Buyer scammed me and ebay doesnt seem to care...

[jlatlantic]

I've always considered ebay pretty good when it comes to protecting sellers- a lot better than another particular selling platform. But a recent experience with a buyer blatantly committing fraud has made me lose faith. A buyer opened a buyer remorse return request on a rather expensive item- $600+. Time came and went and I never received the item back and I assumed he changed his mind as the item weighed 130 lbs and is pretty pricey to ship. But then out of nowhere the buyer uploads a tracking number, opens up a case and immediately wins the case and ebay grants the refund. I was completely baffled . Come to find out the tracking number he uploaded is associated with a 3 oz parcel sent to a PO box at my local post office! But as the zip code is the same, ebay assumes it was delivered to me. I contested this case outcome but ebay didnt budge. There are so many things that point to fraud with this that it is quite obvious to anyone who takes some time to look into it- the fact that a 130 lb item was supposedly shipped via first class mail with the post office, has a tracking number associated with a 3 oz parcel per USPS, and was shipped to a PO box (I dont even own a PO box and would never use it for returns if I did). I sent ebay documentation from USPS showing all of this and have spoken to them continually that they are letting a buyer commit blatant fraud and yet no one can seem to tell me why the case will not be overturned. I even reported the buyer and ebay has done nothing. At this point I've given up. And I've stopped selling high ticket items now that I see what buyers can get away with.

[dbfolks166mt]

    It's a shame this happened to you but I have never considered eBay seller protection to be anything other than dismal. The MBG is pretty much setup to 100% protect the buyer under any circumstance. Most eBay transactions go off without any problems but I have seen this scam show up on occasion. The difference in your case is the scam is so obvious I too find it hard to believe eBay stood behind the buyer on this one.  The difference between 130 pounds and 3 ounces is blatant. 

     I notice a lot of your items ship out of multiple locations so not sure exactly how you work your return process and where the item originally shipped from but it's pretty obvious that the buyer did not return the item to the original shipping destination. I have always operated by the #1 seller rule and that is to never list anything on eBay that you cannot afford to take the loss on and from my optic you still have some pretty pricey items listed. 

     About the only recourse you have is to file a police report in the town where the buyer lives but most police forces are stretched these days and there is seldom any action taken unless there is an established pattern of complaints. 

[farmalljr]

As was pointed out, there really isn't much seller protection here. You have to protect yourself. The fees you pay are not in part any service to you. It's just the cost to list your stuff here, and someone else processes the CC payment. Beyond that. you are pretty much on your own. 

Expensive items are the ones scammers will target. While most all sales are not a problem, you will run into scammers when you sell expensive stuff. More so in some categories that others. 

Sucks that it happened. By like the motto goes, don't sell anything here you are not willing to give away. Because you never know when you will be forced to. 

[duncanvr]

Exactly why I don't list expensive items on here. Stick to listing stuff under $100 so if something like this happens the sting is not as painful. I certainly would not risk listing a $600 item. There is always going to be a shady buyer I've dealt with a few of them myself.

[jlatlantic]

File a police report? I dont know if they would even take me seriously. 

[stuff4divas]

@jlatlantic 

Just skimmed your post since with no paragraphs, it becomes a thankless job to read  >

You can contact eBay via social media with a private message:

https://Facebook.com/ebay

 AND-OR

https://Twitter.com/askebay

Great customer service reps on these social media sites

[ittybitnot · Accepted solution]

At this point I've given up....

@jlatlantic 

Actually, to getting you to give up, often appears to be eBay's first line to defend THEMSELVES against having to pay out for the scam.  

Since you already have documentation from USPS, that the parcel was NOT intended for you, please follow the previous advice given in message #6 and use the big blue SEND MESSAGE button on this page.  You can post a photo of your evidence as well.  

https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness

Be advised that this scam is NOT new.  The eBay reps that monitor the Messenger chat on that page are quite familiar with this and have the authority to help you. 

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out. 

[double2trouble]

Find me one case on someone going to the local police and them doing anything about it. They just don’t. They will tell you it is a civil matter. Internet scanners pretty much have a license to steal, and know that these crimes are very rarely prosecuted. Mail fraud is almost never prosecuted for amounts under $100,000. The government just does not care, and constituents do not put pressure on politicians to do so. 

[dbfolks166mt]

     You may be surprised but you will never know unless you file. Depending on where the buyer is located it may not be the first one they have received. 

[pjcdn2005]

I wouldn’t have a lot of faith that the police would do anything either.  But going the extra mile and filing a police report does seem to make eBay more likely to take the user’s problem seriously.

[kensgiftshop]

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@double2trouble wrote:

Find me one case on someone going to the local police and them doing anything about it. They just don’t. They will tell you it is a civil matter. Internet scanners pretty much have a license to steal, and know that these crimes are very rarely prosecuted. Mail fraud is almost never prosecuted for amounts under $100,000. The government just does not care, and constituents do not put pressure on politicians to do so. 

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When you file those reports, it's mainly for Ebay.

The OP will have a better chance at getting their money back if they put a little extra work in to it.

[dbfolks166mt]

Probably one of the better known ones although there have been several. One thing you will notice all of these have in common is NOWHERE is eBay mentioned as having contributed to the arrest. With some of them you have to wonder how the heck they even got an account from eBay and how they managed to continue their activity for so long. 

https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/union-county-nj-man-charged-defrauding-sellers-ebay-online-auctio... 

There are a LOT more cases of sellers being arrested for fraud. 

https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/carmel-man-indicted-in-alleged-2-million-ebay-paypal-fraud-scheme/ 

https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/one-man-arrested-another-indicted-in-ebay-fraud-schemes/ 

https://archive.naplesnews.com/news/crime/local-ebay-scammer-gets-6-months-in-jail-ep-400532111-3442... 

https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/Brothers+jailed+for+eBay+sales+scam+following+reports... 

Even Internationally. 

https://www.itgovernance.eu/blog/en/phishing-scammer-sentenced-to-11-years-for-ebay-fraud 

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-hsi-arrests-chinese-national-238-million-scheme-sell-counterfe... 

[caseypl]

Probably not. I try to limit my interactions with them as much as possible, but let's see how this plays out... you walk in, and tell them you're there to file a report about an ebay transaction. They probably will not entertain it and treat it as a civil matter. 

[caseypl]

And this is exactly why I am not one of the sellers who leaves positive feedback for buyers right after getting paid for an item. Just doesn't make sense. 

[femmefan1946]

The police report has nothing to do with getting resolution from the justice system.

It is a relatively simple way to show that the aggrieved party is serious and not making up the whole problem.

Insurance companies also ask for police reports when a burglary has been claimed.

Scammers are unlikely to report their scams to the police. Once gets sympathy, twice shows carelessness, three times is an indication that there is something going on with the one reporting.