Fraud

[Mslu]

I encountered a seller with a fraudulent email in China. Attempting to get a refund but does PayPal do refunds without being able to reach the seller?

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@Mslu 

How do I open a dispute with a seller when a purchase goes wrong?

You can open a dispute in the Resolution Centre of your PayPal account within 180 days of payment if:
•You don’t receive the item OR service
•You receive an item but it’s significantly different than the description on eBay or on the seller’s website (or you receive a totally different product).

By opening a dispute, you can communicate directly with your seller to work out a problem transaction.

If you reach an agreement with the seller you can close the dispute. If you're still not happy with the result, you can escalate the dispute into a claim. Paypal will review the claim and decide on reimbursement.

These steps apply to Personal accounts. If you have a Business account, please log in to see the steps that apply to you.

To open a dispute:
1.Log in to your PayPal account.
2. Click on the transaction and use the resolve a problem option at the bottom of that details page.

Note:
•Generally buyers must wait at least 7 days from the date of payment to escalate a dispute for an item not received
•Where an item has not been received, please ensure you have given the seller enough time before opening a dispute

Do not close the dispute until you have a refund or your item.
If a seller states that they can't refund until you have closed the dispute don't believe them.
Escalate the dispute to a claim within 20 days (before it times out), if you need Paypal to get involved.

If you lose because the seller provides a fake tracking number then post back here for more advice.
If the item arrives and its not what you ordered / not as described then make sure you change the dispute quickly from non receipt. If the dispute times out before you can change it then contact customer services to open a second dispute for the new reason.

Activate the below link in case you have to return the item at Paypals request (or the correct one for your country as this is the U.S link).
https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/returns

If that does not work then if you funded your paypal payment via a card then contact your card issuer and see if they will issue a chargeback.

[Mslu]

Thank you kernowles, will follow your advice, because it was a Visa card I immediately notified my bank for help as well

[amykck]

My dispute was denied and closed because the seller provided a fake tracking number. Is there anything I can do next? I was given a tracking number shortly after the purchase on 4/12. I received regular updates on the tracking (via email) until 5/10 when it showed in Michigan (I’m in CA). When I contacted the seller I got no response. I opened a dispute and on 5/30 the seller sent a tracking number I was never sent, that showed it was delivered on 4/26. I never received the package, and the seller sent me several emails AFTER 4/26 with tracking info on the original number. Help! 😞

[kernowlass]

@amykck 

APPEAL

To submit an appeal on the dispute that was closed, PayPal asks that you obtain a detailed report from the shipper/courier (on their letterhead or some other form of official stationary) that includes the address the seller gave them for the shipment. Or one that includes a statement mentioning your address and saying the item was delivered to a different address.
Check tracking in below link to see where it went.
https://www.17track.net/en

When you have that, contact PayPal via phone (log on to your account and click Contact at the bottom of the page, however that may not be an option at the moment due to covid), or via Facebook (send a Private Message to PayPal) or via Twitter (send a Direct Message to @AskPayPal) and say you want to appeal the denial of the dispute based on the shipper saying the item was delivered to a different address. Once it's submitted (you will be provided with directions on how to do that), the dispute will be reviewed further and a determination will be made.

You also have the option to contact your card issuer if you funded your paypal payment that way and see if they will do a chargeback for you.

[amykck]

Thank you for the reply! The original tracking number doesn’t come up on that link you provided - it says “not found” and “select carrier” but I have no idea what carrier they used? The second tracking number, the one they sent to paypal (not to me) is a USPS tracking number and shows “delivered in/at mailbox on April 26 2021 at 15:04pm in (my city) (my zip code)”. The tracking for that number begins on 4/16 saying: April 16, 2021, 10:28 pm Picked Up by Shipping Partner, USPS Awaiting Item LOS ANGELES, CA <removed> Shipping Partner: BFE CORPORATION LIMITED Now when I search BFE corporation Limited it bring up a lot of scam/fraud posts here on paypal (and other sites). On the receipt for the item, it lists “shipping insurance” so since they are saying (to paypal) that they shipped USPS, I contacted USPS to get information on the shipment to see how I make a shopping insurance claim. I doubt that will go anywhere. So do I just wait for USPS to get back to me? The USPS tracking shows delivered on 4/26, but the tracking they sent me showed the package received at customs in the US on 4/28.