Scammers ripping off buyers: tracking shows delivery to same zip code, but not to you...
This is great. Not.
Scammers have figured out that as long as something gets delivered to the same zip code, ebay will close an "item not received" case in their favor, because there is a tracking number that shows delivery in the same zip code as the buyer's shipping address...
I was recently scammed like this. Bought an item, got a tracking number, and last friday, it showed as delivered. Naturally, nothing was here, so I contacted my local delivering USPS office. Spoke to my carrier, and he informed me that he did not deliver any packages to my address that day. The head of that post office looked at the tracking on their internal system and told me that the mail piece attached to that number was addressed to a completely different address in my town: different street, different number. She provided me with an official USPS letter, on their letterhead, stating that fact- so I uploaded it via eBay messages to the seller, who naturally never responded.
I opened an Item Not Received case, and shortly after, the seller uploaded that same tracking number. I called eBay, and made them aware of the scam, and directed them to look at the letter I had uploaded via eBay message. They read it, said they made a note of it, and told me not to worry, I would get my money back on the 29th.
In this morning's email, I received notice from eBay that they had closed the case in favor of the seller, because the tracking number he uploaded showed that the item was delivered...
How inept can you be? I provided them with proof from the USPS that the tracking number was not addressed to me, and they STILL closed it in favor of the seller!!!
They were 100% aware of that letter, and it was there in messages, and I even mentioned it in the dispute dialog, so there would be no way they could miss it.
Completely unacceptable level of customer service. Nobody even looked at it. I doubt I will ever buy anything on eBay ever again after this...they are providing a venue for criminals, and even when you provide proof of the scam, they just don't care...
ittybitnot
·1 year agoI opened an Item Not Received case,
@srs-webstore
Not that eBay provides a more appropriate reason in that dropdown menu, choosing "item not received" (INR) is going to be a loser for you. The eBay money back guarantee will be a fail. If you go to your payment source for redress, and claim INR, the claim will simply be forwarded to eBay and they will respond with the same phony delivery notice.
eBay protects eBay. Perpetrators of this scam know how the auto system works and why this is such a successful scam. You can trace it back over a decade here. You can look at the 'accepted answer' in the following thread to see other options you may have listed a through d. Start thinking FRAUD/Fake Tracking, Shipped to Wrong address scam.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Seller-is-a-Liar-and-Cheat/m-p/35108131#M522799
Note that since the above thread was posted twenty-nine additional reports have been filed on this board alone. I may have even missed some, as this is my first look today. It is almost every day now, and sometimes many on the same day. It is a sad thing that eBay still refuses to address with any forward facing policy or procedure.
There are some "tells" you as a buyer can see prior to getting a box of rubber bands sent to your local tavern or gas station instead of the fancy camera or other item you ordered, but it takes some work. Unfortunately, eBay has made it more difficult to land on proper page where you need to start your research.
Do come back if you have any additional questions. Let us know if you are able to solve the issue and get your refund. Good luck.
srs-webstore
OP1 year agoInteresting read...
PayPal had a quick look at the dispute, saw the letter provided by the USPS, and promptly reversed the payment, giving me a full refund.
eBay treated me like a criminal during this issue. The telephone support staff I spoke to before the case was closed out all promised my money back. The one from Utah basically told me that ebay didn't believe me, and that the USPS letter may have been forged in photoshop. He had the most condescending attitude and voice I've ever heard from "customer service"... Nice way to treat a 26-year long member who both buys and sells on the platform.
The fact that they were willing to let me take the hit says a lot about their business model and ethic. They are providing a venue where criminals prey on people, and don't offer any real help when a buyer is victimized.
I'm not playing the game anymore. I'm looking to move all of my business off of the platform, and won't be buying anything there again. Too risky, imo.
I'm out.
mudshark61369
·1 year ago@srs-webstore ,
I can probably tell you which seller you had the issue with because their feedback profile has negatives all saying that items were not received or shipped to a different address. Had you checked the seller's feedback profile page before buying from them, you might have avoided the problem. Never buy from a seller until you check their feedback profile page no matter what their feedback percentage is. If you see one comment stating an item marked as delivered was not received, chances are it has happened more than once, but because ebay does not allow non positive feedback to be left if an INR dispute is refused, you can bet it happened more than once. The people who leave those type feedback comments did not file an INR dispute.
12345jamesstamps
·1 year agoSeems you have had a lot of problems as I see a lot of feedbacks left for other sellers that were given red doughnut holes.
srs-webstore
OP1 year agoI buy a lot of stuff. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of time to leave feeback, so generally if the transaction goes smoothly, feedback doesn't get left. If I get burned, and I have to get ebay involved, I do leave feedback to warn future buyers that there may be a problem. This is not all that uncommon. I'm not difficult to please- just do what you promise, and I'm good...
srs-webstore
OP1 year agoIf the account were actually hijacked, you'd think eBay would at least tell me that, instead of holding my money for a week, and then closing the case in favor of the seller...makes no sense.
Since I posted, I had a real head-shaking conversation with someone from eBay in Utah. I was informed that they don't accept USPS letters as proof anymore. He literally told me that I could have "faked it in photoshop", so they ignore any submitted proof- but still, they will accept delivery conformation from the USPS, even if it is only to the correct zip code...
...I find this ridiculous, and as a very long time eBay member as both a buyer and a seller- I also find it very offensive to me on a personal level.
I'm not interested in playing games and jumping through hoops anymore for a company that provides a venue for illegal activities and then turns their head when someone offers legitimate proof of a scammer. I've contacted PayPal, disputed the payment, and provided them with the proof that eBay refused to even look at.
After 26 years of doing good, honest business on eBay as both a buyer and a seller, I believe I've had enough of the nonsense to last me a lifetime.
And "casey"- I'm curious to know how you know who the seller was; I never mentioned them here...
gator08041971
·1 year ago@srs-webstore
Not difficult. We can view your feedback and see the most recent one left you as a buyer. That account was full of suspicious recent red donuts:
@srs-webstore
I had a real head-shaking conversation with someone from eBay in Utah. I was informed that they don't accept USPS letters as proof anymore. He literally told me that I could have "faked it in photoshop", so they ignore any submitted proof- but still, they will accept delivery conformation from the USPS, even if it is only to the correct zip code...
I have to admit, this concerns me. Was this a person from a phone call, or one of the live chat agents from the social media contacts? The former will tell you pretty much anything and none of its the same person to person. Usually the social media reps have better knowledge and assistance to offer.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoLooking at your feedback page.
*casey*
·1 year ago*casey*
I believe the seller in Israel's account was hijacked.
srs-webstore
"If the account were actually hijacked, you'd think eBay would at least tell me that"
eBay would NEVER tell you that.
Hijacked accounts are swept under the carpet as if they don't exist !
What eBay should be doing with that seller is to temporarily close the account and restore the account to it's rightful owner.
As I already mentioned,
The seller's been registered since 2010, 6.9 K items sold and perfect feedback until this month.
If it wasn't for the fake tracking scam, I would have presumed that something had happened to the seller.
Sellers like that don't suddenly start a fake tracking scam.
No doubt the seller will have to deal with the problem himself with zero help from the 'fee collecting' eBay
Great to hear Paypal refunded your money.
*casey*
·1 year agoHopefully you'll be able to receive a refund eventually after reporting it again but I believe the seller in Israel's account was hijacked.
The listings have all been ended.
The seller's been registered since 2010, 6.9 K items sold and perfect feedback until this month.
I don't believe that the recent items were listed by the real account holder at all but by a scammer who hijacked the account.
mudshark61369
·1 year ago@srs-webstore ,
The info posted by @gator08041971 is great but they left out a couple of steps. When you contact ebay through social media, after writing out what happened, you need to post the seller's username and the ebay item number, and post a scan or CLEAR photo of the USPS note you received. and sign the message with your real and ebay username. I've used the Facebook option and had my issue handled quickly.
If your issue is with the last seller you received feedback from, go to their feedback profile and look at their country of registry and read the negative comments they have received. You should do that before buying from any seller these days, regardless of their feedback percentage.
gator08041971
·1 year agoUse the social media contacts and refer to this as the tracking scam:
On each Ebay page there is a link to contact Customer Service at the top of the page and again at the bottom of the page.
I would suggest that you contact Ebay for Business on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for the better trained CSRs.
Here are your options for contacting Ebay Customer Service. Please be aware that for social media CS, you send them a Private Message and briefly explain what your problem or issue is. Feel free to leave your Name, address, phone number and/or your email address in this message. It is private and secure and it may help to speed up the response for you.
https://twitter.com/askebay
https://www.facebook.com/ebay
https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/
Your options will be on the left. If you use the link below you can only get to the Automated Assistant or Chat box type AGENT in the box and hit enter. You will then get more options. Not all options are available 24/7. It will depend on staffing available. So sometimes you can request a call back and sometimes you can't. Sometimes you have the Chat option available and other times it won't be. If it is important to you to use one of those options, just try back later.
If you use a cell phone or other mobile device, you may need to turn off your Spam filter so that Ebay can call you.
If you are a seller outside of the US or Canada, you will need to use the Chat Option.
https://www.ebay.com/help/eua?id=5275&mkevt=1&mkpid
https://www.ebay.com/help/home