HALLPPP!! I''ve been defrauded! What to do??
So, a few weeks ago I purchased a $30 t-shirt from a seller with under 100 feedbacks, located in the US.
They added tracking a few days later and it was a USPS tracking number. After about 10 days I tracked the package and it said it was in Washington DC and it said "Unpaid Postage, will not be delivered".
I went to the seller's page to send a message, I saw his location had changed to South Africa, and I was pretty puzzled by that. Sent a message, no response, so opened a case on Ebay. The same day they change the tracking to a UPS number that says it was delivered "to New Orleans" like, 2 weeks previous. Well, it wasn't, never received any package, so I called UPS and the rep said the tracking number went to a totally different zip code in New Orleans, and it was sent from Amazon!
I asked Ebay to step in after having to wait another 6 days and they closed the case in the seller's favor saying it looks like my package was delivered. I gave them all the info above as well as both tracking numbers.
Oh, and this was 20 minutes after speaking to a rep who assured me that Ebay would see what was going on and they would find in my favor. They will say anything to get you off the phone.
I've filed an appeal, but don't have high hopes. What other recourse do I have in this situation?
This is crazy and really intolerable. I will probably never purchase another thing on Ebay after this.
jbbowers12012
·1 year agoCredit Card? Chargeback? Good Luck!!
ittybitnot
·1 year agoWhat other recourse do I have in this situation?
@schloopertz
You have a few other options. Any time there is a "recorded delivery" notice associated with your order you are going to lose any eBay claim. It is an automatic BOT action, and generally, the regular customer service you get on a call back or chat cannot help you, even though they tell you they will. eBay's first course of action is to DENY, and DENY some more even though the 'delivery' information is fake.
It used to be that eBay would ONLY accept a written document from the carrier, likely because they knew it was basically impossible to obtain. That requirement may no longer be the case, especially if that seller has other similar complaints. The seller may already been Naru'd (no longer a registered user) which will pave the way for your success without excessive hoop jumping as before.
Read some of the other discussions posted in "message #3" in the link provided by @pikabo-icu to you here message #2 in this thread. That one goes to page 2, so you will have to back up a page to see message #3
Basically, you can contact eBay via one of their social media portals and ask for their assistance because you are a victim of the "fake tracking scam" . They are US based employees that are quite familiar with this scenario that has been playing out here on eBay for over a decade. They do have the authority to help you.
https://www.facebook.com/eBay/ (use the blue message button)
OR direct message through one of these:
https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/
https://x.com/askebay
Another option is to file for a return with a not as described reason such as "missing parts or pieces". The seller will have three days to provide you a return label, or MONEY IN ADVANCE to pay for recorded delivery back to their location. If neither occurs, you return to the case and ask eBay to step in (i.e. escalate the case). Though not an eBay approved method, it does work. If you have to send something back, even if the label you get is to some empty lot someplace, you are good to go. A parcel of "air" will suffice. This is just beating the typical eBay DENIAL Bot, and the crook at their own game.
If you paid with PayPal, you can file there. If you have an open eBay case, then this will automatically close that so do not be in a hurry. DO NOT CHOOSE "Item not received" (INR), but rather "Shipped to Wrong address". If you insist on INR, the claim will simply be forwarded to eBay, they will reply with the same phony delivery information and you will lose again.
The same goes if you file INR with your credit card. Get INR out of your head, because the claim should be for FRAUD/fake tracking/wrong address scam. Again do not file any/all of these at the same time.
So eBay knows about this, PayPal knows about this, the carriers know, and so does the credit card industry.
Now you do, too. Do come back if you need more advice or have questions once again.
Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.
schloopertz
OP1 year agoThank you so much, what an informative answer! Wonderfully helpful! I think I will go the PayPal or credit card route (paid through PP with a credit card) and see how that works. I will let you know how it turns out, thanks so much for your time!
ittybitnot
·1 year ago@schloopertz
Bit of advice. Go to PayPal first. Make sure you use the "wrong address" choice. Some have said that on occasion that option has not been there, so if not try to get them on the phone. While eBay will not do anything about checking with the carrier about this fake tracking scam, some have reported here that PayPal will.
If they should throw you under the bus, THEN go to your credit card. It will be your last shot.
schloopertz
OP1 year agoThat is exactly what I'll do. You're the best, thanks for all the great advice!
12345jamesstamps
·1 year agoMaking a purchase...check seller eBay ID in feedbacks...does it state USA or South Africa...not where the shipping is...but where the seller is.
Easy to go online with your debit or credit card used and do a dispute with the charge if you have your banking online of the purchase. Usually a refund in 8+ days.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoSellers location didn't change.
They are dropshipping counterfeit POD T Shirts from the US.
You need to get a letter from UPS stating the package was not addressed to you, then use the letter to appeal the case.
schloopertz
OP1 year agoThe location most definitely did. I've been shopping on Ebay for 20 years, I know better than to buy a t-shirt from another country, let alone all the way from South Africa? It said they were located in the US.
pikabo-icu
·1 year ago@schloopertz
So sorry this is becoming all too common.
Just had another post about that. There is info there on what to do.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Victim-of-Tracking-Number-Scam-What-to-do-next/m-p/35028512#M518325
Good Luck!
schloopertz
OP1 year agoThanks for this, it's helpful. I will try Facebook.