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Seller uploaded fake tracking to bypass the 30-day Money Back Guarantee window
Summary: In the discussion, p9802823 raises a concern about a seller uploading fake tracking information to bypass the 30-day Money Back Guarantee window. eburtonlab responds, but no additional information is provided within the reply.
Hello everyone,
I desperately need your help and advice regarding a terrible seller and tracking fraud. I have not received my item at all, but I am now completely stuck.
Here is what happened:
1. Initial Delay & Fake Info: The seller explicitly told me via eBay messages that the shipping would take more than a month, and the initial tracking status reflected that long timeline.
2. Sudden Change & Failure: However, when I recently checked, a "service disruption" had occurred, and the package was being returned to the sender. Even worse, I realized the tracking number the seller provided is completely fake and has absolutely nothing to do with my actual order or location.
3. The Trap: To make matters worse, the tracking status was somehow manipulated or updated to show "Delivered on April 13th." Because of this fake delivery date, eBay is now telling me that my 30-day Buyer Protection window has already passed.
The seller is completely ignoring all my messages and refusing to reply.
I have received absolutely nothing, but because of this fake tracking number, I cannot even open an
"Item Not Received" case on the system. I have no idea how to deal with this fake tracking fraud when the protection period has technically expired.
Is there any way to contact eBay customer support directly to report tracking fraud, or any alternative way to get a refund? Please help me. Thank you so much.
eburtonlab
Mentor4 months ago@p9802823
If tracking shows delivery on April 13th, you may not be able to get help from eBay after thirty days.
Some general info about false tracking that you might have been able to use with eBay before the thirty day deadline, but that may be useful for filing a claim with your credit card:
If you have contacted the shipping service directly to determine that the tracking number does not correspond to a delivery to your address you are likely looking at a case of "false tracking".
If you can, I would suggest obtaining documentation that shows that the package was not addressed to you, then contacting eBay via social media direct message using Instagram and mentioning that you have a case of "false tracking" to be given an opportunity to share your documentation:
https://www.instagram.com/ebay/
If you cannot get documentation, or if that does not work:
Since false tracking allows a scam seller to win an "item not received" case, the next step would be to file a "not as described" return on eBay and be prepared to return exactly what you received if the seller provides for return shipping, or ask eBay to step in after three business days if the seller does not refund you or provide return shipping.
You may have recourse through your payment method if you are unable to get satisfaction through eBay, though once you involve a payment method, eBay can no longer help with that transaction. Be sure you mention "false tracking" specifically, otherwise your provider may assume a simple missing or stolen package and defer to eBay's ruling based on the tracking showing delivery.
In the future, stick to experienced sellers with a long and demonstrated history and avoid new or unproven sellers, or sellers that show warning signs of being drop-shippers or potential scammers: drastic changes in selling behavior or offering deals that are "too good to be true", or shipping heavy items that are unlikely to be profitably shipped via retail shipping.