Same zip code RETURN scam

[stop.here.and.buy]

New eBay buyer purchased an Intel 8th Gen i7-8700 processor for $323.99 from my eBay store on Mar 31, 2018. Shipped to his confirmed PayPal/eBay address.

A couple hours after delivery, the buyer opened a “Defective/Not working” return request stating that the product is faulty which was a surprise since an Intel CPU is the less likely component to fail in a computer. Nonetheless, I tried to look at this objectively and tried communicating with the buyer couple of times in the return request, no reply from the buyer. I accepted the return and I provided a free prepaid label to the buyer thinking that it will solve all the issues.

On the very last day to return the CPU, the buyer uploaded an invalid tracking # from Hong Kong to the return request. He did not use my prepaid return label.  I called eBay stating that the buyer shipped the product to a different address after delivery and that he voided his Buyer’s Protection in doing so. The CS agreed with me and closed the case in my favor and released the funds. To my surprise, couple of days later, the buyer contacted eBay to dispute the decision and got his money back by providing another tracking number showing delivery.

I was so surprised because I didn’t get any package from Hong Kong. So, I gave USPS a call regarding this package. The USPS CS rep asked for my name/address and was able to quickly find out where the package was delivered to. The package was addressed a Pizza store 26 streets away from my home with the same zip code. I quickly went to the Pizza store asking if they got any package from Hong Kong. I found out the tracking number is correct, but the address and recipient are wrong.

At this point, I knew I am being scammed by this buyer. I am currently filling all the reports I can to bring some light to this scammer and fight for my money. I just checked this buyer account and found out he purchased a similar CPU from another seller the very same day he got his refund back, which I believe will end up like me since this is not a legitimate buyer, but scammer.

Any input/help will be appreacited greatly. Thanks

[jonathankirkland]

Also I'd like to note that this "same zip code" scam seems to be cropping up a lot lately, I just had it happen to me as BUYER, made a whole thread about it.

Seller pretended to ship me a $700 laptop, uploading a fake tracking number to my same zip code. I opened a case with Paypal immediately and initially lost, and had to appeal.

It was h-e-double hockey sticks having to call Paypal and spend hours and hours of time explaining the situation to them and providing proof that I did not in fact receive it....

There needs to be something done about this stupid scam to make it less easy for these scum bags to pull off.

[stop.here.and.buy]

You cannot imagine what I am going through just to defend myself from this obvious scam. I had to walk 26 streets to a Pizza store to check the package. When I got there, they thought I was buying pizza. I inquired about the package, and they told me they indeed got a weird package from Hong Hong addressed to an unknown person. I was lucky, they didn't dispose of the package and kept it for sometime.

I just don't know what are my changes of fighting this case. But I will try with everything I got as $324 is not a small amount to me plus eBay/PayPal fees.

[emerald40]

---

@jonathankirkland wrote:

Also I'd like to note that this "same zip code" scam seems to be cropping up a lot lately, I just had it happen to me as BUYER, made a whole thread about it.

Seller pretended to ship me a $700 laptop, uploading a fake tracking number to my same zip code. I opened a case with Paypal immediately and initially lost, and had to appeal.

It was h-e-double hockey sticks having to call Paypal and spend hours and hours of time explaining the situation to them and providing proof that I did not in fact receive it....

There needs to be something done about this stupid scam to make it less easy for these scum bags to pull off.

_______________________________________________

Never understood why it only has to be to the same zip code.

Where else when you buy something does that happen.  Item should have to show it went to your street address not somewhere on your street or city.

---

[rainbowcolorz]

---

@stop.here.and.buy wrote:
You cannot imagine what I am going through just to defend myself from this obvious scam. I had to walk 26 streets to a Pizza store to check the package. When I got there, they thought I was buying pizza. I inquired about the package, and they told me they indeed got a weird package from Hong Hong addressed to an unknown person. I was lucky, they didn't dispose of the package and kept it for sometime.

I just don't know what are my changes of fighting this case. But I will try with everything I got as $324 is not a small amount to me plus eBay/PayPal fees.

---

So you went to the pizza place and retrieved the package, correct?   Was your Intel 8th Gen i7-8700 processor you sold for $323.99 inside the package?  

[stop.here.and.buy]

No, what I got was an empty envelop filled with paper. This is why I opened this thread, because it is not longer a return...it is a scam performed by the buyer by shipping to the same zip code but different address and receiver. I had to call and explain to USPS before they provided me with the info where it was delivered to. The envelop I got is a small envelop, so there is no way a CPU with fix into that.

[vintagecraze50]

I am sorry for you having to go through that. My suggestion to he OP is to have the postal service send some kind of proof that this item was not sent back to the OP's verified address, That is the issue here. If these packages are not going TO and coming Back to the authorized address then this is massively bad and needs to be corrected. A tracking number alone is not going to cut it folks.

[vintagecraze50]

Why would the buyer sent back OP'S computer to a PIZZA PARLOR 26 blocks from his address? Probably because, the package contained what the OP said it contained. Any other reasons you think a legit return would be sent to a pizza parlor? Please advise if there may be another reason cause I sure cant figure that out.

[vintagecraze50]

To the OP, you are going to have to have to find some way to verify that the label on the item was not changed by you, that is what will be in question. They may argue that the tracking number is the only thing they can go by because an address on the label could be tampered with, ( I THINK), not sure by the recipient. You have to prove this to Ebay and Pay Pal. Somebody here know if this can be done via the postal service because I have never had this happen and not sure the P.O. can do it, especially if it came back from a foreign country. Messy situation.

[stop.here.and.buy]

I already filled a Postal Mail Fraud Report and also went to my local Post Office to try to obtain some documents from them. The problem is that the supervisor in my local post office is a super lazy. She just says, it is delivered nothing she can do. She strongly states that I need to contact the shipper and have the shipper open a case with USPS....The funny thing is, I got a good relationship with one of the postal employee there and I asked him if he can help me to get documents. He told me, only the supervisor have the right to do that and that she will most likely NOT help me because she is known for laziness....Even the employee admit that... What can I expect?

[stop.here.and.buy]

Yes, i have the package with the label showing different address and receiver, but same zip code. But the problem is getting documents from the Post Office. I will need to call U.S. Postal Inspection Service tomorrow to see if obtaining a document will be possible.

[ymeagainlord]

Well first I'd call eBay and appeal. This refund should never have been allowed in the first place as it was reshipped.

[hafoster]

---

@stop.here.and.buy wrote:

I gave USPS a call regarding this package. The USPS CS rep asked for my name/address and was able to quickly find out where the package was delivered to. The package was addressed a Pizza store 26 streets away from my home with the same zip code.

---

First, the USPS illegally provided to you --

private details of a package that's not addressed to you.

This is violation of numerous federal privacy laws, and it must stop.

Further, the package addressed to:

Pizza Parlour

26 Streets Away

Also Your, Zip Code

As far us the USPS is concerned --

they accepted postage to deliver a package --

and it was properly delivered to the specified address:

You happening to know that tracking number is just suspicious.

[chipper01work]

---

@hafoster wrote:

---

@stop.here.and.buy wrote:

I gave USPS a call regarding this package. The USPS CS rep asked for my name/address and was able to quickly find out where the package was delivered to. The package was addressed a Pizza store 26 streets away from my home with the same zip code.

---

First, the USPS illegally provided to you --

private details of a package that's not addressed to you.

This is violation of numerous federal privacy laws, and it must stop.

Further, the package addressed to:

Pizza Parlour

26 Streets Away

Also Your, Zip Code

As far us the USPS is concerned --

they accepted postage to deliver a package --

and it was properly delivered to the specified address:

You happening to know that tracking number is just suspicious.

---

Your perspective is nuts. So the OP was provided the tracking number as proof of return and had no idea that the package was NOT, in fact, addressed to him and just misdelivered. He calls the PO to inquire about "his" package and was told it was delivered to another address in his city and you think that is all "illegal"? Also, exactly what is "suspicious" about him knowing the tracking number? It was provided to him buy the buyer/scammer that shipped the package to his city to scam him out of his money. The scammer needed to provide the tracking number to ebay, who in turn gives it to the OP, to have a shot at his scam.

[threshold.sales.group]

Fwiw, I would advise taking a picture of the package with label showing the pizza shop as the return to address and upload it to the transaction / dispute details. The label will match the tracking provided by the buyer & clearly show the tracking # uploaded for the case was fraudulent for delivery to your address. 

[threshold.sales.group]

Also, the policy regarding MBG being voided by reshipping may *in practice* no longer apply with the recent reported changes to returns. Reason being once a return is opened form what we've now seen the reason and details cannot be challenged.  Even if the return reason or details are bogus it's reported that that no longer matters. The buyer is assumed to be correct and the only recourse the seller has is in the appeal stage, after the return has been completed.