A eBay CC scam gone haywire, and I have a new Camera

Manorcourtman · August 12, 2011 3:56AM

I'll make this short as possible. Monday I get a call from Chase about 2 questionable charges on my VISA. Sure enough 2 charges that were not mine were made Monday morning. One was for $240 through a Paypal charge. One for $2. I tell them it wasn't me. Actually the VISA card hasn't been used yet and still has the sticker on because I haven't activated it yet! How they got it I have no idea since it was neither active nor lost, as it was hidden in my desk. So they say don't worry about it, it's not my responsibility since it was fraud. I figure, cool, weird, but end of story. Well it's not the end of the story!!

Just ten minutes ago the UPS guy shows up with a big box. My address on the box, but not my name! So I open the box.......A new camera and 2 lens'.???? In the box is the eBay statement. The seller is from Canada and the buyer is some women who I don't know! But it came to my house!! What do you all guess happened?? Scam seller or scam buyer or both??? I don't know who to call about this one!! Either way it's not on my dime. Here's the stuff:

Barndog · August 12, 2011 3:58AM

the Lumix is a nice camera!

Manorcourtman · August 12, 2011 3:59AM

And I do not have a CC attached to my Paypal account either!!

devious · August 12, 2011 4:01AM

And I was expecting a Carson City...

Oh, did the ebay statement have a username?

drwstr123 · August 12, 2011 4:01AM

The first thing I would do is to contact the Canadian seller.

lordmarcovan · August 12, 2011 4:09AM

Weird.

My random thought on the matter was, hey, if you're gonna have your credit card involved in some sort of scam, better it's with a scammer who's too dumb to substitute his own mailing address for yours... and who apparently has good taste in cameras.

Seriously, tho', I dunno what to make of it.

Athena · August 12, 2011 4:09AM

I would love to own a Lumix. Excellent zoom function on those things! I'm sure you will take the necessary steps to make it right for all involved. Fun story, though. Thanks for sharing!

derryb · August 12, 2011 4:10AM

Somebody unsuccessfully scammed somebody. will be interested in the outcome, keep us posted. Makes sure the seller didn't get ripped, your CC is probably doing a chargeback. If so, the seller deserves to get his camera returned. I'd also immediately change my paypal password. If you can't log in someone else already changed it for you.

Sounds like your paypal account was hijacked but the idiot forget to change the mailing address.

Doesn't LUMIX have a Carl Zeiss lens? I have an old Leica 35mm with a Zeiss lens, outstanding lens.

I'll buy it off of you if you'll provide me your CC number.

Manorcourtman · August 12, 2011 4:12AM

<< The first thing I would do is to contact the Canadian seller. >>

The seller has zero seller feedback and only 3 purchase feedbacks over the last year. The buyer has zero feedback. I am not going to contact the seller!! I bet it's a hacked account!! I think I'm going to let Paypal figure it out. My name is not attached to any of this. I dunno, I'm baffled!

Manorcourtman · August 12, 2011 4:16AM

<< Somebody unsuccessfully scammed somebody. will be interested in the outcome, keep us posted. Makes sure the seller didn't get ripped, your CC is probably doing a chargeback. If so, the seller deserves to get his camera returned. I'd also immediately change my paypal password. If you can't log in someone else already changed it for you.

Sounds like your paypal account was hijacked but the idiot forget to change the mailing address.

Doesn't LUMIX have a Carl Zeiss lens? I have an old Leica 35mm with a Zeiss lens, outstanding lens.

I'll buy it off of you if you'll provide me your CC number. >>

My Paypal account is fine and has not been compromised. Someone somehow got the CC info and used it with their Paypal account. But the card was linked to my address so I'm guessing that's how I got the stuff.

drwstr123 · August 12, 2011 4:17AM

<< 

<< The first thing I would do is to contact the Canadian seller. >>

The seller has zero seller feedback and only 3 purchase feedbacks over the last year. The buyer has zero feedback. I am not going to contact the seller!! I bet it's a hacked account!! I think I'm going to Paypal figure it out. My name is not attached to any of this. I dunno, I'm baffled! >>

I was only going on the assumption that some individual, somewhere, is out a camera.

derryb · August 12, 2011 4:20AM

<< My Paypal account is fine and has not been compromised. Someone somehow got the CC info and used it with their Paypal account. But the card was linked to my address so I'm guessing that's how I got the stuff. >>

By all means don't cancel the card. No telling what else Santa will bring you.

Someone is out a camera. Not much chance of the seller being a scam, he sent the cameral to the address paypal told him to.

Manorcourtman · August 12, 2011 4:25AM

<< 

<< My Paypal account is fine and has not been compromised. Someone somehow got the CC info and used it with their Paypal account. But the card was linked to my address so I'm guessing that's how I got the stuff. >>

By all means don't cancel the card. No telling what else Santa will bring you.

Someone is out a camera. Not much chance of the seller being a scam, he sent the cameral to the address paypal told him to. >>

I'm calling Chase first! If they say to send it back I will. I have no intention of keep the goodies btw

derryb · August 12, 2011 4:32AM

Since you say the card was not ever used by you or activated I'd say someone got the card info from the Chase data base. They need more than just the account number. I'd also inform Chase they have a "mole."

AUandAG · August 12, 2011 4:51AM

I'd be checking my credit report. Perhaps, and I certainly hope not, your ID has been stolen.

bob

lkeigwin · August 12, 2011 4:57AM

Congrats! I have a Lumix and it's wonderful. I don't even take my hefty D-SLR on vacations. The Leica lens is superb. Hope you get to keep it!

Oh yeah...sorry to hear about the cc scam. I hope it sorts out easily.
Lance.

JamesMurray · August 12, 2011 4:58AM

<< 

<< 

<< The first thing I would do is to contact the Canadian seller. >>

The seller has zero seller feedback and only 3 purchase feedbacks over the last year. The buyer has zero feedback. I am not going to contact the seller!! I bet it's a hacked account!! I think I'm going to Paypal figure it out. My name is not attached to any of this. I dunno, I'm baffled! >>

I was only going on the assumption that some individual, somewhere, is out a camera. >>

Without question the seller is out the camera , i don't know on what planet a hacker steals an ebay account to send out free items,somebody paid for that camera.As ebay sellers i think we all must suspect an item wont be sent until paid,if the CC isnt showing the charge it begs the question who paid for it.I don't see how feedback plays into it , i think i'd be messaging them.

HalfStrike · August 12, 2011 5:08AM

The $2 charge sounds like they got this through a hacked website and posted your info, it you already have a Chase card activated then these may be from older numbers.

richardshipp · August 12, 2011 5:58AM

maybe the scammer buyer was waiting in your bushes for their new camera but you beat them to it?

Manorcourtman · August 12, 2011 6:04AM

<< maybe the scammer buyer was waiting in your bushes for their new camera but you beat them to it? >>

I have a lil 6 shooter to greet them with

Manorcourtman · August 12, 2011 6:48AM

Just got off the phone with Chase. They are truly clueless. I was assured I was/will not be responsible for the scam charge. Because it came from Canada they said they cannot do anything about it. They said I can file a Police report with the local Police. I said for what? Like Andy and Barney in my little town PD would care or know what to do!! Chase doesn't care what happens to the goods!! Unfreakinbelievable. Chase has washed their hands of the matter.

Chase did take the eBay Buyer ID from me so hopefully (yeah right) eBay's fraud dept. does something about it.

MsMorrisine · August 12, 2011 6:49AM

1. the $2 charge sounds like a test charge to make sure the credit card info was good.

2. contact the seller and ask about the transaction. This info may be useful to the CC company in the fraud investigation... opps, if they cared to do a fraud investigation.

let us know what the story is. Great Mystery.

indiananationals · August 12, 2011 8:31AM

hey put me in touch with the clueless scammer i could use some free stuff to

WoodenJefferson · August 12, 2011 8:49AM

I've read some rather strange transactions that involve e-bay & pay-pal, but this one takes the cake...one word, bazaar.

keyman64 · August 12, 2011 8:54AM

Strange one.

devious · August 12, 2011 9:07AM

Send a letter via mail to the return address and see if they can assist you. If you really are looking to make this "right", I think it'd be the best thing to further investigate it with the return address on the package. My hands are in the air on this one though...

ianrussell · August 12, 2011 9:43AM

I agree with the OP about not contacting the seller. The seller *could* be in on this - I don't know how yet, but best to be cautious.

- Ian

gummibear · August 12, 2011 9:53AM

Similar thing happened to my father. They buy it and ship it to your address with your card number so it goes through pretty easily and they track it online through the shipping co. They then hope that you won't be home and the package will be left outside. Then they come by and pick it up. Keep an eye out for someone looking around your house today. You should contact the police and they might want to keep the eye out for them.

Richard

Manorcourtman · August 12, 2011 9:59AM

<< Similar thing happened to my father. They buy it and ship it to your address with your card number so it goes through pretty easily and they track it online through the shipping co. They then hope that you won't be home and the package will be left outside. Then they come by and pick it up. Keep an eye out for someone looking around your house today. You should contact the police and they might want to keep the eye out for them.

Richard >>

The CC was not active since I never activated it. This leads me to believe it's an inside job by a bad/stupid scammer. Dunno....

Pokermandude · August 12, 2011 10:58AM

<< One was for $240 through a Paypal charge. >>

<< The CC was not active since I never activated it. This leads me to believe it's an inside job by a bad/stupid scammer. Dunno.... >>

Since it was through paypal (which will only ship to your confirmed address), I guess the scammer was planning to steal your package, from the post office perhaps? Not to sound too paranoid, but I'd probably take some more precautions regarding possible identity theft.

Manorcourtman · August 12, 2011 11:11AM

<< 

<< One was for $240 through a Paypal charge. >>

<< The CC was not active since I never activated it. This leads me to believe it's an inside job by a bad/stupid scammer. Dunno.... >>

Since it was through paypal (which will only ship to your confirmed address), I guess the scammer was planning to steal your package, from the post office perhaps? Not to sound too paranoid, but I'd probably take some more precautions regarding possible identity theft. >>

It wasn't my package or anything I ordered , it wasn't shipped to my name, just my address.

derryb · August 12, 2011 3:04PM

Since CC number wasn't currently assigned to OPs paypal account, thief was able to assign it to their own paypal account. How the thief got the credit card info (Acct. # and expiration date) on a new credit card that had never been used or even activated by the OP remains the mystery of the day. I suspect it was an insider at Chase who got the info from the CC database. I just cancelled my Chase CC because of this.

The initial $2 bogus charge against the OPs CC was by the theif to validate the card with paypal. When paypal validated the card it appears the mailing address for the thief's paypal account defaulted to the correct address for the stolen credit card number. That address was for the OP who received the shipment.

Those that currently have a credit card assigned to their paypal account need not worry about a thief being able to assign that credit card to a different paypal account. Paypal will let a credit card be assigned to only one paypal account at a time. I know this from trying to unsuccessfully use the same credit card for both my paypal account and my wife's paypal account.

Somewhere out there is an ebay thief waiting on a new camera and who knows what else. Maybe thief is just stupid enough to file a dispute when it doesn't arrive.

Manorcourtman · August 12, 2011 8:22PM

<< Since CC number wasn't currently assigned to OPs paypal account, thief was able to assign it to their own paypal account. How the thief got the credit card info (Acct. # and expiration date) on a new credit card that had never been used or even activated by the OP remains the mystery of the day. I suspect it was an insider at Chase who got the info from the CC database. I just cancelled my Chase CC because of this.

The initial $2 bogus charge against the OPs CC was by the theif to validate the card with paypal. When paypal validated the card it appears the mailing address for the thief's paypal account defaulted to the correct address for the stolen credit card number. That address was for the OP who received the shipment.

Those that currently have a credit card assigned to their paypal account need not worry about a thief being able to assign that credit card to a different paypal account. Paypal will let a credit card be assigned to only one paypal account at a time. I know this from trying to unsuccessfully use the same credit card for both my paypal account and my wife's paypal account.

Somewhere out there is an ebay thief waiting on a new camera and who knows what else. Maybe thief is just stupid enough to file a dispute when it doesn't arrive. >>

I agree with this theory. The funny thing is that if the thief files a complaint with Paypal that they didn't receive the camera the Buyer will win the case since it was delivered and signed for at the correct address

This is one dumb scammer!!

pf70collector · August 12, 2011 8:36PM

Looks like the Chase credit card data base was compromised/hacked and your credit card number was used. I doubt it was from inside Chase. This happens all the time.

derryb · August 12, 2011 10:58PM

<< Looks like the Chase credit card data base was compromised/hacked and your credit card number was used. I doubt it was from inside Chase. This happens all the time. >>

Not with a new credit card that has never been activated, let alone used. How else could the thief get the CC number and expiration date in this case?

derryb · August 13, 2011 1:04AM

Heads up to the OP: Papal is going to be looking for a scammer at the shipping address - your address.

Manorcourtman · August 13, 2011 1:07AM

<< Heads up to the OP: Papal is going to be looking for a scammer at the shipping address - your address. >>

No scammer here, just lil ole me

They can stop over anytime and pick up their goodies!!

BarberFanatic · August 13, 2011 10:55AM

It's too bad the scammer ordered a camera instead of a bunch of nice coins!

TwoSides2aCoin · August 13, 2011 11:24AM

This is more confusing than my ex.

Manorcourtman · August 13, 2011 11:29AM

<< This is more confusing than my ex. >>

You should be on this end of things!

JustPlainAl · August 13, 2011 8:59PM

You're either not very honest, or you've already made the wrong decision in your mind if you have to ask people on the internet what you should do.

You have your own sense of what's right and what's wrong. Make a choice, then act accordingly and live with your own decision.

indiananationals · August 13, 2011 9:14PM

maybe when the card was originally delivered someone opened it before u and got the info ... then resealed it ? if u find out let me know cause i want some free stuff to

Manorcourtman · August 13, 2011 10:58PM

<< You're either not very honest, or you've already made the wrong decision in your mind if you have to ask people on the internet what you should do.

You have your own sense of what's right and what's wrong. Make a choice, then act accordingly and live with your own decision. >>

Whatever! Thanks for your help!

Manorcourtman · August 13, 2011 11:04PM

<< maybe when the card was originally delivered someone opened it before u and got the info ... then resealed it ? if u find out let me know cause i want some free stuff to >>

That's plausible I suppose. No free stuff here. It's either going to my local Police dept. or back to the seller but that's debatable since he's in Canada but skirted Canadian customs and shipped from a Parcel drop here in the USA. I am going to call Paypal today and see what they have to say.

indiananationals · August 14, 2011 12:08AM

honestly i say keep it unless u are asked to give it back u did nothing wrong

notwilight · August 14, 2011 12:53AM

<< 

<< Looks like the Chase credit card data base was compromised/hacked and your credit card number was used. I doubt it was from inside Chase. This happens all the time. >>

Not with a new credit card that has never been activated, let alone used. How else could the thief get the CC number and expiration date in this case? >>

Google the word "hacked" or "hacker" and you'll understand how someone might have gotten your info from the database, not off the card.

I don't see any logic for not contacting the seller other than a desire to keep the camera for yourself. The seller is the victim of this scam, not you.

--Jerry

fiveNdime · August 15, 2011 3:50AM

<< This leads me to believe it's an inside job by a bad/stupid scammer. Dunno.... >>

probabaly the CS rep you spoke with @ Chase...

A eBay CC scam gone haywire, and I have a new Camera

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