TRIANGLE FRAUD - Seller uses Stolen CC to open acct in my name, I will be invoiced once reported

[jpnelson35]

I ordered an ebay product for $36.00; I received the product and I THOUGHT all was good... so I left positive feedback.

About a week later, I received a "Thank you for your purchase", zero balance paid invoice from ULINE, the actual shipper where the product shipped from. The invoice said "I" paid $95.44 on a credit card ending in... This is not my credit card and I obviously didn't pay the ebay seller anywhere near that amount. I contacted the seller to explain the invoice I received but he has not responded. I now see the seller has relatively low feedback and feedback indicates he does not respond to messages.

I called ULINE. The seller (or somebody else) went to Uline.com, fraudulently opened an account under my name (using my identity), used a fake phone number and potentially fake email (I cannot confirm if the email is fake, but it wasn't mine) and bought the product for $95.44 using MY information as the "bill to" using some credit card I know nothing about. It is clear to me this was a triangle scam where the seller must have used a stolen credit card to order the product on my behalf.

I called ebay, who transferred me to Paypal. Paypal told me not to worry unless I heard from the manufacturer that the credit card was indeed stolen. I called ULINE again and spoke with their credit department. The person posing as me (the seller) apparently put my address as the shipping and bill to address so I was not able to track another name. This has apparently happened before with them. The credit person at Uline said that when the credit card is reported stolen, they will receive a chargeback from the credit card company and I will technically be responsible for the charges. They said because I was the recipient of the goods, I will be invoiced for the balance.

To me, I don't see any way that this is not triangle fraud. I do not want to wait for the credit card company to chargeback ULINE and then I be responsible for another $95.44. It could be months down the road before I receive the invoice from ULINE. By then, I would have used the product or would be too late to initiate a claim with Paypal/ebay. And would Paypal really give me the $95.44 to pay the balance? I doubt it. I have also heard of the police getting involved with these situations because now MY name will be attached to using a stolen credit card number since the seller (or someone else) fraudulently posed as me when making the order that I did not authorize.

ULINE offered to allow me to send the product back with a prepaid return label. I guess they are willing to absorb the shipping loss? Anyways, I would like to do this but how would I explain to Paypal why I voluntarily sent the product back and am asking for a refund. I want to make sure that I can get my $36 back from the seller first.  Thoughts? What shoudl I do here? In my mind, I am very morally or ethically disturbed becasue I am in posession of product (of which I believe was) obtained illegally.

6/13/17 UPDATE: The PayPal rep telling me to not worry unless I officially hear the credit card is stolen is complete BS... I'm not going to just wait.  The seller fraudulently opened an account in my name and placed MY info as the bill-to.  This is fraud even if the CC is never reported stolen.  I have email documentation from ULINE saying they think they will probably receive a chargeback (based on my story) and they document that only my information was entered.  I know ULINE probably couldn't really hold me legally accountable since I told them I did not open the account but I don't want to deal with it so I intend to send the product back.  I called Paypal back and I have a claim now with them but they are going to wait 10 days or so for the seller to respond.  They said to not send the product back yet.  There's nothing the seller could possibly say in my mind to avoid me having a case that he committed fraud against me.  I have the documentation to prove it.  If Paypal refuses to grant me the $36 back, I am seriously considering filing a police report so the police can request the sellers information from PayPal.  Unfortunately it probably wont be worth the police's time to investigate.  It wouldnt be about the $36 anymore though, this dude is a crook.  I'm probably getting overworked on this but this process is pretty messed up.

[DPCreations]

Don't obsess over the triangle scam; it may or may not be.  

Focus on protecting you own interest and your own finances.

Think about your PayPal options.

You already know that Uline will charge you, so fix that issue to protect yourself.  Uline will pay for the return to so it as quickly as youcan.  You need to clear up the issue withUline.  Then, make sure your account with Uline is fixed or removed.  Uline is a well-respected company; they seem to kow how tohandle the matter.

Next, you have no tracking number from the seller to show delivery, correct?  If no tracking to show delivery then file a dispute for item item not received with PayPal.

[jpnelson35]

Thank you for your quick reply. A tracking number was posted indicating successful delivery, and I already left positive feedback (before I received the paid-invoice from Uline).

[DPCreations]

Did you receive exactly what you ordered?

Is the tracking number part of the original transaction?  What does the tracking number show as the shipper?  You need to look for irregularity in details here.  You could phone PayPal support and ask for suggestons about the delivery.  PayPal would have nothing to do with the Uline aspect, so keep any discusses with PayPal simple and only about what you received.

That poses a new wrinkle and makes it difficult to contest non-delivery.

[jpnelson35]

Well, when I called Paypal, I flat out told them I received the product.  And I actually asked them to annotate the call in case I found out more from Uline. The tracking number checks out clean.

I just opened up a claim of "suspicious activity" with paypal and explained the situation.  After I filed, it said that I made a report of an "Unauthorized transaction" so hopefully it go throught the right channels.  Apparently they are going to wait for a reply from the paypal recipient first though.  Paypal definately knows I received the product.

I did get confirmation in email from Uline of their process so I have something tangible for my records for paypal: "Yes, this is correct. We currently have not received a chargeback on the account. However, it is likely that we will receive one. Since we did deliver the product to you and are able to verify that we did so, you would technically be responsible for the order if we were to receive a chargeback."

[DPCreations]

With Uline, you might be able to dispute a new invoice in case of a chargeback.  However, legally you may not be reponsible to send it back as long as you can show you did not order it.  If you sent it back with Uline shipping label, I think it would just be as a courtesy.  It may be better to wait for any issues with Uline until such happens.  If it does then produce evidence that you did not order and that it was an error on the part of Uline as you did not authorize the shipment.

I would be interested in follow up just as curiosity to learn how to handle strange issues.

[jpnelson35]

Thank you for your quick reply. A tracking number was posted indicating successful delivery, and I already left positive feedback (before I received the paid-invoice from Uline).

[Whac-A-Mole]

if a buyer receives the shipment from a third party(not the seller),it could be he is using dropshipper or he runs out of stock and decide to order from his supplier and ask him to ship to you or it could be as you suggested,fraud if he is using your name and stolen cc to open an account with U-LINE.

Now,you never order from U-LINE and you did not open an account with them,so it is up to you if you want to return the item,you dont even have to carry on a dialogue with them.

so all that talk from ULINE that you have to do this and pay that is just HOT AIR !!!!!!!!

As far as you are concerned ,you pay the seller $36 and get what you ordered.

Let Uline and the seller and the owner of the stolen cc slug it out.

[Whac-A-Mole]

if this is Ebay transaction,you should report this seller,he is a fraudster,if not Ebay,how did you find him>

[Whac-A-Mole]

I see it is Ebay transaction,report him and get him thrown out of Ebay.

dont talk to ULINE anymore,you paid seller $36,yo get what you ordered,end of the case.