I think this is a scam but I don't know how.
This recently happed twice from the same seller.
1 Purchased a $12 item from the seller.
2 Seller shipped with UPS tracking.
3 2 or 3 days later I was notified by the seller that my package was lost and the seller issued a refund.
4 When I checked UPS tracking it actually showed delivered but I never received the package. (Both times signed for by someone I do not know.)
5 When I checked my account, sure enough I was refunded.
I'm not out anything at this point but something isn't adding up. Any idea what's going on?
7 comments
ryry-jj
·8 months agoReport the seller as using fake tracking. Although the seller may be doing the right thing in this case, they are part of a larger mess/issue eBay needs to address better...sellers drop shipping or not having items in stock & in their possession at the time of sale.
thismarkjohnson
·8 months agoYes, this is a known scam pattern using fake or misdirected tracking. The seller uploads a real UPS number delivered somewhere in your ZIP (not your address), then refunds you so you don’t open a case — meanwhile it boosts their “shipped & delivered†metrics. Report the seller to eBay; they’re abusing tracking to game the system and it usually leads to bigger fraud later.
reallynicestamps
·8 months agoAn honest dropshipper with a dishonest supplier.
rseuqinh
·8 months agoYour seller is being scammed by their supplier.
The supplier gives your seller the UPS tracking number for another package.
That package is delivered to its intended recipient, the "someone I do not know" in your city.
This is the fake tracking scam, which saves the supplier from fulfilling your seller's dropshipped $12 order
-- when it show that it was delivered to your city
-- and therefore delivered to you.
Your seller likely realizes that the tracking shows the wrong size and weight for your $12 item, and refunds you.
simba6
·8 months agoSounds like the item was out of stock and the seller made that up. You see if a seller gets caught selling out of stock items they get a very serious NPS defect on their record. Too many of those and they get banned from selling for life. It does not take many.
Since you were refunded, it's not a scam on you but rather on eBay. eBay is not known to muse well on tricks like that either. I suggest you find a better seller.
mamacassidy
·8 months agoHmm, I wonder if the item was actually out of stock, but they didn't want to take the hit for a cancellation, so they sent something so the tracking showed delivered, then refunded???
Who knows.
But I'd definitely stop buying from them, lol.
house*of*paws
·8 months agoHi @deerecamp
I’m sorry, but there isn’t enough information to know what is behind the odd occurrences.