I get these types often. I don’t even entertain them anymore. I make it quite clear in my listing that if an item is to be collected then it is cash only. Online payments get instantly refunded. If they are genuine they will message you to arrange COC.

I like most people rarely pick up in person so was unaware the first time of the QR code system. No I don’t read every one of the bombardment of ebay emails.

Nowadays a better approach is to photograph the interaction handing over the goods and the buyer’s car numberplate. That way you not only have proof of the sale but information for the police if it is a criminal scam.

That’s interesting, as a buyer rather than a seller, I’ve never seen or heard of a QR code or 6 digit number.
None of my purchases, posted or collected in person, Paypal or Cash, seem to have anything QR shown anywhere, either on my PC eBay account, or Android eBay app.
I bought and collected something last week locally, paid cash, but had to remind the vendor to mark as “payment received”, as I kept getting reminders from eBay; I’d already left feedback for him, as I always do immediately on collection.

Please be warned, I was made aware of a slightly different scam when I purchased a 4 disc network storage server.
The vendor wanted cash and collection only.
I can understand why, for several reasons, but it did leave me as a buyer a little nervous as I may have had little comeback if it didn’t work; it wasn’t something which could easily be demonstrated for what were quite valid reasons. I was reassured as I was collecting from what was obviously a genuine home address.

He’d been the victim of a scam previously with a piece of high end electronics kit; I can’t remember what it was now, but significantly >£1000
Buyer in London legitimately wins auction and pays with Paypal.
Gizmo dispatched, insured and signed for, apparently all above board.
Buyer, a couple of days later, registers a formal complaint of the item being faulty.
Ebay intervenes, item returned to seller, and refund automatically deducted from sellers account, along with return postal cost.
Seller brassed off, but confused, as he knew the item was good, and not apparently damaged in transit.
Investigated further, only to find faulty innards in his old outer case.
Buyer clearly already had a broken gizmo, bought an identical replacement, exchanged the electronic into the sellers case, and returned the item as faulty.
Even with a photo of the serial numbers, eBay still favoured the buyer, as nothing could be proved.
It was notified to the police, but I’ve no idea of the outcome.

Bill

How safe are QR codes?

The criminals have now discovered how to stick false ones on car-park ticket machines, diverting the purchaser’s payment and details to the scum.

… and very easy to read:

.

.

Thanks for making a relatively innocent one, Bill

MichaelG.

“I don’t have a smartphone, so am unable to scan QR codes.  Where does that system leave me?”

Probably safer than the person who scanned a bogus QR code at a railway station car park. This then downloaded a bogus app, as I understand it, which harvested the victim’s payment details and robbed them of a few grand. The newspaper report stated that the car park operator had now removed all QR codes from its car park and advises all customers to download the payment app from Play Store or its equivalent.

This has put me on alert and I will never be scanning any more QR codes to order anything from pub menus etc. just in case some thieving scumbag has stuck a bogus QR code sticker over a genuine one. I haven’t been defrauded up to now and I intend to try to keep it that way.

Thanks, Robert.