Also this is why Craigslist specifically warns users that if you cannot meet the seller in person, 99% of the time it's a scam. Your mistake was not meeting the seller, checking that the phone worked, going to a phone store to verify it wasn't stolen, THEN paying him. You never buy a phone unless you can see it, try it to make sure it works, and go to a phone store to check that it isn't reported stolen - then immediately get the account transferred to your name so the seller can't report it stolen AFTER you buy it. Because even if you pay, if the phone account is still in his name, after you pay he will report it stolen, get the phone deactivated, and he gets a new phone from his insurance and you are stuck with a locked phone
The only good thing so far is you did mark the payment as "goods and services."
You can certainly file a complaint with Paypal and offer to send a photo of the shipping label. If you have a scale, put the item on it and capture the empty box weight--a phone should weigh something!
Yes, the tracking number is a problem, but even Paypal should sit up and pay attention if 2 customers complain about getting empty boxes.
As for his name and address, have you clicked on the transaction detail on Paypal? That is supposed to show legal name, full address and phone number. If these are fake, you can use that as part of your complaint.
File a complaint with Craigslist as well.
I bought an iPhone for ￡350 on Craigslist through PayPal and I thought it was that his PayPal didn't have his name, It had 'Mr Smith' I sent it through goods and services, And anyway he said he will send it off for me and even gave me a tracking number, I opened it up and it was an empty phone box? I can't open a case as he has the the tracking number and will win? What can I do? I wanna go the police but I don't even know his name or address? If I call PayPal can they give me it? What are my options? ￡350 is alot of money to lose :( Please help me!!
