Scammed by a seller who provides fake tracking numbers
Summary: roralligator shared their experience of being scammed by a seller providing false tracking information. heavenwelkin and marioelegio engaged in the discussion, but no specific details about their conversations were provided.
First time this has happened to me in 20 years.
I buy an item from an eBay seller, pay with PayPal.
Of course nothing ever arrives, and after a few days the item shows as delivered with tracking.
I check the tracking on the FedEx site and it shows an item delivered to another person; only the delivery city is the same as mine.
I open a dispute on eBay, and after the required waiting days during which the seller does not respond, eBay closes it saying the tracking is valid for them.
I open one with PayPal, and they close it for the same reason.
I call FedEx, they check the tracking and tell me that tracking is for another item destined for another person and another address, different from mine.
PayPal can’t do anything unless it receives a signed and stamped document from FedEx stating that that tracking does not refer to a shipment destined for me.
Of course FedEx refuses to do this for privacy reasons.
In short, a joke, with 20 phone calls attached and biblical wait times every single time.
eBay just doesn’t respond, in fact since I opened it with PayPal they keep spamming the message that they won’t review the case because at this point it is in the credit institution’s hands.
After 20 years I think I will officially stop buying on eBay and with PayPal and will go only with Amazon.
Too easy for a seller to scam you if tracking and shipping labels are checked this way.
Luckily it was only 50€ ...
esob86
·4 months agoI received the exact same scam. Ebay and PayPal are purely complicit. I threw away 1071 euros. A disgrace. After 24 years.
fabiomerella1980
·3 months agoHi, could you also let me know privately the store (if it's a professional seller) that scammed you? I'm afraid I got ripped off too...
roralligator
OP1 year agoOk thanks, I'll check into it.
heavenwelkin
·1 year agoFile a fraud report and then go to the bank and open a chargeback request.
Kind regards.
roralligator
OP1 year agoFor €50, imagine if I'm going to file a complaint, not even to be laughed at in the face...
But there's no way in hell I'm buying on eBay again unless I'm forced to...
I ordered the same item on Amazon yesterday, arrived today in perfect condition, and I even paid a few euros less.
I'm the idiot for coming to eBay first, just because Bezos gets on my nerves...
heavenwelkin
·1 year agoBut are you sure it’s the seller’s fault and not the courier?
Basically, you must have been unlucky enough to find a shipment in your city in that same time window...
If eBay ruled against you and PayPal did too....
If you’re the victim of a scam, it should be reported regardless of the amount.
You probably can’t be sure what really happened.
Best regards.
roralligator
OP1 year ago100% sure because:
1 - The seller didn’t even deign to reply to me with half a word, ever.
2- The seller removed every other item from sale and no longer has anything left; keep in mind he had more than 2000 sales in the past, he’s probably shutting down and took the chance to make some extra cash.
2 - The tracking is valid and was provided by the seller, reported on a shipping slip to PayPal tied to my name, so by force of things it was forged.
Of course the fact that there’s a shipment to the same city is strange, he could have some friend inside FedEx who passes him tracking numbers based on the destination locations.
In fact I warned PayPal to be careful because if these are the checks they do, buyer protection is very easy to get around, same for eBay.
NOTE: PayPal didn’t rule against me; the operator told me he was sure I had been scammed, but that they can’t do anything without a formal statement from FedEx saying that tracking number doesn’t refer to me.
FedEx doesn’t issue a formal statement; they told me that by phone and that’s it.
Maybe I should make a fuss and go to the branch or have a lawyer write, but for €50 it’s not worth it.
heavenwelkin
·1 year agoEvery bank has its own way of requesting a chargeback, contact your bank and see what their procedures are.
It might be simpler than expected, it might be enough to fill out a dispute / payment denial form.
Best regards.
roralligator
OP1 year agoAh and the most ridiculous thing is that I bought the item on 01/12 on eBay and paid for it at the same time, and the tracking provided by the seller shows a shipment that started on 30/11...
A bot would do a better job of checking these things...
marioelegio
·1 year agoUnfortunately, by opening the PayPal dispute, you also lost the chance to appeal eBay's decision. Normally, right before the appeal, you speak with an operator, point out the inconsistencies in the tracking, and ask them to also verify the address.
hi
mario