This happened to me on my selling account and it seems to be some form of scamming syndicate.
Back in December, the scammers bought 6 items over 6 different transactions over 3 days.
Every transaction, the buyer account was created back in July, registered in Australia, but 0 feedback.
The Buyer's Name was different to the recipient's name. It's not unusual for me to have a transaction where the Buyer's Name is different to the recipient's name (people buying as gifts) but to have so many transactions over 3 days, was very strange.
I processed the orders, sent them out, knowing that should the Buyer make a chargeback, I'll be covered by eBay. I wasn't expecting the scammers to open Item Not as described requests, totally trashing my Service Metrics. Just like the OP, the scammers upload blurry photos. They will send back padded envelopes with pieces of cardboard.
Of the 6 returns, I have received 3 of them. The scammers used eBay's AusPost labels. As soon as I received the padded envelopes, I contacted eBay on Facebook, they are definitely more skilled and recognising the scams. eBay covered the Buyer's refund. I had to go sign a statutory declaration declaring I received a piece of cardboard.
The next return, the scammer used their own their own AusPost eParcel label, which was received by Australia Post but declared lost in transit, there was an actual tracking even through the sortation centre. The scammer opened an eBay claim claiming they used DHL to send the item, where the tracking showed delivered to a suburb that is nowhere near I lived. eBay once again covered the refund.
The next 2 returns, eBay provided the scammers a Hubbed postage label for the Buyer to send with Aramex. These returns haven't arrived. The scammers opened cases for both of these. One of the cases there were no tracking scans on Aramex so eBay closed the case in my favour.
The final case, the scammer once again claimed they used DHL, which showed delivered to a totally different suburb, BUT they opened this case very late in the process where there was a recent tracking scan on Aramex. This case remained opened until strangely there was a delivered scan on Tuesday. Surprise surprise, there's no item that's been delivered. And, to add to the strangeness, the delivered scan is at the same time as the other Aramex parcel. Also, there's no onboard with driver scan for both of these items.
So, I'm trying to seek a proof of delivery safe drop image from Aramex for this 6th and final return, which I haven't received yet. eBay has the case on hold on Monday afternoon, but I fear that eBay will close this case in the Buyer's favour and issue the refund out of my funds.
Since the return scams occurred, I've cancelled around 6 orders where I suspect it could be another potential return scam. Hopefully they'll leave my account alone moving forward.
Best of luck to the OP, but please go and contact eBay on Facebook, provide all the evidence you have. The more sellers that raise these issues with eBay on Social Media, and raise cases, the more likely the scammers will get caught.
