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.

[hartungcards]

You certainly have some pretty high standards for this collection of unpaid customer support representatives that populate this board and make educated guesses on how to solve other people's problems.

Puzzling, indeed.

[ten_o_nine]

There are helpful people in this community that try to give a good advice, but many are here to gain popularity regardless of the response, just like anywhere else.

[hiiragi_tsukasa]

It goes with anything valuable unfortunately, ebay scammers exist and whilst craigslist is better per say, that still has its own risks to be aware of.     I think most of all for us who have been scammed, its not so much the money (well it is) but the more personal feeling of being taken advantage of, and not having anyone in your corner, not least ebay itself because since 1995 its customer service has been atrocious especially when dealing with fraud and shows no signs of improving anytime soon,  especially when it boils down to she says, he says situations and even if you list your auction perfectly, you have photos of your item from every angle possible - someone out there could still try to commit fraud against you and even with an ironclad defense, you did everything right...still doesn't mean ebay will side with you. 

[slati_2013]

If you don't get your phone back, report it stolen and kill it. It will be of no use to the scammer. 

[dnk1911]

I still don't understand after providing eBay with all photographic proof the buyer altered the tracking label which does not have my name and address printed on the label. The name and address do not exist in my town along with my USPS informed delivery account that clearly shows "No Such Number" on this tracking number. Also told eBay customer service that the package was empty when Cleark let me open the package at the post office, this is a pure scam.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

Unfortunately, bricking a phone does nothing if it's gone overseas.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

You need to get it in writing on USPS letterhead that the address on the return package with that tracking # was not YOU or YOUR address.

Then once you have that you can appeal.

Unfortunately the photo won't even be looked at by ebay as they can be doctored.

[bamorris]

I already told you the solution to your problem.

It's unclear why eBay's hand was forced to refund. Did you select "Problem with this Return"?

If yes. And eBay forced your hand to refund the customer closing the return.

IT IS TIME TO APPEAL.

A-P-P-E-A-L

The process is spelled out in one of the closing email.. also here.

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/returns-refunds/appeal-ebays-decision-return-missing-item-buyers

[dnk1911]

I don't know how to contact Apple to lock a stolen phone since my phone "Find My" was disabled and logged out from my account. This is normal before selling phones. Also, in the police report, I gave them a copy of the original purchase receipt of the phone which has serial and IMEI printed on it, they have this on my police report.

[ittybitnot]

Why has no one told this member to appeal yet?

@bamorris 

Maybe because that those familiar with this scam know already that due to a recorded "delivery", the OP is simply going to lose again.  The automated system and the regular outsourced foreign call center customer service agents are not allowed to help with a "fake tracking" issue.  

That is why I specifically asked @dnk1911  upthread if the item was delivered to a US freight forwarder address for a buyer in another country.  Did you know that there are additional protections for sellers that have shipped to freight forwarder addresses that may indeed get this seller a refund a lot faster?  It will not involve any "appeal" and it will not involve the CS reps you get on call back or chat.  

Do you know what sort of other documents WILL be accepted by eBay, and where to seek help?  These may not even be necessary if the problem involves a freight forwarder.  

There has been information indicating that eBay is only allowing "so many trips to the well (appeals)" before summarily denying the victim.  One of those 'chances' should not be wasted on the regular appeal system that 99.9% results in a denial for the victim.  

Buyers that are victims of fake tracking scams can generally go to PayPal or their credit card when they get thrown under the bus.  The seller who is a victim of the phony tracking return scam is not so lucky and must proceed accordingly. 

[bamorris]

@ittybitnot 

Still not a reason to not recommend using the appeal process.

I've personally witnessed dozens of appeals and have yet to see a denial on appeal. I'm a reseller group where we share information like this.

I think you're just giving out bad advice not to try to appeal because you calculated the odds at 99 percent loss.

If you want to win with eBay, you have to follow the processes. The process is "There is a problem with this return". eBay sides with the buyer. Then you file an APPEAL, and eBay has made you whole again.

I just don't see the 99 percent loss in the Appeals process you do. In fact, I haven't seen one declined yet. I'm not saying it doesn't happen. I just haven't seen it.

[albany_sellers]

And they wonder why nobody trusts them to list expensive items on eBay. If eBay even made half an attempt to show us they take fraud serious, maybe we might sell higher end stuff.

[ittybitnot]

and have yet to see a denial on appeal.....

@bamorris 

Were these appeals specifically related to "fake tracking" issues?  

[dnk1911]

I shipped the phone to Miami. Florida from Iowa my state. The package was a USPS fixed-rate small box. I am uploading a photo of the original package tracking label of the buyer I took photo at the post office with the original tracking label which eBay sent to the buyer to use for returning the phone. The buyer altered the address on it and did not put my name and address that why the post office refused to give me. As packages go out to deliver USPS system displays delivered but changes when the carrier comes back system changes from delivered to "No Such Number" in the system. The problem is eBay pays buyers as soon as it goes out from the premises. They did not follow the 48-hour rules for sellers. 

[stainlessenginecovers]

I guess you did not know.

Scammer SCAM I-Phones. 

YOU were scammed. 

It worked.

There is VERY LITTLE you can do about...not unlike a Mugging in an Alley...you know- the 'give me your wallet, phone, watch, rings, while some 'bad guy' holds a knife at you.

You were taken.

You will just have to deal with it, move on, and know that I-Phones are HIGH THEFT items on the interwebs.