I wrote about the setup here in Buying Silver Below Spot? Yes, Its Possible. And I explicitly warned you about the risks right here in Protecting Yourself From eBay Fraudsters.
And guess what? It was a rip-off and I would gladly do it all over again.
The “Zip Code Fraud” Event
The entire situation turned out to be a minor nuisance rather than a tragedy. The scammer tried pulling the classic ZIP code tracking scam: they listed $2,400 worth of silver bullion below market spot price, took my payment, and shipped a dummy package (or junk mail) to a completely different address in my 5-digit ZIP code.
Because eBay’s front-line automated dispute system only checks for a “Delivered” scan within your 5-digit ZIP code, the automated claim initially failed. But resolving it was a non-event:
The Post Office Fix: I walked into USPS, and the clerk printed out a verification form proving the tracking number’s actual destination address didn’t match my home address and weighed nowhere near $2,400 of silver.
The Capital One Backstop: I handed the documentation over to Capital One, and they immediately credited my account, no endless interrogation, no friction, just clean chargeback protection.
Why I’d Take That Trade All Day Long
Here is the math: for every fake “below spot” deal on eBay, there are dozens of legitimate below-melt deals waiting to be grabbed if you know where to look and how to act fast.
When you have a rock-solid safety net, taking a calculated risk on a deal that seems “too good to be true” carries zero effective downside. If it’s real, you stack precious metals below market price; if it’s a scam, your eBay! and or your credit card backstop makes you whole.
Oh, by the way this whole experience is why I always recommend Capital One. When eBay’s automated system hit a wall, Capital One stepped up and handled the chargeback seamlessly. If you’re in the market for a top-tier card, check out the Capital One Venture X Business using my Capital One Referral Link. You get an incredible sign-up bonus, and full disclosure: I get a little referral thank-you present from Capital One when you get approved. With their high-value points and their acquisition of Discover, they are well on their way to becoming the top card issuer in the country.
Want to Learn How to Spot Real Deals?
If you want to skip the scams and strictly hit the real bargains, join the Insider Advantage. I teach you step-by-step how to identify legitimate below-melt bullion deals, avoid the automated traps, and run a profitable buying strategy with total protection.