EBAY Scam - Blame The Shipper For Damaged Item

A scammer will have a broken or damaged item that he wants replaced for free. The scammer will search for an eBay seller selling exactly the same item and offering shipping insurance. After the item is received, the scammer will switch the unbroken item for the bad one and claim it has been damaged.

If the shipper grants the insurance claim, the scammer will get his item replaced for free. If the insurance claim is denied (because there is no damage to the box and the scammer forgot to smash it), the scammer will have the credit card company reverse the charges. If the purchase was eligible for seller's protection, then you will be protected and PayPal will eat the loss. Otherwise, PayPal will take the money from your account. This is a tricky area as PayPal will not cover claims of shipping damage.

How to stop this from happening or what to do if it does happen

Firstly tell the buyer that you will not refund or claim unless the item is returned to you. Also tell the buyer you have the serial numbers of the item and have taken pictures of the original item with all identifying features and that if the item is found to be different you will pass it over to the fraud squad. It doesn't matter whether you have or not they don’t know you haven't and often that is enough to make even the most hardened scammer back off.

If he doesn't want to send the item back ask them to take a several pictures of the damaged item from all angles including the serial model no. If they won't do this then they are probably faking it. Report it to ebay or paypal.

To protect yourself in future always take pictures of serial numbers or other unique identifying features. Be sure to include them in your listing. Scammers will avoid listings that can prove the item has been switched.