Bought an item, recognised it's a fraud and received a pending refund right away. What's happening?

[yeahyoung0312]

Tonight I purchased an expensive vintage camera lens on eBay using Buy-it-now. Paid through Paypal using credit card. The seller is based on UK, but added a tracking number from USPS, which immediately raised a red flag. I then used Google to search by the serial number, just to find out that the same listing, using the exact item description and pics, were sold in Oregon, US about 2 months ago at a much higher price that I paid for. At that time point I knew it was a fraudulent listing. 

So I went to Paypal and eBay trying to start a case. Turns out that on eBay, it's too early to start a dispute on an item that I just bought and was shipped (according to the recurd). Then I noticed that the seller already issued a refund that's currently pending. 

This is clearly a fraud but I am not sure what happens next? I think the USPS tracking was fake and just to trick the eBay tracking system. Was the scammer hoping to receive an immediate payment instead of a pending credit card payment? Did the scammer refund me when they knew that this won't be successful? Will I receive the refund, or is this part of the scam? What options do I have to protect myself at the moment? I already started a case in Paypal about the original payment, but any advise will be much appreciated. 

[red_magpie · Accepted solution]

As you bought it through eBay and paid by Paypal, you will be covered by eBay's money back guarantee.

If you don't receive your item by the latest estimated delivery date, you can open a case through the resolution centre. You will receive a full refund unless the seller can provide a valid tracking number that confirms delivery to your address.

If the seller has apparently already issued a refund, you will need to check very carefully that this is genuine, not a pretense. There should be a record in your PayPal account of the transaction having been refunded, but the payment itself will be returned to the credit card you used to fund the transaction. This can take some time.

If in doubt, proceed with the MBG case, and let Paypal determine whether the payment has already been refunded.

[yeahyoung0312 · Accepted solution]

Thank you so much for this. The refund (full amount) did show up on the PayPal record, and I believe that refund could not be cancelled. But I will proceed with the MBG case as suggested.