Scam from BFE corporation in Chino CA

[Kristym2112]

Ordered a Kitchen Aide stand mixer.  Got some make up remover wipes!!  Out almost $150.  After reading the other posts it appears PayPal wont help and allows this to continue.  How unfortunate.  

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@Kristym2112 

Another of these?

Chinese Web Sites or on Social Media ads easy to spot (once you know the below signs) so buyer beware.

1. No return address on the returns policy............thats because the site will look as if its in your country (where they despatch goods from) BUT they will ask for returns to go back to China (returns depot) at a shipping cost nearly always more than the item is worth.
2. No contact telephone number............if you click on contact the most you will get is webmail or an email address.
3. No company address information.
4. Great looking items at bargain prices that turn out to be tat.

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

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 CLEARED REFUND OR YOUR ITEM WHATEVER THE SELLER SAYS. ALSO DON'T FORGET TO ESCALATE THE DISPUTE TO A CLAIM WITHIN 20 DAYS IF THE SELLER DOES NOT REFUND.

If you lose because seller provides a fake tracking number (likely) then post back for more advice.
If the item arrives and its tat the make sure you CHANGE the dispute quickly before it closes to 'not as described'.
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 do a chargeback for you.

Also make sure you have activated the below link in case you have to return it.
https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/returns

[808-maui-john]

PayPal obviously recognizes this as a scam. They instantly refunded my money. Why can’t they block these things? If they know and the source is “questionable” to say the least. Why can’t PayPal vet their vendors better?

[kernowlass]

@808-maui-john 

Paypal would not be able to check every individual seller / merchant / company in over 200 countries worldwide that adds paypal to their website to accept payments.

So they give you 'some' buyer protection but the onus is on you to risk assess your transactions.

They do stop bad companies from using Paypal when enough claims start rolling in.
However as they are in China (mostly) then its easy for them to just start over with a new name, so stopping them does not really do anything.

The best thing is to not buy from them in the first place, to recognise a lot of them -

1. No return address on the returns policy. The site will look as if its in your country (where they despatch goods from) but they will ask for returns to go back to China (returns depot) at a shipping cost often more than the item is worth.
2. No contact telephone number. if you click on contact the most you will get is webmail or an email address.
3. Rarely company address information.
4. Great pictures of items at bargain prices that turn out to be tat.
5. Fake reviews.
6. Google and you can often see previous company names as they change them once enough claims roll in and Paypal stop them using their services and start over.
7. Send fake tracking numbers to win item non receipt of item claims.

[808-maui-john]

I understand you're trying to help with reasonable issues PAYPAL might encounter protecting customers from scam companies like BFE, but I don't agree.  PAYPAL decided to become this transaction broker worldwide and took it upon themselves to handle all these billions in transactions for billions in fees so why should they get a free pass for any reason at all?  Just because they want to be huge doesn't give them a pass. 

[kernowlass]

@808-maui-john 

Even credit cards are turning down disputes for 'received but not as described' for claims for items from China.

So if credit card term and conditions can deny a refund then equally so can paypal.

Your payment processor is not your guardian, they give you limited protection and the rest is up to all of us.

I got scammed once, I didn't blame paypal or my card issuer, I blamed myself from being so silly as to buy from that seller, put it down as a learning curve and moved on poorer but wiser.

[808-maui-john]

@kernowlass Look I understand you're defending PayPal as a consultant or employee or for some reason unknown. My credit cards protect me. Don't divert. Paypal needs to do a better job of vetting that's it. They let their logo and service go out willy nilly anywhere? I don't get the defense of a vendor using this service yet as soon as a complaint is filed a reimbursement immediately happens. Why? if they know why do they not do something about it? I'm appreciative that they did reimburse but again why allow their service to be abused by an apparently fraudulent vendor only to immediately reimburse? They must have control in some way.

[Lorilou40]

I ordered a kitchen aide as well and today I got a little plastic letter that little kids play with. Why does PayPal let them keep getting paid when they are scammers. Not right at all.

[jhous77]

i think we need to boycott paypal until they decide that they want to stick up for their consumers!!!!

[GoGreen88]

Same pattern of Scam for me...ordered a smoker grill from <removed>. Was sent a plastic lego part from BFE Corporation. It was hard to locate a PayPal phone number but was successful and navigated the phone tree by verbalizing 'PayPal Agent' several times. Once connected to a real person, PayPal was very supportive although it did take two calls to resolve in my favor.

I don't use PayPal often and the fact that this bogus scammer has been able to thrive in this setting has me very concerned about using PP in the future.

Thanks to PP for the overall service, but it was difficult (by design) to get personal assistance.