Scam? : buyer first started an INR case then filed a payment dispute for unrecognized transaction

[falloutthreads]

Hi all, 

This whole situation has been strange and I haven’t seen anyone with a similar situation discussed (2 different cases opened), so I’m just hoping for some opinions and discussion. 

I am a very new seller, but I’m not totally stupid. I believe that’s where the scammer went wrong. 

Timeline: 

- buyer bought a pair of Coach shoes for a total of about $120. 
- 05/29/25 the package was marked as delivered. 
- 05/30/25 buyer opened an INR case 

- 05/30/25 I responded immediately. I went to add tracking to the case, but it wouldn’t let me as “cannot change tracking once item is delivered” (no $hit lol). So, I messaged the buyer (very nicely and with helpful info) with the tracking number, when/where it was delivered, and that I could do nothing else; they have to contact USPS. 
- 05/31/25 I received notice from eBay that the buyer disputed payment with their bank for “buyer did not recognize transaction”. 
- Buyer has not messaged me during the entire transaction, shipping, or disputes. 

ebay already said I am protected and has released my funds that were put on hold. It also says no response is needed on the payment dispute case and I cannot add any information. 

I checked the buyer’s account, and it was established in 2022 with 9 reviews, all positive. The name on the shipping label was different than the account name. However, a quick google search revealed both names are associated with the shipping address. 

There is no outcome on whether their bank refunded them as this obviously just happened. Although eBay is saying I’m protected and has released my money, I find it incredibly strange that there is no recourse I can take. I can’t leave a review on the buyers page (unless I leave it under positive), I can’t report the buyer for fraud with ebay because there literally is no option for this type of situation, and the buyer is going to most likely keep the shoes and receive their money back. 

I am well aware that this should not matter to me since I got my money (for now), however I just find it crazy that a thief would be not only awarded for scamming, but also allowed to continue on ebay with no issue. A few posts in this forum discuss contacting the buyer and letting them know you will be reporting them for mail/wire fraud. I just don’t know if I should or even could do that in this case considering ebay is so graciously allowing me to keep the funds from the transaction (/s). 

overall - I just want to hear from more experienced sellers. Is there anything you would do in this case or just let it go? Since eBay said no response or info is needed, they won’t go back and charge me for this, correct? Is this person definitely scamming? Imo, they are but maybe I’m wrong. 

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

eBay tracks payment disputes and I've seen accounts banned when buyers filed too many.

Buyer may not get their money back. Most of the time those "don't recognize the transaction" disputes are, in my experience, not found in the buyer's favor.

The buyer may or may not be scamming - no way to know for sure. Maybe they are a victim of porch theft or maybe someone else in their household used their credit card and they're looking for a way to get their $ back. Who knows?

eBay covered you with seller protections on this.

There is nothing I would do in your case other than add the buyer ID to your blocked list here, then move on.

[johnrj1226]

The buyer can claim a charge back with the  credit  card company they  purchased the item with - up to 180 days (some c c longer) after receipt of item.  This has zero to do with eBay.

FYI  here is a  nutshell definition of a charge back  - charge backs  are not new, been around since Hector was  a pup

"A credit card chargeback is a process where a cardholder disputes a transaction and asks their credit card company to reverse the payment and refund the money. This can be done for various reasons, including fraud, billing errors, or dissatisfaction with a product or service. The card issuer investigates the dispute, and if deemed valid, the funds are returned to the cardholder's account."

[mountain-cackleberries]

Ebay will track USPS and if it says delivered, they can open a return. In most cases if it is not returned to you, they will recieve no refund. 

[wastingtime101]

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@mountain-cackleberries wrote:

they can open a return.

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The buyer cannot open a return. They already filed a payment dispute which means they forfeit all resolution options through eBay.

[falloutthreads]

Thank you! This was very helpful. 

I did assume it may have been stolen, until they did a payment dispute for transaction not recognized instead of INR. I thought that was super suspicious. But maybe not who knows. 

thank you again!! 🙂 

[falloutthreads]

I definitely know how chargebacks work and I’m aware this has nothing to do w eBay, except that they are handling it!

I was more so wondering why they said they didn’t receive the item and then when I basically said I would not be refunding them, they disputed the charge saying transaction not recognized. So, which one is it… did they not receive the item or they don’t recognize the transaction lol. However, I’m aware a multitude of situations could have occurred and I’ll most likely never know. 

thank you for your help!! 

[falloutthreads]

I offer returns. They did not open a return; they opened an INR case a day after the tracking showed delivered. If they opened a return, it would have exposed the fact that they did receive it and lied when opening the case. 

however as another person mentioned - I do know eBay’s policies, they forfeited the right to return them now. The INR case was closed as well because of the payment dispute. 

[12345jamesstamps]

🎶🎶 Let it go...let it go...

It is possible eBay gave a courtesy refund to you.

Block the buyer.

'opened one day after receiving it'...sounds like they knew how to do it. 

Have to wait usually the next day to open a INR claim and buyer couldn't wait to do it.

[falloutthreads]

Yeah you’re definitely spot on! I will be letting it go and blocked them already. 

I don’t think it was a courtesy refund (unless I’m confused on what you mean) - ebay said I was covered under sellers protections and according to their policies I wouldn’t be responsible for it because the tracking shows it was delivered to the given address. They just released the funds on hold from the INR case as soon as the payment dispute was filed. 

thank you for your help!! (:

[fashunu4eeuh]

“. A few posts in this forum discuss contacting the buyer and letting them know you will be reporting them for mail/wire fraud.”

Hi @falloutthreads sorry this happened to you. 

In my opinion, sending such info to a questionable buyer is a very bad idea. It might be seen as a threat, set them off. I also would never advocate “poking the bear” when the facts are unclear and what actually happened cannot be known. You suspect fraud but cannot provide any concrete evidence for it. So reporting the buyer would not hold up ethically or legally. Report for what? You have been made whole as the seller. That doesn't happen often. 

There are a lot of lost souls in the world, folks confused, or (forgive me) just lacking smarts. This could well be an impaired individual, someone with a literacy issue, or they missed their last dose, or serious vision problem. I’d let it go.

[falloutthreads]

Yes, you are definitely right!! I didn’t contact them and I won’t be. I just blocked them. I was more so upset and ranting about what I could potentially do. However, as you said, it’s not a good idea at all and I don’t know what happened for sure. Whatever happened, happened. 

thank you for your help! (: