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Fake Tracking Scam by seller
I bought a small item that weighs just a few ounces. I found it odd that this seller chooses to ship Fedex instead of what would be just a few dollars with USPS ground advantage. Nevertheless, the item never arrived to my home, but of course tracking number shows delivered (zip code is off by one digit). His feedback scores are a bit all over the place. Quite a few reporting of not receiving their item.
I contacted the seller stating that the item never delivered to my home and he instantly replied that he expedited a "replacement" item free of charge lol, but somehow this time he cannot provide a tracking number for the replacement shipment but to give it time for delivery. He probably wants time to stall and have the buyer go past the 30 days or whatever it is of reporting.
I have accounts with Fedex Delivery Manager, USPS Informed Delivery, UPS My Choice, and they all surprisingly show there are no upcoming shipments to my address and that initial Fedex tracking number he provided was never even in my Fedex account. It is likely he uncovers Fedex tracking numbers from a public database of some sort and uses them to scam buyers.
Anyways, the Fedex delivery tracker shows the zip code delivery destination off by one digit. Ex: 55504 instead of 55505. The destination city and state are correct. Do I have any chance of easily winning this case with the zip code being off by one digit (assuming I open an Item not received)? By easily, I mean not having to chase Fedex to give me proof of address and such.
Btw, this is a pretty low cost item, so not the end of the world if I lose out on this. But the seller is obviously scamming many people and getting away with it.
*Edited a bit since I'm not sure how much info can I give on the seller...
kh_lrtms
·9 months agoHi everyone,
Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.
Thank you for understanding.
ittybitnot
·1 year ago@corvettezrx
You can read some of these for more advice on who to contact on ebay, and especially on what NOT to do should you seek redress elsewhere. This has been going on for years, with eBay's claim to fame of being Kind of Denial. Here is just this month's so far.
Jan. 2025
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Laser-TV-Item-Not-Received/m-p/34862223#M509687
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/I-got-scammed-out-of-999-for-an-RTX-4090/m-p/34865219#M509806
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Ebay-support-and-money-back-guaranty/m-p/34870558#M510126
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Package-delivered-to-wrong-address-by-usps-no-refund/m-p/34871240#M510140
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Tracking-number-fraud-within-EBay/m-p/34872627#M510235
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/EBAY-is-ALLOWING-a-delivery-address-switch-scam-to-continue/m-p/34873630#M510315
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Mail-fraud-switching-tracking-numbers-with-addresses-in-the-same/m-p/34873069#M510341
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Refund-due-to-seller-sending-to-wrong-address/m-p/34880629#M510871
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/I-just-got-scammed-out-of-a-baking-dish/m-p/34881587#M510926
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Another-quot-eBay-Refuses-to-Honor-Money-Back-Guarantee-quot/m-p/34887210#M511279
apexforge
·9 months agoHow is it that ebay can legally continue ignoring this rather than being considered a facilitator of fraud, an accessory to the fraud or even an accomplice?
house*of*paws
·9 months agoYou’ll probably have to ask an attorney @apexforge. This is a 10-month-old thread, which likely will be closed soon. ☹ï¸
titipeo
·1 year agoYou can also claim item not as described, force the seller to send you a return label and you can send a empty box, envelope. Or the seller may decide to just refund you automatically. Sometimes you have to play the same game as the scammer and put them on the spot. Do not claim item not received, as seller will submit proof of his tracking, even though is fake tracking, but as far as eBay is concerned, he provided delivery proof and will rule in seller side. Personally, I feel that going through all the hoops to prove the fake tracking scam is too much in comparison to item not as described claim. Just my opinion.
corvettezrx
OP1 year agoAn update on the situation: What you said is exactly what I did. I sent a return request for missing parts/pieces saying the item is missing and basically calling him a scammer as well as showing a picture of an empty box. Within a few hours, the seller issued a refund (instead of sending a return label which he would have to pay for-go figure). For anyone dealing with this, don't even bother messaging back and forth with the seller as they are just stalling for time giving false promises of replacement shipments so they can end up pocketing your money. Also, stay away from filing an item not received case as you're guaranteed to lose on it.
fantum.games
·1 year agoThank you. I will go ahead and file item not described and send an empty box or maybe add some rocks to match the weight of the stolen label.
jaja_2942
·1 year agoIf you think you're going to get away with it @fantum.games prepare for a shock: eBay is now issuing a stern warning for those of us planning to return a box of rocks.
Rather it's safer to get your refund either with a private message to eBay here
or with a DELIVERED TO WRONG ADDRESS dispute at PayPal here
where they will review the fake tracking and make the proper decision.
campanaelia
·1 year agoIn the cases I have read from buyers filing not as described cases, the scammers refunded the money without requiring any return. Why would they actually pay for a label? They already know they'll just be out more money if they do. I highly doubt it would ever reach the point of actually having to ship anything. There is a lot more info on buyers handling it this way on 3rd party websites, and I have never heard of it failing. If I did do it that way myself I certainly wouldn't announce it here.
I actually don't see why ebay would frown on this method because it is forcing the scammer to refund the money sooner to the buyer rather than ebay possibly making a courtesy refund later costing them money. Or even worse, seeing the buyer lose there money to a scammer because they couldn't do all the legwork required to get the documentation necessary.
simba6
·1 year agoYou would think if it was sent to a different zip code you would win. eBay has turned a blind eye to that scam and it's getting worse by the day. Call fedex and get a letter saying that tracking is not to your address. An email will do. You may have to call more than once. Each call will get you a different rep.
I hope you paid by credit card. If eBay won't help, contact your card company. Explain it's the fake tracking number scam. They know it well. Having that letter is a big help getting your case resolved.