That does stink to get taken like that. I hope you get your money back.

I have been buying and selling on eBay since the late nineties and have learned a few things along the way.

Sellers with new accounts and no feedback selling rare or high dollar items should be looked at with suspicion. If this is the case, ask the seller a question. Maybe ask for a picture of some part of the box. If the seller is legit, he/she will usually be accommodating. If the seller does not respond, is rude in responding, or won't comply with the request for a picture, back away quickly and don't look back.

Demanding payment within three hours or the seller is going to re-list the item would throw up a red flag for me. If this was a buy it now, that is one thing. Payment is usually expected immediately, but if this was an auction, three hours would have had me ready to bail. What if you were not home when the auction ended? The seller had no way to know you were going to be at your computer when the auction ended. He was afraid you were going to figure it out and back out.

I hate to say it, but this would have sent my scam alert screaming.

I learned much from getting scammed once way back in the beginning of eBay. I hope others learn from your misfortune.

Steve