fake tracking from seller

[rscapri2600]

First, it doesn't appear that normal buyers can contact ebay customer service by phone?

I purchased an item on ebay, seller is listed in Israel but at the last moment, tracking information is updated on the item with UPS tracking that the item shipped from Southern California and delivered to my town.  I didn't receive it, the UPS listed weight and delivery information (time/front door)  didn't match up with the item I purchased or my delivery location so I contacted the seller who of course didn't respond.  I contacted UPS with the tracking information who confirmed that it wasn't delivered to my address but to a different address.

I contacted ebay through a form reporting the seller as fraudulent but it appears that the seller is still active despite new feedback from another buyer reporting the same kind of fraud.

A similar situation of fraud happened to me in the past, I lost the dispute when the seller changed the tracking information (initial tracking was fake) and new tracking showed "item is delivered" when I reported item not delivered.  I lost that dispute and my $ (I paid using paypal balance to pay - never again) and ebay even removed my negative feedback to warn other buyers.

This is going on day 8 so I'm going to escalate this to ebay support tomorrow since seller hasn't responded and I'm worried that ebay will side with seller again.  I've posted the UPS conversation to the seller stating it was delivered to another address so if they read it, I should win.  Worst case I paid with CC so can dispute.

There has to be a better way to stop this fraud.  I did report this to IC3 but not optimistic they will follow through since the $ are too small.

[donsdetour]

Did you file a report with the Postal inspector also??

And get it in writing were the item was delivered.

File that with a report a buyer to ebay.

You state police may also take a report of this. 

Was your seller registered in the US??

[rebell45]

You'll need to get USPS to give you a written statement stating that the package wasn't delivered to your address. Then file a police report and get a copy of that. Those two items should win an appeal if eBay denies the original INR claim. And yes, you can fall back on PayPal and your CC if eBay doesn't come through.

[rscapri2600]

Seller location is reported as Israel in ebay.  It was mailed by UPS, not sure if that is under the Postal Inspector.  IC3 is a report to the FBI.  I reported the seller to ebay, received a email from ebay that they received the report.  Who knows where the seller is located, ebay can probably figure it out which is why I contacted the FBI since it may be interstate or international.  Seller has less than 90% positive feedback and is pretty new so probably will create a new ID to sell a few items legitimately before pulling this scam again.  

Problem is that most buyers do not realize that ebay will side with the seller using fake delivery tracking (not fake, but tracking from somebody else's shipment to their town) so will lose a dispute and get their negative 

[rscapri2600]

Thanks everyone, I have a copy of my FBI report, screen print of my discussion with UPS support and an rtf/txt documents of the actual transcript.

[rscapri2600]

ebay sided with the seller!!!!! I posted the UPS information showing that the item was delivered to another address to the seller and also a link to the police report in the communications with seller.  

Now I am appealing but the form to ebay doesn't allow uploading any documents and they say I need new information to open the appeal.  As a buyer, I have to jump through hoops but the hoops that ebay placed are out of reach.  How does get this resolved short of disputing with the credit card company for a chargeback?

BTW, ebay removed my negative feedback so seller's feedback rating has now increased to 77.3%  He had 100% when I purchased the item but is obviously scamming multiple people who are reporting the same thing.  Unfortunately, it doesn't look like ebay is getting increasingly risky to purchase items.  

[femmefan1946]

It's not unusual for an overseas seller to have a warehouse in the USA . Some sellers, both foreign and domestic, even use Amazon Fulfillment Centres  to complete transactions.

In addition to eBay, you are covered for 180 days from payment by Paypal's Buyer Protection service and by the chargeback policy of the credit card you use to back your PP account.

The drop from 100% to 77% FB makes me ask:  was there a gap between the last batch of FB, say a year or more?

That is a strong indication of a hijacked account, and might be worth mentioning in your PP dispute, or in an eBay appeal.

[rscapri2600]

Account created this year, he had 7 feedback at 100%.  He listed a few SSD for sale, one person received it and I now see multiple negative reviews that they didn't receive it.  one other ebayer lists on the feedback that he received a fake tracking number like I received.  These unscrupulous sellers somehow find tracking information that shows delivery to your home town.

when filing an appeal, ebay sent me an email where I could upload documents.  They gave me a one time courtesy refund stating it appeared that the item was stolen in shipment.   Bullocks, it is fraud... plain and simple and they refuse to see it.

[rscapri2600]

My negative feedback remains deleted.  As the others dispute their purchase and lose, their negative feedback will be deleted.  After all the disputes clear, his feedback will approach 100% again and he can scam some more people.

Can someone tell me how to find fake tracking information?  For example , say I want to sell something on ebay with no intention of actually delivering.  After I accept the payment, I can post the tracking information when i get it showing they received it.  For example, say they live in Tinseltown, I just need to find some tracking from USPS or UPS that shows something was delivered to Tinseltown (I don't care what address)

In the two cases where I was defrauded, one fraudulent tracking info was posted after the dispute and on this one the tracking was posted after it was delivered.  My point is that someone looked for tracking that was completed to my hometown.

[kenca965]

This teifies me  at this very moment I have 1600+$  at stake  case allegedly closed in my favor five days passed no refund, and still says waiting for decision

[mudshark61369]

@rscapri2600,

The flaw in ebay's Item Not Received (INR) system is that it initially is an automated system.  All it can look for is a Delivered scan when a tracking number is provided, because ebay is not a party to the shipping contract. That is between the shipper (seller) and recipient (buyer).  Since there was a delivered scan, the original dispute was lost, and that is grounds for feedback removal.  That is also why ebay says to get a police report, because the package is considered by them to have been stolen.  You do not need one.

   What you can do for items not sent by USPS is use the link below, which can give you the shipping address information and package type/size weight.  https://www.ship24.com/

With that info you can contact ebay's Facebook face book reps using the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness

On that page use the send message button.  You will have to say that you were given fake tracking information by (seller username) for ebay item number (12 digits no hyphens)  that was not delivered to your address.  Post a screen shot or print out scan from the ship 24 site. Leave your name and username along with contact info, ebay email address or phone number for a text.

The face book reps know about the scam and will decide the case in your favor.  Your feedback cannot be reinstated, but the seller will get a defect on their account. 

The face book reps

[mudshark61369]

@rscapri2600,

The flaw in ebay's Item Not Received (INR) system is that it initially is an automated system.  All it can look for is a Delivered scan when a tracking number is provided, because ebay is not a party to the shipping contract. That is between the shipper (seller) and recipient (buyer).  Since there was a delivered scan, the original dispute was lost, and that is grounds for feedback removal.  That is also why ebay says to get a police report, because the package is considered by them to have been stolen.  You do not need one.

   What you can do for items not sent by USPS is use the link below, which can give you the shipping address information and package type/size weight.  https://www.ship24.com/

With that info you can contact ebay's Facebook face book reps using the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness

On that page use the send message button.  You will have to say that you were given fake tracking information by (seller username) for ebay item number (12 digits no hyphens)  that was not delivered to your address.  Post a screen shot or print out scan from the ship 24 site. Leave your name and username along with contact info, ebay email address or phone number for a text.

The face book reps know about the scam and will decide the case in your favor.  Your feedback cannot be reinstated, but the seller will get a defect on their account. 

[ittybitnot · Accepted solution]

Can someone tell me how to find fake tracking information?  For example , say I want to sell something on ebay with no intention of actually delivering.  After I accept the payment, I can post the tracking information when i get it showing they received it.  For example, say they live in Tinseltown, I just need to find some tracking from USPS or UPS that shows something was delivered to Tinseltown (I don't care what address)

@rscapri2600 

"Real" tracking numbers for use by scammers can be purchased on the net.  They are real in the sense that they are actual tracking numbers, that show 'delivery'  of something to somewhere which is typically sufficient  to have eBay INR claims denied, and the regular CS that you get in chat or callback can only reiterate the "sorry, item shows delivered" mantra. 

or

A cheap trinket can be sent in place of your product to your address or an address in your zipcode to provide "proof of delivery".  

I am going to post a copy/paste info of the general issue for you.  It is a few months old now, but hopefully if will provide the information you need when you become a victim of this: 

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.

[albertabrightalberta]

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@rscapri2600 wrote:

My negative feedback remains deleted.  As the others dispute their purchase and lose, their negative feedback will be deleted.  After all the disputes clear, his feedback will approach 100% again and he can scam some more people.

Can someone tell me how to find fake tracking information?  For example , say I want to sell something on ebay with no intention of actually delivering.  After I accept the payment, I can post the tracking information when i get it showing they received it.  For example, say they live in Tinseltown, I just need to find some tracking from USPS or UPS that shows something was delivered to Tinseltown (I don't care what address)

In the two cases where I was defrauded, one fraudulent tracking info was posted after the dispute and on this one the tracking was posted after it was delivered.  My point is that someone looked for tracking that was completed to my hometown.

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@rscapri2600 

FYI, in the future, you  CANNOT mention disputes, resolution, ebay resolving or any other similar terminology in feedbacks. (I see that you left a similar feedback for a similar problem with another seller. So far, that feedback hasn't been removed but if the seller requests it, that feedback will be removed too. 

Please vet your sellers more carefully. The seller for whom the feedback still remains has another similar neutral feedback that had been posted several months before you made your purchase from the seller. Had you checked the feedback, you probably would have avoided the seller.

[downunder-61]

October 2020 thread