I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
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Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#2It seems like the Amazon reps weren't paying attention to the detail, or the seller was also supplying fraudulent evidence of delivery.
This blog post will likely get it resolved for the buyer, though it shouldn't have to be this way.
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#3Recap as I understand it, since the blog post isn't
0. Buyer purchased item from third-party seller on Amazon
1. Seller picked a name and address in buyer's town, from an obituary, and sent parcel containing two baking mats thereto ( instead of camera lens )
2. Occupant of that address signed for it believing it to be for the deceased relative
3. USPS updated status to 'delivered' with signature and address recorded
4. However the proof of delivery shows the address from (1) and not the buyer's address
5. Buyer repeatedly appealed on the basis of (4) but Amazon only check that the parcel was signed-for IN THE SAME TOWN. Therefore requests for refunds or further action were denied.
Very clever seller, knows the system well. I wonder how many items he had to sell before striking it rich with a $1500 "lens".
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#4It seems like the Amazon reps weren't paying attention to the detail, or the seller was also supplying fraudulent evidence of delivery. This blog post will likely get it resolved for the buyer, though it shouldn't have to be this way.
Wouldn't surprise me. Superficial reading is an ongoing danger of text-based support. The other day, my wife used Amazon's chat support to ask a question about what would happen if she canceled her free Prime trial. The rep said: give me two minutes to look into this. And then came back with: I've canceled your Prime as you requested, thanks, gtfo.
She managed to unwind this after a great deal of effort, but man.
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#5These amazon emails literally look like automatic mails with a small custom message on top. He stated multiple times that what they said was WRONG yet no one bothered to listen to that part. If I was the author or if this ever happens to me, I'll go directly to disputing the charge.
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#6The only way I've got problems solved with Amazon is going to the police and let them sort it out. Worked every time.
Amazon was in now way responsive or helpful before I've got the police involved.
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#7filing the chargeback is a good idea... but also, the sender made a critical mistake sending it usps.. that makes it mail fraud. Talk to the US Postal Inspection Service, it's a branch of law enforcement, and I'm sure they would be very interested with all of the evidence youve collected. They can cross state lines and arrest the sender.
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#8It won't get your money back, but it is worthwhile to file a fraud complaint with the USPS as well. Mail fraud for $1500 is a big deal to sweep under the rug with a charge back.
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#9It seems like the Amazon reps weren't paying attention to the detail, or the seller was also supplying fraudulent evidence of delivery. This blog post will likely get it resolved for the buyer, though it shouldn't have to be this way.
I'm more sympathetic to Amazon here than most. Scams are hard to detect. They set up a shipping confirmation process that's worked fine for them for almost two decades now. It has a hole (it only checks the town and has no closed loop to verify that the shipper shipped to the right address in that town), but none of the existing employees actually know that it has a hole. They get a report about a missing shipment, check their process, and it says it was received. Case closed.
This is like trying to report a web site vulnerability to a help desk employee. It doesn't work. You have to escalate until you find someone who understands the root issue, and escalation is messy (and involves blog posts like these).
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#10The only way I've got problems solved with Amazon is going to the police and let them sort it out. Worked every time. Amazon was in now way responsive or helpful before I've got the police involved.
What did that process look like for you? Do you just call up your local non-emergency number and and tell them Amazon cheated you?