iPhone sale scammed by buyer, Ebay sided with them!

I was scammed by a fraudulent buyer and ebay didn't protect me. I sold an iPhone 12 Pro Max in great condition. Buyer reached out saying there was a problem. I responded and never heard back. Ebay authorized them to return the item even though I told Ebay I thought I was being scammed. I was a 28 year USPS employee recently retired. I know of all the scams out there. I went back and forth with Ebay but they did not protect me, a seller with nearly 700 transactions, over 20 years, and 100% rating. Seller sent back the item in a package without my name on it, a street address around the corner to a neighbor, and when I finally tracked it down with the help of my mail lady, there was no phone in it. It was stuffed with folded up newspapers. So buyer got the phone and their money, Ebay got their cut, and I have NOTHING.

By now, this scammer has probably set up another user name and is pulling this scam again.

deidre9898

691 View listings

Posted 2 years ago · Edited 2 years ago·Last reply 2 years ago

13 comments

cardxcraft

·2 years ago

3794 View listings

method to appeal and win altered return label scam.

credit goes to @mudshark61369

You have been the victim of a fake tracking scam, the seller sends something, an envelope or small box with tracking to a different address, and uses the Delivered scan to win an Item Not Received (INR) dispute. eBay's automated INR system is not allowed access to anything but the scan information, due to shipping company's privacy policies. When you file a dispute and lose in the message there should be an appeal button. You have 30 days from losing the dispute to appeal, but in order to win you have to do some leg work.

You will have to go to your P.O. or a local UPS-FedEx store. You need to bring a copy of your order details page which shows your address and the tracking number with you. If you bought using a phone or tablet, you can bring that to show the clerk the order details.

You want to ask the clerk to check the label address against yours, and also to check the Package type/size weight info to see if was is appropriate for what you should have received. If the info does not match up, you ask the clerk to write a note on Company stationary saying in general that the shipping label's address was not yours, and if applicable that the package type/size/weight was not right for what you should have received. In your case have them also say the name on the address wasn't yours either. Do not ask for specific address or package info, they cannot give it out. Have the clerk sign and date the note.

Once you have the note, you can appeal the dispute ruling, or contact ebay through their Facebook or Twitter social media pages. (links below) You can write out what happened and what you found out, and add a CLEAR photo or a scan of the note to an appeal or message. If you go the social media route which is recommended, because the reps know about the fake tracking scams you will need to have the seller's username and the ebay item number. At the end of your message give them your real and ebay username.

https://twitter.com/askebay

cardxcraft

·2 years ago

3794 View listings

It's amazing how many sellers come here reporting this altered return label scam.

Since Ebay is referring sellers to community forums, we should also have a separate "pinned" section for common problems, issues and scams. Of course, it would need to be updated from time to time.

Its just that this particular scam pops up so much.

fashunu4eeuh

·2 years ago

441 View listings

@deidre9898 Sorry for your troubles. I hope you are able to right this ship. Have included a few thoughts about your outcome, because your post may well help others who find themselves in the same position.

Thinking eBay would protect you was an unrealistic expectation, first nail in the coffin. eBay is a buyer-centric platform that protects the buyers first and foremost. There are a few seller protections, but not for Item Not As Described (abbreviated as INAD or NAD) cases. One of the few ways to mitigate your risk is to know as much about eBay policy as the scammers do. Not being well-versed in the Money Back Guarantee policy was the second nail.

The third was selling an expensive tech item. Smartphones are one of the most-targeted items in a high-fraud category.

Others have offered some good advice on reaching out to the authorities regarding this fraudulent transaction. Most reports can be done online.

You might also consider a report to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Case numbers may be helpful in preparation for filing an eBay appeal, as mentioned upthread. Below is a link on how to appeal eBayâ€™s ruling from their Help pages.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/appeal-outcome-case-seller?id=4369

@deidre9898 wrote:

â€â€¦Went to my bank and had them fill out Fraud paperwork. They will submit, credit my account (minus ebay fees) and if ebay doesn't respond, I will get to keep those funds.â€

Closing or freezing your bank account will not prevent your owing the â€œpenaltyâ€ charge eBay levies against sellers who fight the NAD refund and lose. (This is if eBay has to â€œstep inâ€ and make the ruling.) Your Final Value fees are not returned. If you attempt to block or otherwise thwart eBay from assessing their fees, they will turn you over to a collections agency and potentially ruin your credit. There is also the possibility that eBay will likely revoke your selling privileges if your account is in arrears.

Not knowing policy well placed your account in greater jeopardy. Without thoss details regarding how the Guarantee works, your liability increased. All we as sellers can do is mitigate the riskâ€”there is no way to prevent it. Every seller is at risk because any buyer can steal any item at anytime by invoking the MBG NAD claim.

Sorry you were defrauded. Hope this gets resolved to your benefit.

stuff4divas

·2 years ago

7575 View listings

@deidre9898 if u have the serial number and IMEI number, make a police report and any other reports, like to Apple, the phone service, etc.

read this Apple link> https://support.apple.com/en-us/101593

robbie31415

·2 years ago

0 View listings

What you typically need to do is get a letter from the USPS that the return address does not match your address.

Then you create an eBay appeal with your evidence from the USPS.

Ebay will reverse the case that was closed against you and you will get the funds back from the sale.

dbfolks166mt

·2 years ago

1086 View listings

While it may be of little consolation if you have the IMEI number of the phone you can report it to the IMEI blacklist and it will render the phone basically useless to the buyer.

rugerskick

·2 years ago

2378 View listings

I would get law enforcement involved, usps, local and federal as this is an interstate commerce crime that is a higher dollar value. Once you do this and have some case numbers contact ebay fraud and security again and mention police are involved and the case numbers and if they aren't more responsive to the fraud issue, explain how ebay actively enabled theft of your phone by the buyer by siding with them and law enforcement may need to contact them regarding this.

Further you should have the weight of your original package to the buyer, and your post office should have the weight of the return package. You also need to get this info to help prove what was sent back wasnt the weight sent to the buyer.

12345jamesstamps

·2 years ago

8768 View listings

"700 transactions, over 20 years, 100% rating...28 year USPS employee recently retired"....and you decide to sell an iPhone Pro Max here...?

Usually a return eBay shipping address would have your name and address on it...maybe I am wrong?

fbusoni

·2 years ago

0 View listings

@deidre9898 wrote:

I was scammed by a fraudulent buyer and ebay didn't protect me. I sold an iPhone 12 Pro Max in great condition. Buyer reached out saying there was a problem. I responded and never heard back. Ebay authorized them to return the item even though I told Ebay I thought I was being scammed. I was a 28 year USPS employee recently retired. I know of all the scams out there. I went back and forth with Ebay but they did not protect me, a seller with nearly 700 transactions, over 20 years, and 100% rating. Seller sent back the item in a package without my name on it, a street address around the corner to a neighbor, and when I finally tracked it down with the help of my mail lady, there was no phone in it. It was stuffed with folded up newspapers. So buyer got the phone and their money, Ebay got their cut, and I have NOTHING.

By now, this scammer has probably set up another user name and is pulling this scam again.

Very sorry this happened to you.

Selling phones, watches, jewelry, coins, etc. is extremely risky here.

My humble advice would be to never again sell such an item on eBay.

deidre9898

OP2 years ago

691 View listings

I had done it a couple of years ago without any problem. After this, will definitely not sell anything costly here. Seller beware!

ittybitnot

·2 years ago

18 View listings

Seller sent back the item in a package without my name on it, a street address around the corner to a neighbor, and when I finally tracked it down with the help of my mail lady, there was no phone in it.

@deidre9898

There might be some hope for you if you sent this to a Freight Forwarder address in the US. Typically, but not exclusively, they are located in Delaware, Florida, Oregon. If that is the case, it is always best to have this problem dismissed BEFORE you have to send the return label. Your scenario is not uncommon.

You may be able to appeal on the grounds that your buyer is already Naru'd (no longer a registered user). indicting this likely was not this guy's "first rodeo" with this nonsense.

I would contact ebay through one of their social media portals. Use the blue message button here:

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

OR one of these:

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

https://x.com/askebay

You need to explain what has happened so far, and the buyer is already naru'd.
Understand that eBay protects eBay, and they may not help you. Buyer victims can go to their credit card for redress, sellers are dependent on the benevolence of eBay. Might help if you have a Postal Inspectors claim number to include in your report before you contact them.

eBay + Iphone sale often does not turn out well be you a seller or a buyer.

deidre9898

OP2 years ago

691 View listings

Thanks so much for your input. I have reached out to Postal Inspectors but haven't heard back yet. Went to my bank and had them fill out Fraud paperwork. They will submit, credit my account (minus ebay fees) and if ebay doesn't respond, I will get to keep those funds. Ridiculous that Ebay didn't even consider giving me back their fees. Will update later.

ittybitnot

·2 years ago

18 View listings

@deidre9898

Is your bank going to do a chargeback on eBay for taking your funds and refunding the buyer?

FWIW: your buyer had a bad review left under a "green" positive for stealing someone else's phone. Though it is against policy for a seller to do that, I imagine the person did not want to call attention to themselves by complaining.