Scammed on e Bay by buyer

[dnk1911]

I am scammed on eBay. I have been an eBay member for more than 20 years. I sold the iPhone 12 Pro Max 512 GB like new to a buyer he had just joined two months prior before buying from my buy-it-now list. After 3 days he asked for a return of the item because he needed help. eBay approved return under eBay Money Back Guarantee. The buyer sent my item back to me by USPS eBay provided a return label. As soon as the item reaches my local post office my USPS informed delivery account displays that this package address does not exist. I call my post office to hold till I come. I went to the post office to get my package but when I saw the package the return address printed was not mine and the sender's address was printed as his next-door neighbor, I took a picture of the package. Postmasters refused to give me the package because my address was not on it and told me that this address does not exist in my town. Immediately I learned that I am scammed on eBay. Then I went to my local police station to file fraud report where I file stolen phone report. I produce a photo of the returned tracking label which I took at the post office and a original tracking label which eBay sends to buyer for return. Along with my original purchase receipt of my phone. The eBay refund full amount with shipping chipping charges to buyer as soon as it reaches my local post office because it was showing package out for delivery. After contacting eBay for this issue at least 4 time chatting 2 times phone call and 3 times email exchange no satisfactory answer from eBay. Also, I asked eBay policy state that refund to buyer 48 hours after receiving the returned item and why you issued refund too soon to buyer. They did not give me and answer, Last email I have received from eBay is says that "You'll receive a response from one of our customer representatives on your specific question within 24 to 48 hours of receipt of this mail. Please don't respond." Now it's 5 days but no respond from eBay. Now I feel like I am scammed lost my money and my item and scammer got away with everything. Here is my advice to eBay sellers like me. 1. Do not leave any money to eBay's credit account. 2. If you have a bank account linked to it please move money out or transfer to another account. That's why eBay does not have access to your money to pay it to buyers. So, you have 48 hours for eBay's return policy. I learned the hard way. The attached photo is one eBay sent to the buyer to return the tracking label, 2nd buyer altered the tracking label and my original purchase receipt of my stolen phone.

[bonjourami]

And sorry to say, dont sell iPhones on Ebay,has to be one of the most scammed items by buyers.

[hartungcards]

I just moved all my money out of my bank account linked to eBay, and put it under my mattress.  Thanks for the heads up.

[buyselljack2016 · Accepted solution]

No money for refunds in an account would likely result in going to "collections" for those funds and/or account suspension.

Seem "collections" is not good for one's credit report.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

@dnk1911 

It's a shame you didn't come here for help as soon as this happened, rather than wasting your time with ebay customer NO service as there are things you can do to help at least get your funds back if not your phone.

[duffy4444]

   When I first saw the title of your post, I thought, "I'll bet this is another iPhone scam complaint". Yup!

#1. NEVER, EVER sell a higher-value item like an iPhone anywhere online. It's at the top, or very close to it, as the most scammed item online - right up there with other electronic items. Sell it locally for cash, where you have complete control over its disposition and your payment for it.

#2.  Never trust the word or advice of anyone on the phone supposedly at eBay. They'll tell you anything just to get you off the phone. If you need to contact a real eBay employee, click the private message button at eBay for Business on Facebook in order to get things rolling.

   Sorry this happened to you...

Cheers, Duffy

[hiiragi_tsukasa]

Unfortunately smart phone scams are exceptionally common, if not the most common form of scam right now.   Selling any high-end smartphone, ,or even buying them is exceptionally risky - I wouldn't do it period.  

If you are in the market for a new smartphone, hate to say it - but Brick and Mortar stores, find something on sale is your only safe option.

[ittybitnot]

@dnk1911 

To what city/state did you ship the phone?  (i.e. was it to a Freight Forwarder address) for a buyer that is registered in another country?   I ask because this is an ever repeated scenario known as a variation of the "fake tracking scam" (aka fake tracking return scam, or the cheap trinket return scam).  

There is a possibility of redress for you, but it is NOT likely to happen using the regular eBay customer service nor the bot driven appeal process.  It doesn't matter if the buyer nor the seller is a victim of this scam scenario, eBay tends to "ignore the elephant in the room" and hope the victim goes away with a combination of repeated denials and control of the money.  

Let us know about the F.Forwarder issue which will be useful as well as the photo documentation you already have. 

Note: you may not be able to view the feedback page of your buyer to see where they are registered is their score is ZERO.  Come back for instructions if you need them. 

[bamorris]

There is an "appeal" process.

Surprised no one has suggested this yet. But you can appeal eBay's decision. and the "High Value Claims" team will evaluate your claim. You'll sign an affidavit you were scammed. And then eBay will refund you for the loss.

I hate to say this, but most of the responses in this thread are lacking useful information for you at this point. And your strategy of keeping your bank account empty so eBay can't reach the funds is also bad advice.

The only right answer here for you is to "APPEAL". 

Given your long history here and your likely positive transactions, I'm certain eBay will correct this and you will win your appeal.

[ittybitnot]

And sorry to say, dont sell iPhones on Ebay,has to be one of the most scammed items by buyers.

@bonjourami 

Yes, we (who read here all the time) know this.  Maybe it is time for eBay to post warnings?   IE:  Danger.  A good portion of sales to eBay buyers for IPhones do not end well.  Do not post it for sale unless you can afford to lose it!

Instead we have victim blaming going on in the forums when we have users that have become recipients of the usual scams and need direction instead of "you should have known better".   How are they supposed to know exactly if they don't come here first? 

[dnk1911]

Very true that this might happen to go to a collection agency. Never thought about it but gives you 48 hours as per eBay policy and you can contact eBay for that you are scammed, if no help then you don't have a choice but to refund to scammer.

[bamorris]

The eBay community forums sometimes offer help. But I agree. The nonsense of telling someone what they should have done at a previous point in time is rather unhelpful and risks adding insult to injury.

Why has no one told this member to appeal yet? And why didn't the first response, the author who is a extremely active community member here say "APPEAL"?

The HVC team will likely side with a long time member seller and refund this person for their loss.

Puzzling.

[ten_o_nine]

eBay will not close the case unless return shows "Delivered", did the case say it was delivered under the return tracking number? That's very important, if the return doesn't show delivered, eBay will reimburse you, and if it shows delivered, you can go back to the post office and ask them to update tracking as "wrong address" or or returned to sender, or whatever. 

The post office refused to give you the package so it should not say delivered.

[dnk1911]

That's right. This is the first time I sold the phone on eBay and the last time, learned the hard way by losing money and the phone.

[dnk1911]

Now I know after losing money and phone. I am never going to sell higher-end electronics on eBay. The best option is to sell on local Craigslist.