Advice needed re probable fraud

[iainlouden]

I paid for an item on 10th July via paypal and had no communication from the seller until I requested seller details from Ebay on 11th July.

The item was listed as being in Port Germein SA as was the seller.

I was told the item would be posted the next day ( 12th July ) by registered post and I requested the tracking number.

Today ( 17th July ) I received an Auspost express post platinum envelope with no return address.

I was suspicious of the parcel as it was very light and felt like there was just a piece of paper in it rather than a 10 gram item.

I videoed myself opening it and all it contained was an advertisment for holidays in Darwin.

The fact that some unknown person paid $13.50 for the prepaid envelope to send me an unsolicited sheet of A4 paper rang alarm bells so I tried tracking it via Auspost but it didn't show the originating location...only the closest main post office to me and then my local post office.

I tried the main Post office near me and they couldn't do any better apart from telling me it was not purchased. or lodged there.

Phoned Auspost and they could not track it to its origin either.

I have sent another message via ebay to the seller requesting the tracking number but really I'm pretty sure I have been the victim of internet fraud.

I tried the phone number Ebay gave me for this seller but it is a fake...Telstra have confirmed it does not exist.

The seller has just updated the details, after I requested the tracking number earlier today, to say that the item was posted today (17th July) but has not given me a tracking number as I have requested on 2 occasions.

I have just requested the tracking number again.

Any advice on what I should do now?

[Anonymous]

$500.00

Sounds like the 10 gram gold bullion bar from a zero feedbacker posting from an iphone.

If PayPal are on their toes then the payment should be on hold anyway.

Good luck with it all.

[iainlouden]

Phew..paypal have the $ on hold and have escalated the dispute and told me that I'll be almost certainly getting the money backand that they don't want the envelope...but I'm keeping it in a safe place anyway till all is sorted..then the Police will be given it.

Thanks for all the advice and comments.

[zigzagdot]

Paypal escalation / investigation is very good and thorough, they have saved my dumb purchase butt on more than one occassion.  If they told you you stand a good chance of getting your money back it's almost certain you will.  It might take time but you will.  Most of my Paypal purchases are funded via debit card, I thought reversing charges via debit card was an option but it's not always the case, thank God for Paypal!

I used to complain about their fees and the power they have operating on your bank account but when the shoe is on the other foot you thank your lucky stars for Paypal!   They make online buying a lot safer, they are the reason I still buy online.

Is it possible to give a hint of who the Seller is or what you bought, I looked at your feedback profile but found nothing for that period?

[janeababe]

Is it possible to give a hint of who the Seller is or what you bought, I looked at your feedback profile but found nothing for that period?

   **********************************

1 x 10 gram Perth Mint gold bar 999.9 - investment gold

13bids, sold for $485 + $6postage.

0 feedback, newly opened account holder.

   **********************************

Op... this alone would have had the alarm bells ringing, and i would have been hitting the back button, not the bid button.

good luck with your paypal case.

[colkym]

No zigzagdot, naming and shaming can get you into trouble around here.

You can find it in the OP's purcase history though 😉

[phorum_junkie*]

I would have opened an item not received dispute, until the seller entered the tracking number in to the Paypal dispute you have no proof that they have tried to defraud you, if they did enter the tracking number you could then have changed the reason for the dispute to a not as described.

You may need to report it to the police in order for Paypal to refund you if the seller denies that they sent you a piece of paper, a film of you opening the parcel may provide corroboration but as it could be edited it would not be counted as proof positive.

When you get your refund you should still report the seller to the on line auction fraud report site, they may be dumb enough to try it again!

[Anonymous]

Well I just learned something new PJ. I have always thought

you could only open one dispute a particular reason then that was it.

Didn't know you could actually change the reason for the dispute while it was still open.

[Anonymous]

If the seller sent a $500.00 gold ingot in a platinum express envelope

( not an insurable satchel ) and is no record of lodgement then you can be almost certain he/she can't prove posting.

Go with PJ's advice ( if correct ).

Lodge an INR dispute first. It would be an honest claim because you must definitely have not received the item you paid for ( which coincidentally is also SNAD ).

[Anonymous]

I will have another go at English ( not the English PJ ).

If the seller sent a $500.00 gold ingot in a platinum express envelope ( not an insurable satchel ) and there is no record of lodgement ( that you were able to find ) then you can be almost certain he/she can't prove posting because the envelope was just thrown into a post box.

[phorum_junkie*]

Lol termalert you got there in the end but OP has already opened the not as described dispute. When you open an item not received dispute there is an option to change it to not as described.

That option has only been available for a couple of years or so, you used to have to call Paypal and beg them to change the reason for the dispute.