[G4 General] rgillbilly:
everything you read here is true

ATTN: Melissa

Dear Melissa,

As we discussed yesterday, I opened a case with eBay to assist me with an issue with the user tropical-mobile. With eBay’s help, I finally received a return pre-paid shipping label and a refund. We also discussed all of the fraudulent type activity and my fear of reversed FedEx charges that many other users have reported online when dealing with tropical_mobile through eBay and their losses, after which you reported the user to your trust and safety team.

I followed up after our phone call and reported the user as well for fraud in their listing an item that was not located in Memphis, TN, (none of their items sold are located in the USA as stated) and that did not have Samsung Pay and wasn’t even a phone for US in the States or with a valid warranty through Samsung within the United States. EBay is ok with this? Seller is based and ships from Singapore but eBay continues to let their ad say “Memphis Tenn. USA”.

ALL of their ads are fraudulent. All their ads should clearly state “NO US warranty” and “international phone”. They sell NON-US phones with NO US warranty even though the ad clearly lies and states they do. They do have a warranty but it is only good in Singapore not USA. They state they have the NEW Samsung Pay with the copyright logo right there in the ad and only available in the US and they do NOT. Not only is Samsung Pay NOT on the phone you cannot install it on the phone either. It is not US phone. Not allowed. Tropical_moble gives eBay a bad taste in my mouth.

Almost IMMEDIATELY after reporting the user, I started receiving retaliation. The user tropical-mobile requested my personal information from eBay and started calling my house repeatedly about five times in a row around 2:00 in the morning. After the first two calls, the caller id then began to indicate “Ebay inc”. And again at 3:30 or so in the morning. No message was left and I felt uncomfortable answering the phone. I am confident it was them because they called earlier in the day with the same caller id and spoke with my wife apologizing for the transaction difficulties. How does Tropical_mobile show up as eBay inc? Even his personal Hotmail email comes across as legitimate eBay correspondence with “eBay tropical mobile” in the senders column. SCAM SCAM SCAM.

Additionally, they sent me the attached e-mail at 2:53 a.m. with a threat of shipping charges reversal. You will see it near the bottom. It is important to note that this is just as we discussed happens with other users some time after the eBay case is closed. I fear that you will close this case and three months from now I will get a bill for FedEx shipping charges and will be forced to pay the seller’s initial and return shipping charges while they continue this same behavior with other unsuspecting buyers on eBay. Just as documented all over the net with this seller. There is even a Facebook page devoted to DO NOT BUY TROPICAL MOBILE ON EBAY!

I have contacted FedEx. Their Fraud office is closed and I will be contacting them again Monday morning to inform them of this behavior.

I feel this entire situation is unreasonable. I have never experienced anything like it in all my years of buying on eBay and quite frankly it scares me that they have my home address and phone number.

A simple google search for tropical_mobile and click the very first link. It happens over and over.

Why does eBay facilitate this scam?

As an eBay member, buyer and seller, for almost 15 years now, I will think twice before buying off of eBay anytime soon, as this should not be happening.

Thank you,

WOW right? goodluck folks

---------- Post added at 05:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:39 PM ----------

So...you actually got billed for duties and taxes on the international shipping?

You paid these charges?

Thanks

---------- Post added at 05:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:46 PM ----------

So...you actually got billed for duties and taxes on the international shipping through fedex?

You paid these charges?

Thanks