Currently getting scammed via buyer sending empty envelope as returned item. Help!

[cop24x7]

Background: Been selling on ebay for 15 years. around 10k sales per month over. Over 530 feedback over multiple accounts, never really dealt with a scam before but i know all the shady things that go on and I just put everything together. If youre reading see tracking or other info that was for the IC3 report and i took it out as it isnt allowed to be posted.

Scammer purchased a pair of shoes I had listed from ebay.com on 4/12/2016. The item is then delivered 4/15/16 see tracking "USPS xxxxxx".

Scammer requested to return the item on 4/14/2016 saying it didn't match the photos yet USPS tracking said the package Says "Departed USPS Facility Las Vegas, NV”

This was the first red flag as she opened a return case when she didn't have the item yet. During this process I send multiple messages only to get back no response. I contact ebay to close the return request and they say wait until 4/19/2016 to get a response. I explain the discrepancy between when the return case was open and where the shoes were. Fast-forward to 4/18/ and I receive an envelope from Cocoa, FL. I open it up and there is nothing in it "USPS xxxxx". I immediately knew what happened, scammer sent a envelope with tracking so she can submit the tracking number to ebay stating that the shoes were returned when in fact an empty envelope was received.http://imgur.com/nyEfPL5

The envelope has no return address but the tracking shows shipped from 10 miles from the delivery address. On paper this looks like the item was shipped to her, she then shipped it back so eBay will automatically side with her to get a refund when I’m left with an empty envelope.

You couldn't even fit one shoe in that envelope, the shoes were a mens size 10 fyi. Here is the tracking number "USPS xxxxx7" which says "Delivered, In/At Mailbox" which you can’t fit a pair of shoes in my mail box. I still have all the evidence intact and will take the items down to the Police Department for case evidence. A couple of notes, The eBay account “xxxx” she’s using is new, no sales or purchases "this is my fault here but ive never had issues with first time buyers". It was made just to commit this scam. Also the name on the paypal account and shipping address cannot be found through public records but if you search the address, you get all her information plus the family's. The complete shipping address is xxxxx. No phone number listed on the receipt. Also another thing to note is that when the empty envelope was delivered and left inside my mailbox I also had other packages delivered by USPS the same exact size as shoe boxes. The larger packages were left on my door step and the envelope was left in the mail box. Is this enough to prove my case? Im posting here so you guys can give me a 3rd prospective on this. Ive been calling ebay to ask whats going on as she isnt replying to my messages via the returns manager, they say wait until today as thats when they can escalate the case and manually close it. Im guessing the scammer will call up today as its the 19th and get the case closed with the empty envelope tracking info. Its 2:35am here currently so i can't call yet but im guessing if i do i will still lose the case and will need to get all my evidence to appeal it.

The biggest mess up on her end would be shipping an envelope. There doesn't seem to be any weight on the label. When they scan do they have this info in there system? If so it will prove that she shipped a 2oz item vs 3Lbs. The postage is also incorrect as Her label says $6.45 to go from Florida to Nevada. And for mine its $14.47 to go Nevada to Florida.

Unreal.

This report will also be sent to and filed with

Better Business Bureau

Consumer protection agency

Individual and their family that victimized me via facebook "not sure when to do this"

ic3.gov Done on 4/19/2016 1:30 AM

Metropolitan Police Department > will do this asap

If theres anything you think i should do or that i'm missing please let me know so i can take action. As you know eBay doesn't give a **bleep** about anything regarding sellers so i'm using all the external sources to win this. I'm also posting so others who find themselves in the same situation know what to do and what to look for.

[gladys-kravitz]

I am sorry this is happening to you. I don't have any words of wisdom...some folks will come by with advice I'm sure. I just wanted to share a link to a similar situation. This was the case of a guy who sold a large air conditioner shipped on a pallet and received back a 10 pound box full of rusty junk if I remember. His persistence in reporting paid off. Good luck.

http://community.ebay.com/t5/Archive-Selling/Buyer-purchases-742-AC-Returns-a-box-of-Scrap-metal-Eba...

[Anonymous]

That is deplorable! I don't know how some people can be so blatantly dishonest, no conscience at all!

You are correct in knowing that eBay will do little, and this buyer is playing off of that knowledge well.  

A bit of recourse you may have is into "scaring" them straight, with a message that doesn't quite point the finger at them, but implies it.

I have not (yet) had this happen to me, but often collect "reply" messages from the boards for potential future problems and keep them in a folder.

Here is what I have for something similar to your case, you could send a message to them along these lines, with the hopes that they will be frightened off not to upload tracking and close the case:

Hi there, 

I received your return package but unfortunately it appears that it may have been tampered with.  An envelope was received, too small for shoes with a very low weight and postage listed on the label. If you did not send it out this way in error, it indeed is a mystery.

  I will immediately file a lost/stolen/rifled package report with the USPS.  They take matters of theft very seriously.  I will also contact your local PO to speak with your postmaster and the carrier on your route regarding the empty package.  In the meantime, please check your email because you will likely be contacted by a postal inspector once the investigation opens.  I apologize for the inconvenience.

Your seller"

OR something along those lines -- if they want off the radar, there is a good chance they will NOT upload that tracking.

[twnpopcards]

Now I can manage to post, don;t forget to file with the USPS for Mail Fraud which is still a Federal Offense and they do not give time off for good behavior or for overcrowding...lol

Good luck getting some pleasure out of what you are having to go through because Ebay will not help you at all.  Even though you have all the evidence on your side its now settled by bots and you will not manage to win the case and if you lose you get a defect for Unresolved Seller Case and its not worth it.  But I hope you can nail them every other way and make it so they gladly return your shoes!!

David

Twnpopcards

[a_c_green]

File a police report with your local police department. That will net you a report number; use that as a reference when contacting the buyer's local police department to report the fraud. Also contact your postmaster and/or postal inspector, and ask for their help in contacting the buyer's local PO to report the fraud there.

You need to come down on the buyer hard and fast; the fake return shipment shows that they know exactly what they're doing, so there's no point in being polite and pretending that some sort of "mistake" has been made. There hasn't. Be aware that eBay/PayPal will be of little to no help here, as the buyer knows how to play the game. You need to do your own aggressive followup here, and do it quickly. Good luck.

[cop24x7]

UPDATE 4/19/2016 1:10PM

Called up eBay and changed the return request into a claim. Spoke to CS and didn't spill the beans about the envelope. Just let them know about the member opening the case before receiving the item. Upon further research cs stated that because the listing said no returns there was no way for them to return the item just because they wanted to. Stacked with the fact that they opened the case when the item was still in transit showed that they were already trying to abuse the system. I won the case and it has been closed out. I did ask them "what if they returned the item and it just showed up" They told me that because the return isnt authorized its considered an unauthorized return and they cant do anything about it because ebay didn't allow the return. Second i asked if they could open up a case with paypal which im assuming they will. He said ebay and paypal only share info if the dispute is escalated to a claim which is what i just did on the phone. As soon as it hits this status the scammer cant even open a case for "item not as described" because the claim was denied and any further requests for cases will be denied. So the thing is she couldn't just return the item anyway as i take no returns. No if i would have returns accepted and that blank envelope tracking would have been on there this would be a different outcome. I will still file cases and also leave the buyer a nice message of everything ive done so far. They're in the dark right now as far as theyre concerned.

UPDATE 1:16PM

The scammer just report that they didnt make the payment via paypal and im guessing a chargeback.

UPDATE 1:43

Uploading all the documents and reports to paypal to win the case. Its funny that as soon as i win the ebay case they open the paypal "i didn't purchase that!" Case

lmfao

[cop24x7]

Update 2:39PM Called paypal and they checked her claim to see if any unauthorized access on her account happened and what do you know... nope. won the paypal case.

CASE CLOSED!

[mkaczorsee]

Glad to hear all worked out in your favor!! Congrats!!!

[twnpopcards]

---

@cop24x7 wrote:

Update 2:39PM Called paypal and they checked her claim to see if any unauthorized access on her account happened and what do you know... nope. won the paypal case.

CASE CLOSED!

---

Congratulations!!  I hope it stays that way and this is the end of it, but keep everything together because they can still file a claim with their Credit Card Company and initiate a Chrageback!!  My guess is they will as soon as they receive the item and then you start over on that one.

Please keep us informed if the buyer does do that.

David

Twnpopcards

[fuglyart]

I am being scammed from the same person, same address, fake names, new ebay username.

The buyer said the Apple Watch I sent them did not work, so ebay sided with them and refunded them once the return showed as delivered. Well, I pulled the delivery info at the Post Office and it was sent to a different address (without a name on it). Same thing - flat rate envelope weighing 2 ounces instead of almost 2 pounds.

I've uploaded the printout the USPS gave me, but don't have much faith in ebay, and am frankly done selling on there. Buyer has watch and money now.