Unpreventable Scam?

[stevenborck]

A couple weeks ago I got scammed on a high priced item I sold. The buyer claimed I sent them the wrong item in hopes I would be forced to give them a full refund so that they'd get the actual item I sent them for free. I have proof that I sent them the correct item, but my appeal was unsuccessful because I can't prove that someone from USPS didn't switch out the item during transit.

This means that there is absolutely nothing you can do to prevent this scam. It's also literally impossible to prove that the person is scamming you unless you can prove that the package wasn't tampered with during transit.

The best idea I have to possibly counteract this scam, with how easily eBay will side with the buyer in almost every case, is to user tamper evidence tape. The buyer would still be able to open the package and claim that the tape was tampered with before they received it. Obviously you'd be able to pursue the matter with USPS, but it still wouldn't be enough to not be forced to refund the buyer.

[donsdetour]

Make sure to put them on your blocked bidders list.

Item not as described leaves you with two choices;

Return for refund,

let them keep item and you refund.

eBay has no idea what you sent; they have no idea what was received.

So the buyer is always right.

From this is

rule no.1: if you can not afford to lose item and money payed for it:

Do not list it for sale on the internet.

[albertabrightalberta]

Unfortunately, this is a scam that can't be prevented. 

It's unlikely that the item was stolen or tampered with and it's more than likely that the buyer is scamming you. 

But when a buyer claims NAD, you have to either refund or tell the buyer to "return for refund" and pay for the return shipping label. If you choose the latter, do not refund until you receive the return.

Yeah, you'll be out the money but to give a refund without requiring the return, you're reinforcing the behavior. 

My suggestion is to click to accept the return and have the shipping label supplied by ebay. They'll take the money from your account. 

Sorry it's not what you want to hear. 

[albertabrightalberta]

I have another suggestion that I've had decent luck with. While it could be an empty threat, I've found that scammers suddenly "find" the missing items after they read the message.

Before accepting the "return for refund," I'd send a message along the lines of this: 

"Dear buyer, 

I'm sorry you claim not to have received the item I sent. If someone tampered with the package, that's mail fraud and is a crime. USPS and the government take tampering with US mail very seriously and will investigate all claims and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. 

I will be filing a complaint with the US inspector general and will supply them with your contact information included name, address and phone number. They will expect your full cooperation.

As soon as you confirm that you didn't receive the correct item, I shall submit my report for investigation.

Sincerely, 

Your not-to-be-scammed seller" 

[buyselljack2016]

I am not questioning your honesty, but you can not prove what you sent 🙂   , and as others have posted...........  it makes no difference to eBay. When a claim is made by the buyer there is a procedure to be followed, and we as sellers end up on the short end of the stick.

[12345jamesstamps]

The "no returns"...buyer thinks they can get a refund and don't have to return anything.

I decided to finally accept returns to make buyer to return item before a refund. It makes buyer to repackage item and go to the post office or UPS or whatever to mail it since not all buyers like to have to go through the time to send something back. Plus they don't get a refund until the tracking shows item has been returned to you. I suggest accepting returns on your future items up for sale. Make the buyer do some work to get that refund. 

[stevenborck]

Unfortunately it's too late to use as a threat since they already returned it and I already filed a fail fraud complaint with USPIS and an IC3 report with the FBI. Hopefully something will come of those reports, but I'm not holding my breath.

[stevenborck]

At the very least I can prove what they returned is not the same as what I sent them (I have very solid evidence of this). In theory I could take a video of me packing the box and driving it to the post office, but it would be absolutely useless to do anyways.

[stevenborck]

It doesn't actually matter if you accept returns or not. If their reason falls under eBay's money back guarantee policy, they are entitled to a return/refund no matter what your return policy is. I also did make them return the item the claimed I sent them.

[buyselljack2016]

Unfortunately, in the eyes of eBay,  you can also, .............   not prove what you got back was not what you sent. 

[caldreamer]

EBAY Money Back Guarantee (supersedes "no returns" policy) and allows customers to claim "not as  described, damaged, counterfeit".   Customers are NOT required to provide "proof of their claims".

If you accepted this return (at least you would get the item back).    When you refuse to "accept this return" (EBAY will do it automatically) and allows customer to keep "both item and your money".

Sorry this happened to you but selling online is not without risk.

[gamersbaystore]

You did the right thing to file a mail fraud report with USPS. The postal service has taken legal action against buyers who ripped me off in the past many times. Once they go after a scammer, they file charges against them for every reported instance of fraud. Then the scammers are ordered to pay restitution as well, and you get your money back!

The last clown that ripped me off also ripped off a bunch of other ebay sellers, was ordered to pay restitution to all of us.

Even in cases of INR's the postal service has backed me up, threatening legal action against buyers.

And while you're right that its your word against the buyer's, USPS doesn't care, enough complaints from multiple merchants and they will take action.

[donsdetour]

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@stevenborck wrote:

At the very least I can prove what they returned is not the same as what I sent them (I have very solid evidence of this). In theory I could take a video of me packing the box and driving it to the post office, but it would be absolutely useless to do anyways.

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Well file an abusive buyer report with ebay as well. will not help you but may aid some other person in times to come.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/reporting-issue-buyer?id=4084 

[monster-deals]

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@stevenborck wrote:

The best idea I have to possibly counteract this scam, with how easily eBay will side with the buyer in almost every case, is to user tamper evidence tape.

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Don't waste your time thinking about it any further. It will do absolutely nothing.

[dbfolks166mt]

     Was/is this a different item than the one you posted about on 14 July or is it the same item? Since you mentioned it was high priced I am assuming at least one of the scams was for the Fargo DTC4500 Dual-Sided Color ID Card Printer/Encoder. Not what I would characterize as a high target items for a scammer but these days anything seems to be fair game. 

     I won't dwell on the "seller does not accept returns" others have already addressed that and made recommendations. In this case it would have made little difference since the buyer would have won a NAD case even if you did accept returns. 

     An item like the Fargo DTC4500 Dual-Sided Color ID Card Printer/Encoder would, I think have a serial number somewhere. If you have not already filed a police report with the buyers local police department I would suggest you do so. You have the buyers name, address, etc. It may not go anywhere but if the local police department has a history of reports involving this individual they may investigate further.