Hello Garry,
Thank you for writing to us about your seller "motor_madness123" of the vehicle (item 271170820862). I understand they have asked you to complete this purchase outside eBay and I'm sorry to hear you have not received this item.
I reviewed our records and I can see this item was listed by a third party using an eBay member's account without their permission. It's likely the unauthorised user obtained the account password using a spoof email. Unfortunately we weren't made aware of this until after the listing had ended. We strongly advise you not to respond to any further emails regarding this listing.
Once we became aware of this unauthorised activity, we took immediate action and we're now restoring the account to its original owner. For privacy reasons, I can't share any further details regarding this member's account. However, please be assured that we're dedicated to keeping eBay a safe and reputable place to buy and sell.
At this point, I suggest that you take steps to stop your payment if possible. If you sent a cheque or your credit/debit card information, please contact your bank immediately.
If your payment was by cash, MoneyGram or Western Union transfer, or a cheque that has already been cashed, contact your local police. Retain any emails you exchanged with the seller. The police may need them in order to investigate further.
We are more than willing to assist the police with their investigations if needed. Please ask the investigating officer to email us by using the ''report information to eBay'' link on the following page:
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/safetycentre/law_enforcement.htmlGarry, I would also like to give you general information on how you can protect yourself from this kind of activity. 'Spoof' emails claim to be from eBay but ask you to provide personal information such as passwords and payment details. They often ask you to click on a link in the email and sign in to a fake website.
I encourage you to take a few moments to learn more about spoof and how to protect yourself. For information on this subject, please click on the link below:
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/safetycentre/spoof.htmlIf you'd like advice on your consumer rights at this point, you can contact the free Government advice line Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
You'll also find lots of useful information at eBay's Safety Centre. Simply click on the link below:
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/consumer-rights/consumer-rights.htmlI trust this information helps clarify this matter and helps you resolve this situation. I hope your future transactions on eBay will run smoothly.
Kind regards,
Shirley O'Connor
eBay Trust