Buyer zip code return scam for $600

[kirkland]

Sold an $600 item, buyer opened return but ends up pulling the zip code scam. For those unfamiliar with this scam, it involves sending a ⊗⊗⊗⊗ package to some random address at your zip code. eBay checks the tracking, sees it was delivered to your zip code, and thats all the proof they need for them to determine that the buyer shipped the item "to you". They have no way of knowing what specific address it sent to, so they automatically side with the sender, and you get screwed out of your money. It was "delivered", after all.

Anyone been in this situation before? I have all the documents I need to prove my case, but its always a gamble with eBay escalations. Not only did the buyer not use the shipping label I provided (point 1), but I also managed to go to the post office and get an official printout of the label the scammer used. Surprise surprise, it was actually addressed to a department store in my town (point 2). Uploading these documents is trivial, but I dont trust ebay CS. One youtuber I watch who was in this same position said it took him months of constant calling to speak to someone with the authority to recompense him, and to me that time wasted would be more lucratively spent elsewhere.

I could also message the buyer the proof I have and threaten to file a police report unless he closes the case. But he could always initiate a chargeback later down the line for some BS reason, and Im back to square one. Scammers gonna scam.

Lastly, since Im a TRS, I can also deduct 50% of the refund and leave it at that. Its guaranteed money in the pocket, and better than nothing. Im almost leaning towards this options, tbh.

What would you guys do?

[agent006140]

Did you check his feedback?
Does he buy a lot on Ebay?
Did you ask him why he sent it to a dept store?
This is an old trick,you need to talk to Ebay and show them the shipping label(I understand you have 3 days to refund after tracking shows delivered,else Ebay will do it for you,so you better act fast)

[murdered_by_ebay]

if they allow to keep a half I would take it

[agent006140]

Originally Posted by murdered_by_ebay

if they allow to keep a half I would take it

why?
This is not new on Ebay,scammers usually ship to a place where they will accept any incoming mail.
Seller has proof (the shipping label going to a dept store)

[rsot]

Originally Posted by agent006140

why?
This is not new on Ebay,scammers usually ship to a place where they will accept any incoming mail.
Seller has proof (the shipping label going to a dept store)

Think of efforts vs reward/risk - getting half vs potentially nothing after a ton of effort

[agent006140]

if he just refunds half,what if the buyer files chargeback,who eats the other half?Ebay or the seller?
I will talk to Ebay first before I decide to refund half,this stupid scam was popular years ago.
You said the buyer did not use your shipping label,but has he updated the return with his own tracking then?
If the Ebay bot expects your shipping label tracking shows delivered not tracking from any label,then the return status is still open.
The way it works is the buyer prints the shipping label you give him in the return case,and once USPS accepts the package,it will bill Ebay ,and Ebay will bill you .
I dont think the buyer can override the tracking number,there is no room to add another tracking,so as far as Ebay is concerned,the buyer has not used the label,tracking number should remain USPS has received notice bla bla bal
Go to the return case and see what is going on?

[kirkland]

Originally Posted by agent006140

if he just refunds half,what if the buyer files chargeback,who eats the other half?Ebay or the seller?
I will talk to Ebay first before I decide to refund half,this stupid scam was popular years ago.

Thats a good point actually. Then again, if I refund half, most likely he would ask ebay to step in saying "I havent received my full refund". In which case ebay would refund him the other 50% out of pocket, but allowing me to keep the other 50 (less ebay fees and such)

Just my guess on what would happen

[kirkland]

Originally Posted by agent006140

if he just refunds half,what if the buyer files chargeback,who eats the other half?Ebay or the seller?
I will talk to Ebay first before I decide to refund half,this stupid scam was popular years ago.
You said the buyer did not use your shipping label,but has he updated the return with his own tracking then?
If the Ebay bot expects your shipping label tracking shows delivered not tracking from any label,then the return status is still open.
The way it works is the buyer prints the shipping label you give him in the return case,and once USPS accepts the package,it will bill Ebay ,and Ebay will bill you .
I dont think the buyer can override the tracking number,there is no room to add another tracking,so as far as Ebay is concerned,the buyer has not used the label,tracking number should remain USPS has received notice bla bla bal
Go to the return case and see what is going on?

Oops, I made a mistake. I initially thought he used his own label. Seems he just used mine and edited the delivery address in Photoshop or something similar. Tracking is the same

[agent006140]

Originally Posted by kirkland

Oops, I made a mistake. I initially thought he used his own label. Seems he just used mine and edited the delivery address in Photoshop or something similar. Tracking is the same

You have 3 days to refund,else Ebay will do it for you,so you better contact Ebay now and shows them he changed the ship to address.
This could lead him to be suspended by Ebay or lose his buyer protection

[rsot]

Originally Posted by agent006140

You have 3 days to refund,else Ebay will do it for you,so you better contact Ebay now and shows them he changed the ship to address.
This could lead him to be suspended by Ebay or lose his buyer protection

Or could lead to autorefund from eb due to no action from them in spite of communication - just a possibility worth considering

[agent006140]

then he should call Ebay.
Once the refund is made,Ebay would not or cannot claw it back.
(It may have to do with the way credit card charge works).
Of all the years of selling on Ebay,I dont recall Ebay ever ignore a case I open.
But then I have few returns.

[SaiJin]

I've seen this many times, even using this method as seller scam.

I'd contact the post office and talk about it with supervisor, start there.

Then since it's over $500 go to the police station and file a report, use these 2 reports to talk to eBay about it.

[agent006140]

I am not sure police wants to get involved when someone alters the shipping label.
or even the post office.
You sell on a venue where there are sleazy buyers,
Try Ebay.
USPS fraud dept,see if you can ask them

[murdered_by_ebay]

in the US I am sure the police will be useless in such a case , in general the US has a comparatively weak law enforcement , if it were western europe it would make sense but in the US I doubt

[agent006140]

There is no law which said you cannot alter the shipping label,but the intention of doing so is to get a free item.
who should you take the case to

Police?
Post Office
Ebay?
I would call the USPS fraud dept and ask but better ask Ebay as he has only 3 days before Ebay refunds him.
Come to think of it,it is Ebay which gives him the return label and he alters it,

[kirkland]

Originally Posted by SaiJin

I've seen this many times, even using this method as seller scam.

I'd contact the post office and talk about it with supervisor, start there.

Then since it's over $500 go to the police station and file a report, use these 2 reports to talk to eBay about it.

I ended up just doing a 50% deduction. Apparently there are ways you can speak to higher ups, and if you present a notarized letter from USPS confirming the address mismatch, ebay will close the case in your favor.

But that still wouldn't prevent the buyer from posting a chargeback if he really wants to. And depending on how motivated he is (and the issuer), I could end up losing the whole 600. At least this way, I got a surefire 300.

I may still try to get in touch w the ebay higher ups to see if I can get the other 300 back.

[agent006140]

if you are in US,there is seller protection,did you check?
Ebay offers both buyer and seller protection for 30 days

[rsot]

Originally Posted by murdered_by_ebay

in the US I am sure the police will be useless in such a case , in general the US has a comparatively weak law enforcement , if it were western europe it would make sense but in the US I doubt

It's not about the police doing something - yes they won't do anything - it's all about getting the police report and having some formal documentation for eb - the action of the police will be nothing...as expected