Got scammed for $700 on eBay—despite solid documentation and years on the platform
Hey all,
Quick summary: I got scammed out of $700 after purchasing a Garmin watch from an eBay seller with zero history.
For context, I’ve been an active seller on eBay since 2009 and operate a business account. Getting scammed like this feels ridiculous given how long I’ve been on the platform.
Here’s what happened:
• The seller shipped the item to a different address in my neighborhood—same zip code, but not my name or street.
• Naturally, the package never made it to me. For all I know, they sent a box of rocks.
How do I know this?
I’ve built a great relationship with my local post office, and they went above and beyond to help. They provided label scans and checkpoint docs showing the delivery address and recipient name—neither of which is mine. eBay doesn’t even have access to this info. An agent literally asked me how I got it.
Meanwhile, the seller has been completely unresponsive—except for repeatedly re-uploading the same tracking info to the “item not received†case. eBay already denied my appeal, and now I’m just waiting on one last call from someone in leadership for a final review. Not holding my breath.
Complicating matters:
• I paid using Afterpay, which from what I understand isn’t effective for disputes.
• If I try to challenge the charge, I risk getting my eBay account banned—and I can’t afford that. It’s my business.
So here I am, out $700 and stuck in this frustrating loophole where it’s incredibly easy for a scammer to exploit the system. It’s a tough pill to swallow. Not sure what else I can do.
nautilus2020
·1 year agoSorry to hear this but I also was scammed $852 USD for a phone that never made it to me. It was returned to the seller by US Customs, the seller confirmed that they received the item back in good condition, the seller asked for another address to ship to which I provided, the seller promised that they would ship the item to the new address, the seller responded to me a couple time after that and then went un-responsive. Ebay refuses to do anything, they are telling me to message the seller (I am but they are un-responsive), My only option is to go to me bank and file a claim with the credit card company. Ebay customers service towards my claim was very distasteful.
mudshark61369
·1 year ago@easecart ,
"Quick summary: I got scammed out of $700 after purchasing a Garmin watch from an eBay seller with zero history".
Buying from a seller with (0) feedback was your first mistake. You want to make purchases like that from sellers with experience selling high end electronics, phones, watches. Even if the seller was legit, they probably did not know that ebay will have placed a 30 day hold on the seller's first few payments and probably not have shipped because on their account the payment status would show Pending, which is very common among new sellers. eBay did not have the hold back when you started selling.
As for the rest you can get help from ebay by contacting them through one of their Social media platforms. Open the link below, then click on Go To Best Answer, there is an explanation of what info you need to get to get a social media rep who are actual ebay employees that can overturn a refused INR dispute and can authorize refunds. You can attach scans or CLEAR photos of your P.O. documentation to the messages. There are links to the S.M. platforms in the next reply to the best answer.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Need-advice-item-not-received/m-p/34621715#M496499
kalyoth
·1 year agoOpen a return request (if within the 30 day return window) - reason: Not as described. Make copies of the documents from the post office & upload those as the pictures required to open the case.
If inside the US: When a label is provided, ship copies back with the label & you should get a refund upon delivery.
If shipped from outside the US: when no label is provided, seller is required to provide funds to cover the return up front. Package up the document copies & go to the post office & get a postage quote. message them within the case if still open or ebay message the costs for the return & the service chosen.
If they never provide the funds, you get refunded. If they provide the funds, ship & get refunded.
simba6
·1 year agoSounds like the fake tracking number scam. Search these boards for info on it and how to deal with it.
easecart
OP1 year agoSpoke to eBay leadership and well, there is nothing they will do. They won’t accept any external documents from usps as they can’t verify if it was fabricated by me. It is what it is. I’ll see if Afterpay is willing to help but I’m not holding my breath. I lost $700 and this scammer ran off into the sunset with the perfect heist. That’s a broken system and eBay should have more capabilities via usps of verifying that the label was made out to the correct address beyond the current process of simply confirming the delivery zip code that anyone with an eyeball can see themselves on the usps website.
mtgraves7984
·1 year agoSpoke to eBay leadership and well, there is nothing they will do. They won’t accept any external documents from usps as they can’t verify if it was fabricated by me.
@easecart
You don't need 'eBay leadership'. Open a Return request citing 'Not as Described' (or whatever the verbiage) and include the external documents in the package that you ship back to the seller for your refund. "They" (eBay?) won't even see the documents... only the seller will.
If you don't have that ^^ return shipping label after 3 days, go back to the case and escalate it to eBay. You'll be made whole.
mtgraves7984
·1 year agoIf you don't have that ^^ return shipping label after 3 days, go back to the case and escalate it to eBay.
@easecart
And by "after 3 days", I mean at 96 hours and 1 second after you file the claim. 😊
momtoabeautifuldaughter
·1 year agoYou opened an INR case, since it does show delivery somewhere is why eBay closed your case.
gator08041971
·1 year ago@easecart
purchasing a Garmin watch from an eBay seller with zero history.
This right here would have been my first red flag. And with your experience, I'm surprised you got caught by that one.
I see stuff when I search being sold by "new" sellers all the time. But unless its a low risk item, I don't buy from a seller with no history. I know its hard for a seller that's new, but there are too many things that can go wrong these days. Sellers that don't know how to use eBay, don't understand its policies, and no experience selling/shipping items, let alone the fraudulent tricksters, like in your case.
A major recommendation from me for new sellers? Start with small simple low cost items that are easy to ship. Build your rep. Then you can start to sell other items that may make you more money later. Best way to build up trust with buyers.
But that's neither here nor there. There are ways to fight this, and some have already made some good suggestions.
Good luck though.
krazzykats
·1 year agoOnly use a credit card online. If it's not acceptable, then no sale.
á“šá˜á—¢
bennotbill
·1 year agoIs there still time to open an item not as described case?
If there is and the seller actually has the brass neck to send a return label you can always send copies of the label scans and checkpoint docs (or nothing as that is what you received).
deltilogical
·1 year agoAs a long time user, what was it about the seller with no feedback that inspired confidence in you to send them $700 through some back alley payment service?
This kind of situation demonstrates how little effort Ebay will put into helping us. Why they won't confirm the correct address seems like malfreasance to me. They just don't care because we have to pay. Sellers are not customers, they are the raw material ebay uses up to earn profit for their real customers, the shareholders.
buyselljack2016
·1 year agoWhy they won't confirm the correct address seems like malfreasance to me.
-------------------------------------------
how would eBay go about that?
easecart
OP1 year agoI was caught mentally off guard. I did NOT think it would happen to me, but it did. An innocent mistake that will likely cost me.
reallynicestamps
·1 year ago• I paid using Afterpay, which from what I understand isn’t effective for disputes.
Ummm.
Not through eBay at all then?
Because while I am not familiar with all the acceptable services for US buyers, that one is not at all familiar.
EBay's Managed Payments accepts Visa, Master Card, Discover (US only), ApplePay, GooglePay, and Diners Club. They recently dropped American Express.
If you didn't pay through Managed Payments, the seller may not have been paid at all.
krazzykats
·1 year agoAfterpay is a buy now, pay later lender.
á“šá˜á—¢
reallynicestamps
·1 year ago• I paid using Afterpay, which from what I understand isn’t effective for disputes.
I am firmly of the opinion that online purchases should ONLY be made using a credit card, and preferably using Paypal backed by a credit card.
Very nervous of e-transfers in particular.
• If I try to challenge the charge, I risk getting my eBay account banned—and I can’t afford that. It’s my business.
I've never heard of anyone getting a account banned for appealing a verdict.
easecart
OP1 year ago•I've never heard of anyone getting a account banned for appealing a verdict.
I was doing some research and perhaps I over analyzed some of the info I found about eBay accounts getting banned for disputing a purchase charge with their banks. I will add, eBay has been recommending that option of disputing with the bank in this particular case.
soh.maryl
·1 year agoCan you do a chargeback on the card you paid with?
What do you mean ". . . which I understand isn't effective for disputes"?
ittybitnot
·1 year ago@easecart
Unfortunately, this is nothing new around here. The same thing is reported here just about every day. Please read the "Best Answer" in the following thread for things you can do in this situation to get your money back.
If you filed "Item Not Received" get ready to lose. Not to worry, review your choices A through D, and come back for more specific information:
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Seller-is-a-Liar-and-Cheat/m-p/35108131#M522799
easecart
OP1 year agoSo the only real choice I might have was the last one. It’s iffy in my case because I’d have to claim the charge with Afterpay, which I’ve heard is not the greatest at fighting disputes. I guess I might be out of luck with a single option.