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

[ymeagainlord]

So basically they opened a claim as soon as it showed delivery to their reshipper. Nice.

If we follow the logic here - IF it was received damaged by the reshipper and they informed the buyer, they would have easily been able to use the return label provided from the reshipper back to you. The fact they first sent a fake tracking and then the buyer sent an empty envelope from HK, tells me it was never damaged in the first place.

[retrose1]

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@badrock wrote:

My listings state no international sales, however buyers that have a US ship to address be it their Uncle or re-shipper, quite sure I have to ship. I also have had buyers registered in Hong Kong and Russian Federation that have US ship to addresses, DE and CA.

I googled the US addresses and saw the two in DE are in warehouses  and close to each other. One in San Diego is in a Hotel. I hear there is another in Vegas.

Have sold many items delivered to reshippers and only 2 problems from Russian Buyers via the DE addresses.  Buyer claims  item defective, ( Computer Parts). I already know the scam. Ok immediately I accept the return issue label. Of course they refuse to return just demand refund, both emailed the items were in Russia and they could not return. eBay read that and closed cases my favor.

What caught my attention on one of these was buyer emails says he is in Russia, wants to buy but it won't let him. Yes sorry no international sales, couple of days later, buyer purchases item. I'm like how did this happen nope no way, I don't have to ship to a country I don't accept. Then saw the USA address in DE. Called ebay, was told USA address I have to ship or take a defect.

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The simple solution to your problem is that you go into your paypal account and block payments not coming from US accounts, currancies you do not hold, ect.  The buyer can lie all they want and ebay lets them get away with it on ebay, but they will not be able to get past the pal.

[tev4all]

ain't IT just wonderful that that the upcoming payment processing system will accept virually all currency platforms  and reduce the problem for some of the buyers.

[retrose1]

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@stop.here.and.buy wrote:
Yes, the buyer opened return "Defective product" immediately after delivery to the forward service in Delaware. It was all very well calculated by this buyer. Even providing wrong tracking number at first, so I cannot track the package right away and BOOM...suddenly getting hit with a refund to the buyer because he provided another tracking # with package delivered to an address with same zip code.

The point here is that, he gave himself some time to get the funds back while I am busy trying to find where the package was delivered to. As you know, contacting USPS is really tedious, their wait time for call is atrocious (1 hour waiting for a rep).

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I get great service from the PO.  I learned a long time ago that a phone call is useless and you'll end up getting the CS reps that quit working ebay's phones and moved up to better pay.   I walk into the PO and ask to speak to a postmaster.  My postmaster is Rodney and he is more than willing to look up a tracking number and print off the pages of tracking and pictures attached to the scans.  He has helped me locate and redirect a couple of packages that can't seem to make it to their destination.  I have even gotten a pic of the building one was delivered to.

[retrose1]

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@tev4all wrote:

ain't IT just wonderful that that the upcoming payment processing system will accept virually all currency platforms  and reduce the problem for some of the buyers.

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It's so wonderful,  I am trying to find lesser value and less scammable items to sell on ebay.  But I'd like some sales once in awhile.

[tev4all]

Good luck.  

[missjen831]

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@retrose1 wrote:

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@badrock wrote:

My listings state no international sales, however buyers that have a US ship to address be it their Uncle or re-shipper, quite sure I have to ship. I also have had buyers registered in Hong Kong and Russian Federation that have US ship to addresses, DE and CA.

I googled the US addresses and saw the two in DE are in warehouses  and close to each other. One in San Diego is in a Hotel. I hear there is another in Vegas.

Have sold many items delivered to reshippers and only 2 problems from Russian Buyers via the DE addresses.  Buyer claims  item defective, ( Computer Parts). I already know the scam. Ok immediately I accept the return issue label. Of course they refuse to return just demand refund, both emailed the items were in Russia and they could not return. eBay read that and closed cases my favor.

What caught my attention on one of these was buyer emails says he is in Russia, wants to buy but it won't let him. Yes sorry no international sales, couple of days later, buyer purchases item. I'm like how did this happen nope no way, I don't have to ship to a country I don't accept. Then saw the USA address in DE. Called ebay, was told USA address I have to ship or take a defect.

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The simple solution to your problem is that you go into your paypal account and block payments not coming from US accounts, currancies you do not hold, ect.  The buyer can lie all they want and ebay lets them get away with it on ebay, but they will not be able to get past the pal.

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That block actually doesn’t work the way you and many others think it does because PayPal automatically converts the buyers payment to US funds. It doesn’t stop international buyers from making payment.

[tofu107]

never mind where the buyer is and where it is returned,focus on the fact that it was returned to a place in her zipcode.

for anything under $750,delivery status rules,it was delivered.

Ebay has no way of knowing who is telling the truth,did buyer return the processor or an empty envelope,did seller doctored the evidence (an empty envelope)?

Ebay robot handles the case,it checked the status of the tracking and decide buyer wins.

Like someone pointed out,once a refund is issued ,it is hard to cancel it.

The only hope is that EBAY issues you a credit out of its own coffer.not for $300 but something much smaller.

This scam has been going for for at least a year now,I DONT THink anyone has come up with a solution.

[retrose1]

That block actually doesn’t work the way you and many others think it does because PayPal automatically converts the buyers payment to US funds. It doesn’t stop international buyers from making payment.

There are two blocks in the pal to block International buyers and I mentioned both of them....NonUS accounts and currancies you do not hold.

[yuzuha]

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@ymeagainlord wrote:
But at least before, even if they used a US reshipping address to be able to bid, we could look to see where they were actually REGISTERED (ie a country outside the US).

If they're going to use a reshippers address (or a fake USA one) to REGISTER in the US then they're using that to get around the eBay policy of reshipping voids the MBG.

If a buyer is registered in USA but the return is coming from another country then obviously they had it reshipped.

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Some reshippers are what's known as "deputy services"-- that is, they do all of the purchasing for their buyers.  I use one of them to buy things from Japanese websites and Yahoo!Japan Auctions.  I send the deputy service the link for what I want to buy and pay for it via PayPal, and then they make the purchase for me and have it shipped to their office.  It's a perfectly valid method of handling things as the deputy service is the buyer on record.

[vintagecraze50]

Since this scam of sending things to different addresses seems to have been going on for quite some time, is it possible to re write the rules for returns stating that buyer and seller cannot win a case if it is found through Intranet verified ,postal service verified, item sent to a differnet address than was documented as the seller or buyers address, and what problems would Ebay have with this if they implemented it? Just some thoughts.

[vintagecraze50]

I can tell you right now that the scamming on the internet is only going to get worse and worse as time progresses and more and more stuff is being sold here. There are many articles on these types of risks increasing big time and there has to be some efforts to thrwart this stuff.

[emerald40]

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@stop.here.and.buy wrote:
Hello, I took down most of my listing do to this recent scam. I cant see myself dealing with this until i solve this problem. This package had nothing to do with Global Shipping Program. It was send to 1140 River Roád New Castle DE 19720. Hence, the return label I provided was from Delaware to NYC. But this buyer used his own label and returned from HK.

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Not surprised this is the reshipper.

Google them both online and here.  Many scams associated with them.

Ebay should at least allow us to block this reshipper.

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[emerald40]

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@retrose1 wrote:

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@badrock wrote:

My listings state no international sales, however buyers that have a US ship to address be it their Uncle or re-shipper, quite sure I have to ship. I also have had buyers registered in Hong Kong and Russian Federation that have US ship to addresses, DE and CA.

I googled the US addresses and saw the two in DE are in warehouses  and close to each other. One in San Diego is in a Hotel. I hear there is another in Vegas.

Have sold many items delivered to reshippers and only 2 problems from Russian Buyers via the DE addresses.  Buyer claims  item defective, ( Computer Parts). I already know the scam. Ok immediately I accept the return issue label. Of course they refuse to return just demand refund, both emailed the items were in Russia and they could not return. eBay read that and closed cases my favor.

What caught my attention on one of these was buyer emails says he is in Russia, wants to buy but it won't let him. Yes sorry no international sales, couple of days later, buyer purchases item. I'm like how did this happen nope no way, I don't have to ship to a country I don't accept. Then saw the USA address in DE. Called ebay, was told USA address I have to ship or take a defect.

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The simple solution to your problem is that you go into your paypal account and block payments not coming from US accounts, currancies you do not hold, ect.  The buyer can lie all they want and ebay lets them get away with it on ebay, but they will not be able to get past the pal.

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This thread should be pinned at the top to all those who feel that sending items to reshippers is safe and problem free.

This Delaware address comes up over and over as being associated with scams.

And again this is why I block non US paypal accounts and foreign currency.  Got into a big battle with a couple of posters that doing so is against ebay policy.

Well look how well ebay policy is working for this OP>

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[badrock]

I do have it all blocked that is why I was like how did he buy. Called Paypal he has a US account with the re shippers address. Rep was your protected as long as you ship to that address.