iPhone Buyer Scam! Abuse of eBay Protection!

Sellers Beware!!! eBay Seller Protection is worthless. I have been a victim of a scam. I recently sold an Apple iPhone 13 that was fully functional to a buyer who was fairly new to eBay. I received a message from the buyer when they received it saying it was defective. They used extortion by demanding a $100 partial refund or a return if I did not comply. I refused it so they opened a return request. I accepted the request and provided them with a return shipping label. The buyer decided to pay for their own label and sent me false tracking. The tracking was to my town but not my address or addressed to my name. This morning eBay decided in favor of the buyer with a refund, because it was delivered at my post office, even though I never received the phone. Now I have to appeal the refund because he committed mail fraud against me. Beware of buyers that go under different identities with low feedback as you will be scammed. Unfortunately, now I have to jump through hoops to retrieve $320 that was just stolen from me by a dishonest buyer. Remember, eBay Seller Protection is not reliable as cases are almost always decided in the buyer's favor! Be careful when selling smartphones on here so you are not the next victim of fraud. Are there any other sellers on here having the same issue I am?

skywarnham2004

635 View listings

Posted 2 years ago·Last reply 2 years ago

16 comments

isaiah53-57

·2 years ago

961 View listings

@skywarnham2004 wrote:
Sellers Beware!!! eBay Seller Protection is worthless. I have been a victim of a scam...Are there any other sellers on here having the same issue I am?

Its the main reason we no longer list here...

richards*collection

·2 years ago

1153 View listings

I dont see why this happened if you did not receive confirmed delivery, that is the eBay promise I thought. If you sold it with no returns, you should not accepted the request.

stuff4divas

·2 years ago

7567 View listings

@richards*collection wrote:
I dont see why this happened if you did not receive confirmed delivery, that is the eBay promise I thought. If you sold it with no returns, you should not accepted the request.

@richards*collection this is improper advice, no matter the return policy of a seller, if the buyer claims the item is defective, the seller HAS to accept the return and supply a prepaid return shipping label. If they don't, ebay will let the buyer keep the item plus refund them at the seller's expense.

as far as confirmed delivery, this is a common scam. something, even an envelope, is returned to some address in the seller's zip code showing a delivery scan.

frodobagginskennedy

·2 years ago

5769 View listings

@skywarnham2004 this is one of the oldest scams on e bay. Reach out to FB as mentioned. It is about your best hope.

kensgiftshop

·2 years ago

389 View listings

You need to get a letter from USPS stating that the package with that tracking number was not addressed to.

File mail fraud with USPS and a police report, in your city and the buyers.

Once you have those, use them to appeal the case.

skywarnham2004

OP2 years ago

635 View listings

I just got the printout from my post office today with the tracking details and the buyers return label. My postmaster told me that the address the buyer sent it to was vacant. Came from a different state as well.

kensgiftshop

·2 years ago

389 View listings

@skywarnham2004 wrote:
I just got the printout from my post office today with the tracking details and the buyers return label. My postmaster told me that the address the buyer sent it to was vacant. Came from a different state as well.

They won't accept a print out, you need an actual letter from USPS.

ittybitnot

·2 years ago

18 View listings

You need to get a letter from USPS stating that the package with that tracking number was not addressed to.

File mail fraud with USPS and a police report, in your city and the buyers.

Once you have those, use them to appeal the case.

@kensgiftshop

A USPS letter may not be required if the buyer was using a freight forwarder. Buyers who pull this scam that are NOT in the US are not worried much about prosecution by the Postal Inspector, or police. Because a US address is used, sellers are not always aware that the parcel was purchased by an overseas buyer, unless they notice the "extra fee" or happen to be familiar with this problem. It is not always easy to determine either if it is a new ID or reactivated dormant one. Clicking the feedback number (anywhere but here) has that "extra step" now, or it won't work at all to see the country of origin. This still works however:
https://pages.ebay.com/services/forum/feedback-login.html

kensgiftshop

·2 years ago

389 View listings

@ittybitnot wrote:
You need to get a letter from USPS stating that the package with that tracking number was not addressed to.
File mail fraud with USPS and a police report, in your city and the buyers.
Once you have those, use them to appeal the case.

@kensgiftshop

A USPS letter may not be required if the buyer was using a freight forwarder. Buyers who pull this scam that are NOT in the US are not worried much about prosecution by the Postal Inspector, or police. Because a US address is used, sellers are not always aware that the parcel was purchased by an overseas buyer, unless they notice the "extra fee" or happen to be familiar with this problem. It is not always easy to determine either if it is a new ID or reactivated dormant one. Clicking the feedback number (anywhere but here) has that "extra step" now, or it won't work at all to see the country of origin. This still works however:
https://pages.ebay.com/services/forum/feedback-login.html

As has been said before, just using a freight forwarder address doesn't void the MBG.

A letter from USPS could help the OP get their money back.

I know scammers are not to worried, but until Ebay decides to do something about them, sellers need to use whatever they can to beat the scammers.

ckimodog

·2 years ago

9204 View listings

@skywarnham2004

Wrote: Are there any other sellers on here having the same issue I am?

Ten's of thousands. Phones and electronics are the most scammed items on the internet. Never sell anything especially on line, that you CANNOT afford to lose.

You may be better served by reaching out on social media via FB:

https://www.facebook.com/ebayForBusiness/

These US CS agents who are employed by eBay and been known to be very helpful. Many positive posts on this forum concerning a positive outcome. Reach out to them today and let them know your issue.

Good luck to you

ittybitnot

·2 years ago

18 View listings

@ckimodog

eBay is closing down the FB ebay for business page

New address:

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

ckimodog

·2 years ago

9204 View listings

@ittybitnot

Thank you! I will update!!

ittybitnot

·2 years ago

18 View listings

@skywarnham2004

To what city/state did you ship the phone? If it was to a Freight Forwarder, the buyer forfeits their ability to prevail in an eBay claim. YOU have to be proactive though, because eBay will not tell you a forwarder was involved. and treats it like any other sale. Since you "accepted" the return, hoop jumping is going to be required if this is indeed a forwarder issue. Contact ebay by using the blue message button on this page:
https://www.facebook.com/eBay/

OR one of these:

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

skywarnham2004

OP2 years ago

635 View listings

I sent the phone to Wilmington, Delaware and the return label came from Brownsburg, Indiana. I looked up the address and it came up as a machine parts distribution center. I have reached out to my local police department, and they are looking into this. A report to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has been filed as well.

ittybitnot

·2 years ago

18 View listings

@skywarnham2004

Wilmington, Delaware is home to MANY freight forwarders. They are often in industrial parks that house many different businesses. I suggest following the previous instructions about contacting eBay via one of the social media portals. If you get a police report or a Postal Inspectors case number, that would be good, too.

Simply explain that you have been a victim of a buyer that used a Freight Forwarder in Delaware that has employed the Fake tracking return scam. Actually, you may be better off that they purchased a different label as the newer version they just use the one you send and alter the address and retain the same tracking number.

Contact ebay by using the blue message button on this page:
https://www.facebook.com/eBay/

OR one of these:

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

https://x.com/askebay

Do come back and let us know how this turns out for you. Good luck!

klhmdg

·2 years ago

1515 View listings

Try eBay For Business on FB.

Go into messager and leave a private message.

The automated appeal will be denied. No person looks at these so tracking goes to your zip code and its good enough.

The #1 rule is to never sell anything you cant give away especially a high scam item like an iPhone.

Try to contact Apple and report the phone stolen.