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Fraudulent Seller Backed Up By eBay!
Summary: telerama shared an experience with a fraudulent seller on eBay who used false tracking numbers to ship empty packages to incorrect addresses, exploiting USPS's lack of detailed tracking information. Despite filing a chargeback with Chase and confirmed statements from USPS, eBay initially sided with the seller, claiming theft by USPS, and removed negative feedback left for the seller. eastlaneave offered advice and a detailed process for handling such scams, including utilizing social media customer service and USPS filings. telerama provided insights into engaging USPS for support and suggested using USPS Informed Delivery for tracking discrepancies. They concluded by noting the need to file an ECC Case with USPS.
I purchased 10 tubs of coca. This weighs about 20+ pounds shipped for free. Well, how this scam works is the seller ships a package usually empty to a different address using USPS AND DHL. USPS does not take a photo nor does it list a street address in the tracking info. So, what happens? The "package" gets delivered to an address within the same location and eBay tells me too bad. They don't care at all. I charged back today. USPS confirmed that the tracking number provided by the seller is not associated with my address. eBay cod care less. Well Chase does!
telerama
OPOct 6, 2026 at 11:29 PMUPDATE. I received the first letter today via email as I chose that option in the online form. It's irrefutable. Absolute fraud by that seller, and eBay is his muscle. I will send this off to the bank. Soon I will have the second letter as I couldn't file a case until the phony delivery was made.
telerama
OPOct 6, 2026 at 4:35 PMThe P.O. official name for this is called filing an ECC Case, as told to me by that supervisor.
telerama
OP2 days agoFirst, thanks for your input. I did all of that heavy lifting prior to calling Chase. eBay found in favor of the seller because USPS shows delivery. My local P.O. supervisor told me that the tracking number is not in any way associated with me but could not legally tell me what address the envelope was delivered. That's right, not a package weighing 20+ pounds, but an envelope. The second "package" from this seller is out for delivery today, but that same supervisor has told me that tracking number is also in no way associated with me and it is also an envelope. I was instructed by this supervisor to open a case on the USPS website and they will send an official letter stating that these tracking number did not have my name or address on them.
After Chase charged them back, eBay suddenly reversed their ruling stating that they concluded it was stolen by the P.O. which is complete nonsense. And because that is now their official ruling, the negative feedback I left for this seller has been removed. So this second "package" that weighs 16+ pounds that is actually an envelope headed for another address within the same zip, (that's how the scam works and always with the P.O. because there is no street address just city and zip and no photo. ) I guess eBay will rule against me again, Chase will charge them back, they will reverse their ruling and profess that USPS has struck again! A bunch of crap.
I spent decades on this platform, no problems. This seller is on here for about 3 months and will continue because eBay serves as their muscle.
eastlaneave
MentorOct 6, 2026 at 4:41 AM@telerama
Unfortunately, this is a tricky scam that
peoplescammers operate. I have created my set of instructions over the past several years and it does work and eBay will usually find in the buyer's favor, but it has to be done before any appeal is filed and it much more successful with the social media customer service rather than regular call-back customer service.eBay monitors cases opened against sellers more than feedback, so it doesn't take many before eBay will shut the seller down. I think they are working on long term solutions to this problem, it isn't just an eBay problem, the scam happens on any online sales platform.
If you are able to tell me which type of case USPS suggested for this, I would be grateful for the information. USPS often doesn't want to put anything in writing.
Please let me know how this turns out.
telerama
OPOct 6, 2026 at 3:21 PMFirst, if this happens to you, it would be prudent for you to go to your local P.O. to speak with a supervisor. Bring a print out of the tracking number(s). The supervisor will confirm that a "something" was delivered but not to your address. Then you go here https://emailus.usps.com/s/ On the left side you will see "Where is My Package." Fill out that form explaining what happened and your previous conversation with the supervisor (get a name if possible.) The reason for the P.O. visit is a heads up is because that form you are submitting goes directly to your P.O. Be sure to mention you want an official letter confirming that the provided tracking info was not delivered to your address and you want the package info, weight, was it an envelope, etc. Within 24 hours I was notified and given the name of the person in my P.O. that was handling my case. And that's it And that second "package" yesterday was delivered.....but not to my address.
Also THIS. Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery. I did this several years ago. I knew ahead of time that this was going south because every single time a tracking number is created, USPS will contact me and inform me via email or text, to expect a delivery. When this thief (who waits 7 days before he generates a tracking number) sent me the tracking info, informed delivery did not! That could only mean that the tracking number provided by the thief did not match my name or address. There was nothing I could do at that point other than waiting for a delivery that was going someplace else. Hope this helps you.
eastlaneave
Mentor2 days ago@telerama
I'm sorry that happened.
Now that you have filed your chargeback, eBay can't help. Still read through this as you may want some of this documentation for Chase.
1) First, call the post office/shipper to see if the tracking number label contained your name and your address. (They won't tell you whose name is on the package, only that your name and address is not.)
a) If your name and correct address were on the label, ask the Post Office/shipper to review the GPS on the delivery, retrieve the item from the wrong house, and deliver it to you.
b) If your name and address weren't on that label, ask the Post Office/shipper if they will put this in writing; it's helpful, but not required. "The tracking number you were provided by the seller is not related to you nor the package you were expecting."
Also, ask for the weight of the package using that tracking number. Follow the rest of the steps starting with 2 below:
2) Then, report the seller using this process
https://www.ebay.com/help/action?topicid=4022
Important, select "Suspicious seller activity"
then "Other"
Explain that the seller is using fake tracking numbers
Include these phrases
Seller uploaded tracking not associated with my transaction
Tracking details were not accurate
Seller used a false tracking number
Don't write a novel, it's initially being read by a computer, that's why I want you to use those 3 specific phrases in the message.
3) Finally, contact Customer Service and inform them that the seller uploaded a "false tracking number" on your purchase. Share any documentation you gathered. Request a refund.
Use the Customer Service that is on Instagram this way:
- https://www.instagram.com/ebay/
Send a private direct message to the page. Explain that you have a fake or false tracking number situation.
Let me know how this goes. I've been burned a few times myself (including on Amazon), but I have been able to get a refund following this process.
There are additional steps to take if the above isn't effective, just come back and update me.
nuclear: https://community.ebay.com/forum/ask-a-mentor-57913/topic/victim-of-fake-tracking-scam-denied-appeal-denied-and-credit-card-company-denied-449542/