Suspected Return Scam – Items Marked as Delivered But Never Received

[francescalewis93]

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out for advice and support as I believe I’ve been the victim of a sophisticated return scam involving two separate eBay accounts.

The Situation:

• Two buyers (suspected to be the same person using different accounts) purchased phones from me and later initiated return requests.

• One claimed the seal was broken; the other claimed the phone didn’t work — both were brand new, factory-sealed, and recorded with serial numbers.

• I was already suspicious due to:

  • Zero feedback on both accounts

  • Argos Click & Collect locations used for delivery — just 10 minutes apart

  • Pattern of behaviour across both transactions

What Happened:

• Both buyers have now returned the items… or so it seems.

• The tracking numbers show the items as “delivered” to me, but:

  • I was home all day for both deliveries

  • I have a Ring security camera — no delivery was made, no doorbell rang

  • Nothing was posted through the door or left outside

My Belief:

I believe the buyers used a fraudulent return method — possibly applying fake return labels to parcels, causing them to be scanned as delivered elsewhere (but falsely associated with my return address).

What I’ve Done:

• Raised this with eBay Support (still waiting for a resolution)

• Contacted Royal Mail to request:

  • GPS delivery coordinates

  • Inbound scan photos when the parcels entered their network

My Concern:

If eBay processes refunds based on the delivery scan alone, I’ll be left nearly £1,800 out of pocket, with no returned items.

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Has anyone experienced something similar?

• Any advice on how to escalate this with eBay effectively?

• How much weight does Royal Mail’s GPS data hold in disputes like this?

Would appreciate any help, guidance, or support from other sellers who’ve been through this.

Thanks in advance,

[4_bathrooms]

Which carrier was supposed to be returning the items; was it Royal Mail?

[4_bathrooms]

Anyway...here's what you need to do in the exact order you need to do it:

1. File a report with Action Fraud detailing what has happened. Give as much information as possible including the IMEI and serial numbers of the devices. AF are unlikely to actually do anything - they are a reporting service - but you need the reference number and the report they will give you.
2. If you can report the IMEI numbers as stolen to the last network provider used for the devices.
3. In each eBay case there will be a "Report a problem" link. You need to click on that link and select the most appropriate reason for filing a report (even if it is "Returned an empty box"). DO NOT click the "Ask eBay to step in" link; you must click the link that states "Report a problem" in both cases.
4. In your eBay reports include the reference number you obtained from Action Fraud in #1 and attach AF's report if they gave you one. You must include this information in your reports to eBay.

For what it's worth expensive mobile devices are generally known as "scam magnets" on these boards. I would never dream of listing a mobile device worth more than £50 on my private account.

[4_bathrooms]

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@francescalewis93 wrote:

What I’ve Done:

• Raised this with eBay Support (still waiting for a resolution)

• Contacted Royal Mail to request:

  • GPS delivery coordinates

  • Inbound scan photos when the parcels entered their network

My Concern:

If eBay processes refunds based on the delivery scan alone, I’ll be left nearly £1,800 out of pocket, with no returned items.

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So it was Royal Mail.

The trouble with Royal Mail is the postman/postwoman; they just take the package to the door identified on the address label and obtain a delivery scan. All a thief needs to do is find an address served by the same delivery office as the seller's return address then manipulate the address on the return label. It is not sophisticated but it only happens with Royal Mail as the Postman/Postwoman is the weak link in the chain. The items that were actually returned were probably empty boxes that an unsuspecting neighbour has received.

The GPS coordinates of the delivery should be recorded on Royal Mail's website and - depending upon the service - a photo too. What is shown on Royal Mail's website?