Flippa Escrow Scam - Lost 2K and a website.

[blackhatsniper]

Paypal is still good. I have never had any issues with Paypal. The buyer would never had won if it had been paypal because it would be considered a digital product.

I read somewhere is this forum that people are playing a fool with paypal payment too...

They claim that they did not buy the sites or domain and complaint to paypal. and paypal issue a refund

So I am confused, what to do for payment gateway for flippa?

 

[ScrapeBoss]

Paypal is still good. That's just my own opinion.

I have sold many sites on flippa and got payments through paypal.

Just make sure the buyer makes full payment before transfering the site files and domain name.

I read somewhere is this forum that people are playing a fool with paypal payment too...

They claim that they did not buy the sites or domain and complaint to paypal. and paypal issue a refund

So I am confused, what to do for payment gateway for flippa?

 

[jesus3]

thanks for the tips scrapeboss. i plan to soon start selling some sites so im researching common scam methods glad i found this one lol. What happened to the op though seems like he doesnt want revenge anymore lol

 

[MoneyValue]

Paypal is still good. I have never had any issues with Paypal. The buyer would never had won if it had been paypal because it would be considered a digital product.

Problem is no buyer will purchase a site for several K over paypal; since it really doesn't offer much protection for them.

 

[sundance]

what if we link nothing but porn back to his site? would probably fall like a rock.

 

[shamster25]

Update: This may not be the most ethical way but I got him keylogged and got my site back

 

[alleballe]

Hahah nice work man. What keylogger did u use? Did the fool just clicked on a exe-file that you sent him?

How did u manage to fool him? Was the keylogger 100% UD?
Haha what a stupid guy.

 

[eternity]

Awesome to get ur domain back

Also u could have taken a screenshot of the whois of the domain
Use a real marketplace like namecheap / sedo ..

 

[mikkseen]

Wow man good story (well the ending).

Ethical ? I think most people would do much more than getting their site back.

I would take a glory lap and have some fun with him while your at it.

 

[jeancarlin]

Did not read it posted here yet but I have read about how to avoid scammers on digital sales. All you do is backup the site (or whatever you are selling) to a CD and email it to the buyer with your favorite postal service that has some sort of tracking number. Where I live it would cost about $5 for domestic and $10 or $15 for international shipping.

Then if you ever have a problem you can refer Paypal or Escrow to that fact that you shipped the product, you have a tracking number and it shows that it was delivered.

Anyhoo, glad you were able to solve the problem on your own.

JC.

ps. If you send a CD, I would explain to the buyer that you are shipping the site on a CD and that once it is delivered, you will release the domain. Then give him/her the tracking number, etc.

 

[J1218]

Update: This may not be the most ethical way but I got him keylogged and got my site back

Haha, nice job man. Like someone else said though, I would definitely have some more fun with him since you got him keylogged. Change all his passwords, delete some of his domains, erase his sites from his hosting account, etc. I'd go all out on the fucker, short of stealing his money, but that's just me.

Also, how did you get him keylogged anyway?

 

[Annah]

Go all the way... No mercy!

If he scammed you be sure you're not the only one. Avenge the others

 

[hotpassion]

Will Paypal return the money to the buyer(scammer) if after we transfer all the site to him, he claims to PP that he hasn't received the site yet and ask for a refund? How can we protect ourself from that kind of scam with paypal?

 

[J1218]

Will Paypal return the money to the buyer(scammer) if after we transfer all the site to him, he claims to PP that he hasn't received the site yet and ask for a refund? How can we protect ourself from that kind of scam with paypal?

According to Paypal, they don't offer protection for digital goods, and a website would fall under that category. So based on that, I'm pretty sure there's nothing they will do even if someone tries to file a dispute and say they never got the website.

However, I'm sure there are ways around this if the scammer is smart.

One way to protect yourself is to put all of the site's files on a physical CD and ship it to the buyer with a tracking number. That way, if a dispute does ever arise, you can show Paypal the tracking number and that the merchandise was mailed.

 

[jsmith00075]

I've never had a problem with escrow but as of now I'm never using them again. Apparently there is some scam that's been around but this is the first time I've ran into it.

We go into escrow and I transfer the site - the guy has 3 days or whatever to verify everything blah blah. He changes the domain whois info etc. to himself, then tells escrow that he never got the site or some shit - I don't even know what the guy said. Anyway long story short escrow renegs the deal and I'm out on the $2,000 the site sold for and I'm out on the domain name - and the guy has all the website content so the bastard got the site I built up for free. I mean it was just another quick flip site that I built revenue on ($525 adsense first month) that usually attracts legit buyers who want some low-maintenance / pretty much auto-pilot income, but this has definately dealt a blow to my morale.

Just thought I'd vent, talked to Flippa and there is pretty much nothing I can do except get the guys account banned. The sad part is the guy had like 15 feedback. Fucking pathetic.

15 feedback? :/ Ok this is just wrong.. But don't you forget that you can buy pretty much anything nowadays..

 

[dingdong]

From OP's post it's not very clear what happened.

1) What escrow service did you use? Was it escrow.com ?

2) It seems very strange that the escrow wouldn't tell you *exactly* what their reasoning for their actions was and what the buyer told them. Escrows don't randomly take actions like that. There are rules and procedures.

3) Is there more to the story?

 

[gnak]

Yeah I think you still have a good chance of getting your site/money man.

Just speak to Flippa.com and escrow.

Heck, I'm sure flippa will shite their pants if you threaten.. Sorry no,
TALK TO THEM NICELY that you plan to share your bad experience
with the world on your blog complete with screenshots etc.

Flippa is prosperous only because people feel safe doing business
there.

Clickbomb etc isn't going to do a thing for ya IMO.

 

[fbrcold]

Glad I read this forum. I am selling a site now bidding is up to 5000 from a guy who will only uses Escrow.com. I read post all around the web about this. I just contacted flippa to either cancel the auction or remove escrow from my payment options. So I talked to paypal and they definitely seem the safest bet. Talking to escrow was like talking to a politician, I asked a question that should have had a one word reply but instead they gave me a speech. I would not ever use them now for "digital sales". Thanks again BHW for the heads up

 

[jsmith00075]

Glad I read this forum. I am selling a site now bidding is up to 5000 from a guy who will only uses Escrow.com. I read post all around the web about this. I just contacted flippa to either cancel the auction or remove escrow from my payment options. So I talked to paypal and they definitely seem the safest bet. Talking to escrow was like talking to a politician, I asked a question that should have had a one word reply but instead they gave me a speech. I would not ever use them now for "digital sales". Thanks again BHW for the heads up

I am sorry but PayPal is no better if you ask me..

 

[J1218]

Glad I read this forum. I am selling a site now bidding is up to 5000 from a guy who will only uses Escrow.com. I read post all around the web about this. I just contacted flippa to either cancel the auction or remove escrow from my payment options. So I talked to paypal and they definitely seem the safest bet. Talking to escrow was like talking to a politician, I asked a question that should have had a one word reply but instead they gave me a speech. I would not ever use them now for "digital sales". Thanks again BHW for the heads up

Escrow is still probably safer than Paypal in my opinion. Your best bet is to have the buyer give you a wire transfer since those are nearly impossible to reverse, but not all buyers will agree to it.