iPhone Buyer Scam! Abuse of eBay Protection!

[skywarnham2004]

Sellers Beware!!! eBay Seller Protection is worthless. I have been a victim of a scam. I recently sold an Apple iPhone 13 that was fully functional to a buyer who was fairly new to eBay. I received a message from the buyer when they received it saying it was defective. They used extortion by demanding a $100 partial refund or a return if I did not comply. I refused it so they opened a return request. I accepted the request and provided them with a return shipping label. The buyer decided to pay for their own label and sent me false tracking. The tracking was to my town but not my address or addressed to my name. This morning eBay decided in favor of the buyer with a refund, because it was delivered at my post office, even though I never received the phone. Now I have to appeal the refund because he committed mail fraud against me. Beware of buyers that go under different identities with low feedback as you will be scammed. Unfortunately, now I have to jump through hoops to retrieve $320 that was just stolen from me by a dishonest buyer. Remember, eBay Seller Protection is not reliable as cases are almost always decided in the buyer's favor! Be careful when selling smartphones on here so you are not the next victim of fraud. Are there any other sellers on here having the same issue I am? 

[skywarnham2004]

I sent the phone to Wilmington, Delaware and the return label came from Brownsburg, Indiana. I looked up the address and it came up as a machine parts distribution center. I have reached out to my local police department, and they are looking into this. A report to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has been filed as well.

[ittybitnot]

@skywarnham2004 

Wilmington, Delaware is home to MANY freight forwarders. They are often in industrial parks that house many different businesses.   I suggest following the previous instructions about contacting eBay via one of the social media portals.  If you get a police report or a Postal Inspectors case number, that would be good, too.  

Simply explain that you have been a victim of a buyer that used a Freight Forwarder in Delaware that has employed the Fake tracking return scam.     Actually, you may be better off that they purchased a different label as the newer version they just use the one you send and alter the address and retain the same tracking number. 

Contact ebay by using the blue message button on this page:  
https://www.facebook.com/eBay/

OR one of these: 

https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

https://x.com/askebay

Do come back and let us know how this turns out for you.  Good luck!