Recent Scam Attempt - Sellers Beware

[pls-consignments]

This is the 2nd time this has happened to me as a seller.

A buyer recently made a purchase using a fictitious name and an address with a suite and security door at a commercial / residential complex. The buyer knew that a delivery could not be made by USPS, and that the item would be made available for pickup at his local post office. However, before he pickup the item, the buyer files an INR claim, and then opened a case, banking on eBay making a quick decision in his favor, which is exactly what happened, despite me uploading tracking info showing a delivery attempt. 

I immediately did my own investigation and found out that he was a reseller using a fictitious name, which passed through eBay's vetting process when setting up his account in 2022. I therefore immediately appealed the decision and then requested a human review of all my evidence on eBay's Facebook page.

Fortunately, I was able to win the appeal, and refund returned back to me.

Ofcourse, the Buyer may be fully aware that a missing mail claim cannot be filed until 15-days after tracking begins, which gives him ample time to pick up the item after winning an INR case. Clever!

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

You didn't need any of that buyer research to win on appeal. Attempted delivery is enough to cover you and probably the only thing eBay considered. Non-receipt claim never should have been found against you in the first place.

In situations like that, I try to beat the buyer to escalation of the claim. That way I can follow the prompts that say I'm escalating because I shipped with tracking, then in comments point out the attempted delivery to the buyer's address on the order.

If this was a $$$ item you can attempt a package intercept since buyer was already refunded by eBay.

[pls-consignments]

 "Non-receipt claim never should have been found against you in the first place."

Here lies the problem. This is the second time that an "Attempted Delivery" did NOT prevail in my favor in the initial decision. The speed of which such a decision is made is why I'm convinced that the review process is AI driven. After submitting my appeal and contacting eBay FB, a good 20-mins was used to review and decide by a human. 

[wastingtime101]

Hey kyle@ebay . Please see above and if you can, file a ticket with the product team to look into why INRs covered by seller protection with attempted delivery scans are being closed against sellers with a need to appeal. Thanks!

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@pls-consignments wrote:

I immediately did my own investigation and found out that he was a reseller using a fictitious name, which passed through eBay's vetting process when setting up his account in 2022.

Ofcourse, the Buyer may be fully aware that a missing mail claim cannot be filed until 15-days after tracking begins, which gives him ample time to pick up the item after winning an INR case. Clever!

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Sounds like this was a well thought out plan. If you don't mind me asking, was this a high value item and what methods did you use to find out they were a reseller? Sounds like you were ready for it and congrats on winning your appeal. I wonder how many inexperienced users end up not following the proper steps to protect themselves. 

[pls-consignments]

It was a $137 digital camera. I was suspicious from the beginning, so I just decided to add additional insurance. After the initial INR claim, I discovered that the buyer was a reseller....of digital cameras. All attempts to contact the buyer were ignored. Phone number were not associated with buyer's name. Google street view clearly shows no access to building, which is less than a mile from the local post office. 

[us-mamic]

" claim for a lost postal item cannot be filed within 15 days from the start of tracking" it is only a recommendation, you can recall the parcel or file a claim for a lost parcel at any time after sending!

[kyle@ebay]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

Hey kyle@ebay . Please see above and if you can, file a ticket with the product team to look into why INRs covered by seller protection with attempted delivery scans are being closed against sellers with a need to appeal. Thanks!

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Hey @wastingtime101  Attempted delivery does still protect a seller from an INR claim so I will be glad to pass this along for review.