims Court here in Calif. Attorneys are not allowed but you can have help pulling your case and your evidence together. I think it is a pretty easy process and you may get at least some satisfaction that way. I am so sorry about this mess, OP!
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Still reading the thread this is a great post, though. PP has converted your property. Does it say in the listing agreement they can destroy it or have it destroyed by the buyer without your prior knowledge or consent? I suppose they have covered their butts in that manner. Plus if you are out 9K or $11K whichever you are probably not in small clais, but District Court. Not sure what jurisdiction you are in. Does PP have an arbitration clause in their agreement?
 
#146
I guess I'm a little confused at how you have lost $20,000? The buyer paid you, but then the money was returned to her. Therefore, you haven't paid the buyer out of your own pocket, the money was simply returned to her. It would seem to me like you are out for the value of the bag, which I think you said is $11,000, and the fees that you will owe for selling the bag.
Regardless, I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. It literally makes me sick to my stomach. I was just scammed by a buyer too, but it was nothing compared to this. The system is truly flawed. I know that you said that you are limited as to what you can do, but please don't give up.
Google the buyer and find out everything you can about her. Look up her name on Facebook and see if she has an account. It's a long-shot, but there could be a possibility that she has pictures of herself with the bag.
Again, I really feel for you, OP. Hang in there, don't give up, and keep us updated. I will be crossing my fingers for you that you can find some way to deal with this situation.
 
#147
OMG! This is unbelievable. I have same experience before but not as much as $20K but yes they side with buyer. Buyer got the bag and the money which is absolutely ridiculous. It is useless even though you speak with supervisor. I feel sorry for you. I hope everything works out for you
 
#148
hotshot said:
The bag has ben destroyed..
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Obviously the bag, which is authentic, was not destroyed, is the point. It sounds like the world's slickest scam, so logically easy. And hence any one of us should be highly afraid of such an outcome.

And to vhdos, the money is now a deficit by Paypal in the OP's account, hence she's out the transaction amount plus the loss of the bag itself, which is unique.

Good luck. I do believe in trying to pursue scammers by all means possible.:police:
 
#149
vhdos said:
I guess I'm a little confused at how you have lost $20,000? The buyer paid you, but then the money was returned to her. Therefore, you haven't paid the buyer out of your own pocket, the money was simply returned to her. It would seem to me like you are out for the value of the bag, which I think you said is $11,000, and the fees that you will owe for selling the bag.
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OP stated in the first couple of pages that she was mistaken and that she's only out $11,000 not $20,000 :)
 
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