Dear Ina,
I've occasionally heard from time to time over the last several years about the old "same zip code scam" going around and even found some letters that readers had sent in to EcommerceBytes discussing this problem way back in 2021.
I can't believe eBay still hasn't come up with some solution. This very thing just happened to me. I got a feeling something was off because even though the listing said "expedited 2 day shipping", there was no sign of shipping after a week. Multiple messages to the seller did no good. I only got the same pat "polite" answer each time about checking on it, it had been handed off to their shipper, etc...
I did a little digging and found that instead of the seller being in a US city as stated in the listing, they were actually located in Japan when I clicked under "About". Had I known this, I never would have purchased it. My bad. Before you buy, please check on where your seller is REALLY located. I learned my lesson.
Well, long story short, my Post Master confirmed my suspicion. My tracking number, which finally, "miraculously" popped up the day after I had left negative feedback, was confirmed to have been on a package that was delivered to another person in my town and zip code 2 days earlier! For privacy, my Post Office could not disclose their name but assured me that through GPS tracking, it showed the package containing MY tracking number had indeed been delivered with another person's name and address. A deliberate, fraudulent action on the part of this international scammer.
What infuriates me is even though I had written documentation from my Post Master, eBay still sided with the seller and closed the case in their favor. Although after 3 calls on my part, I appealed the decision and finally spoke to someone in Trust and Safety (ha-ha) with English as a first language and they did refund my money but there is no record of this when I look at my purchase as the seller doing it. So I guess eBay bit the bullet and refunded me and let the scammer keep their money as well. That's what I don't understand. All 3 reps I spoke with seemed to understand exactly what was going on, but yet for the reason for the case being overturned was that eBay "determined that the package had been stolen". What???
Why does eBay coddle these international scammers when they know full well what is going on? One would think that by now, eBay would be able to confirm when this scam is perpetrated.
And to add insult to injury, they removed the negative feedback I had left. Then when I responded to the feedback the scammer had left for me with a negative response, that one mysteriously disappeared too, along with the entire feedback the seller had left me! Now it looks like this seller is the perfect seller with 100% positive feedback. Sounds like eBay knew exactly what was going on but it was like "don't ask, don't tell". I also reported the seller because of them representing themselves as being a US seller along with the fraud they committed. But yet here they are, still on eBay tricking more buyers but they have conveniently put their Store on vacation when all this started.
What is wrong with eBay? Why on earth would they take up for these international scammers when evidence shows they have committed fraud? I have since heard that if/when this happens again, file a SNAD case instead of INR. It's no wonder buyers don't want to deal with eBay any more and have opted for different platforms. I might add that I am a seller also and cannot fathom doing what these crooks are doing. Pathetic to have people like that in this world.
Any suggestions if this happens again?
Thanks Ina,
BlessedGirl
