It’s not always easy to tell the difference between an honest bargain and an illicit deal, especially during the holiday season.
As we approach Black Friday and Cyber Monday, some of the largest shopping days of the year, many retailers are preparing to slash prices to attract bargain-hungry shoppers. Unfortunately, scammers also hope to lure buyers by dangling attractively priced, stolen LEGO sets on sites like eBay.
So how can you tell the difference between an honest LEGO bargain and a scam? It’s not always easy. Although some legitimate eBay auctions do end at lower prices than the items deserve, watch out for six red flags that your newly purchased LEGO set may be stolen or purchased with a stolen credit card number.
1. The item is located in the United States, but the seller is registered abroad
The seller might claim they “have a warehouse” in the United States, but their customer service is located in a different country.
2. The seller has low or no feedback
Be cautious when buying from a new member. Scammers can open new accounts easily after other accounts have been closed. Then again, every eBay seller started at zero feedback. A low feedback score by itself need not be a deal breaker, but be extra cautious when dealing with members with low to no feedback.
3. The Listing Uses Only a Stock Photo
Some eBay listings use professional photos from eBay or copied from Amazon, LEGO.com, Target, etc. Stock photos can indicate that a seller does not have the item in their possession. Sellers can’t photograph something that they don’t have in hand. Use of a stock photo is not enough evidence in isolation to indicate fraud. Some sellers use stock photos for convenience (i.e. laziness) since using an existing photo saves sellers the time and effort of taking their own photo.
4. The Price of the Set Seems Suspiciously Low
Deeply discounted LEGO sets are rare sight to see anywhere, let alone on eBay. Usually a 20 to 30 percent LEGO discount is considered a good deal. Some sets that retail over $100 will rarely be discounted more than 10 percent. It’s hard to define an exact “suspiciously low” dollar amount–you’ll need to go with your gut on this one. If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
5. The seller has negative feedback mentioning fraud or stolen credit cards (DEAL BREAKING red flag)
Even if only one or two feedback comments mention fraud, stay away! Sometimes even so called “reputable” sellers with over 500 positive feedback comments and only a handful of negatives can make fraudulent listings. Make sure you read the seller’s RECENT feedback. It’s easy to fall into the Trap of Assumption that a seller with a feedback number in the hundreds or thousands is reputable. Just take a few seconds to skim the seller’s recent feedback comments before buying a LEGO set from them.
If the “Sold To” name on the LEGO invoice is different from the eBay seller’s name, then the set may have been purchased with a stolen credit card number.
6. Your shipment is coming directly from LEGO (HUGE red flag)
Check the invoice in the box. LEGO encloses a bright yellow invoice with their shipments. If the “Sold To” box lists the name and address of someone other than the seller, then chances are this order was paid for with a stolen credit card. If your order was shipped directly from other major retailers like Target, Toys R Us, Walmart, etc check the invoice for similar signs of fraudulent charges.
You think you accidentally bought a stolen set from an eBay seller. Now what?
First, don’t panic. You’re not in trouble. Contact the customer service for the company on the invoice included with shipment as soon as possible. If the invoice inside the box is from LEGO Shop at Home, contact LEGO customer service. Explain your situation and customer service will guide you through your next steps. They may issue you a shipping label to mail the unopened set back to them. Also, report the seller to eBay.
Paypal’s Buyer Protection will allow you to receive a full refund, so long as you file a claim within 45 days of sending payment.