Is this illegal in an online sale?

[Raza]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York


Last year I sold a World Of Warcraft account to someone through ebay (this account is considered a virtual good). A man purchased the account through paypal and then ebay removed the auction. I gave him the account information through an email(not from the email address associated with my paypal account), and then he did a chargeback of the money he paid for the account. I contested it and eventually, about 2 months later the money was refunded to me.

Recently I found that the account hadn't been used in a while. I then called and reclaimed the account. I have heard that this could be considered fraud? What I am wondering is if I give back the money that was paid for the account now, will it then be legal? Wouldn't this just be revoking a transaction? Thanks for any information.

 

[justalayman]

Recently I found that the account hadn't been used in a while. I then called and reclaimed the account.

So, you knowingly made a claim to an account you know you no longer owned due to the fact you had willingly sold it, right?

If somebody wants to buy something and let it set, it is their right. It gives you no right to illegally reclaim the account.

What I am wondering is if I give back the money that was paid for the account now, will it then be legal?

You cannot uncommitt a crime. If the legal owner will allow you to rescind the sale, it is up to him/her.

Wouldn't this just be revoking a transaction?

Uh, no. It could be one of several crimes. Not sure how to classify it due to the situation but no, you had no legal right to revoke the transaction.

 

[cyjeff]

As I told you once, you sold it. You have the money. You took it back ... when you KNOW it didn't belong to you anymore.

You committed fraud when you reclaimed the account and committed theft.

 

[justalayman]

As I told you once, you sold it. You have the money. You took it back ... when you KNOW it didn't belong to you anymore.

You committed fraud when you reclaimed the account and committed theft.

a history with this poster somewhere?



apparently he didn't like your answer wherever it was given. Funny how he gets basically the same thing here. Maybe OP needs to simply accept he screwed up.

 

[Raza]

If I hadn't received the money back would it have been fraud?

 

[swalsh411]

Maybe but that's not what happened is it? You stole it from him plain and simple.

 

[justalayman]

If I hadn't received the money back would it have been fraud?

That is a moot point. You did receive the money back so "what if" doesn't apply.

 

[Raza]

What would you guys recommend I do now? I understand that what I did was wrong, but I never intended to break the law. I would never actually try to bend my way around the law...

I've had the account for a couple months now and I haven't heard from the buyer at all. I'm not even sure if I should try to contact him. I would be easily willing to offer him both the account and his money back. I realize that I have made a mistake. What I am wondering is if he says he agrees to this, can he still sue me later? He lives in a different state. I am sorry for seeming like a pest.

 

[The_Saint]

I'm not sure what the dollar amount is, but sometimes you might get a refund and it was not taken from the buyer. So, you might have got the money, the buyer may have got their money too and the account could have just sat there.