Can I stop a parcel?

[bekah]

Hi guys,

I made my first sale on ebay on Thursday, and have been ripped off!!

I received fake emails from paypal saying they had my money (from the seller), and needed the tracking number for the item in order for the money to be transferred to my account. They asked for the parcel to be sent to Nigeria and I duly sent the item via RM International signed for on Friday, and kindly sent the Paypal email address the tracking number, only to find no money transferred to my account and the helpful man at the Paypal customer services telling me I been ripped off, get used to it and your not covered by us.

Can I stop the parcel before it gets to its final destination? RM state that they try and get such parcels there in 5 days, and it has only been 2, and the tracking system says the item is 'being processed for delivery abroad'

Thanks

[dzug]

The general rule is you cannot have an item back once you have given it to the Royal Mail, unless the sender returns it to you or the Royal Mail does (eg insufficiently stamped or wrongly addressed)

It's still worth asking - there may be special rules for international mail but I doubt it.

[southerngirl]

Hi Bekah,

I was really sorry to hear that your first ebay experience was a bad one. I hope it doesn't put you off as I have sold loads of things on ebay without any problems.

Just to let you know that you really shouldn't buy or sell anything where Nigeria is concerned. The other dodgy area is China (especially buying) as the items are cheap but the postage is really high.

Paypal would never send an email like that. But you may be covered by paypal protection if you send them the fake emails etc. Worth a try.

When you first start selling, it's best to stick to UK buyers, then worldwide once you've got a bit of selling experience under you belt.

Also check out the selling hints and tips and the community board under selling to see the problems etc other people have. You won't get caught out again!!

[lord molly]

your bes bet is to contact the police. the crime the buyer (scum) has commited is internet fraud. sorry o hear about it though.

best of luck

lord molly

[cherrybomb]

Hi bekah,
I echo all the advice that southerngirl has given you.
Also read up on the spoof email tutorials and remember it's best not to click on any ebay or paypal links in your email box but to sign in on the ebay or paypal home page, or go to paypal via your ebay account.

[tomd]

My general policy is that I'll post to the moon, as long as payment is made in full up front.

But nothing ever should need to be posted before receiving payment, except when using an escrow service.

[UK_Kal-El]

There is just 1 rule I have with Ebay, NEVER send items until I physically see I have been paid, spoof emails are so easy to spot! They always address you as 'dear customer' whereas paypal & Ebay address you by your name. Let me guess, this sale you made was a phone? If it was, I hope you have the imei number, as then you can get the phone killed by the networks.

In future do what every one else does, NEVER send to Nigeria, lol, I've had emails a plenty asking me to send stuff there, my reply is simple, no payment, no item, and NO to Nigerian buyers lol.

Good luck

[malamb]

Hi,

I have just made exactly the same mistake! A mobile phone is now on it's way to nigeria leaving me at a loss for the postage costs.

Never ever send anything to nigeria again! or send anything without getting payment first - I know I wont!!!!

[syd93]

i have just had the same thing happen to me did u manage to stop it ??

[cbjose28]

I have made the exact same mistake... Was too trusting of the Nigerian scammer. I too received an email (fake) from PayPal just like Bekah has stated. I contacted police, parcelforce, royalmail, and even eBay and all of them said that I can do nothing! I feel so stupid for getting lured into the scammer's trap!

[AlPaCo]

Interesting to note the original post 9 years ago and there's been no effort by government or anyone.

My son has just had same thing happen to him (iPhone 6+).

I've just been trying to identify the laws or rules that say it is not possible to stop an item being delivered. The Royal Mail Universal Service Obligation (USO) states they have an obligation to deliver to every person in the UK at least once a day - which in itself is a confusing statement; how can you deliver to someone if there's nothing to deliver for instance? But I haven't found anything about the USO that things can't be left undelivered (kept at the local sorting office for instance).

I have found that there is a law that the only people allowed to handle a letter or parcel going through the system are Postal Employees or the Addressee. That means though, as I contacted Royal Mail within a couple of hours of posting (recorded delivery next day) they expedited delivery of something they knew was stolen, and being delivered to a criminal. If any one else were to do this it would be handling stolen goods and being an accomplice to the commissioning of a crime, or some such. So why not Royal Mail / Post Office?