First Faked Tracking Number Delivery Purchase - Need USPS Guidance

[kalyoth]

I joined the ever growing group of buyers defrauded by overseas sellers using tracking numbers in my zip code to fake delivery. I purchased an item on 9/13 - listing was for multiple copies. Listing was gone within 12 hours. Opened a request on it per advice of agent. Today - a tracking number was provided for an item delivered to my zip code on 9/16. Item origin was China. Seller feedback was fine. I definately never received item as I was handed my mail by carrier last 2 days with other parcels.

Reached out to agent today & they suggested I should obtain information from post office in regards to the delivery. This is my first faked delivery. What do I need to obtain as USPS is very specific on what they provide for service. Thanks!

[simba6]

With a credit card an email from the shipper saying either that tracking number was not to your address or the actual address is went to will do.  There is an 800 number on the USPS web site you can call.  Never had to do that with an eBay purchase.  My case was from a different selling venue.

If you paid by credit card  you can then file with them if the eBay case fails.

[mudshark61369]

@kalyoth,

"I joined the ever growing group of buyers defrauded by overseas sellers using tracking numbers in my zip code to fake delivery. I purchased an item on 9/13 - listing was for multiple copies. Listing was gone within 12 hours. Opened a request on it per advice of agent."

How did you contact an agent? If you looked online for an ebay customer service phone number, and called it. You did not speak to anyone at ebay or from their call center. 

"Today - a tracking number was provided for an item delivered to my zip code on 9/16 Item origin was China. Seller feedback was fine".

What was the item location shown on the listing page? Did you actually open the seller's feedback profile page to see how many negative and neutral feedback they had received?   Did you run the tracking number to see what day the label was created?  If it was created  before you bought the item getting a refund will be easier.

If you opened a item not received (INR) dispute it will be found in favor of the seller.  The initial INR system is automated and can only access the tracking info looking for a Delivered scan, due to shipper's privacy policies. eBay is not allowed access to the label information, address or package type/size/weight.

When you receive a message telling you your dispute was closed,  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. The info below is what you have do do when this happens.

If the label was created before you paid for the item, Click on the appeal button, In the message box state that you purchased the item on 9/13 but the label was created on X/X/23 and the number of days before you bought the item.  If the item location was not China state that as well.

  Take a screen shot of Your order details page showing date of purchase and the tracking number. add it to the appeal, Then take a screen shot of the tracking page making sure the tracking number is showing and the date the label was created, and add that to the appeal as well. That should be enough to win the appeal.

If the label was created after you made the purchase, You will have to go to your P.O.  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 USPS 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. 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 social media message.  If you go the social media route which is recommended, because the reps know about the fake tracking  number scams and have the power to issue refunds, 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://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness

https://twitter.com/askebay

In the future I strongly suggest that you check the feedback profile pages of each seller you intend to buy from, before bidding on or buying their items.  On the profile page if the seller has received neutral or negative feedback, click on the numbers of them to read only those comments. Never go by a feedback percentage alone. Some people who have been scammed but did not file a dispute may have left feedback saying they never received their items.

[kalyoth]

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@mudshark61369 wrote:

@kalyoth,

"I joined the ever growing group of buyers defrauded by overseas sellers using tracking numbers in my zip code to fake delivery. I purchased an item on 9/13 - listing was for multiple copies. Listing was gone within 12 hours. Opened a request on it per advice of agent."

How did you contact an agent? If you looked online for an ebay customer service phone number, and called it. You did not speak to anyone at ebay or from their call center. 

"Today - a tracking number was provided for an item delivered to my zip code on 9/16 Item origin was China. Seller feedback was fine".

What was the item location shown on the listing page? Did you actually open the seller's feedback profile page to see how many negative and neutral feedback they had received?   Did you run the tracking number to see what day the label was created?  If it was created  before you bought the item getting a refund will be easier.

If you opened a item not received (INR) dispute it will be found in favor of the seller.  The initial INR system is automated and can only access the tracking info looking for a Delivered scan, due to shipper's privacy policies. eBay is not allowed access to the label information, address or package type/size/weight.

When you receive a message telling you your dispute was closed,  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. The info below is what you have do do when this happens.

If the label was created before you paid for the item, Click on the appeal button, In the message box state that you purchased the item on 9/13 but the label was created on X/X/23 and the number of days before you bought the item.  If the item location was not China state that as well.

  Take a screen shot of Your order details page showing date of purchase and the tracking number. add it to the appeal, Then take a screen shot of the tracking page making sure the tracking number is showing and the date the label was created, and add that to the appeal as well. That should be enough to win the appeal.

If the label was created after you made the purchase, You will have to go to your P.O.  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 USPS 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. 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 social media message.  If you go the social media route which is recommended, because the reps know about the fake tracking  number scams and have the power to issue refunds, 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://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness

https://twitter.com/askebay

In the future I strongly suggest that you check the feedback profile pages of each seller you intend to buy from, before bidding on or buying their items.  On the profile page if the seller has received neutral or negative feedback, click on the numbers of them to read only those comments. Never go by a feedback percentage alone. Some people who have been scammed but did not file a dispute may have left feedback saying they never received their items.

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I spoke to an agent through chat in US. I know I am not speaking directly to ebay as ebay speaks to NO ONE but the investors.

As I was sleeping I received a courtesy refund, based upon the tracking information provided, from ebay customer service. My issue is resolved.