I was scammed in an auction
I won an auction recently for a rather expensive cell phone. My item never arrived even though Ebay tracking showed it delivered. Went through all the necessary steps looking for a package around my mailbox, checking with neighbors. After my package still wasn't located I contacted my post office who confirmed that the tracking number provided did not match a package addressed to me, but was delivered to an address in my zip code. USPS provided me with a full tracking report and picture of the shipping label, both showing the tracking number. This confirmed that the item had not been sent to my shipping address. Opened a case with eBay but was denied since the seller had provided a tracking number. Appeal wasalso denied. My next step was to contact Pay Pal who also initially denied my case. After an appeal Pay Pal is currently investigating. If, even with all the proof I have I'm denied again what would be my next action? Can't really afford to pay over $700.00 for a phone I never got. Yes, I'm pretty sure the seller is a scammer as he/she does not communicate other than to provide fraudulent tracking information.
fountain13
·2 years agoThe thing about scams is - there are a lot more people that take advantage of scams than are actually scammed. When it comes to eBay that is so slanted toward buyers, this must be especially true.
Like I said, it is a dangerous game when a buyer gets refunded for an item that shows as delivered. It is so tough as it is to rely on the post office. I don't know how many times I've had them lose something, then of course the buyer comes right back to me for a refund. No matter that I sent it out promptly, and had absolutely no fault in the matter.
I've actually tried to change a buyer's address after the buyer asked me to. I was glad that there was no way to do that because I didn't feel comfortable about it.
fountain13
·2 years agoOK, after reading this more closely, I'm for sure that you are the scammer. I have had a lot of dealings with the post office as an eBay seller (and buyer). They don't have the ability to know what address your package went to. They have no way of providing you with the info that you say that they did.
Enjoy your free phone, I guess. Karma comes around. Even if I wasn't a firm believer in that, I wouldn't mess around with someone that has my address. I'm just saying....
kathiec
·2 years agoI'm for sure you're woefully ill-informed. If you'll read this forum for the last couple years you'll see that the fake tracking number scam is becoming quite prevalent. And yes, all carriers, including USPS, absolutely know the label information of every package. While they usually won't tell you the name or address on the label for privacy considerations, they will tell you whether the name and address was yours, as well as the declared weight of the package. That's useful if, for example, a package that should contain a heavy item only weighs a few ounces.
It's poor form to hit the victim of a scam with such a harsh accusation of being the scammer.
fountain13
·2 years agoI call it as I see it. It is poor form to support fraudulence and thievery. You all are really reaching there. There is no way a seller would be able to sell an item, then make up a whole new label with a whole new address for a package that has a completely different weight than the item sold. No way.
I'm out. This makes my blood boil. Enjoy your "freebies" for now because they're going to cost you 3x as much. That's how karma works.
"That is exactly what happened. Since the Post Office provided me with the address that the so called package was delivered to,"
A post office would never do that. I'm quite sure that it is against the law to do that. Man, if you scammers and liars ever tried this mess with me....
ittybitnot
·2 years agoThere is no way a seller would be able to sell an item, then make up a whole new label with a whole new address for a package that has a completely different weight than the item sold. No way.
@fountain13
Unfortunately, it happens every day now. Three reported so far today. Just count your 'lucky stars' you have not ever been a victim of this. I hope you will remember this day, and this forum should it ever happen to you.
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoUnfortunately yes, somehow the label can be changed. This is the shipping label associated with the tracking number affixed to the parcel that was supposed to be a phone I paid for. USPS provided this to me. Notice it's addressed to "Resident". Also, this is not my eBay delivery address.
fountain13
·2 years agoGoobleygock. Three reported in one day? One day? Amazing, amazing luck I must have in buying probably hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise on eBay over the almost-two decades that I have been on here, and only been the victim of a fraudulent seller one time. And, you're telling me that it's happening to you multiple times recently?
Even if you get away with harming innocent people like this, God is watching. You won't get away with it when you meet Him one day. He will hold you accountable for everything you do (and it sounds like it's a lot!). No, I won't think of this page when this mysterious fake scam happens to me some day, because I'm 99.98% sure that it doesn't exist. Even if it did happen, I prob wouldn't care because I don't have the time or the energy to invest in pursuing that over a few hundred dollars. It's for real - karma has obviously had its way with you all for thinking that's a lot of money.
The only time a seller frauded me was not disclosing a flaw with an item. It could have been unintentional. It wasn't that big of a deal so I didn't try to get my money back. I left a neutral rating. He gave a pretty hostile response, which upset me a great deal. It wasn't like my feedback was that bad. I wasn't expecting him to refund me or anything (and he didn't). I always try to give sellers the benefit of the doubt, and work with them the best that I can. No one is perfect.
I have found that very few people are out to defraud others. It definitely happens more on the buyer side than the seller side though. I feel like anyone who even suggests the opposite has 1. never sold 2. prob is a scammer themselves and unhappy that eBay doesn't let them get away with every scam they try to pull (only most of them!). I have only been the victim of fraudulent buyers a handful of times, but it made me feel so hurt and confused that someone would be like that. It hurts them in the long run every time a good, honest seller leaves.
house*of*paws
·2 years agoHi @fountain13
The 'fake tracking number' scam appears to have become very popular during the pandemic ... when common items like paper towels, toilet paper, etc. stopped appearing on grocery shelves.
I was the victim of the scam 4-5 times about 2.5 years ago when trying to buy a specific brand of cat food. The scam occurred on both eBay and Amazon orders. In most cases is was NOT the seller who was the scammer ... but rather the seller's drop-shipper (or their supplier) who provided tracking numbers with the ZIP Code in my small city that made it APPEAR that the items were delivered to me. [The sellers were as victimized as I was. Their suppliers sent them the fake tracking info as well ... so the seller never knew what happened until I contacted them with the proof.]
It happened with USPS, FedEx, and UPS. I had to phone each of the shipping companies to get proof that my name and address weren't on the package with the tracking number I was given. I was sent the info attached to emails from FedEx and UPS. I had to pick it up in person at the post office. [I still have copies of the 'proof'.]
I agree with you that most sellers are honest ... but I'm nor sure why you doubt that this scam exists. Try Googling 'fake tracking number scam' ... and you can read all about it. 🙂
fountain13
·2 years agoIt isn't so much that is it's some of the things that this buyer is saying. If I waltzed into my local post office, and asked where my missing package went to... I will guarantee you that they would have no idea. It is even more incredulous that she wants us to believe that the post office gave her the "recipient's" addy, she goes to some stranger's door and asks where her item is.
The only issues I've had recently in online buying is slow turnaround and one time, Walmart only sent me one cat litter tray when I bought two. eBay sellers, Amazon the USPS - they've really been kicking )((, I have to say. I have bought a ton of stuff lately, and seldom had even a hiccup. That is what makes this so hard to believe. I'm sure that Google has plenty of info about it. Reading it wouldn't make me feel any different. What I've read here is all I need to know...
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoUnfortunately it is possible to somehow change a shipping label. Don't ask me how because I have no clue. This is the email I received from my Postmaster after I filed a missing package report.
eburtonlab
·2 years agoThere is no way a seller would be able to sell an item, then make up a whole new label with a whole new address for a package that has a completely different weight than the item sold.
The fact that you cannot imagine how a false tracking scam might work does not prevent scammers from using the technique, often successfully.
All the scammer has to do is place an order for a cheap trinket with a third-party fulfillment company and have it shipped to an address in the same zip code as the victim. Then the scammer uses the tracking number from the trinket to "prove" delivery of the phone to the correct zip code, preventing the victim from winning a standard "item not received" case with eBay.
No one in this scenario is receiving a "free phone". The scammer is attempting to get away with the buyer's money, while delivering nothing of value.
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoThank you for the support, my Post office did provide all the information needed to me including a full tracking report and picture of the shipping label which clearly shows the tracking number that the seller provided to eBay.
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoYour accusation is unfounded. Please do your research about this scam. I've received all the evidence needed from my Post Office including a full tracking report and picture of the shipping label. Mail is scanned at every destination and departure point. that's how tracking works.
spark-chaser1
·2 years agoGlad to hear you were able to finally receive a resolution, but sorry to see it took all this time.
spark-chaser1
·2 years agoHopefully they can get this settled.
spark-chaser1
·2 years agoAnd agreed... Not much more you can ( or want) to do but wait.
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoFollow up, after 3 months my Credit Card company handled it. I've learned a valuable lesson and hope to never have to deal with a similar situation again. eBay and PayPal will not back a buyer even when the evidence of a scam is presented to them.
ittybitnot
·2 years ago@trixiehenry254
Thank you for the update and glad it worked out for you! The problem many buyers make is filing an "item not received" claim when there is tracking that shows delivered. It is the natural reaction, when you don't get anything. eBay says you did, you lose. You try that INR claim on appeal you lose. You were very smart to collect the documentation that you did.
You go to PayPal or your c.card with the INR claim, they send the inquiry to eBay who responds with the same phony 'delivered' status and you lose again.
For anyone reading here, if you find yourself in this situation where you didn't get anything yet there is tracking to your zipcode beware of insisting you didn't get anything, and proceed insisting you are a victim of a "fake tracking scam" instead. eBay knows about it, PayPal knows about it, and so does the c.card industry. They are all counting on YOU DON"T KNOW about it, and don't know what to do about it.
There are plenty of discussions here about the same issue. Usually, there are victims posting here a few times a week. Come back here should this happen to you BEFORE you do anything.
fountain13
·2 years agoNo, it's just the opposite!
If tracking shows that the item was delivered to someone else in your zip code, then why do you believe the seller is a scammer? Why should the seller be out anything because the post office messed up? At least you got your money back. What does the seller get? If anything, the "scammer" is the person who received your phone. If it was me, I would have sent it back.
campanaelia
·2 years agofountain13
·2 years agoWell, I've sold on here for over ten years now, and have never heard of this. I buy a lot more on eBay than I sell. I've only a handful of times have something not be delivered when it says it was. In every instance, it either arrived at a neighbor's or it came the next day.
It is a really, really dangerous game for a buyer to get a refund on an item that shows as delivered. Esp. for us smaller sellers who are struggling as it is. We already have so much to deal with as it is. What is to stop buyers from saying this every time they "don't get something?" I have luckily only had a buyer come to me once saying she didn't get her item (when tracking said delivered). She opened a case, but eBay sided with me.
I've come across one fraudulent eBay seller in all of my purchasing on eBay. One. In my experience, buyers are a lot more fraudulent. Like I said, I buy a lot more than I sell. I'm just very dubious about this... The buyer here alleges that the tracking was made up somehow. Maybe my mind isn't that devious, but how would a seller conjure up fraudulent tracking? And, if the seller is sending the item to a rando address, how would he/she be changing the buyer's address? I'm just lucky to handle the selling process as it is. They're always changing things, opting us into new programs, etc. My mind just doesn't go that way, but to scammers on both sides, I say karma comes around. I've been around long enough to know that. Karma is a beast.
I don't know the OP, but I'm just saying... it all sounds off to me. I'm just glad a lot of my buyers are repeat people who I trust. I did close my account and stay off of eBay for six months after this lady wanted a return for literally 3 cat hairs on two large plush items. She took up close pics of each one too. I get THOSE buyers. I told her to go back in time and get a job at Kenner to learn how to make her own (*&^%%$ Care Bears in her own little controlled environment. Took the neg with pride on that one!
ittybitnot
·2 years agoIt is a really, really dangerous game for a buyer to get a refund on an item that shows as delivered.
@fountain13
Actually, it is a long and arduous process for a buyer who is a victim of the "fake tracking scam".
Short version:
You are the buyer of a brand new laptop computer on eBay.
You pay and wait, and nothing shows up.
Tracking shows "delivery", but still nothing arrives.
You and the carrier determine it was NOT misdelivered, but sent to another address in you area on purpose. The local CVS, gas station, library, etc. receives a box of rubber bands with the same tracking number.
You file an "item not received" claim.
You get denied because the seller has provided tracking that shows delivery.
Nobody is going to check that the "tracking" was for a 2 oz. envelope, or the tracking was initiated even before you paid for the product, etc.
If a victim does NOT know what to do (eBay sure is not going to tell them), where to go, what information is needed, then you, the buyer, just lost your money, have no computer, and basically don't get the "box of rubber bands" either because they were addressed to someone else.
The same scam is used by buyers to "fake" a return, and works pretty well, too!
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoI've been an eBay buyer since 2004 and have rarely had a hiccup to deal with. This was the first time anything serious happened that couldn't be resolved quickly. Like you, I had no idea this scam existed until I started researching on line and looking through this forum which I also didn't know existed at the time.
I'm sorry that you as a seller are also dealing with less than honest people. It would be nice if everyone would just do the right things.
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoThat is exactly what happened. Since the Post Office provided me with the address that the so called package was delivered to, I was able to speak to the resident. He told me that it was an envelope that contained a Magic The Gathering gaming card. Since it was addressed to "RESIDENT" he assumed it was junk mail and didn't keep it sadly. By the time I was able to speak to him it had gone out with the trash.
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoI couldn't send back something I never received. After all the evidence was collected there was no doubt that the seller was a scammer. The seller should absolutely not be "out of anything" if in fact he or she in good faith provided the buyer with the advertised product. That was not the case so yes, I was scammed. The seller did not provide a "phone". Instead a worthless gaming card was sent to a different address in my zip code.
spark-chaser1
·2 years agoI am very sorry to see that you haven't gotten a resolution on this. If the seller was, in fact, suspended ( as you've stated that it seems that suddenly no listings of their items appear ) hopefully they were sanctioned. If that is indeed the case, and the seller is suspected of pulling fast ones, perhaps there would be some validity to appealing your case under those circumstances.
spark-chaser1
·2 years ago... Or re-appealing your case, as it were. It would seem to me that if a seller - on further investigation- had been found to commit fraud and subsequently had their account therefore suspended I would hope it be unlikely that the buyer who initially lost their case should be denied a second time given the new evidence. It wouldn't make sense. But, then again...
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoI opened a claim with my credit card company yesterday. Today I received a message that they will be working directly with the merchant to resolve my dispute. Hopefully they will get to the root of this and all will be well. I realize this make take some time, for now I'll just allow them to do their job and wait. Thank you all for your help and advice.
airsheep
·2 years agoFingers crossed!
panachegoods
·2 years agoDid you leave a negative feedback for the seller?
kathiec
·2 years agoAnytime an eBay case is settled in favor of the seller no feedback can be left.
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoYes but it wasn't posted for others to see. I also reported the seller to eBay. I also followed the seller and saw that he or she relisted the same item/phone 3 more times. The auctions had multiple bids yet the sellers sold items never increased although the winning bids were shown when the auctions ended. Earlier today when I checked the sellers profile he or she had no items for auction or for sale. Hopefully by reporting the seller eBay investigated and at least restricted him or her. The seller is rwnn55.
spark-chaser1
·2 years agoKeep us posted, please.
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoPay Pal also denied my appeal, stating the transaction doesn't qualify for Pay Pay Purchase Protection. I cannot wrap my head around this as the seller was clearly fraudulent. I filed all the evidence from USPS that the tracking number provided by the seller did not match my shipping address both to eBay and PayPal. This included a full tracking report and a picture of the shipping label. The tracking number is visible on both.
wastingtime101
·2 years agoWhat do you suggest @an-36344 ?
baangell
·2 years agoContact your bank and put a hold on that purchase, tell them what happened.
Contact Ebay again and try to talk to a person. What is very important about tracking is if they shipped it to the address you listed when you purchased it. If they sent it to an address other than the one you listed during purchase I can't fathom why Ebay is not siding with you, all I can figure is you're not actually talking with a person and you're just dealing with an automated response from Ebay that would deny because seller posted a tracking number. This happened to me one time, a purchase not on Ebay, it was done thru PayPal and it took me a month to get my money back. Please tell me you didn't use the friends option when using PayPal, scammers love using that as PayPal will never reimburse you using that option.
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoI didn't use the friends option. The item, which was actually a gaming card rather than the phone I bought was addressed to "Resident", the address this fake item was sent to was within my zip code but was not sent to my shipping address on record with eBay. I did talk to a live person a couple of times through eBay, they seemed helpful but then my next message, several times, referred me right back to the tracking information thatthe seller provided. Which of course showed delivered to my shipping address. I have the full tracking report from USPS, an email from my postmaster confirming my case with USPS, and a picture of the shipping label. Pay Pal accepted my case after I disputed, so far I don't have a resolution, it's still in the investigation stage. Hopefully Pay Pal will thoroughly investigate all of this proof that I sent to them.
spark-chaser1
·2 years agoI’m sorry this happened to you.
This is one area of buyer protection where it falls far short - an item can be “delivered†anywhere within the buyer’s zip code, be it an abandoned shack, roadside ditch or thrown into a coy pond and as far as the Bay is concerned, you received it, even though you, AND USPS can confirm that it was not delivered to YOUR address. Hopefully this problem receives some attention, as it has been costly and frustrating for many buyers over the years.
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoYou would think, knowing this is an ongoing issue that somehow the e-commerce sites could figure out a safeguard of some type.
spark-chaser1
·2 years agoAgreed. In instances where the platform says "you got it", the seller thinks you're pulling something and that "you got it", and you know you didn't get it, it is especially frustrating. I limit my buying online to spending only what I can afford to lose. Granted, I feel like I've had good luck in general, I've had a few instances where I've lost with no recourse due to this fine line, and luckily it was only a pittance.
I hope you get a resolution!
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoThank you, I've never had a problem of any kind in all my years of ordering online. This was my biggest purchase ever. It's a shame dishonest people find ways to try to steal our hard-earned money. Hopefully someone will figure out a way to discourage these thieves.
kalyoth
·2 years agoWould suck as a buyer but - to be eligible for buyer protection, require buyers to upload a pic of the package received, showing the shipping label, for received purchases. Then there is a message to seller requiring a yes/no on if that was what was shipped.
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoWell that was a problem since I never received the item. I did upload a picture of the shipping label provided by USPS which of course wasn't my item and wasn't delivered to my shipping address. It was simply addressed to "Resident" and sent to an address in my zip code. The tracking number on the label matched the tracking number that the seller provided. After speaking to the resident at the address the item was sent to he told me that it was a gaming card. He didn't keep it as he thought it was junk mail.
house*of*paws
·2 years agoHi @trixiehenry254
I'm so sorry this happened. Hopefully you paid with a credit card through PayPal.
Phone your credit card company and ask to be transferred to their 'Fraud Department'. Tell the rep you were the victim of a 'fake tracking number scam' and ask them to please refund your money.
This is fast becoming a very popular scam, and your CC company is almost definitely aware of it. You shouldn't have trouble getting a refund ... but it might take a bit of paperwork, depending on what your CC company requires. Good luck!
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoYes I provided all the necessary documentation but was denied a case and then an appeal because the scammer provided a tracking number. It's highly disappointing that eBay refused to back the buyer even with proof that the item was addressed to and delivered to a different address.
house*of*paws
·2 years agoHi @trixiehenry254
Just adding on: When you phone your credit card company ... ask to be transferred to their 'Fraud Department'. Tell them you are the victim of the 'fake tracking number' scam. They should be familiar with it, as it's been a very popular scam recently.
I had it happen to me 4-5 times within a 2-month period about 18 months ago. Mine involved USPS, UPS and FedEx ... from eBay, Amazon and (I think) Walmart. I was able to get refunded on all of the purchases ... and you should be able to as well. Good luck!
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoThank you so much for this tip, if PayPal doesn't come through for me I will do that. I've also reported this as fraud with USPS.
house*of*paws
·2 years ago@trixiehenry254
I just wanted to tell you that in all my cases ... it wasn't the seller who was pulling the scam. It was either a drop-shipper OR the drop-shipper's supplier who were supplying tracking numbers (to both the buyer and seller) for packages addressed to the same ZIP Code as the buyer. My sellers were tricked in the same say I was.
The items were basic products (like cat food) my local supervisor was out of ... not particularly expensive. I was purchasing them online for the first time ... and encountered the scam on different websites using different shipping methods.
This obviously is not a simple problem to fix ... or else it would have been done by now. The problem seems to be growing, rather than abating. ☹ï¸
Anyway, I mainly wanted to tell you that the perpetrator of the scam may NOT be your seller.
trixiehenry254
OP2 years agoI'd consider that except that this seller was a new seller, my mistake for trusting him or her. I didn't see the red flags and should have done my research about what to look for. Next, the seller listed the same item 4 more times. Each time there were numerous bids and a winner yet his or her items sold never increased. Scammers will also have friends bidding on the listing to generate interest.m This is against Ebay policy. I'd love to give him or her oportunity to make this right however the seller won't communicate with me even after I sent several messages.
kathiec
·2 years agoYour next step would be to dispute the charge with your credit card. Once you open a case elsewhere the option for eBay to help vanishes. I'm curious if you provided eBay with the USPS documents when you appealed? There's a growing epidemic of the fake tracking number scam here, and eBay seems to be struggling with figuring out how to deal with it.