These past 2 weeks, I thought I was lucky because 2 of the high-value items I listed on eBay were sold, The Febur larger radiator for 998 sold at $700, and the Brembo GP4-RR Caliper sold at $3,000.
The Febur sold first to a buyer in Florida, while a few days later, the Brembo was to a buyer in Texas.
However, there are similarities between both transactions:
1. Both buyers opened their eBay account the same day they purchased my items
2. Both buyers have zero ratings (except the Febur buyer, who got his first rating from me because I just like to give a good review as soon as the buyer paid the item). But they make their user id end with some numbers, so if you look at a glance, it is almost like they already have a lot of good ratings
3. Both message me right after they order, rushing me to ship because they said they need to complete their build. In fact, the first buyer of the Febur radiator seemed to know Ducati well because his engine build is very similar to mine, like Pistal pistons, Carillo rods, 999 engine, etc... well maybe because I also told him about our forum after he purchases and message me on eBay.
The only strange thing was initially, he said it was for his 998, but later it was for his friend's 749R ???
4. After I told the Febur buyer that I required a signature on delivery, he immediately asked me to send it to a different address which I refuse
5. The Brembo buyer even asked me right away to ship to his "mechanic" address which I also refused, but I did not tell him that I asked for a signature upon delivery
6. I did not feel suspicious about all the above yet.
7. The Febur shipment was suddenly rerouted to be held at the UPS facility, which I thought was still ok, but then somehow, the package went missing while being held at the UPS facility.
8. I still thought it was normal, and UPS opened an investigation. But a few days later, I saw a notice that the package was found, but the package is now being shipped back to me per the receiver's request... which is weird
9. The Febur buyer contacted me saying he did not ask for the package to be returned, and he was in NY when the package arrived, so he asked to be held at the UPS facility, and then the package was somehow lost by UPS.
10. I am still not suspicious and offer to ship the Febur back on my own dime once I receive it back.
11. However, the Brembo package was also rerouted to a UPS facility, which triggered my suspicion... which was later confirmed when UPS also shipped the package back to me.
12. I began an investigation and found that all the addresses (whether the address listed by the 2 buyers on eBay or the "alternate" address of their mechanic/relatives) are either incorrect addresses, incorrect cities, or just an empty lot...
13. Then the Brembo buyer messaged me with attitude and asked me why the package was being returned to me (well, how would I know)... but I asked him whether he rerouted the package to the UPS facility, which he said admit but then started becoming more "upset" in tone.
14. I also see the tracking, and it looks like UPS almost gave the package to the Brembo buyer, but 5 minutes later, UPS decided to return it to me, meaning most likely UPS asked for Driver's License when the Brembo buyer tried to pick up the package at UPS facility, and his driver license did NOT match the UPS label, so UPS decided to return it to me.
15. The good news is that both packages arrived back safely at my home today, and nothing was missing.
16. So, I just message both buyers with all the facts above and how they both have the exact same modus operandi. I also told them that I no longer felt safe resending the item to them and asked them to legally open a case with eBay. Once eBay knows about this case and tells me to refund the payment, I will refund it to them.
I strongly believe I just somehow, luckily, narrowly escaped from being scammed. However, I still don't want to keep "illegal hot money" like this, so I will as soon as eBay tells me to refund these 2 buyers.
So to all readers here, please be very careful when selling high-value items on eBay. if the buyer has 0 ratings, just joined the same day, and is rushing you to ship to a different address or other suspicious activity, it is better to refund them right away and not continue with the transaction.
I think the Febur and the GP4-RR are just meant to stay with me a bit longer (or maybe forever)