A typical buying scam.
Here is how a dishonest seller will scam you.
You buy a high price item.
It is sent via USPS using the correct tracking number but sent to another address in your city.
The tracking information shows that it arrived to you, but it never did.
If you react by blocking your visa charge then Ebay money back guarantee does not work and you cant even file a scam report.
Ebay is apparently not interested in preventing this simple scam.
4 comments
fab_finds4u
·2 years agoYou are late to the game.
Can you please tell me how you think eBay can stop you, for example, from sending the item to a different address in your buyer's zip code and uploading the tracking? Their proof of delivery requirement is tracking to the city and zip code. For privacy reasons tracking information supplied by USPS only show the city and zip. You would have to have USPS change what the public views and I am sure that's not going to happen.
Yes, when you file a dispute with your payment source instead of eBay then eBay will no longer help you. You can't double dip.
If you don't receive an item that shows delivered then you go to the post office and ask them exactly where it was delivered, that your address should be in the tracking details they have. The post office would put it writing if the shipping label details were not to your address. Then you file a not received dispute and immediately appeal to eBay with your proof from your local post office tracking was a scam.
Some buyers have gotten so fed up they turn the tables on the scam seller by making them refund and pay for a return label instead. They file not as described instead of not received and force them to pay return shipping. Then they return an empty box with a note inside saying you received nothing so you're returning nothing. Less legwork and paperwork, that's for sure.
I must say that sounds like something years ago the busted up cowgirl Danielle would do. She learned how to get back at those scammers.
kensgiftshop
·2 years agoOnce you contact your card provider, Ebay will no longer help.
Always start through Ebay first and save your card for the last.
house*of*paws
·2 years agoHi @neiladler
There’s no way to prevent the ‘fake tracking number’ scam before it happens … at least that I can think of … but a buyer can get refunded if they obtain a statement from their post office stating that the buyer’s name and address were NOT on the package associated with the tracking number they were given.
This became a popular scam during the pandemic … and is still occurring. [I had to deal with several of them.]
ittybitnot
·2 years agoIf you react by blocking your visa charge then Ebay money back guarantee does not work and you cant even file a scam report.
@neiladler
The eBay Money Back Guarantee does not work for fake tracking scam problems anyway. Filing a claim with your credit card is an option, but ALWAYS be clear it is not a regular "item not received" problem. Otherwise, the card company will contact eBay, and eBay replies with evidence of a recorded delivery, and you will lose if the situation is not made clear from the start.
This has been going on for years here. Since the eBay system is basically automated, it is still a popular scam with both buyers and sellers being victims. When you go to your credit card for redress, eBay is no longer obligated to help you for this situation or any other.
eBay needs to put "fake tracking/shipped to wrong address" as one of their dropdown menu choices when a buyer requests a refund....LOL.