Another ebay scam thread

T

Tom Roper

Veteran
I recently won an auction for an item, ebay and USPS tracking said it was delivered to my mailbox, but nothing in the mailbox. I wrote the seller, he sent proof of delivery. I took the tracking number to the post office, they said it was delivered to my mailbox. I said it wasn't, they looked deeper, said "is this your address?" I said no, not my address. "Do you work at that address?" I do not. I contacted the business located at the address they gave, the business said they received a parcel addressed to them, but when they opened it there was nothing inside. They fortunately were able to find the empty carton in the trash. The shipping label had the correct tracking number, but a different name and address. The way the scam works, is the seller prints his shipping label from ebay which automatically generates a tracking number, but then the seller makes his own shipping label using the correct tracking number but he changes the name and address to someone in your zip code, and sends them an empty box. I presented the facts to ebay. The seller disputed, decision in my favor, full refund plus shipping. I had him dead to rights, had the shipping label he used showing the wrong name and address. Ebay knew the address the parcel was supposed to go to, seller was a total fraud. But if the USPS had not assisted me, might not have been able to prove. Perhaps they share delivery address with ebay anyway, I would hope so, but on the chance they actually do deliver something in error to a wrong address, I don't know how you would prove it wasn't received if they said it was.
 
Thank you for sharing.

Sorry if this is obvious, but, let’s say he just shipped the empty box straight to you. How would you prove it was empty when you received it and that you didn’t just take the item out, take a pic of the box and claim it was empty?

I don’t see why the false address is a key part of the strategy?
 
filmguy123 said:
I don’t see why the false address is a key part of the strategy?
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Plausible deniability. Or, at least, the hope of that. The scammer is operating under the assumption that the buyer won’t dig as deep as Tom did. Many people won’t.

Tracking shows that the package was delivered. Buyer says it wasn’t. Scammer assumes it can be written off to porch pirates, but since the package was actually delivered and tracking backs that up also hopes that he has no responsibility at that point.
 
Yikes. Glad it worked out. From what I understand ebay typically sides with buyers these days in disputes (which makes it scary to SELL there...which I havent for many years).

What were seller’s “stats” (% good feedback, how long registered there, does their history show theyve sold similar items, etc)?
 
Feedback is very important.

I think the worst case scenario would be a 100% buyer vs. a 100% seller; both with hundreds of [obviously] positive ratings...which is probably very rare. Most of the time it's one vs. the other (0%/low vs. high).

And I always think about the empty box or a box of rocks...it has to be a nightmare for eBay and Amazon and others to deal with these situations every day.
 
Gotcha. I have low feedback as both (100 and something as buyer, far fewer as seller. Probably used ebay since 2003 or so).
 
NorBro said:
Feedback is very important.

I think the worst case scenario would be a 100% buyer vs. a 100% seller; both with hundreds of [obviously] positive ratings...which is probably very rare. Most of the time it's one vs. the other (0%/low vs. high).

And I always think about the empty box or a box of rocks...it has to be a nightmare for eBay and Amazon and others to deal with these situations every day.
Click to expand...

As a buyer/seller on ebay with 750 100% feedbacks, this is no longer the case for sellers as ebay does not allow you to leave negative feedback for buyers anymore.
 
True, true...but I didn't mention anything about leaving negative feedback for buyers. Just speaking about a 100% rating from the person buying something or selling something. I guess if you're only a professional seller then that's something to consider.

I try to avoid eBay when I can because the ~13% (including PP) is just too high for me. But when I do sell, it's usually something pretty expensive. And even though almost all of my ratings are from buying from other people, I have no trouble selling the items as most only see the 100% and I think feel comfortable.
 
filmguy123 said:
Thank you for sharing.

Sorry if this is obvious, but, let’s say he just shipped the empty box straight to you. How would you prove it was empty when you received it and that you didn’t just take the item out, take a pic of the box and claim it was empty?

I don’t see why the false address is a key part of the strategy?
Click to expand...

What's different is if you receive an empty box, or the seller shipped you something different than what you ordered, you know straightaway you've been spoofed and report it to ebay that way. But if your package simply does not arrive, ebay asks you to contact the seller, whereupon he's prepared to supply tracking proof from USPS that says, "A package was delivered to your mailbox at 77042 at 2:14 pm." That sets you chasing a false lead and reporting a different narrative.
 
As for the seller rating, he had 100% positive feedback but a very small number of transactions, and he listed no other items for sale. I admit, the warning signs were there. As a buyer, I have 100% positive feedback and a couple dozen purchase transactions, have not sold anything.
 
In the unlikely scenario that eBay won't side with you, almost impossible, you dispute it through PayPal and they will resolve it most likely in your favor.
 
I remember hearing about this type of scam a while back. And one of the reasons that they're probably using the USPS instead of UPS or FedEx is the empty box. Even if you ship something ground with a label you printed at home with the weight filled in, when you drop a package at UPS or FedEx, the package is weighed, so it would definitely be a 'tell' and proof for the victim that they were shipped an empty box.
 
Run&Gun said:
I remember hearing about this type of scam a while back. And one of the reasons that they're probably using the USPS instead of UPS or FedEx is the empty box. Even if you ship something ground with a label you printed at home with the weight filled in, when you drop a package at UPS or FedEx, the package is weighed, so it would definitely be a 'tell' and proof for the victim that they were shipped an empty box.
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You mean they'd have to put in the right amount of rocks to get to the correct weight?
 
Again call eBay and keep calling back until you get satisfaction. eBay can not be known as a place where scam operators fleece buyers. They will give you your money back . Even if there is a legit dispute they'll refund both parties. Second if you bought through PayPal they will side with the buyer unfortunately even if the buyer is scammer. Again dispute it and they will give you your money back if you are the buyer. Squeakey wheel. As sellers be aware that PayPal keeps records for six months, eBay and usps less time. This creates a scam where buyers wait five months before opening a case through PayPal. No records on usps and eBay and they refund buyer. With the new changes to eBay in next 2 years this should change.
 
lambert said:
Again call eBay and keep calling back until you get satisfaction. eBay can not be known as a place where scam operators fleece buyers. They will give you your money back . Even if there is a legit dispute they'll refund both parties. Second if you bought through PayPal they will side with the buyer unfortunately even if the buyer is scammer. Again dispute it and they will give you your money back if you are the buyer. Squeakey wheel. As sellers be aware that PayPal keeps records for six months, eBay and usps less time. This creates a scam where buyers wait five months before opening a case through PayPal. No records on usps and eBay and they refund buyer. With the new changes to eBay in next 2 years this should change.
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Hi Lambert,
ebay refunded the item and the shipping charge almost immediately. I phoned their fraud department the same day as the discovery, they took note of all the facts, then asked me to write the seller and ask for a refund. I wrote the seller and asked for the refund, the log shows that he then opened a case, ebay made a decision in my favor for full refund plus shipping within about five minutes. Below is the case log, reads from bottom up.

Mar. 26 :
The case was resolved

Mar. 26 :
The seller has opened a case

Mar. 25 :
You sent a message
Comments
Seller, I am requesting a refund of $171.38. A parcel identified by tracking number LW327356289DE was sent to an addressee and location not named on the tracking number. With the assistance of the United States Postal Service, I was able to obtain the delivery address. I contacted the business site in-person, whereupon the manager informed that a parcel addressed to them had arrived 3/23/19. When they opened the parcel there was nothing inside. I was presented the shipping materials which included an envelope, address label, tracking number and commercial invoice stating a valuation of $10 USD. The ebay listing 202616377214 also misrepresented the item location as U.S. when the origin was China.

Mar. 23 :
The seller added tracking details
Comments
Status Delivered March 23, 2019 at 2:01 pm Delivered, In/At Mailbox AURORA, CO 80015

Mar. 23 :
You didn't get the item
You requested
The item
Comments
At this point, not an issue with the seller but with USPS which reports the item as delivered but has not. Here is the tracking number: LW327356289DE
 
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