Yahoo Finance 'eBay fraudster stole £3,000 after we'd remortgaged our home'
I found a new machine I wanted to buy on eBay. However, the site was hacked, and a fraudster obtained my details and contacted me through eBay’s messenger app.
The fraudster said that he would “send me an eBay invoice” for the item.
I was then sent what appeared to be a legitimate eBay invoice guaranteeing my purchase for 14 days. I would not have proceeded with the £3,000 purchase without this.
Unfortunately, the fraudster had sent the email and not eBay, so eBay said it was not legally liable to refund any money I lost.
My family of four are on an annual income of £14,300. We recently borrowed £25,000 secured on our home to set up a workshop. The machine is essential for me to support my family.
The work in my current occupation has dried up and I saw this as a way to change career. I am a very careful person but know I should have been even more careful.
JF, Kent
This is a harrowing situation which, despite speaking to eBay time and again, I have not been able to change.
A fraudster had taken over a legitimate eBay account probably by using a phishing email.
You were seduced into going off the eBay platform and paying via bank transfer. Ebay says that fraudsters use very sophisticated methods to try to circumvent trusted website security.
It said: “People should always complete a purchase or sale on eBay, and never rely on a third-party email. Transactions should only take place on eBay, with all messages exchanged via ‘My eBay’.
“If you are buying and selling on email, you’re not on eBay and are not protected.”
This particular machine would have qualified for redress under eBay’s money back guarantee if it had been paid for via PayPal.
See pages.ebay.co.uk/ebay-money-back-guarantee.
Despite many attempts I have not managed to reach you.
However, I have left messages that inquiries might be made about how the recipient account your money went into was set up.
On a more general note, to help with your finances, I have also suggested that you search for “grants” at turn2us.org.uk or call 0808 802 2000.
Jessica Gorst-Williams tackles consumer problems for Telegraph readers every week. To contact her, click here. If you want to ask a general money question, email moneyexpert@telegraph.co.uk. The best of the answers are included in our weekly newsletter
