cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Scammed by a buyer using a fraudulent zip code?

I am worried that I will be scammed by a buyer using a freight forwarding service. When purchasing my $125 JBL speaker the buyer provided a correct street address, but an incorrect zip code (both zip codes are verified addresses somehow). I purchased and printed the label through eBay. I believe the post office system corrected the zip code 'error' and delivered the package to the corrected zip. Package now shows delivered. Customer claims they did not receive the package.

 

Now, from eBay's point of view, the order was for Zip Code #1 but the tracking history shows delivery to Zip Code #2. Will they close the case in buyers favor?  

I called the freight company, who has zip code #2 listed on their website (because its their real zip, I believe the buyer intentionally gave me a fraudulent zip). English isnt their first language, they claim both zip codes are correct (??), and they claim its the post offices fault, and that they receive 500 packages a day and 50 of them are wrong. That seems highly unlikely 

Message 1 of 13
latest reply
1 BEST ANSWER

Accepted Solutions

Scammed by a buyer using a fraudulent zip code?

Thanks for the help everyone - this case was closed in my favor. 

View Best Answer in original post

Message 12 of 13
latest reply
12 REPLIES 12

Scammed by a buyer using a fraudulent zip code?


@iamacollector55 wrote:

I am worried that I will be scammed by a buyer using a freight forwarding service. When purchasing my $125 JBL speaker the buyer provided a correct street address, but an incorrect zip code (both zip codes are verified addresses somehow). I purchased and printed the label through eBay. I believe the post office system corrected the zip code 'error' and delivered the package to the corrected zip. Package now shows delivered. Customer claims they did not receive the package.

 

Now, from eBay's point of view, the order was for Zip Code #1 but the tracking history shows delivery to Zip Code #2. Will they close the case in buyers favor? 


I think there's some possibility that that could happen, and that you'd have to appeal it. This is one of those sticky areas where the USPS has one ZIP for the community and another for a specific location within that community, such as an industrial complex or some such thing. The local PO serves both and doesn't care which ZIP is on the package, but their database can "correct" the ZIP from one to the other when validating the street address, which sounds like what's happened in this case.

 

What date did the reshipper receive the package, and what date did the buyer file his Item Not Received dispute?

Message 2 of 13
latest reply

Scammed by a buyer using a fraudulent zip code?


@iamacollector55 wrote:

Package now shows delivered.

 

Will they close the case in buyers favor? 


If tracking ON EBAY says it's delivered, you're protected from a false INR claim.

Message 3 of 13
latest reply

Scammed by a buyer using a fraudulent zip code?

If the tracking doesn't show delivery in the buyer's zip code, you will lose the case. Many zip codes have the same addresses in them so the zip code is necessary.
Message 4 of 13
latest reply

Scammed by a buyer using a fraudulent zip code?


@cr-8076 wrote:

@iamacollector55 wrote:

Package now shows delivered.

 

Will they close the case in buyers favor? 


If tracking ON EBAY says it's delivered, you're protected from a false INR claim.


No, it has to show delivered to the zip code on the buyer's payment.  The seller will lose this one unless he can prove that the buyer's zip didn't contain the buyer's address.  

Message 5 of 13
latest reply

Scammed by a buyer using a fraudulent zip code?

eBay considers many tracking anomalies as Delivered.

So @iamacollector55 if eBay says Shipping Status is Delivered, you're protected.

 

PS @theferretflies I thought we agreed we're not talking to ourselves?

Message 6 of 13
latest reply

Scammed by a buyer using a fraudulent zip code?


@a_c_green wrote:

@iamacollector55 wrote:

I am worried that I will be scammed by a buyer using a freight forwarding service. When purchasing my $125 JBL speaker the buyer provided a correct street address, but an incorrect zip code (both zip codes are verified addresses somehow). I purchased and printed the label through eBay. I believe the post office system corrected the zip code 'error' and delivered the package to the corrected zip. Package now shows delivered. Customer claims they did not receive the package.

 

Now, from eBay's point of view, the order was for Zip Code #1 but the tracking history shows delivery to Zip Code #2. Will they close the case in buyers favor? 


I think there's some possibility that that could happen, and that you'd have to appeal it. This is one of those sticky areas where the USPS has one ZIP for the community and another for a specific location within that community, such as an industrial complex or some such thing. The local PO serves both and doesn't care which ZIP is on the package, but their database can "correct" the ZIP from one to the other when validating the street address, which sounds like what's happened in this case.

 

What date did the reshipper receive the package, and what date did the buyer file his Item Not Received dispute?


tyler@ebay  this is what I was talking about in the chat. eBay should facilitate by maintaining a list of the addresses serviced by the biggest 5 or 6  forwarding companies to help resolve these types of claims CORRECTLY for both the buyer and the seller.

 

Member of the Grumpy Old Man crew
Message 7 of 13
latest reply

Scammed by a buyer using a fraudulent zip code?

If this is the forwarding company located in Doral, Florida, we have dealt with the zip code anomaly in the past - and it all worked out fine. There is some confusing explanation from the USPS that was passed to Bay when we experienced an issue and eBay accepted that and ruled the parcel as delivered. Unfortunately I can not locate my notes on that case - it was a few years ago.

Message 8 of 13
latest reply

Scammed by a buyer using a fraudulent zip code?

Lots of times there are disputes over the city/zip when it comes to property addresses. Its true that both can be correct. USPS may say its one zip, and surveyor may say its another, its on a border, needs to be remapped or some other such thing. 

Message 9 of 13
latest reply

Scammed by a buyer using a fraudulent zip code?


@cr-8076 wrote:

eBay considers many tracking anomalies as Delivered.

So @iamacollector55 if eBay says Shipping Status is Delivered, you're protected.

 

PS @theferretflies I thought we agreed we're not talking to ourselves?


What?

Message 10 of 13
latest reply

Scammed by a buyer using a fraudulent zip code?


@dtexley3 wrote:

@a_c_green wrote:

@iamacollector55 wrote:

I am worried that I will be scammed by a buyer using a freight forwarding service. When purchasing my $125 JBL speaker the buyer provided a correct street address, but an incorrect zip code (both zip codes are verified addresses somehow). I purchased and printed the label through eBay. I believe the post office system corrected the zip code 'error' and delivered the package to the corrected zip. Package now shows delivered. Customer claims they did not receive the package.

 

Now, from eBay's point of view, the order was for Zip Code #1 but the tracking history shows delivery to Zip Code #2. Will they close the case in buyers favor? 


I think there's some possibility that that could happen, and that you'd have to appeal it. This is one of those sticky areas where the USPS has one ZIP for the community and another for a specific location within that community, such as an industrial complex or some such thing. The local PO serves both and doesn't care which ZIP is on the package, but their database can "correct" the ZIP from one to the other when validating the street address, which sounds like what's happened in this case.

 

What date did the reshipper receive the package, and what date did the buyer file his Item Not Received dispute?


tyler@ebay  this is what I was talking about in the chat. eBay should facilitate by maintaining a list of the addresses serviced by the biggest 5 or 6  forwarding companies to help resolve these types of claims CORRECTLY for both the buyer and the seller.

 


Thanks for the example @dtexley3.

 

Hi @iamacollector55 - if you sent the package to the address provided on eBay we would consider it successfully delivered if the city or ZIP code matches the information the buyer provided. If the item scans as delivered in the same city, but a different ZIP code I recommend asking eBay to step in when you are able to so we can get this found in your favor. 

 

In the unusual event that they do not, we'd want you to work with CS directly so they can review all the options we have available for you. Thanks!

Tyler,
eBay
Message 11 of 13
latest reply

Scammed by a buyer using a fraudulent zip code?

Thanks for the help everyone - this case was closed in my favor. 

Message 12 of 13
latest reply

Scammed by a buyer using a fraudulent zip code?

Glad this was resolved in your favor. Here I thought I was protecting myself from shill/ghost bidders by listing all my items as Buy It Now and I find myself in the midst of a similar situation: The buyer contacted me a full week after the package was delivered, saying it was delivered to the wrong zip code and that he didn't have it. It appears that many unscrupulous buyers use the confusion caused by situations where zip codes that lack a physical Post Office location are serviced by Post Offices in an adjacent one. In my case, the package was going to 97218. The delivery shows as 97213, which is the adjacent zip that serves the former. A nice, informative conversation with a postal worker at that post office explained that there would have been a warning/flag had it been delivered to the wrong place. She provided her first and last name and assured me this was delivered to the correct address. Unfortunately, the USPS won't provide anything in writing. I am on pins and needles as I am out $500 if I lose. And the feeling of being scammed really hurts. eBay simply doesn't do enough to protect sellers.

Message 13 of 13
latest reply