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Advise about scammer buyers
 

what would warrant a indefinite suspension?

Depends on how fast you want to get suspended.

Why would you want to do that?

Here or on ebay? :rolleyes:


Daft question.

Awaits daft answer

Well, this is what is going on scammers Possibly from Costa rica or Ukraine are bidding on my items repeatedly and winning.(im talking lots of $$ over what its actually worth). they pay some sort of way. I'm guessing a hacked PayPal account. they use the pre-existing address attached to the PayPal account and have me (the seller )send it there.

while its in route they call the post office and have them redirect it to a mail fwding center, which transfers it to a overseas location. Ive tried Hold for pick up and signature conformation services. my guess is someone in the states is picking up the packages for them.

whole process takes about two-three weeks and once they receive it . they open a case claiming its ⊗⊗⊗⊗ and eBay tells them to return it . but they never do. they just input a ⊗⊗⊗⊗ tracking number which shows it was delivered to my address . so i end up with no item and no money .. and it happens repeatedly..


Ive tried explaining this to eBay and PayPal but they blow me off. I mean, Ive won a few cases when I get the right customer rep over at eBay, That lets me know someone is aware of this going on. so my only chance for survival on eBay is to. get them suspended. i can usually see them coming from a mile away each time i list.` they hack multiple accounts so it a new account everytime. this has been going on for months now. any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks!!

I guess what you can do is this.

State in your listings that you will not be shipping to any forwarding centers. Whenever a listing ends, check the buyer's address with Google or Google map. It takes a little bit more time, but it's worth it.

well, they use normal residential addresses. they fwd it on to the mail centers after the tracking show confirmed delivered at the primary address. it a very sneaky and deceptive scam. most people wouldnt never catch on unless your a stealth seller and can see them run the scam on multiple of your accounts.


I actually found this out after I called USPS customer service/ the woman said that someone with a foreign accent called and have the package forwarded to and certain address and when i looked it up. it was a mail forwarding center.

Can't you write on the package "Do not forward" I had a paypal debit card returned because the mailed to my old address and would not forward it despite me putting in change of address.

Maybe they only do it for envelopes though.

Probably best to investigate your buyers. Check out the shipping location and then email with them to confirm. If they try to ship to unconfirmed address, simply refund and inform they paypal will not let you ship and they should call paypal to change their address. You should be covered shipping to confirmed address and with signature, but if paypal is hacked and they can not recover any funds, they will not pay you.

Investigate the buyers address and call them using the contact info if you suspect fraud. That will eliminate 80% of them at least.

If you see them coming "a mile away", can't you just dump their bids, and block them as bidders?

"whole process takes about two-three weeks and once they receive it . they open a case claiming its ⊗⊗⊗⊗ and eBay tells them to return it . but they never do. they just input a ⊗⊗⊗⊗ tracking number which shows it was delivered to my address . so i end up with no item and no money .. and it happens repeatedly.. "

How are they entering ⊗⊗⊗⊗ tracking numbers that show the item was delivered back to you? Did you get any deliveries? Is the tracking number always the same? Something strange here...

agreeed ^^^coolcat, I dont get how the return tracking shows as returned to your address....

plus my parcels as buyer or sender, have never been allowed to be redirected like this..what service are you using? I tried couple of times for legit reasons, and they were like with all due respect, you could be anybody, we have to deliver to the sender address only...

I have no idea. they always use ups tracking, that's for sure .. but in every case the tracking shows delivered back to my address. but in actuality there will be nothing delivered.

I started to think that they are shipping something to an address close to mine. but not the actual address. usually the tracking only shows the (City,State and Zip) the items I sell aren't even 1 pound in weight. and sometimes on the tracking page the weight will say 6lbs. I actually called the buyer out on this, they didnt respond . I also caught them with a created shipment dated January 2010. reported to eBay but they did nothing.

:suspicious::suspicious::suspicious:

I use USPS and sometimes Fed ex. fedex were the ones who actually admitted they fwded the packages. so I doubt I will be using them again.

block their user names from buying/bidding

dont ship outside usa

sounds like your next investigative lead is going ot be the carrier. ask them how an item can show delivered when it didnt get delivered. start there and see what they say. Maybe they have a problem that they arent aware of as well that maybe this will bring it to light. you never know.

They don't have to do a false tracking number. They just have to send an empty box or even a flat envelope to show in the system that the item was supposedly returned to the seller. Then, they win the case.

Yes you are correct but he is saying he isnt even getting that. That is why he needs to contact the carrier. There may be something they are not aware of yet.

this is way more sophisticated than the brick in a box scam, but they can still be caught.

so paypal are accepting tracking to your town or zip? next time challenge it via customer support, tell them what happens and ask buyer to produce a hard copy of your signature available from carrier and the docket with your address on it. They can forge the address maybe, but you take that to ups and ask them is that a real docket for that address cos it cant be, as its my address, they can then tie the fact that your address and the delivered address are different. the bottom line is paypal cannot accept tracking if it is challenged, and you tell them you are involving law enforcement, it does not show the address and signature.

I personally would also take this up with ups and law enforcement, as they obviously have access to the address the package IS delivered to.

These scammers need to move on to someone else you have to be proactive.

I wish this worked for Fed Ex :)

I read this thread and talked to Fed Ex already. They did give his real name



But Ebay is going to credit back the money on the case I lost

Sorry this happened to you, that's an elaborate scheme

I spoke to Fed Ex a few times in the last few hours. Got his first and last name and reported him already for using different name

They are so loyal to their customers that they won't provide me with any proof of delivery or anything documenting his real name. My buyer has his own Fed Ex account he used to send the product back so I can see why

Fedex and UPS will reroute or forward package if they are having trouble finding the address. AS far as I know USPS will not forward package.

As for the return address they only have to ship a empty enevelope to place or po box in your town with delivery confirmation for them to get their money back.

@OP, what are you trying to accomplish?

You said you can smell them from a mile away, yet you completed the transactions anyways. Are you hoping to dump the counterfeit items and keep the money?

And, why would someone using hacked PP accounts want refunds? If they paid with a CC, the refund just goes back to that. If they're hoping to cash out of the bank account there are faster and safer ways.

Nothing short of not sending the product will help you in this situation. USPS forward instructions are good for 1 year. The other carriers will forward the package once an initial delivery has been attempted. If you want to get back at them, send a professional looking receipt for $2475 and make them deal with their customs.

If this is a case of scammer vs. scammer, you've been outscammed.

And, before you get your panties in a bunch, I said "IF".

First. I would like for you to tell me where I said I was peddling counterfeit goods or scamming anyone. I started this thread to ask for advice on my particular situation . not your personal opinion on who you think is a scammer. you don't know me buddy. so why I do thank your for your advice, I hope that next time you keep your little side comments to yourself.

I agree, dont make assumptions....

I think OP IS being scammed and I for one would like to get a solution for it here on this thread , as its disgusting and also maybe work out which carriers allow and dont allow re-route as I think thats key...

OP, melissa has been thru a similar thing, so I think there is a run of these, you may want to pm her, hope thats ok melissa?

1. First you sell multiple items that someone ppl have construed as replicas.
2. You claim to know they're trying to scam you, yet you proceed to ship out the packages, multiple times, and took precautions by using different carriers and requested hold at post office.
3. Your scammers gave you 3 weeks to empty your account before filing not as described claims.
4. Your scammers followed eB's instructions and send the items back to you with tracking, yeah yeah, I know they did bla bla bla...according to you.

All we hear is your side of the story, but the behaviors of the buyers on PP would make them either geniune or too amteruish to be pulling the freight forwarding scam. But maybe they're just that good and peg you as someone that they can take advantage of, time after time.

Let's say I believe you and you got taken multiple times by the same scam. What are your trying to accomplish? Bust them? or find out how to keep your cash?

Multiple ppl have raise the issue of blocking the bidders, why haven't you mention anything about it? and why do you ship the packages out everytime if you know it's a scam?

Everyone makes assumptions when the story is not complete, I prefer to state those assumptions than to give bad advice based on partial facts.

I've seen my shares of foreign buyers using freight forwarding services. If you don't like the risk, don't accept foreign payments. It's 4 clicks to set it after you log into PP.

Who is we? The only person I see that keep bring up these accusation is you. I thought I stated Clearly that they use new accounts every time, so what would blocking them do? You are trying to turn your opinion into fact. but guess what, I don't have time to go back and forth with you. trying to prove to you that I'm no scammer or that I'm not selling counterfeit good. I mean who are you anyway? that's stupid and a waste of time. If you cant figure out what I'm trying to accomplish then you need to re-read my post.

Maybe you have time to sit on a forum and go back and forth all day but I don't. If you feel that I'm scamming that's great. I proud that you came to that conclusion. you seem to have it all figured out. maybe you should start charging for your high knowledge and wisdom. You coming against me like like I'm exposing a scam that you are apart of.

but I'm bowing out. you win buddy!! I don't cyber debates. I would like to thank everyone who gave advice. Its greatly appreciated.

Just forget about all the BS here and just contact the carrier and do what I said above. They will help you. IF they are not willing to help then there is more to the story. Either you or they will get caught up in this BS. Its really a done issue if you wont ask the carrier to check it out.

You know, I still fails to see how your story is remotely relevant to why you would purposely want to kill your account

Sure it is oompa. Not sure how much help I can be. :nerd:

I will go reply to the Op though I wasn't confident it is legit so I skipped it

I agree with blocking them as a solution. Much harder to, hack, use and create ebay/paypal accounts then it is to block them. Its one click for you and a lot for them. I would imagine after several blocks they would move on knowing the jig is up.:juggle:

HI Coolcat. Glad they are paying more money, that could be good cause maybe if/when you move you can get a percentage of it to barely cover your costs here. if it seems desirable. Maybe a bit more. You said you send packages 1 lb or less which I assume would cost up to $5 (In us dollars, I know international varies but use this $ for now)
Ok well then we know you shouldn't send them the item cause you will loose it. Send them an empty flat rate envelope instead, or stuff something else in there
so they were gonna open a case anyways as you predicted thus whatever their "reason", you gave them a real reason to open the case here. So the reason may end up to be truthful
So does this mean they buy from many of your accounts? so you sell similar or the same items? Each time you get a sale, cut and paste the name and block them on ALL of your accounts. Set buyer restrictions to block certain countries such as Costa Rica

If you are really good, then steer them away from the predicted claim on your account offering a deal too good to pass up but still realistic enough. Call the Post office maybe to see where your package was forwarded to, then you will know how much time you have until it arrives and they see their karma. They are scammers, they know if it is too good to be true that it probably is. Maybe before it shows delivery pretend to have not given all that is promised. Then offer to refund them their purchase price but not shipping costs. Then tell them you will send them a free accessory they may want along with the item for their trouble. Don't make it cost too much, just enough to drive them away from your claims so you can refund. Then pretend you mailed whatever it is off. Most you can receive is bad feedback but you dodged a claim. Maybe I am giving you bad advice. Maybe this is easier than your plan to remove the negs, who knows... :pop2:

This is what shipping insurance is for. If the carrier doesn't deliver it to the address you specify, you have a valid claim, end of story.

Everything else seems like a moot point. Your beef is with the shipping companies, not E-bay. I'm not sure what you expect E-Bay to do about what the carriers do, and don't do.

I guess their is some FB issue too, but that sounds like a lost cause.

I am not always confident things are legit I agree, but unless I see fishing for scammer info, I tend to take it at face value...

when I saw your post on subs section, it seems almost identical in essence, so I think this must be an established scam. They must order from people and then establish an address nearby. If the carriers allow a divert they have to be kept in loop and ebay/paypal needs to know this to update its procedures, I mean if initial docket shows correct address and carrier diverts under shippers own personal carrier private account to a different one they are allowing a scam to take place, the problem is data protection defends the scammers, but once faced with documentation of an ebay dispute , the carrier I think has to block that shipper - but it cannot act unless it is told about it....

I'm a bit confused about what happens to the OP.

1 ) Buyers have US confirmed and verified addresses?
2 ) How do you know the buyers are from Costa Rica / Ukraine?
3 ) So Fedex packages are forwarded by the buyers, does it show where they are forwarded to?
4 ) Are their Ebay accounts with 0 feedback as in new accounts? or are they old accounts ( possibly stolen ) ?

usually when you least expect it you get suspended -______-