Got Scammed - Ebay telling me I'll need to return the crayons I received to get a refund
Purchased an item from a newer seller, they had one item sold.
They didn't respond to my message, shipped the item from a location different than it was supposed to be (CA instead of NC). Sent another message and no response to either. Called eBay, they slipped up and said the other item sold had a case open on it. Waited for the package to come in and it was addressed to a gas station over a mile away but in the same zip code. This is FRAUD! Luckily I was able to track the package down and have the post office reclaim it. Ebay has let this person scam someone, then me and now telling me to continue to deal with them and allow them to correct the situation...
This isn't a mistaken package, or a different camera mixed up or order mix up. No other listing. FRAUD.
Ebay is now expecting me to send the 15 crayons I received back to this scammer? I want eBay to take the crayons and send them back, im tired of getting deeper and deeper into this scam that eBay has allowed to happen. The "Leadership Team" keeps telling me to trust the process and the process just keeps getting me deeper into the scam. I don't want any interactions with this seller anymore, they intentionally sent a package to me with the wrong name, address and crayons in it so it triggers that it was delivered in the right zip code, I don't care to see whatever else they send or be the victim of them trying to claim a package hasn't arrived or whatever else they have in mind. How do I get in touch with someone from the fraud team or someone from a department that can actually look at the situation instead of just going through the motions?
tke_878
OP2 years agoIt's just mind blowing that ebay continues to give this seller protection and hope they do what's right.
Buyer never responded to any messages
Marked item shipped from North Carolina at 2am
Item shipped a day later from Califronia
Didn't respond again
Ebay employed admitted their other sale had open case
Addressed padded mailer containing crayons to a gas station across town. Waived the signature. sender name is from California and different than the return name in North Carolina.
Accepted the return a few days after, but didn't provide the label.
Waited until the very last day at 2 am and then provided label which is to a different name in North Carolina.
Ebay this morning opened a case for me but instead of the vintage camera I bought, on a digital camera I sold.
Ebay sent other emails regarding the case to Diana (not my name)
Ebay just keeps making excuses, not taking responsibility and wants me to trust the process.
rseuqinh
·2 years agoWARNING!
It seems @tke_878 that's another situation.
If you don't handle this buyer's case against you
you might lose both that digital camera and your money.
tke_878
OP2 years agoThis is incorrect as ebay opened it and the item has already been taken care of. It was the ebay employee not paying attention to what they were doing. I've already addressed it on a call.
ittybitnot
·2 years agoIf you don't handle this buyer's case against you
you might lose both that digital camera and your money.
@rseuqinh
From reading the other posts by @tke_878 it sounded like eBay opened a case against themselves for an item they sold??? It very well could be an unrelated matter where the OP's buyer filed against them at or around the same time as the "fake tracking scam" issue, and they are indeed two separate matters.
ittybitnot
·2 years agoEbay this morning opened a case for me but instead of the vintage camera I bought, on a digital camera I sold. Ebay sent other emails regarding the case to Diana (not my name)
@tke_878
What kind of case did eBay open for you? Item not received? Not as described? It sounds really odd that eBay would allow you to open a case against yourself???? Stranger things have happened, however. Typically, contacting eBay CS in a call back or chat results in being directed to their outsourced call center reps located in other countries. The information or "help" they provide is often incorrect since they have no authority to take actions on most issues. Most of us have figured out that 'get back to you in 24-48' hours is their code phrase for NEVER. LOL.
I would send the crayons back using the label you received. Then deal with this "mystery case". To do that I would suggest you use their social media options. Either the big blue message button on this page:
https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness
OR
https://twitter.com/askebay
tke_878
OP2 years agoThey opened up for me to send in documentation to the "digital camera" that I sold instead of sending me a link to upload files to the antique camera that I received crayons for. I already took care of this on the phone but again, it's just ebay employees making mistake after mistake.
soh.maryl
·2 years agoAm I reading this correctly?
You had a terrible and frustrating experience. You persevered and you now have the item you wanted, bought and paid for. The seller presumably has the money you paid.
Why do you want to return the crayons that you worked hard to get?
And BTW, eBay does not return anything to anybody. AFAIK, eBay conducts business largely on line.
They do not ship or receive anything.
tke_878
OP2 years agoI ordered an antique camera and got 15 crayons in a padded mailer.
ittybitnot
·2 years agoWhy do you want to return the crayons that you worked hard to get?
@soh.maryl
Because the OP ordered a camera. The seller sent a box of crayons to a local gas station address to satisfy eBay's auto bot delivery confirmation requirement. It is a "fake tracking scam", but in this case the OP @tke_878 was lucky enough to find out where the "crayons" were delivered and recovered them. The "crayons" were not addressed in the OP's name, nor had his street address.
Not all victims of the fake tracking scam are so lucky. Typically, they lose because they file INR, and the carrier usually won't provide the information necessary to prevail in a claim or appeal. In this case, the carrier did, so the OP went and collected the parcel.
Making a claim for "item not as described" has always been an option for a victim of the "fake tracking scam", as a way of using the bot system to get a refund. Some find it a questionable practice, typically more expedient than BEGGING your Post Master or other carrier for documentation that the product was not sent to the correct location.
@tke_878
If you decide to return the crayons, you need not worry that they are crayons instead of a camera. eBay has not cared for years what is returned to the "seller" in cases of a not as described claim. You should be sent a return label for the crayons. If you are not, escalate the case (ask eBay to step in and help). If you do get a return label, use it. Often, in these instances the address to send it back will often be phony, and the item returned to you . Have no fear about this either, you will still get a refund.
soh.maryl
·2 years agoEveryone, please ignore this -- I must be losing it. Did not see the word "camera" in the first message or the subsequent messages. Sorry.
ittybitnot
·2 years ago@soh.maryl
Don't worry about it. I would imagine MOST of the posters here have done something similar. I know I have. and WAY MORE THAN ONCE!!!!!
khetzel
·2 years agoBelieve me, you are luckier than most victims of the fake tracking number scam if you were able to track down the package that was sent.(which yes I realize is nearly worthless and not what you paid for.)
Most victims naturally file INR and lose because the scammer has proof of something delivered in your zipcode and due to reasons being exploited by the scammers, they win the case.
You actually have the item and it is obviously not as described, so file not as described. Seller only has a few days to send you a QR code which when scanned at the post office generates a pre paid return label. Once the item arrived back with the seller you get your painless refund.
If seller never issues the QR code then you get your painless refund AND get to keep the crayons! 🥳
lady_madonna
·2 years ago@tke_878
Since you received a different item that what you purchased, you can take advantage of Ebay's Money Back Guarantee to file a Return Request.
tke_878
OP2 years agoThis scammer uploaded a return label qr code at the very last minute, they could 2:18am!
If I return this can they claim I sent something back that they didn't sendM
If they originally had the item shipping from NC (label purchased) but shipped from CA and no telling where this label leads, will I have issues with it not showing delivered in the right zip code?
This is getting ridiculous
mudshark61369
·2 years ago@tke_878,
Take the package of crayons to the P.O. use the QR code and ship them. Once the tracking shows Delivered the seller will have 2 days to issue a refund, if a refund isn't received with 3-5 days You can go back to the dispute and one will be processed, and ebay will go after the seller.
tke_878
OP2 years agoSeems like a great setup to claim they sent something else to me and I returned crayons or the label will lead the item to somewhere that isn't the original zip code and it will triggered delivered to a different zip code and be an issue
bonjourami
·2 years ago"If I return this can they claim I sent something back that they didn't sendM"
Ebay would not investigate what you returned, they never do, you would be refunded.
soh.maryl
·2 years agoNot disputing your word, but did I miss the part where the OP stated that what he (finally) received was not what he ordered? If this was something he evidently wanted, or he would not have bought it, and now he has it, what would be his reason for a return?
tke_878
OP2 years agoHave nothing but 15 crayons and a payed mailer
house*of*paws
·2 years agoHi @tke_878
I was the victim of this scam several times … not just on eBay.
If the seller provided you with a return shipping label in response to your filing an ‘Item not as described’ case … then it is safe to return the crayons. You’ll receive a refund a few days after the package shows ‘Delivered’ to the address on the label.
If you are afraid of not being refunded … then be aware that you have protection from your credit card company. You would just call them and provide the tracking number on the return shipping label. They will refund you.
[But you won’t have to go that far. eBay will see you’re refunded. I just want to reassure you that you have a ‘Plan B’ as a backup protection, because I understand how distrustful you must feel at this point.]
eburtonlab
·2 years agoIf you want to file a claim for an item that is "not as described", then you may be expected to return what you received in order to get a refund, if the seller provides a return label or pays for shipping.
If you had not managed to retrieve the package with the crayons, some good instructions for otherwise dealing with false tracking can be found here, if you want your money back:
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/what-do-I-do-if-I-never-received-my-package-but-tracking-shows/m-p/33921356/highlight/true#M455603
You can avoid many potential headaches by choosing to purchase from experienced sellers that have a demonstrated track record of delivering what was described as shown in feedback, and avoiding sellers with no history for selling items in the category you are interested in.
bonjourami
·2 years agoDid you open an actual case? The seller would then be responsible for providing a return label. The tracking would prove he received it.If he does not provide the label, on the third or fourth day ask Ebay to step in and they will refund you.You wont get a refund without returning the items.
candd205
·2 years agoI know it's frustrating, but just send the crayons back. If you don't do what eBay requests, you won't get your refund, it's that simple.
EBay is not going to take the crayons and mail them to the seller. If you have to talk with eBay, go to the Help and Contact link to request a call-back from eBay, but the answer will be to follow what eBay requests.