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USPS tracking number scam - package to another address.
I purchased a large battery on Ebay. I did not receive the package and filed a complaint with Ebay. The seller sent a tracking number for the package via USPS which showed the city, state, and zip code. It did not show my street address. Ebay immediately closed the case in favor of the seller, which is their policy. The battery I purchased was large and heavy. It was impossible to ship via the media mailer that the seller claimed. As well, it would have been illegal to ship such a battery airmail and I knew that the tracking was a fake package. When I contacted the post office they unequivocally stated that the street address for the package was NOT my address. Therefor the tracking provided was evidence that the package was NOT shipped to me. Unfortunately USPS will not give written notification for this. I informed Ebay that the package was not addressed to me and requested that they reopen the investigation multiple times but they never would. They kept telling me that the fraud department would get back to me and then they wouldn't and they ran out the time limit. As I search Ebay's site and other ebay reviews on the web I see that the USPS tracking number issue is a known scam and vulnerability on the site going back many years. Some reports were as old as 2015. Scammers have obviously learned of Ebay's silly policy and Ebay appears to willfully ignores the issue. I am wondering if any buyers has successfully convinced Ebay to decide in their favor in one of these scams? It would be useful to post the procedure followed here for other people so they can at least get their money back. I am wondering what evidence is required to convince them. I'm sure that this will happen to many more people which is a shame because it seems very preventable. Also, is there a way to make a complaint to ebay to try to get them to change the policy? The representatives I talked to all stuck to the company line and repeated the policy that tracking only needs to show city, state and zip. They actually left the seller's account up and refused to take action. The site even took down my negative review so in theory the seller can do it again without even spoofing another account. Anyways, Ebay's refund policy appears to ignore flagrant tracking number scams. And Ebay appears not to care. So buyer beware.
wooden_flower
Mentor3 years agoYou needed to get in writing from your PO that the package was not addressed to you. Then eBay would have appeals the decision and found in your favor.
If it is too late to open an appeal, contact your credit card issuer. They should be willing to open a dispute for you. They should also ask you to get written proof of the package going to a different address (email is a good way to get it in writing), in case the seller disputes the charge back.
I doubt that eBay has access to the internal database of USPS, so I don't think they can require more data for tracking. But, I do agree that they should have a way to submit the request for info to USPS instead of the buyer having to do it.
pierjones
OP3 years agoUSPS will not issue written response since I am neither the sender or the recipient.
wooden_flower
Mentor3 years agoYou have to ask them to confirm that the tracking # was not addressed to you. You are not asking where it did go, just that it was not delivered to you.
I know form my own experience (on a purchase from another marketplace) that they will provide this confirmation.
pierjones
OP3 years agoI tried that. It doesn't work. No matter what I did USPS would not issue anything in writing regarding the package. Spoke to multiple people at my local branch and somebody on the phone at the main branch. It would help if USPS would change their policy too.
pierjones
OP3 years agoAfter many wasted hours of my time (probably 25-30 hours on phone and chat with Ebay) I filed fraud report with my credit card and with the Better Business Bureau. Ebay responded within a few days and refunded my money, $170. Ebay representative stated that they acted in accordance with their policies and did not need to refund my money. I really wasn't interested in the money. I was trying to get Ebay to adopt a better and more fair policy so that other people won't be harmed in the future. The representative ignored that part of my complaint. At issue is Ebay's policy of accepting partial addresses from USPS tracking website (City, State, & Zip) for proof of shipping. It appears to encourages scams. As well the policy is very misleading. In another section the refund policy states that if you don't receive a package to the MAILING ADDRESS in the transaction that you get a refund. (To me the MAILING ADDRESS means an address that is recognized for delivery by the United States Postal Service so City state and zip is only a partial address and the two parts of the policy contradict each other). In my case the tracking number that the sender provided was a fake package sent to another address. It was literally proof that the package was never sent to me. Not a lawyer but surprised this is not a class action suit or something. I Hope that Ebay changes the policy. It also would help if USPS would issue something in writing such as your name and address and that you are neither the sender or the recipient for the tracking number. That would protect the privacy of the transaction and put the onus on the seller to provide the full receipt, delivery address and tracking for the package. I have zero confidence that USPS or Ebay will ever change the policies....
wooden_flower
Mentor3 years agoI’m glad they refunded your money after you filed with your card issuer.
You will not see a change in policy. The delivery zip is used to confirm delivery. I do think it would be good that when a buyer files the not received claim, that eBay took the responsibility to confirm the address, but I assume there are some legal ramifications to doing this, or else they would.
As I mentioned, usps will provide the needed confirmation if you ask the right way.