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SCAM SHIPPING/APPEAL NOT EVEN LOOKED AT
Summary: juatar_47 shared their experience of being scammed after purchasing an item on eBay. They received false tracking information and were unable to resolve the issue with eBay or FedEx, even after providing evidence. comics-scifi-collectibles offered advice, suggesting steps to verify the tracking number and report the seller. They also recommended contacting customer service through social media and considering a chargeback if other methods failed.
Hello, this is my first time posting in this area. I purcahsed an item from a seller (actually multiple of the same items). I messaged the seller prior to my purchase to make sure it was authentic and worth the duty fees that would be paid coming from the UK (per the profile). The response was that it was authentic. I made my purchase $125ish and at the time of purchase it stated it was subject to duty fees upon arrival. I kept watching the item. I received a tracking information from China, it still contined to say that duty fees were going to be due. I questioned the seller regarding our previous conversation and of course, no reply. I continued to monitor that purchase and up until the Fed Ex bogus tracking number was added, it still showed duties due. The next day, it showed delivered by Federal Express. (as an additional layer, I could have sworn that when I checked this purchase, it had a message that it was removed for community guidelines, but then that was gone the next time I logged on. I didn't think to take a copy of it- I assumed it would be on there the next time) However, when I went to open the tracking information, it was a blurry picture that was taken outside of an interior door, like an apartment or building of some sort. I live in a home, in a residential neighborhood and my front door and porch look absolutely nothing like the picture. I put in a dispute with Ebay, which was denied almost instantly. In that dispute, I included the picture of the delivery as well as the picture of my residence. I was told to appeal if I did not agree with the decision. So, I submitted my appeal with even more verification that the picture was not my house, explained the whole issue with the China shipping a few weeks ago, the whole thing. Almost instantly, it was denied and both times they advised that verification existed that it was in fact delivered. Within that decision, it stated to dispute the matter with the shipping company, to-wit: Federal Express. Which I did. I wrote an explaination letter regarding the details, sent them a copy of all of my coorespondence and verification of purchase on Ebay, I even sent them a picture of another Federal Express delivery to my house to once again prove that was not my house, nor could it be my house. I submitted the claim and almost immediately I received a response from Fed Ex that the tracking number provided was not a valid tracking number and to contact the seller. I copy and pasted and confirmed that the number provided on the purchase was in fact the tracking number which was being disputed. I then called Federal Express to confirm that tracking number did not exist and ask how it could happen through their site, etc. I was told that 3rd parties also use that site and are able to upload their own delivery verification but since I was not the sender, they could not provide me with any additional information. Now, I tried to send it to customer service - but since it was closed, I have no access. I tried to email it to them to an old email address that they used to send me correspondence in the past, to no avail. SO- NOW WHAT? I do not think it is fair that not only did Ebay dismiss the claim outright on 2 occassions without even looking at the evidence or narrative provided, but now that I have verifiable evidence that it was a scam, I have no way to get it to them. The amount of scams through Ebay is outragious and it makes me no longer want to shop on the site. You can report people for selling counterfeit items and their accounts remain active and they still sell the same product marketed the same way- very disheartening! Does anyone have any suggestions? At this point it is less about the money and more on principal that scammers scam and nothing is being done about it, but getting my $125 back would be ideal. HELP!
mudshark61369
Mentor3 weeks ago@juatar_47 ,
Did you really think that a scammer would respond to an authenticity question saying their items were copies or counterfeits? If you have doubts about an item do some searching online for info about them and one to see if they are being copied or counterfeited.
Your troubles with the fake tracking started when you filed an item not received dispute. As you found out, since you were not the seller FedEx would not give you the proof you needed about the delivery location due to Federal Postal Privacy regulations, so they certainly would not give the info to ebay who was not a party to the shipping contract.
Depending on if it has been less than 30 days since the delivered scan showed delivered. Try opening an Item Not As Described dispute. It would qualify if the item location stated a city in England.
I just saw that another mentor has posted info you need, to get refund, Follow it, and in the future do a better job of vetting your sellers. That one probably had feedback comments saying items came from china and were misrepresented. There may have been some from people who did not file disputes saying their item never arrived even though there was a delivered scan.
comics-scifi-collectibles
Mentor3 weeks ago@juatar_47 I'm sorry that happened. It sounds like you are a victim of a false tracking scam.
I am leaving the steps you already completed so that others with the same problem will be able to see all of the steps.
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. Also, ask for the weight of the package using that tracking number. Follow the rest of the steps starting with 2 below:FOR UPS:You can usually find the weight and other details for UPS here:https://www.ups.com/track?loc=en_US&requester=ST/then click " Proof of Delivery"START HERE>>>
The proof of delivery may have more details about the delivery site, and the weight. Screenshot that.
FOR FEDEX:
You can usually find the weight and other details for FedEx here:
https://www.fedex.com/en-us/tracking.html
Then click 'View More Details' to see the package weight. Screenshot that.
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 you have a fake or false tracking number situation.
If the above steps do not result in a refund then you will have to pursue a chargeback with your funding source ( bank, credit card, etc) . Once you ask your funding source to step in eBay can no longer assist you so save this option for last. Make sure you tell your payment provider that you are a victim of a false tracking scam.