Scammed, can't open new case, what to do?

[willorwillnot]

So I've had this account for over 20 years, recently bought 4 RTX 3090 GPUS off ebay no problems, bought a fifth which turned out to be from a zero feedback seller, and showed suspicious tracking info in mail, like being returned to sender, then forwarded several times, finally showing as arrived a month late, but it never actually came. I have waited to make sure it's not lost in the mail...it's not coming. This was an $800+ purchase!

I had already opened a case, but because the item was allegedly "delivered" to some place in my zip code, ebay considers the case closed. Even better, the zero feedback member is apparently now banned (but nobody asked about the item I bought!)

I can't open a new case, can't get a human on the phone for phone numbers for ebay on google. This is completely unacceptable that I lost $800 on an obvious scam, and continue to browse ebay while getting banners assuring me I'm protected if anything funny happens during a purchase.

Clearly this is a lie because all someone has to do is send a package and keep it in the mail for long enough for the buyer to open a case, then let the package (containing nothing, or whatever) be delivered to some random place in the same zipcode by quitting forwarding it, as this will automatically close the case (because the public tracking doesn't show the address).

This is such an easy exploit and big hole that ebay must be aware of it and this is again, negligent and unacceptable that I'm not even able to report the scam, let alone get a refund.

HOW DO I GET MY MONEY BACK?

[stuff4divas]

@willorwillnot 

No phone calls to eBay during the Pandemic. Whatever phone numbers you find on the web for eBay are fake numbers.

Click on > https://www.ebay.com/help/contact_us?id=4002&st=10

to see the various options to contact eBay

If you decide to receive a call back, make sure your phone will not block the call back 

AND-OR

Contact eBay via their social media sites with a private message:

https://Facebook.com/ebay

 AND-OR 

https://Twitter.com/askebay

Great customer service on both 

[eburtonlab]

See this thread for some tips on dealing with false tracking:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Lost-my-case-item-not-received-this-is-what-you-should-do-learn...

[willorwillnot]

Long phone call later, they weren't able to do a refund, but recommend I do a chargeback and they'll tell the bank I'm in the right. What? That's sort of annoying, but at least my bank has good customer service.

[kathiec]

You'll likely have more luck with the Facebook reps than the phone reps. The phone reps are outside contractors whose main purpose is to get you off the phone as quickly as possible. The Facebook reps are actual eBay employees who are very familiar with the fake tracking scam.

[kensgiftshop]

If it was USPS, go to your PO with then tracking number and have them look it up.

If it was addressed to a different address, get a letter from USPS stating that is was not addressed to you, but another address in your zip code.

Then use that letter to appeal the case.

[reallynicestamps]

Did you pay with a credit card and/or through Paypal?

Paypal allows claims for up to 180 days from payment.

Most credit cards allow chargebacks for 120 to 180 days from payment.

[12345jamesstamps]

You can do a chargeback or dispute with your banking institution of your debit or credit card. It's easy and you can do it online. Refund takes about two weeks.  I prefer that than going in person or calling on phone. In person you have to talk to more than one person usually . Doing it by phone might get a block on your credit card. 

[kathiec]

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@12345jamesstamps wrote:

You can do a chargeback or dispute with your banking institution of your debit or credit card. It's easy and you can do it online. Refund takes about two weeks.  I prefer that than going in person or calling on phone. In person you have to talk to more than one person usually . Doing it by phone might get a block on your credit card. 

---

I've initiated a number of credit card disputes over the phone, easily and with no issues. And I've never had to talk to more than one person. The absolute only time a card issuer will block your card is if it's been used fraudulently or for a misuse reason that's going to get it suspended anyway.

[pierjones]

I just experienced a blatant "same zip code" fraud on Ebay as a buyer (Dec 2022). The seller barely tried to hide it and it seemed so easy for them. Ebay almost helped them to do it!! I had no idea that it was such a unreliable platform. When I spoke to the post office they told me that the package definitely wasn't addressed to me but that they wouldn't provide the information in writing. It would help if USPS changed that policy. I spoke to at least 9 customer reps at Ebay and even some supervisors. Even though the fake tracking # is literally proof that the package was not delivered to me they all said that it is proof that I received the item. It was totally crazy. By the end it felt like I was hearing "Raymond Shaw is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life."  I'm reading many other people say that filing an "Item Not Received" report in these instances will result in you loosing your money.  That's what I experienced.

[mudshark61369]

@willorwillnot,

The links provided by @eburtonlab  and @stuff4divas , have detailed info in them for dealing with the fake tracking scam, and where to get resolution from ebay, outside of its automated system.

"When I spoke to the post office they told me that the package definitely wasn't addressed to me but that they wouldn't provide the information in writing. It would help if USPS changed that policy". 

It is not just ebay that cannot access the shipping label information. None of the third party online shopping site's buyer protection systems can access that info, due to the privacy policies of shipping agencies.  All they can access is the tracking number and look for a Delivered scan.  If there is one the computer considers the item as having been delivered.

  The shipping agencies make it hard to get the info you need because of their policies, and are not going to be forthcoming without info from you, proving you were supposed to be the addressee, which is the Order details page which has your shipping info that was sent to the seller, and the tracking number they uploaded.

"bought a fifth which turned out to be from a zero feedback seller".

The fact that the seller was a (0) feedback one, was right there on the listing page. Buying from (0) feedback sellers will often result in problems, due to their inexperience.  Therefore in the future if you are going to take a chance on buying from a new member, do not do it for an expensive item.  Because not all new sellers have (0) feedback, you should check the feedback profile of any seller you intend to buy from.  There are many "new" sellers who have been buyers for years, and have a fair number of feedback and a 100% rating, but only for buying.  If you check their profile page and click on the As a seller tab, and do not see any feedback for selling at all, or in over a year.  Then you may want to find a different seller. Returning sellers also run into issues.