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.
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