Sold an item, and the buyer sent a cheap item through Amazon back, then used the tracking number

[zuked]

So the gist is I sold a gopro on Ebay for $270.  Buyer got it but said there was something wrong with it.  It was fine when I used it last, but after a bit of back and forth, I agree to take a return.  I buy the Ebay return label, and don't hear a thing for a week.  In addition to the label never being used.

During that week, I receive a package of a cheap calculator from Amazon that I didn't order.  I call them up, and they say someone gifted it to me, but won't tell me who.

A few days later, I get a claims or whatever from Ebay saying the buyer sent the item, that I received it, and that they are refunding the buyer.  

I never received the item, so I email Ebay customer service (since the whatever complaint ticket is already closed and I can't respond to it.)  Ebay customer service says they have a tracking that the item was delivered and gives me the tracking number.  And of course the tracking number provided is the Amazon "gift" tracking number.  

So I have emailed customer service and tell them what happened, and they say to send in a declaration that I did not receive it, which I do through the automated system.  here I think everything is going well.

Now fast forward a few days, and Ebay says they didn't receive the declaration and again favor the buyer.  I also notice that this is under a different SR number than the one I originally sent.

I again send all the information, and they keep going back to the tracking number shows it was delivered.  Now I'm on at least 4 SR numbers, which I listed to them, I've talked to a few different people via email, and none of them seems to want to look at anything but the tracking number and say it was delivered.  

Am I screwed?  Is this how eBay works and rewards scammers?

[gracieallen01]

Are you screwed?  Probably, unless you can get CS attention.  You might file with IC3 and get the report number, and your local PD, and the USPS Postal Inspector (for mail fraud)  Take all the file numbers and try to get the attention of CS.  Nothing is a sure way  of handling it since CS is frequently off-shore or 'hard of hearing'.  Might even talk to A's CS about them being used for the situation, with the file/case numbers in hand.

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

This is the second scam involving Amazon surprise packages this week that I've read..must be " the scam of the month club". I would follow gracieallens advice and follow thru with every business involved here and call ebay and demand to speak to a Super in the states. This is absolutely deplorable and fraudulent and I sure hope you follow thru with this and keep us posted.

[duncanvr]

File a police report for online theft on the buyer and take him to small claims court armed with all the documentation, item photos etc including the amazon tracking number. These scammers need to be held accountable. ebay safety should step in here and ban the buyer from the site he's only going to go and scam another honest seller if he can continue to get away with this type of theft. Something needs to be done to hold these scammer people accountable. Also file for mail fraud at the same time.

[alcoforever]

I am guessing that your buyer is foreign and had the item shipped to a forwarder in the US.   For a SNAD return, the buyer would have to pay for shipment from his country to the forwarder.  Then the forwarder would use the label you provided to send the item back to you.   A messy and expensive business for the buyer.

So rather than go thru wilth all that, the cheap Amazon item is the result.

It could also be that the buyer intended a scam right from the beginning.

If this sort of scam becomes widespread, I can see a lot of sellers no longer shipping to forwarding services.

Follow @gracieallen01  advice and you at least have a chance of winning the case.

[ittybitnot]

If this sort of scam becomes widespread, I can see a lot of sellers no longer shipping to forwarding services.

Though a popular scammer tactic, this scam is NOT just for those that that use international forwarding.  All ebay considers for proof of return is a d/confirmation showing delivery to the seller's zipcode. They don't particularly care that the item was sent to the local library instead of the seller.  Buyers are not required to use the label provided by ebay or the seller.

It seems the hardest part of the whole nefarious process is convincing eBay or the Pal, who have gone to great lengths to make buyer theft the seller's problem, that no return or a faulty return has been made with this method. 

[heygreatwatch]

Can someone explain to me why the buyer even has an option to use their own label? 

Use of the seller's label should be a non-negotiable matter.

It makes no sense to permit the buyer to use their own label. 

Bad for the buyer, bad for the seller.

Just stupid....

[ittybitnot]

Can someone explain to me why the buyer even has an option to use their own label? 

There are instances where a seller is not required to send a return label.  An example would be if a seller accepts returns (for any reason) and a buyer wants to return something for a remorse reason.  These would include changed my mind, found it cheaper elsewhere, don't like it, etc.  These sorts of returns would involve the buyer providing their own label. 

In the case of international sales, a seller cannot provide a label from an international destination, but must send money in advance to pay for return shipping for a 'not as described claim'.  This also holds true if the ebay GSP is used.  When a freight forwarder is involved, the seller need only provide a label from the US location. 

Yes, it seems some of the problems with these fraudulent returns would be solved if it required the buyer to use the label provided, but that would be throwing those buyers under the bus who claim they don't have a printer.   On ebay, fraudulent returns are a historically the seller's problem. 

[cityslickercreations2004]

My thoughts exactly!!!

The majority of scammers will "win" because they are so much better at scamming than most of us.

Ebay could help with this but I am sure I am singing to the choir.

[jayjaspersgarage]

This is yet another example of why I won't sell expensive electronics on ebay.  There is almost no protection for sellers these days.  99% of what I sell does not need any form of electricity.  Sure, over ten yeas of selling on ebay I have been scammed a few times but I learned a few tricks through the experience.  Ebay even refunded me $80 on a scam from a buyer in Brooklyn, N.Y. because I used tracking.  I was lucky on that sale of paper Euros back in 2013 or so before the buyers gained the upper hand more recently.  Any time I sell an item valued over $100 I use the signature required feature.  Sometimes if I get suspicious on a medium priced item between $50 and $99 I will go ahead and add signature required due to a buyer's low feedback score or if they originally emailed me with an odd request such as "will you take 50% of the starting price?".   Selling on ebay is akin to working in middle management.  You have to watch your back from upper management and play by their rules while keeping your eye on your potential customers right in front of you on your screen.

[donsdetour]

Do not forget to contact Amazon and tell them this is fraud on the person giving gift.

[donsdetour]

It is also that you should report this to law enforcement as well.

[zuked]

Just an update.  But I did submit a IC3 and postal service complaint.  When I did both, they just take your information and don't give you any reference number.  

I also sent Ebay another CS complaint, this time saying that I submitted those reports and again, explaining what happened.  So who knows, 10th time is a charm?

Just for clarification.  This was a US to US transaction.  I don't think it was a forwarding service, but it was to a unit b of an address.  So not sure if it was an apartment or business.  Looking on maps, actually looks like a business.  Some auto business, so don't think it was a forwarding service.

[donsdetour]

US to US, contact their state police and file theft through them also. You local or state police should also get a report. From the local or state reports you can get a copy or the report.

[bargainnation]

I might be missing something but it seems like eBay should be able to stop this scam immediately.  It will require eBay employees (not bots) take a look at the case. According to Amazon's information "Purchases shipped by Amazon will show as sent by AMZL_US. If you see tracking number beginning with “TBA”, it’s being delivered Amazon Logistics services." Amazon's tracking number alone shows that an item was purchased on Amazon.

An eBay employee can go to the Amazon web site and put in the "tracking" number provided by the buyer. When the tracking information confirms the item was purchased on Amazon and this is suppose to be the eBay seller's item that the buyer is suppose to return to the eBay seller then this is all the proof eBay needs to know the buyer engaged in fraudulent and illegal activity. 

Anyone with common sense would ask why does the buyer need to buy something from Amazon to "return" to the seller when the buyer has the seller's item in their possession and under no circumstances should the tracking number be from Amazon.