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

[stop.here.and.buy]

Hello trinton@ebay,

Thank you for looking up at this issue to assist me. I just recently checked the feedback for this buyer and see that he had been maybe "banned" as he is not longer a registered user with eBay.

Maybe they found out that he did this scam to other sellers beside me and the sellers also put out complaints. Now, how I can resolve this issue in which my funds had been given to a scammer in a broken return process?

I have a document from the USPS detailing that this package was mailed intentionally to another address with same zip code to perform the "same zip code scam".

I was asked to provide a police report. I went to 3 different police stations to file incident report for this fraud. All the 3 NYPD police precinct I went to, said they cannot file a police report as this whole matter is a civil case, not a criminal case.

In addition, I showed the email from eBay asking me to file a police report and they strongly stated that eBay does no rights to ask people to go to a police station to file police report.

[jonathankirkland]

---

@stop.here.and.buy wrote:
Hello trinton@ebay,

Thank you for looking up at this issue to assist me. I just recently checked the feedback for this buyer and see that he had been maybe "banned" as he is not longer a registered user with eBay.

---

Just a note, you need to type "@ trinton@ ebay" (without the spaces) to get a blue. I'll do it for ya this time.

@Anonymous

[Anonymous]

---

@stop.here.and.buy wrote:
Hello trinton@ebay,

Thank you for looking up at this issue to assist me. I just recently checked the feedback for this buyer and see that he had been maybe "banned" as he is not longer a registered user with eBay.

Maybe they found out that he did this scam to other sellers beside me and the sellers also put out complaints. Now, how I can resolve this issue in which my funds had been given to a scammer in a broken return process?

I have a document from the USPS detailing that this package was mailed intentionally to another address with same zip code to perform the "same zip code scam".

I was asked to provide a police report. I went to 3 different police stations to file incident report for this fraud. All the 3 NYPD police precinct I went to, said they cannot file a police report as this whole matter is a civil case, not a criminal case.

In addition, I showed the email from eBay asking me to file a police report and they strongly stated that eBay does no rights to ask people to go to a police station to file police report.

---

Hi @stop.here.and.buy, I know that we've been working with you regarding resolving these concerns. You should be receiving an update shortly regarding this transaction. Often times if we remove a member from our site their recent feedback will also be removed shortly after. We also will remove any feedback related to a case when we grant an appeal to a seller. Check for an update from us and touch base with Customer Service if you have any other questions or concerns.

[jonathankirkland]

@Anonymous

Can you private message me please? I myself was a victim as a BUYER of a similar scam. 

And if possible, do you think you can you provide the community with some guidance how to avoid this type of scam or maybe let us know that you will bring it up in your internal "meetings"? This scam seems to be cropping up very frequently recently...

[Anonymous]

---

@jonathankirkland wrote:

@Anonymous

Can you private message me please? I myself was a victim as a BUYER of a similar scam. 

And if possible, do you think you can you provide the community with some guidance how to avoid this type of scam or maybe let us know that you will bring it up in your internal "meetings"? This scam seems to be cropping up very frequently recently...

---

Hi @jonathankirkland, I recommend that you gather any documentation you have that shows the item was shipped to a different address in you area and contact Customer Service to discuss options. The situation the OP has encountered is very unique and I wouldn't be able to give blanket advice on how to approach this - Customer Service would review all the details and give appropriate guidance based on the details provided.

[gramophone-georg]

---

@stop.here.and.buy wrote:
Hello trinton@ebay,

Thank you for looking up at this issue to assist me. I just recently checked the feedback for this buyer and see that he had been maybe "banned" as he is not longer a registered user with eBay.

Maybe they found out that he did this scam to other sellers beside me and the sellers also put out complaints. Now, how I can resolve this issue in which my funds had been given to a scammer in a broken return process?

I have a document from the USPS detailing that this package was mailed intentionally to another address with same zip code to perform the "same zip code scam".

I was asked to provide a police report. I went to 3 different police stations to file incident report for this fraud. All the 3 NYPD police precinct I went to, said they cannot file a police report as this whole matter is a civil case, not a criminal case.

In addition, I showed the email from eBay asking me to file a police report and they strongly stated that eBay does no rights to ask people to go to a police station to file police report.

---

I'd like to know why a police report is required to get eBay to adhere to its own policies.

The item was reshipped to another country. Policy states the MBG doesn't apply on a reship- correct?

Maybe eBay is suggesting you should file the report on eBay. Who knows?

Unless there are additional things I'm not aware of here, it seems this should never have happened. Your first CSR closed it in your favor, correct? That one followed policy. I can't believe eBay would reopen this, reverse the first CSR's decision, and go against policy at the seller's expense here.

[stop.here.and.buy · Accepted solution]

Yes, I was surprised too that they refunded the buyer when they knew he reshipped the product to HK after delivery to U.S Address. The first CS decision was adequate and adhered to eBay's policies to not refund the fraudulent buyer as he voided his Buyer's protection by reshipping. Someone in the eBay CS department did not follow eBay's policies and made all this mess happen.

Thought, I have GOOD NEWS. I was finally able to work things out with eBay and they refunded me full after reversing their decision. Despite the fact that I got this dispute resolved in my favor. It just sits bad with me as the fraudulent buyer somehow actually is a winner since he got to keep my i7-8700 CPU for free in the end.

What I learned through this ordeal of making many if not multiple calls to eBay, USPS, Postal Service Inspector and 4 trips to different police precincts to make a police report is that I would rather get hit with a negative feedback than dealing with scammers such as this one again. As the amount of work required to defend yourself is astronomical as eBay CS's prefers to believe a 0 feedback buyer rather than a old eBay seller with 100% feedback. It hurts to see that our hard earned feedback as sellers means nothing to eBay when a conflict arises. Don't judge me wrong, I know there are good buyers with 0 feedback and are authentic to the eBay community. But for expensive items, i would rather not take such risks.

I do not understand why eBay needs a police report when this is a civil case. In some places, like in small towns, the police might be able to help you file a police report. However, in big cities such as NYC...the NYPD do NOT file police reports for eBay to use. I went to several police precincts in NYC( Lower Manhattan, Midtown Manhattan, Brooklyn and Downtown) just to get rejected as they don't deal with Civil Cases. Luckily the last eBay CS I spoke with, said if I cannot file a police report, call eBay back when I am in the Police Station and let them talk with a police officer to clarify that the NYPD will not file a police report for such cases such as mine.

As other had stated, if you believe you are right/got scammed and you want to get your funds back... Collect all documents and evidences that can support your claims and get the resolution you wanted with eBay, keep and keep trying. Thanks all those who gave me great tips and advice!!!

[jonathankirkland]

@stop.here.and.buy

Keep in mind, it's really not the negative feedback you have to worry about. What you have to worry about is if someone buys one of your listings, and you get a bad feeling or whatever and "cancel" the transaction. This will cause you to get a defect and if you get just a few of those you won't be able to sell anymore.

So be careful in the future with the listings!

Best of luck!

[gramophone-georg]

---

@stop.here.and.buy wrote:
Yes, I was surprised too that they refunded the buyer when they knew he reshipped the product to HK after delivery to U.S Address. The first CS decision was adequate and adhered to eBay's policies to not refund the fraudulent buyer as he voided his Buyer's protection by reshipping. Someone in the eBay CS department did not follow eBay's policies and made all this mess happen.

Thought, I have GOOD NEWS. I was finally able to work things out with eBay and they refunded me full after reversing their decision. Despite the fact that I got this dispute resolved in my favor. It just sits bad with me as the fraudulent buyer somehow actually is a winner since he got to keep my i7-8700 CPU for free in the end.

What I learned through this ordeal of making many if not multiple calls to eBay, USPS, Postal Service Inspector and 4 trips to different police precincts to make a police report is that I would rather get hit with a negative feedback than dealing with scammers such as this one again. As the amount of work required to defend yourself is astronomical as eBay CS's prefers to believe a 0 feedback buyer rather than a old eBay seller with 100% feedback. It hurts to see that our hard earned feedback as sellers means nothing to eBay when a conflict arises. Don't judge me wrong, I know there are good buyers with 0 feedback and are authentic to the eBay community. But for expensive items, i would rather not take such risks.

I do not understand why eBay needs a police report when this is a civil case. In some places, like in small towns, the police might be able to help you file a police report. However, in big cities such as NYC...the NYPD do NOT file police reports for eBay to use. I went to several police precincts in NYC( Lower Manhattan, Midtown Manhattan, Brooklyn and Downtown) just to get rejected as they don't deal with Civil Cases. Luckily the last eBay CS I spoke with, said if I cannot file a police report, call eBay back when I am in the Police Station and let them talk with a police officer to clarify that the NYPD will not file a police report for such cases such as mine.

As other had stated, if you believe you are right/got scammed and you want to get your funds back... Collect all documents and evidences that can support your claims and get the resolution you wanted with eBay, keep and keep trying. Thanks all those who gave me great tips and advice!!!

---

I'm glad you got it resolved and I'm sure Trinton was a big help.

What disturbs me, though, is that according to eBay policy this should never have even happened. We see too much of this sort of thing on here- sellers and buyers who have policy unquestionably on their side, and yet...

By all appearances, somebody should be fired over this. We keep hearing about "retraining" yet these instances continue.

Oh, and BTW, I Googled and was shocked to find that NYC is likely the only major city in the USA where you can't file an online fraud report.

However, in the future, go this route to file a complaint:

https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

Keep in mind that using the USPS to defraud is a federal offense. I believe you can get a report number from IC3 and give that to eBay... IF it happens to be on one of the days eBay decides to follow its own policies, I guess... just SMH.

[stop.here.and.buy]

Yes, it is shocking that a city such as NYC don't do online police report filling. It is like NYC is behind times or something.

From the beginning I already did that IC3 FBI report and saved it. I told the CS's that I had that report, but she didn't want or cared for such report, she clearly and strongly pointed out she wanted Police Report or NO refund. I also informed her I a did Postal Service Inspection Fraud report and got the case #, again she didn't want that report either, just Police Report.

Thanks for your great advice!

[where*you*crowin]

Congratulations on recouping your money from the fraudster.  It is a shame that you had to jump through so many hoops to get it done when this was a straightforward policy breach that should have ended with the first CS rep. 

Police departments have enough on their plates and should not be expected to deal with things like this. 

[sg51]

I do not understand why eBay needs a police report when this is a civil case.

It's a criminal offense to file a false police report.

Thus, filing such a report adds credibility to your complaint regarding buyer.

Most police depts will allow you to file the report. They won't do anything, because to them it's a civil matter, but they allow the report to be filed, and you can use the resulting report number when discussing things with ebay.

[missjen831]

---

@where*you*crowin wrote:

Congratulations on recouping your money from the fraudster.  It is a shame that you had to jump through so many hoops to get it done when this was a straightforward policy breach that should have ended with the first CS rep. 

Police departments have enough on their plates and should not be expected to deal with things like this. 

---

The OP didn’t recoup anything from the fraudster. eBay can’t reverse a refund or charge a buyer. The OPs refund came from ebays pocket so unfortunately the fraudster got his money back and he gets to keep the item.

[gramophone-georg]

---

@stop.here.and.buy wrote:
Yes, it is shocking that a city such as NYC don't do online police report filling. It is like NYC is behind times or something.

From the beginning I already did that IC3 FBI report and saved it. I told the CS's that I had that report, but she didn't want or cared for such report, she clearly and strongly pointed out she wanted Police Report or NO refund. I also informed her I a did Postal Service Inspection Fraud report and got the case #, again she didn't want that report either, just Police Report.

Thanks for your great advice!

---

So the one  thing you couldn't  get the CSR honed in on... just wow. I don't even think an NYC police report would have even applied here. This was international mail/ internet fraud, followed up by ebay refusing to follow policy. It seems that eBay would actually prefer  the two reports you tried to give them as they are more relevant- then I remember through my experience with eBay search that their idea of relevance is like nobody elses. 

Sometimes I think eBay should just revise and simplify their policy pages to something like "By using the site, you agree that we can do whatever we want whenever we want with no risk or expense to us".

[ymeagainlord]

You forgot the "at anytime with no notice"