I was proud of my little shop, it wasn’t making me a fortune but I loved the things I was selling with passion.
The books I had all used myself, journals, notebooks, mind journals, mind cards, candles, wax melts, crystal bracelets etc. All of the stock I’d bought and stored in my wardrobe in my bedroom.
I spent hours setting up my shop, sorting photo’s and descriptions and putting them on my page. I set up a payment system to take the payments and help me with records.
I didn’t sell a lot and had a few sales to get me some of my wardrobe back. I guess I didn’t push it enough, but I believed in my products and I wanted to others to enjoy them too.
But then it all went pear shaped.
I Was Scammed!
I don’t know how it happened but one morning I woke up to four order for some of my cheapest items. I was pleased and packed them up and sent them out.
The next morning I woke up to 8 orders, and I thought with pleasure that word of mouth had got my little shop noticed. But, the addresses given looked weird. I’m not sure, but they just didn’t look right. So I checked a couple out on Google maps, not something I would normally do, but I was suspicious. They were not found, they were fake addresses. I checked the rest of the orders and they were fake too.
I didn’t post off the items and checked it out. Apparently, people do this and when the orders are returned to you they claim cash back. I’m so glad I didn’t send them.
Then I checked the other orders I’d sent out and they were fake addresses too. I’ve had one returned already. Thankfully, if they request cash back they were very small amounts. But, they were not on my card, they were paid by Paypal. So I can refuse the cash back and they can’t access my card or bank.
The system must be automated and they hadn’t noticed it was Paypal they were paying with. Just to be sure I’ve changed the Password on my Paypal account and I might try opening a new account if there is any suspicious activity.
I then checked my shop commerce system and found 3000 refused payments.
Why do people scam other people. I guess they thought they’d stumbled on a big business and could take all my money? Well, I’m not and it didn’t work. But it still stings and I’ve closed my shop because the orders kept coming in day after day for things out of stock, for my entire stock, all to fake addresses and thousands of refused payments. It just made me feel stressed and sick.
I’m not sure what I’ll do with my stock. There isn’t much left, mostly books as the candles were biggest sellers.
I hate scammers!
Oh no! That was rotten that you were scammed! I don’t understand the point of these scams, what are they gaining from it if the things are being sent to fake addresses. Sending love and hugs. I am so sorry it didn’t work out. x
I’m not sure how it works but it’s large scale which is why I got lucky being such a small shop. I believe the people making the purchases are testing stolen accounts to see if they can use them. Like I said I don’t fully understand, but the thousands of refused payments were probably from stolen accounts that had been blocked after the initial attack. They used Paypal and I’ve reported them as fraudulent, so those Paypal accounts will be blocked.
I’m so sorry this happened to you. That really sucks! You are so right: why do people do this?! It’s so mean to knowingly scam someone else. I don’t get it. How do you sleep at night when you do this kind of stuff.