Seller Has Supplied Fake Tracking Number

[*maddie*may*]

Hi all,

I purchased an iPhone from a new seller a couple of nights ago and paid for it through PayPal.  The next day the seller marked it as posted and provided a tracking number - or so I thought.  I then noticed that they've actually entered the item number -  252194315680 - in the tracking number field, which seemed very suspicous to me. I've contacted them a couple of times asking for the correct number but have had no response.  I've also alerted eBay that this person has given me a dodgy tracking number and they're 'looking into it'....

I'm not overly concerned by this, as I know I'm covered by PayPal if the phone doesn't arrive. I'm also aware that I have to wait until the last day of the estimated postage time frame before I can lodge a dispute.  My question is, as this person is reasonably new to eBay and has no feedback as a seller, will PayPal hold their funds for 21 days?  If they are running a scam, it would be nice to know that they've wasted their time because they'll never see the money   Thanks for any help you can give me.....

[phorum_junkie* · Accepted solution]

You have to wait to open an ebay dispute but you should be able to open a Paypal dispute straight away, that is the best option for item not received disputes anyway, ebay is better for not as described as you are less likely to have to pay for return postage.

It doesn't have any of the signs of a scam listing so I would wait a reasonable time, at least 10 working days, before I started to be worried, if the seller knows the rules they should be sending it with a road only sticker so perhaps give it a couple of days more. If no contact or correct tracking number by then I would just open a Paypal dispute and give it another four or five days before escalating to a claim