Tracking number scam

[lmp319986]

So I recently ordered a switch that was sold at $254. The seller had made an account the day the listing was put up and already sold a few. I questioned them on some things and the response I got was unsettling, as the grammar was off. However, my shipment was sent quickly, so I just waited for my package.

On the day of the supposed arrival, I had to call UPS using the tracking number that was provided. They said that the number was delivered to the same city but was addressed to a completely different person and home address that they could not provide me with due to privacy policies. I was getting worried, so I contacted ebay via online chat. The person seemed very helpful and opened a case for me, promising that I would get a refund as a one-time courtesy if the seller does not reply with picture proof of the shipping label with my address and name alongside the tracking number. They were given 3 days, so I waited and finally decided to have ebay step in to fulfill their promise. However, they closed the case without my promised refund, so I'm trying to file an appeal. I have the chat transcript of the promised refund, but I'm having a hard time getting in contact with a representative that will handle my case. They keep trying to transfer me to another person on the chat line, but after waiting for an hour or so, I figured that I was abandoned. I already tried contacting UPS to get documentation affirming that I did not receive a package under the provided tracking number. They said they cannot help me, and I must handle it with the seller (who has been MIA these days). I also filed a ic3.gov report, but I'm afraid that there will be no follow up to help my appeal to ebay.

Right now, I'm trying to see how paypal can help me. The response is slow, but I dont know or have anywhere else I can look to. Things are not looking so great, it's a substantial amount of money, and I'm losing sleep over this due to anxiety.

[paradiso*bella*a*venire]

The Rep may have misspoke and other reps are having to back peddle on that info...aka, passing you off...who knows

You really should also take the time to report the person to Ebay...hopefully  others have done the same and with enough reports, that person will be gone

[lmp319986]

Hi, thanks for the quick reply. I addressed my worries to the first representative at the time about the seller pulling the disappearing act, and they said I would still be eligible for the refund. Low and behold, I check the profile after handing over the case for Ebay to pursue further- the user was now unregistered, and the negative feedback I provided was gone. No refund at all, and the appeal on my part is looking grim.

[lmp319986]

Also, if anyone possibly had a problem with the same order for a nintendo switch, please message me so we can get our refund from this seller. Maybe we can help each other out.

[paradiso*bella*a*venire]

Are you still in an active case with this? Or has Ebay closed it out?

If they closed everything, take this to paypal. If they wont help, take it to your card company. They hate it when you do a charge back so hopefully paypal will handle it for you

keep us posted!

PS...voicing it to the rep wasnt an official report, but now that the seller has disappeared, there may be no point in reporting them now unless Ebay was the cause for their  departure..

[lmp319986]

My original case was closed with the explanation that I will not be getting the refund because the tracking number showed that it was delivered in my city. The number does not specify an exact name or address at all, so I'm trying to appeal this explanation in hopes that they investigate further or at least push more for the seller's response.

I sent 2 emails about my appeal, so I will update this thread when I get a response. Thanks for the reply.

[edwedw8383]

Suppose for a moment that Jo-Pat in your city got spring fever, and ordered flower pots from Garden Pardon, to be delivered by UPS.

Your seller borrows that UPS tracking number (buys it from a website) to prove that your bullwhip switch was delivered, also in the same city. You call UPS, they cannot share Jo-Pat's address, because that package of pots has nothing what-so-ever to do with you?

Both eBay and PayPal will rule against you (your seller knew this) since the bots will overrule any promises the humans make (your seller knew this). Done.

Instead, call your card issuer and they will call UPS, or 3-way call call UPS with you, to confirm that the UPS label never had your address on it, and issue your refund.

[paradiso*bella*a*venire]

I sure hope the appeal goes your way. 👍🏻 

If it doesnt, you have two other avenues to explore

[lmp319986]

I am in queue with the bank right now. Hopefully this works, the UPS lady earlier was not willing to help me no matter how in insistent I was... I will keep you guys posted.

[lmp319986]

Update: so I just got off the phone with a representative from my bank, and he seemed very sympathetic about my case, especially about the part with the lack of customer service. He filed a claim for me, and I should be hearing back from them in 10 days (although he said the claims department is usually more efficient with these types of cases). He was very understanding to the point that I almost teared up as he told me that the case is very likely to be in my favor. I'm trying not to put all my hopes on this, but it really made me feel better.

Meanwhile, if anyone has any other suggestions, please submit to this post. I could really use the back up in worse case scenarios.

[picknparley]

UPS has been targeted by the scammers because of the limited tracking capabilities. And it doesn't appear that UPS has any support for customers, but continues to take the shipping payments from the scammers. 

[paradiso*bella*a*venire]

---

@lmp319986 wrote:

Update: so I just got off the phone with a representative from my bank, and he seemed very sympathetic about my case, especially about the part with the lack of customer service. He filed a claim for me, and I should be hearing back from them in 10 days (although he said the claims department is usually more efficient with these types of cases). He was very understanding to the point that I almost teared up as he told me that the case is very likely to be in my favor. I'm trying not to put all my hopes on this, but it really made me feel better.

Meanwhile, if anyone has any other suggestions, please submit to this post. I could really use the back up in worse case scenarios.

---

I think your card company was the last line of defense. The order that disputes usually go in are

Ebay

Paypal

Card company

Thats great though! They gave you some hope and I wouldn't  think they  would  get  your hopes  up like that only for  it to be just lip service.   Im rooting for ya 👍🏻 

[sweetwatercalifornia]

Just to be sure:

- Your eBay and PayPal account both have YOUR shipping address, correct?

- You won the Switch on eBay, and paid with PayPal, correct?

- The seller shipped the item, and provided tracking, correct?

- The tracking number clearly shows that the package was NOT shipped to your shipping address, correct?

I'm not gonna put anything past eBay, as I think it has become an awful place for sellers.  But I suspect(ed) that it is still a playground for buyers, as they are usually the ones who hold all the cards.

[lmp319986]

Hi, to answer you questions:
-This was not a bidding item. I bought it right away, and there were other people who bought the same thing because they claimed to have a limited supply of this item.
-I paid with paypal automatically.
-The item was shipped right away with a tracking number. It was a speedy shippind, and I had to pay for the shipping as well ($29).
-The tracking number i was provided showed that it was delivered to my city. It did not list a specific address because it was addressed to another person with a different address in my city. I'm not sure how they got the tracking number, and I suspect that they somehow obtained it through illegal means. I thought ebay's buyer protection would help me with this case, as they said the seller needs to provide photo evidence of my ful name and address on the label that has that tracking number they provided specifically. Ebay and I reached out to the seller on separate occasions. No response- so that is good on grounds for suspicion right?
Also, the seller was new here when I bought the item. After some negative feedback around the time I filed the claim, the seller vanished. I got no refund. Ebay said that all that matters is that the tracking number that landed in my city was sufficient. No checking if my actual address was connected to the tracking number at all- which makes me so frustrated because UPS would not even provide me a document saying that my address has no package. I am trying to visit them tomorrow to see what I can do because Paypal finally got back to me and said I NEED the documentation even though UPS alreadys said no. I'm starting to lose hope because paypal is indicating that they are not taking my serious inquiry at all. I'll try to see what can be done when I go to UPS tomorrow. I will also try to email them as well.

Please note that I do not use ebay that often, so I am not familiar enough to trick the system. It seems that the system itself is swindling me, and I'm trying to do as much research I can to get my money back. I've never had problems with orders here before, so this is making me quite frustrated.

[lmp319986]

I want to add another update: Paypal got back to me and said that I must have the documentation that says the tracking number was not addressed to my specific address at all. In the morning, the UPS rep I spoke to would not grant me this favor even though it did not require any specific private information about the seller or the recipient of this tracking number. All they needed to say was something along the lines of "This [customer name] did not recieve a package at [my address] with the this [specific tracking number]" under their official document label. I searched online and some people were able to obtain it (and even the private information) and some people were not. My luck says I will not get any help tomorrow.

So, when I chatted with the Paypal rep (because they do not takes calls?), they said that if the claim was filed with my bank, the have to close the claim I filed with them. Fair enough- so I asked, if the claim is not solved with my bank, then can I still come back and file with paypal afterwards?- legit question for someone who is experiencing this for the first time. I pretty much got a response saying "please understand, we cannot do it at the same time". I know that's why I asked if I could do it one by one it the other two things do not work. The rep did not try to understand my difficulties- and doing this through chatrooms with multiple reps answring at different times really make this harder. 

TLDR- basically, my bank has not filed a claim yet, and paypal keeps referring me back to UPS, who refuses to help me write a simple confirmation. I would file a police report, but I doubt that this is up to their responsibility.