I have been fighting this since DEC 2021
@owlmagicelizabeth
Five months is a long time. It does not appear that eBay is going to help you through their regular channels. If you paid with PayPal, you have 180 days to file a claim, and if that is not possible, call the number on the back of your credit card.
If you use either of the above options, (do not do both at the same time) you have to be very careful to let either the Pal, or your c.card company that this is NOT a regular "item not received" issue, but rather a "fake tracking scam issue."
Read the following very carefully before proceeding, and ask any questions if you are not sure.
This is a copy/paste of instructions that have helped others in the past:
It appears you are a victim of the "fake tracking scam". When you file an eBay claim for item not received, and there is a record of "delivery", the automated system and the regular customer service will not validate the tracking and you lose. Any tracking number that shows "delivered" to basically anywhere will suffice.
If you appeal with the same information, you will lose. If you file anywhere else (i.e. PayPal or your credit card) for "item not received" you are likely to get the same result unless you provide information regarding the scam. Nobody is going to check to see that the tracking is for a parcel that was actually shipped before you even paid, or was for a 50 lb. box when your item was only 4 ounces. Nobody checks to see that the package was NOT sent to your address. But all hope is NOT lost.
There is usually really good eBay money back guarantee protections in place
UNLESS
you are a victim of the "fake tracking scam".
There is something you can do, but it is NOT going to involve calling or chatting with the lower tier eBay customer service anymore.
Just for starters, since you have the tracking number go here, and select the carrier and input the number.
This site just might show you exactly where/when the parcel originated, size/weight, and intended delivery address.
https://www.ship24.com/ (this will not work for USPS)
Go check on it, and make a screen shot. The details should show the street address (not yours).
You can get help for your issue. Typically it requires that you have some documentation from the carrier that the tracking number is NOT related to a parcel shipped to your address. That is sometimes difficult to obtain. For USPS parcels, it may require a visit to your local Post Office. If your seller is already Naru'd (no longer a registered user) that is a good thing, too. It means eBay already knows about the scamming adventures, and does not want to lose anymore of eBay's money as a result.
Basically, you are going to have to contact eBay via the big blue SEND MESSAGE button on this page:
https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness
The eBay staff that monitors the messages here are well aware of the fake tracking scam. Better yet, they actually have the authority to do something about it. You will need to message with your name, contact information, user ID, item/transaction number, any documentation you may have about the parcel/tracking. You need to mention that your 'seller' is no longer a registered user as well if that is the case.
Good luck, and let us know how it turns out for you.
