Tracking numbers - Can you provide the street address for the shipment to reduce fraud | Buying

Tracking numbers - Can you provide the street address for the shipment to reduce fraud

2025 and this **bleep** is still happening!

International shippers somehow getting ahold of a tracking number for my zip code (probably not that difficult to do) and adding it to the case I opened with ebay. Ebay closed the case today because "the seller provided a tracking number that shows the item is delivered." The tracking item doesn't show an address when I look it up on USPS but when I call USPS and try to open a claim, it denies me from being able to do so because the address mapped to the tracking number I input (the one the seller gave me) does not match my address. At this point, USPS tells you to go fetch the correct tracking number.

I am currently on hold (25-37 minute wait) to speak to a human being that can give some direction on next steps.

Why not just file a claim with USPS?
The USPS online claim system doesn't seem to allow users to handle this case. For example, if you try to open a domestic claim, it asks for the seller's mailing address in the USA. Well, the seller's mailing address on ebay is listed in Israel. Great, so let's try international. When selecting international, I input the tracking number and then it asks for "country" and the USA is not listed in the **bleep** list of options!

It's a somewhat smart scam because when using ebay & usps, trying to get any sort of resolution for a package that never arrived (because it was never actually sent) is time-consuming hell.

There is a negative review from one seller saying the same exact thing and then at least one positive review where this person apparently sends one stick of RAM when the buyer clearly orders a kit of two sticks of RAM. I also ordered RAM and zero sticks showed up. I should have known better, the price was about 20% lower than most other places I looked... lesson learned!

cparsons12212012

66 View listings

Posted 1 year ago · Edited 1 year ago·Last reply 1 year ago

5 comments

cparsons12212012

OP1 year ago

66 View listings

I was able to get confirmation from USPS the package was not delivered to my address. I have this email in writing and have provided it to ebay support but they don't seem to care. They keep redirecting me back to the seller who has stopped responding to my messages, at this point. I opened a case with the USPS postal inspector based on a recommendation from USPS customer service.

I have not yet opened a claim with my credit card company. I will try reaching out directly on social media based on the message from ittybitnot (thank you for that info). The amount of time I'm spending on this for $100 is painful but it's the principle, at this point. Will keep you all updated on where this goes. Thanks again for the all the replies so far.

mudshark61369

·1 year ago

"There is no such thing as foolproof, because fools are so darned ingenious" (unknown)3111 View listings

@cparsons12212012,

You do not see a seller's address or a Delivery address on any company's tracking system. You only see a zip code for each. That is because of shipper's privacy policies. After all tracking numbers are semi public and any one who has one could look it up and then know who exactly was sending or received mail or packages. By their rules only the sender is able to get full information since they are the ones who has a contract with the shipper. Neither you or ebay is involved in that.

USPS will not give you the address where a package was delivered especially if your name does not match the name on the envelope or package. If your seller had done as they were supposed to do, and post a tracking number to the Order details, as soon as they had it, you might have had a chance to appeal ebay's Item Not Received (INR) decision. However, since it was either sent to you in an ebay message or posted to the dispute it would not be proof enough for USPS to give you the information in general that would say the address on your order details does not match the one on the label.

" Well, the seller's mailing address on ebay is listed in Israel".

First off that is the seller's country of registry location. If you open the listing what does the item location show? If it does not give a city and state, then it was not an ebay approved location. Chances are a U.S. location was given because most of the Israel based sellers use Amazon's fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) drop shipping service which is OK with ebay.

Chances are the seller changed the address before forwarding the order to their drop shipper, and what they had sent would probably fit in a very small box or an envelope to a local business in your zip code. The person or company receiving it would either toss it or keep it thinking it was a promo of some sort.

"It's a somewhat smart scam because when using ebay & usps, trying to get any sort of resolution for a package that never arrived (because it was never actually sent) is time-consuming hell".

It is a smart scam because getting the info from shipping agencies you need to win an appeal is difficult to do. What can help in the future is to sign up for the free enhanced tracking information provided by; USPS - Informed Delivery, FedEx - Delivery Manager, UPS - My Choice.

They all have info in them that can be used as proof of non delivery.

Right now I would say that unless the seller never uploaded tracking to the Order Details, but just to the dispute, and they did not give a proper item location Ex: Many places USA or N.Y. USA. you do not have much chance of winning an appeal. If they did any of the things listed above, your best bet would be to contact ebay through their social media outlets. You would need the seller's username, and the ebay item number (NOT the order number) write out what happened mentioning no tracking in the order details and an invalid item location, if applicable, and the fact that the seller has comments for other items getting delivered scans but buyers not receiving anything. in the message. sign it with your real and ebay username.

The social media reps are actual ebay employees who are familiar with the fake tracking scams and have the power to take actions like approving refunds. Unlike the call/chat center reps.

Use the private message option in the link you choose below.

https://www.facebook.com/eBay/

https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

https://x.com/askebay

stainlessenginecovers

·1 year ago

5484 View listings

If they did that (which would be a USPS/UPS/Fedex thing and NOT an Ebay thing) then the bad guys would just find another work around to rip you off.

ittybitnot

·1 year ago

18 View listings

@cparsons12212012

When you are a victim of the notorious "fake tracking scam" on eBay, there is no published policy or procedure to get assistance. Filing an "item not received" complaint will get you nowhere fast since there is a recorded "delivery" associated with your order. The same thing is reported on this forum almost daily, and has been going on for over a decade. eBay's first and foremost response is still DENIAL. If you file with PayPal or your credit card company, the claim will be presented to eBay who responds with the same fake "delivery" notice and you will lose again and for good. It is important to know what NOT to do as well as your options.

In these situations, the carriers have done their jobs: Delivered to the address on the label. Once it is determined that this parcel was NOT intended for nor delivered to you, you can get started on "saving yourself". The fact that the tracking was subsequently used by a criminal to satisfy the eBay bot that delivery has been made is of little concern for the most part, but there are still things you can do to get your money back. Most often if will NOT involve the regular eBay customer service options.

Contacting eBay through one of the social media portals can often be most helpful. Explain through direct message that you are a buyer that is a victim of a "fake tracking scam" and ask for their assistance.

https://www.facebook.com/eBay/ (use the blue message button)

OR one of these:

https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

https://x.com/askebay

You will be directed to US based eBay employees that are well versed in this situation, and do have the authority to help you. The regular CS agents you get in a call back or chat are based in overseas call centers and are limited to script reading, and/or telling you what you want to hear as opposed to what you need to know.

Other options are filing a "not as described" return, missing parts or pieces, that will require a bit of tweaking since you really got nothing. The seller will have three days to provide a return label or a refund. It neither occurs, you return to the case and escalate after four days (ask eBay to step in and help). If you get a label, just return what you got....a package of "air".

If you paid with PayPal, you can file there, but DO NOT FILE INR!!! They may provide you an alternate option of "shipped to wrong address". If you choose to go to the Pal, your eBay case will be closed for good.

Same with your credit card if you need to go that route as a last resort. File "FRAUD/fake tracking/wrong address" instead of INR.

For your reading pleasure. Last year there were 183 posts on this board alone, not including all those who tagged on as "me, too." Here are are this years so far. Please read them for more details, and do come back if you have any questions.

Jan. 2025

Feb. 2025

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/DHL-Messing-up-shipping-or-a-scam/m-p/34918930#M513039
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Item-shipped-to-wrong-address/m-p/34918657#M513034
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Fake-Tracking-Scam-how-do-I-prepare/m-p/34920656#M513092
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Seller-scamming-me/m-p/34954964#M514849
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/I-just-got-scammed-and-I-don-t-know-how-to-proceed/m-p/34955823#M514900

The first step is to find out from the carrier if the parcel was indeed intended for you in the first place.

12345jamesstamps

·1 year ago

8783 View listings

'seller mailing address'...do you mean seller eBay ID country in feedbacks is Israel?

And 'domestic claim'...'asks for seller's mailing address in the USA.

Sounds like 'drop shipping' where seller is purchasing item an item where you live...hence zip code being the same.

Maybe item was mailed hence tracking as delivered with same zip code...and a porch pirate or someone took it. Just an idea.