Buyer Scamming returning empty box but eBay still refunding from seller fund

[abaa-it]

Being in eBay for more than 12 years, recently a master scammer scammed me twice. 1st they purchase a $1000 dollar laptop computer and then within a week another MacBook over $1000 dollars under different user name but from same address.

3 weeks later requested return for both - they received eBay generated return shipping label. few days later tracking system showed item delivered.

I have verified with my place and found out it was not delivered. Then I opened a claim with USPS as well as obtained proof of delivery that shows item delivered to a nearest business within the same city and zip code of my return shipping address.

I thought USPS made a mistake. as well as everyone who reading this up to this far will think the same.

Called eBay and the CSR wanted me to call back once the final refund time window expires.

I called again and they put a hold on this case and within next 12 hours they refunded the buyer from my fund.

In the meantime USPS delivery supervisor called me and confirmed that the package under that tracking number was delivered to the address showed on the package. Part of the proof they retrieved actual package from the business, it was a 9.5"x5.5"1" blue bubble mailer that has some paper inside, nothing else. no laptop will fit in that small mailer. the weight for the whole package is less then 3oz.

In order prove themselves USPS sent that package to me with their mail carrier the very next day and I was surprise to see that the buyer has altered the "ship to" and "ship from" both address on the shipping label, and found a business within the same city and zip code where my return address is, so when eBay see's its delivered to my city and zip code they automatically refund the buyer and it will be difficult for me to prove that I did not receive it.

That exactly happened. eBay stick with their decision even though I have submitted, Pictures of the package, Actual proof of the delivery where the signature line shows that the item was delivered to a different address but still eBay denying my appeal. 

The buyer did same thing with both of their purchases ( 2nd purchase they use a different ship to address within my city and zip code) and got $2000 dollar worth of merchandise for free. And I am out of this amount from my fund.

I have been consistently calling and submitting documents to eBay document uploader via phone call through CSR but the appeal department denying because they only see " the item was delivered to my city and zip code"

Can anyone help me with any more information or processes or method of contact so that I do not lose my hard earn money?

[jayjaspersgarage]

Seriously the same address?  I would keep that address on file and call their local police department and schedule a vacation in their area real soon  That's all I have to write about it.

Oh, and if you haven't learned NOT to list computers on here by now now you know better.

[dbfolks166mt]

     You have the buyers address. I would file a complaint with their local police department and provide the serial numbers from the stolen items. I would then be more tempted to make a visit to the buyers address with a police officer if you can get them to assist. 

[kensgiftshop]

@abaa-it 

Get a letter from USPS stating that those packages were not addressed to you.

File a police report in your town and the buyers and mail fraud and use the reports and letter to appeal the case.

[abaa-it]

They are even a step advanced. When they returned and altered the shipping label, they did not use their name and address as ship from address. They use two different people name in two different ship from address. The ship from address is not even the address where the original item was shipped to.

[abaa-it]

It appear to be and mail forwarding address in

41b GERMOY DR

WILMINGTON, Delaware 19804-1100.

Everyone should be careful of this address.

I am wondering if their police department will accept a complaint over the phone.

[abaa-it]

Problem is, there is no way to appeal this kind of case online. The appeal department is an offline department. they do not communicate with seller either on phone or via email. I had to call regular customer service and all they can say is "we will transfer your inquiry to appeal dept." 

I have uploaded the actual picture of the envelope that I received in a crystal clear format in 1080P resolution, the CSR says its blurry. 

And then they will give you couple of pages of generic script from their book which will make you more annoying towards eBay CSR.

[fashunu4eeuh]

So sorry this happened to you. It is awful.

If your appeal was denied, then eBay is done. They are not going to assist you further. They consider a faulty return to be the cost of doing business here.

This scam is one of the risks we sellers have on a platform that protects the buyer’s interests despite compelling evidence of fraud such as you presented. But there are some things you can do if this was a domestic sale.

Contact the USPS and make a fraud report to the postal inspectors, see link below. Using the mail to commit fraud is a felony. They take this crime seriously.

https://ehome.uspis.gov/fcsexternal/default.aspx

Contact the police in your’s and the buyer’s jurisdictions and report the theft.

Make a report to the FBI’s internet crime complaint center. This can be done online at ic3.gov at the link below:

https://www.ic3.gov/Home/ComplaintChoice

Be sure to get case numbers or report confirmation from each entity you contact, and share those with each authority. You can also pursue legal relief by taking all your evidence and reports and suing him in Small Claims court.

If you feel so inclined, if you can reach the buyer, you could tell him you will report him to the authorities and pursue legal satisfaction vigorously, but that you will drop the matter should your computers or the funds get returned to you within so-many days. Don’t threaten or accuse him, be matter-of-fact. Scammers want to fly below the radar, perhaps giving you a remote chance at getting your property or money returned. 

Good luck to you. Again, very sorry you got targeted for fraud.

[dbfolks166mt]

     It's the original shipped to address that will be key. Google it and see what you come up with. You can also pull up property information regarding ownership. If you have some data mining software available to you a few searches will probably net you a WHOLE lot of information about this individual. Some smart scammers they have probably been doing this for quite sometime. 

     The thing about filing a claim with USPS is they have a data repository tied to the tracking number some of which you can pull up as far as what PO it was dropped at. USPS can dig even deeper depending on how the postage was paid for, CC would leave a nice trail. Cash not so much. 

[dbfolks166mt]

     O great the infamous Wilmington, Delaware address. According to Google this is what sits at that location. There has been more than one post on this forum about this FF's address and the scams ran out of it. 

[abaa-it]

The main problem is eBay. They are not helping sellers in this kind of situation. They knew in my case that the buyer did not send the item back. According to their own return policy it is ineligible for refund. In stead of putting a hold they simply chose the easy method to refund the buyer.

I was speaking to human being in eBay multiple times and provided evidence of empty box that will not accommodate a laptop computer, they instead did not want to deal with it and simply refunded the buyer.

Thank you for your recommendations, this is indeed a way to go, but this is too much for anyone to deal with when there is a system ( in eBay) in a marketplace already placed but not being enforced. 

As a seller we are paying fees. where is our seller protection?

These fees consists many breakdowns, part of the fee is to save sellers from the bad guys.

If a seller runs around all these authorities, when they will work in their business?

No one can go through this much hassles if they are selling in a platform for full time basis. because these things will be an on going issue if eBay does not stop this, which less likely they wants to do.

[abaa-it]

Exactly, this is a mail forwarding company and most likely the buyer is not even in USA. Good luck for me to taking a vacation there by leaving my work.

eBay is responsible for this non sense. They are taking a healthy selling fee for what? just to see our money is being draining by? 

[coolections]

Instead of involving Ebay you will need to figure out  how to file police reports, and the procedure you need to go through on how to sue the buyer in small claims court. You have his name and address.

[dbfolks166mt]

     You are probably correct about the buyer you can check that by looking at their account information. Quite agree there is no seller protection on eBay but people, including myself, continue to sell here and bear the risk. 

     However, over the years I have changed my selling habits a lot. I refuse to list high target items for scammers: electronics, coins, precious metals, jewelry or items over a certain dollar threshold. I also do some risk assessment on every sale I have looking at the shipping address and the buyers profile. If this had been my item I would never have shipped it  to that address and canceled the sale. 

[fab_finds4u]

It's a freight forwarder's address. By chance did you look at their feedback  and see what country they're from?

Lot of complaints about Russjan buyers doing this.

Packages that are forwarded to a different address after delivery forfeits MBG.  You should have tried to speak to a supervisor before you agred to the return.