I think I've been scammed

[livefromthetree]

Sold a phone with a cracked screen that was working perfectly with Verizon.  Phone fully paid off.   My ad stated it works with Verizon etc.

Buyer with good but limited reviews wins bid and pays timely.  A few days later the buyer sends me a message saying phone is not working with SIM card in and immediately started a return.  I disputed it, but eBay sided with the buyer and granted the return and said buyer has provided them with tracking showing it's been shipped back.

No package, no tracking number and now the buyer's profile shows inactive.  I tried emailing eBay with no response yet.

Any ideas?

[glenvonnie]

Did Ebay refund the buyer yet ?

The buyer has been NARU'd in which case you might get the phone back and keep the money too if they haven't been refunded yet.

Disputing a return will never work, it's a waste of time, returns are a cost of doing business

[bonjourami]

any time you dispute a return, Ebay will side with the buyer. Dont see a phone in your sold items, when was this?

[livefromthetree]

eBay says they have refunded the buyer and sent me notice that it will be deducted from my account.  I am concerned the phone was not actually shipped back since the buyer deactivated their account and I have no tracking.

[bonjourami]

Ah, sorry I see it...

[ittybitnot]

 said buyer has provided them with tracking showing it's been shipped back.

@livefromthetree 

Do you have access to that tracking number?  in the case details? 

[livefromthetree]

Sold on Aug 22.  Maybe not showing since it was in a dispute????

[bonjourami]

Ebay should have given you the tracking number. Try contacting them on Facebook, they are good on replying there..use the send message link on their page.

[simba6]

Yep you have been hosed.   See what that tracking number says.  If it's a fake item sent to another address in your zip code it's gonna be tough to fight it.   I would call eBay again as the buyer was removed so they know they are scamming people.  Ask for a supervisor.

[livefromthetree]

No, the tracking number was not provided and eBay has not provided it

[bonjourami]

https://www.facebook.com/ebay/

[ittybitnot · Accepted solution]

No, the tracking number was not provided and eBay has not provided it

@livefromthetree 

That makes if a bit harder for you, but not impossible.  Tracking was probably "fake".   They don't like providing them to the victims of the "fake tracking" scams.  You would likely be able to contest this easier if you had that information.  

Are you in a position now to contact customer service and ask for it?  

If you are unable to, or they refuse, you are still going to have to use the big blue SEND MESSAGE button on this page as suggested by @bonjourami . Here is the link: 

https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness


Include your name, contact info, user ID, item/transaction number, and tell them that even though you lost this dispute,  eBay will not provide the tracking number to you they are using to prove the item was returned,  you have not received anything in return and believe the tracking was "fake",  the buyer is "no longer a registered user, and ask for their assistance.   This is NOT the regular customer service that is only allowed to tell you "so sorry, tracking shows delivery".   Most times they are helpful.  

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

[dbfolks166mt]

My guess is your are correct and you have been scammed. Not sure how your listing was posted and whether you accepted returns or not. If you had the item listed with no returns accepted you should already know that does not mean no refunds. If the buyer filed a SNAD case with eBay and you disputed it the buyer probably asked eBay to step in. 

     If the item was listed with no returns accepted eBay, when they sided with the buyer, also allows them to keep the item. The reason you can't get a tracking number is there was never a return shipping label provided and none would have been required. Are you sure the note from eBay said they had granted a return or did they simply just refund the buyer? 

     The fact that the buyers account is no longer active is another pretty good indication that you have been scammed. They are probably in the process of setting up a new one. Phones are a high target item for scammers and something sellers continue to list here despite the risk. If you have the IMEI number of the phone you can report it stolen at the following site. It will render the phone basically useless to the buyer and they cannot get it removed without approval from the individual that filed the lost/stolen report. 

https://www.imei.info/news/report-imei-number-lost-or-stolen/ 

[livefromthetree]

Thanks guys.  I've sent ebay a message on the FB page as well.  Will update the outcomes

[coastaltechsolution]

@bonjourami 

I see 2 Samsung galaxies sold in Aug. 2021 

One on the 17th and one on the 22nd