Buyer Claims Item is missing with USPS Damage Labels oddly placed - Possible Fraud?

[chaos-games.llc]

Sold an item and the buyer sent me message a few hours after delivery that it was missing. The photo they attached in the message shows two USPS damage labels that were suspiciously placed on the package with an opening clearly off placed from the labels. I would suspect that if this were internal theft that it's quite odd an employee would take a chance on random package opening to thieve in this way. As of now, I'm filing a claim for USPS mail fraud and communicating with the buyer to determine if they are persistent on wanting to handle this claim of theft. Looking for advice and others stories concerning receiving anything similar in claims from buyers. How did it turn out?

[nuclearomen]

@chaos-games.llc ...should mention, in addition to my post above... ALL packages I have received marked with a stamp as "damaged on arrival" were boxes, never a envelope/padded envelope...could be USPS uses stickers for envelopes but I would still ask USPS either call or see your local USPS. Does seem odd to me though that sticker (if it's even a sticker) someone can just print that and tape it on, but it should be signed or initialed and it's just blank. I know from when I worked at USPS, if envelope of that type has thickness to it it is not run through a machine like a flat envelope would be, so it wouldn't had been damaged from that process. 

[chaos-games.llc]

Thanks for that suggestion. I should add that the card was packaged inside a cardboard enclosure for protection and would have required a great deal of force to get it out that opening since it's approximately the same if not slightly larger. The thickness of the total package would have been about 1/4-1/2 inches.

[chaos-games.llc]

IMO, going on with the 5th day, the buyer is trying to pull a scam and using those labels to commit fraud. Fraud through inferring the USPS sent a damaged/opened package and abuse of this platform for transactions. I reported them to eBay and will follow up with a call to customer support to determine if they've had a similar message sent in the past. IMO, they are selective with how they attempt this type of theft. Not on every transaction and probably those based upon location, value, whether it included shipping insurance, etc. They've avoided communication, avoids any calls/texts, I provided information to the PostMaster who I was conversing with about this problem and they've not contacted them, not contacted USPS customer support, and had a vague reference to they only wanted a refund since it didn't have insurance. *bleep* these types of people.

[downunder-61]

Sorry, I have not read the entire thread - but I assume the buyer has not opened a case yet, they have just contacted you?

[chaos-games.llc]

Buyer is in my opinion making a fraudulent claim that USPS delivered an opened/damaged package. I have confirmed with the local delivery at the buyer's location, based upon the image provided that and our conversations, that they would have not delivered it to them in this manner. Buyer has been avoiding communication or wanting actually providing proof which goes beyond their homemade label sticking. Buyer has not contacted the PostMaster at the local PO. I did all of the work and merely provided them information that takes a few minutes out of their day since this would be considered mail fraud, a Federal crime. The "tear" in the image is actually been cut since mechanical processing wouldn't have created a sliced opening. I have reported them to eBay and looking into what I can do at the local level to ensure they stop this **bleep** practice of trying to steal from people. Typically cowards, who would only attempt this because of being remote. I suggest reading through the thread for more details.

[donsdetour]

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@chaos-games.llc wrote:

Buyer is in my opinion making a fraudulent claim that USPS delivered an opened/damaged package. I have confirmed with the local delivery at the buyer's location, based upon the image provided that and our conversations, that they would have not delivered it to them in this manner. Buyer has been avoiding communication or wanting actually providing proof which goes beyond their homemade label sticking. Buyer has not contacted the PostMaster at the local PO. I did all of the work and merely provided them information that takes a few minutes out of their day since this would be considered mail fraud, a Federal crime. The "tear" in the image is actually been cut since mechanical processing wouldn't have created a sliced opening. I have reported them to eBay and looking into what I can do at the local level to ensure they stop this **bleep** practice of trying to steal from people. Typically cowards, who would only attempt this because of being remote. I suggest reading through the thread for more details.

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Mail and internet fraud.

It is both.

[nuclearomen]

@chaos-games.llc 
Yes, well all sellers know that a lot of these claims are false and scams etc... especially in items such as this instance for graphic cards where there has been a huge surge in scams on ebay past few months. The issue is, ebay doesn't know and can't very well determine them as a scam. I went through a case INR not long ago where buyer claimed they didn't get it, but tracking shows clearly they did. They said they were away blah blah blah...now i won the case of course due to tracking. But as I told buyer and ebay, if tracking shows delivered and buyer is claiming the didn't get it, my obligation as seller was completed. The issue is now on them. It is their responsibility to make a police report and a claim with USPS for mail fraud...USPS takes that seriously and they want a police report and both USPS and police dept will investigate for possible crime (it is federal offense to tamper with mail). Did the buyer do that? Of course not, because it's all a scam to try and get item for free. I suspect your buyer in this situation will not either as it will be easily determined by USPS that the package was delivered with item, not empty.  

[chaos-games.llc]

Reported the buyer to USPS and eBay. Passed on their telephone number with address, image of the package, and little communication that we exchanged. Talked to the supervisor as well at the local PO which delivers to their address about this scheme of them using labels to claim receiving items damaged or opened. The supervisor agreed that this sounded very suspect of fraud but would know more if the buyer actually brought in the package. Gave the contact info to the buyer of the PO address and supervisor's number with email address this past Thursday. They've yet to pursue making the trip of less than 10 minutes over to the PO to deliver. They've not answered any texts and I called as well. They've not replied back in messages. If this tells you anything that you can't be surprised of who'll steal, because this type of unethical, immoral, and criminal behavior came from a 8-10 year old account with a history of positive feedback.

[oldwestgold]

Just a suggestion, I would never reuse packaging, except for bubble wrap or air pillows. Sorry to all the greenies out there.  Two reasons. #1. It makes for an unprofessional appearance to the buyer. True story. I once received a large envelope with something I had ordered from eBay. It still had the full name and address label with USPS stamps showing return to sender & deceased. You get the picture. #2. Padded envelopes are CHEAP!  I buy them by the case(250) for 00 and 000 10-12 cents each free shipping to me.  Just how I do my shipping.  Good luck!

[oldwestgold]

It doesn't appear that you purchased any USPS insurance. You will not be able to file a claim at least with the USPS if not insured by the USPS.  That's what insurance is for.

[chaos-games.llc]

Thanks for the suggestion. But, there's nothing unprofessional about reusing packaging that's still structurally useable and cosmetically fine. Most packaging can be reused if you open it the proper way instead of tearing into it like a 5-year old at Christmas. That's just poppycock when a person can't receive a reused package. Doesn't matter about the price and it adds up in waste/cost over time. Of course, packaging does have an expected life and should be recycled/trashed after its beyond sound.

[gurlcat]

So in other words, the best case scenario is that you have no reason to give this scammer a refund, especially since he only tried to get it through (one) private message as opposed to filing an actual Ebay claim .... but his weak effort amounting to failure is ALL that will happen on his end, he just has the item he paid for like an honest buyer,  without him making the effort to get himself arrested by taking the package to his PO, which he obviously won't do unless he is moronic beyond all imagination.  
So here's yet another "can't hurt to TRY!" scam to add to the list of all the ways dirtbags might get something cheaper or free, because ebay (or even the United States Postal Service in this case) will not do anything to the scammer, no matter how blatant their CRIME was.  
Oh, and I guarantee none of the commenters acting like you were stupid, crazy or being a baby, telling you to give the guy a refund ...they're not going to come back and admit they even COULD have been wrong.  
Well if it's any consolation, I for one am glad that I saw this post because if a buyer had sent me that photo, I probably would have trusted that those stickers were placed by an actual postal employee, and that I owed the buyer an immediate refund.  So thank you for the firsthand, real-time play-out of this attempted SCAM! 

[oldwestgold]

Those are official USPS labels / stickers.

[oldwestgold]

I would respectfully disagree. Reusing packaging is not professional or otherwise Amazon would do it. I was a Postmaster for over 33 years and know what is and what isn't when it comes to packaging. No respectful company, which is what we sellers are trying to be, would reuse packaging. In addition to our need for a sterile everything, I sure wouldn't want to receive anything that I paid good money for, including shipping, coming looking like it came from a third world country.  Just my suggestions, you really should reconsider if you sell and want to have repeat customers. If 10-15c for a new padded envelope verse used will make you unprofitable, then you have an issue. On top of that, it would be difficult to claim the item was opened anywhere along the delivery route or by the buyer since the package had already been opened. Using used padded envelopes showing that they have been opened only invites a few people that touch it to open and reclose it. Again, as a PM I have seen everything and am only speaking from 33 years of handling hundreds of thousands of packages. I also have personally mailed over 10,000 packages in my 21 years on eBay and have never had a loss or damage. Have a good one.

[chaos-games.llc]

Amazon is a retailer and they could care less about the environment as opposed to their bottom line. Your comparison is beyond incomprehensible and I've left this discussion with you over packaging from someone who clearly has no ability to see beyond themselves.